First Dawn (11 page)

“But you paid me an extra fifty cents.”

“You more than earned it—you’re a hard worker. A man ought to be paid a fair wage for his work,” he replied as he placed his foot in a stirrup and mounted his horse.

Jeremiah rode alongside the wagon until they arrived at the Rooks’ farm, where Thomas carefully chose several items.

“I’ll be heading back home now. And I’m expecting to get that breaking plow back as promised,” Jeremiah said as the men parted company a short time later.

“No need to worry. And thank you for teaching me—I appreciate your patience.”

Horton guffawed. “I think it was you that had the patience. The wife says I talk too much, and I figure you got tired of hearing me ramble on, but I hope some of it will help you. Have a safe journey.” He turned the horse and rode back toward his homestead.

By the time Thomas reached Ellis, the train had arrived, the supplies were unloaded, and Mr. and Mrs. Hepple were filling their shelves with the much-anticipated merchandise. Thomas weighed the suggestions he’d received from both Mr. Hepple and Mr. Horton and walