Carried Forward By Hope (44 page)

“He found you,” Matthew whispered. “He’s been talking about finding you ever since I’ve known him.”

“Found both me and Sadie,” Annie announced proudly. “You go sit down on that chair over there,” she commanded. “I’ll be bringing you out some ham biscuits and tea to go with that strawberry pie Opal is dishing up.”

“I have died and gone to heaven,” Matthew murmured as he followed orders.

“You learn quickly,” Jeremy said, walking over to shake hands. “Everyone has learned it’s just easier to do whatever Annie says.”

“Moses came by his order-giving honestly, eh?” Matthew asked with a wide smile. He gazed at Jeremy. “So, what’s your—”

Suddenly a head popped out of the window above them. “How am I supposed to read to Robert if all of you be making so much noise? I need you to be a little quieter!”

Matthew stared up as the little head disappeared again. “And that would be?”

Carrie laughed. “That would be Amber. She came from Maryland with her parents and brother.”

Matthew’s eyes grew even wider. “The family that took care of Robert after he was shot?”

“The same,” Carrie assured him. “Amber has taken over Robert’s care.”

“And…?”

Carrie could tell Matthew wanted to ask so many questions but was afraid how she would respond if the answers weren’t good ones. “She is working wonders,” Carrie assured him happily. “Robert is sitting up and talking, reading books, eating full meals…”

“Is he—?”

“Walking yet? Not yet, but I’m sure Amber will know when it’s time.”

Amber’s head popped out again. “You got that right, Carrie. Now why don’t alls of you go inside and leave us in peace!”

“Mercy,” Matthew murmured, his eyes dancing with laughter. “I hope the women get the vote soon. I have a feeling Amber should be running for something important.”

Everyone laughed as they moved into the house. Annie bustled out of the kitchen with a platter full of food. “I thought I done tole you to stay in that rocker,” she snapped.

“Yes, ma’am, you did,” Matthew said hastily, “but Amber told us we were making too much noise.”

Annie scowled. “I declare…that little girl done think she runs all of us.”

Jeremy grinned. “She
does
run all of us!” He indicated toward the back of the house. “How about if we take this party into the backyard?

******

“I’m afraid I have some bad news, Carrie,” Matthew said once they had settled down in chairs in the backyard.

“What is it?” she asked quietly, glad everyone she loved most was with her to hear it. Still, she braced herself for whatever was about to take a piece of her heart.

“Robert’s mother and aunt have both passed away.”

“
Both
of them!” Carrie gasped. “When?”

“His aunt passed away right before the war ended. His mother, not wanting to be on the plantation alone, went into Charlottesville. She caught pneumonia and passed away in May.”

Tears filled Carrie’s eyes. She knew how much Robert had wanted to see his mother and aunt again.

“I knew how much Robert would want news about them, so I went through there on my way here,” Matthew explained. “One of his neighbors told me what had happened.”

“Thank you,” Carrie said softly. “Oak Meadows?”

“It is fine,” Matthew said firmly.

“Because of you,” Carrie murmured. “Thank you,” she said again. She took a deep breath. “I will not tell him now,” she said firmly. “He needs to be stronger.”

Abby nodded when Carrie looked at her for affirmation. “He will have to be told, but certainly not right now.”

Silence fell on the group. The only sounds were the buzzing of bees as they flitted from flower to flower along the edge of the yard. Even the birds and squirrels were silent, lulled into complacency by the summer heat.

Abby was the first to break the silence. “Will you tell us about the
Sultana
?” she asked softly, her heart squeezing with pain when she saw the look on Matthew’s face.

“I can’t,” he finally said in a broken voice. “I wrote a series of stories for the
Philadelphia Tribune
before I resigned. I’ve brought them with me. It’s just…”

“Too difficult to talk about,” Abby said gently as she laid a hand on his arm. “I understand.”

“Perhaps…” Matthew murmured.

“Perhaps you will feel like talking about it someday, and perhaps you won’t,” Abby finished for him. “It doesn’t matter. The only thing that is important is that you are here with us.”

The haunted look finally faded from Matthew’s face again. “It’s good to be here,” he managed.

Carrie’s heart ached for him, but she knew only time could heal the memories and scars. All of them had read the most recent newspaper accounts of the accident, but there hadn’t been a lot of information. No one seemed to want to talk about the deadliest maritime disaster in the United States history. She could almost understand. The country wanted to celebrate the end of the war and mourn the death of their beloved president. There just didn’t seem to be enough emotional energy to handle more.

“Is that horse pulling your carriage any good under a saddle?” Carrie asked suddenly, knowing Matthew would benefit from a hard ride.

“I’m told he is,” Matthew replied. A smile flitted across his mouth, though his eyes remained somber.

“I’m taking Granite out for a ride. Has the war made you too soft to keep up?” she challenged, knowing competition would light the fire in her friend. She laughed when Matthew’s eyes sparked.

“Soft?” he scoffed. “How about if I agree to take it easy on you?”

“You do that,” Carrie said loftily. “Granite and I will just let you wonder what is happening when a gray blur flies past you.”

******

Abby smiled when she watched Matthew and Carrie return from the barn, both of them relaxed and laughing. She was sure Carrie had taken Matthew down to her place by the river to let him take advantage of its healing qualities.

Thomas came to stand beside her. “Does Carrie have any idea Matthew is in love with her?” he asked quietly.

“No,” Abby said sharply. “How did you know?”

“It’s not so hard to read his eyes,” Thomas answered. “I’ve known for a long time. Just as I’ve known he would never say anything because of Robert.”

“Matthew is a man of honor,” Abby said with quiet pride. “Carrie is lucky to have two men who love her so much.”

Thomas glanced up and lowered his voice even more, but still the anger snapped through. “If Robert loves her so much he needs to get out of that bed.”

Abby looked at him quickly. “You’re angry?”

“I’m trying to not be, but it’s hard. She is giving everything she has to him. I’m not sure he’s doing the same.” He took a deep breath. “I ache for what Robert went through, but I ache for Carrie as well. I’m sure there are plenty of times she has wanted to curl up and simply quit living, but she has always found a way to press through.”

“Women are stronger than men, you know,” Abby said quietly.

“Your voice is teasing,” Thomas observed, “but your eyes tell me you mean that.”

“Why else would God have chosen women to bear children?” Abby said lightly. “The world would be quite under-populated if the job had been left up to men.”

Thomas snorted with laughter. “I would like to refute that logic, but I’m afraid I can’t.”

Abby smiled. “Give Robert a little more time. I believe he is going to come out of this and that when he does, he is going to be the strong, loving husband Carrie deserves. He will feel badly enough about how he fell apart. He won’t need anyone to tell him he fell short.”

“Especially not his father-in-law,” Thomas said ruefully, squeezing her hand with gratitude before he stepped to the edge of the porch. “Hello, you two. Just how badly did Granite and Carrie put you in your place, Matthew?”

Matthew grimaced. “Let’s just say it wasn’t pretty. You need to get some horses out here that can give that Thoroughbred some competition, Thomas. He’s getting too cocky. I swear I heard him laughing when he flew past.”

“That was me,” Carrie said smugly.

Thomas laughed and hugged Matthew warmly. “It’s good to have you here, my boy.”

“Not half as good as it is to be here,” Matthew responded fervently.

“You’re welcome for as long as you want to stay,” Thomas replied. “I find I rather like Cromwell Plantation acting as a hotel. Especially—”

“Especially when the visitors bring news from the outside,” Abby finished for him. “I have so many questions for you, Matthew.”

“Let’s dig into them,” Matthew said, smiling when Rose and Moses moved out onto the porch. He jumped up and gave Moses an exuberant embrace. “So you’re going to be a father again? Congratulations!”

“You are also looking at the new co-owner of Cromwell Plantation,” Thomas informed him. “Abby and I are moving back into Richmond after the wedding to build the factory. Moses will be in charge out here.”

Matthew grinned, but Abby caught something in his eyes that made her tense. “What is it, Matthew?”

“Nothing. I think it’s wonderful Moses will be running the plantation,” he protested. “No one could do a better job.”

Moses stared into his eyes. “Abby is right. Something is bothering you. You know better than to think you can hide something from us,” he chided. “What is it?”

“I’m afraid there will be trouble,” Matthew finally admitted.

“Why?” Thomas demanded.

“Because you’re doing things differently than your neighbors are doing them, or want to do them. They are going to be threatened.”

“Not my problem,” Thomas said sternly.

“Until it
becomes
your problem,” Matthew persisted.

Thomas took a deep breath. “Why don’t you tell us what’s going on?”

“Southern planters believe their prosperity and their survival depend upon their ability to command labor,” Matthew began. “The conflict is growing as the freed slaves seek to control their lives, while the plantation owners attempt to re-create a disciplined labor force.”

“Meaning they are trying to make things as much like slavery as possible,” Moses said bluntly. “They’re okay with calling it something different, as long as things don’t really change.”

Matthew nodded heavily. “I’m afraid that’s true. Many have decided they have no hope for the future. They are leaving.”

Thomas nodded. “Many of the men I knew through the government have left Virginia and abandoned their homes.”

“To do what?” Carrie asked, realizing this was the first time her father had been willing to talk about this.

Thomas shrugged. “Some have gone to the North to start over. Others have left for Europe. Many of them are attempting to reestablish themselves as planters in Mexico or Brazil.”

“
South America!
?” Carrie asked.

“They’re trying to find a place where they can continue to live the life they have always lived,” Thomas explained.

“And why not you?” Matthew asked.

“I had too much to come back for,” Thomas said simply as his gaze settled on Carrie and then shifted to take in Jeremy, Rose, and Moses. “But that doesn’t mean I wasn’t scared. I realized I may lose my plantation like so many others have, but Moses showed me another way.”

“Are you paying the men?” Matthew asked.

“Of course,” Thomas said. He glanced at Carrie. “I still had some resources after the war — some gold bullion I had hidden away. I have converted it into US currency to pay the men and buy seed.”

“The men have agreed to a monthly wage,” Moses said, “knowing they will receive a fair percentage of the crop profits after harvest. They all know they will make much more that way than if they were just to settle for wages.”

“And you’ll pay them a percentage of the true value of the crop?” Matthew pressed.

“Of course,” Thomas said sharply. “Do you doubt my integrity?”

“Not a bit,” Matthew said immediately. “But that is where the problem is.”

Thomas shook his head. “I’m afraid I don’t understand.”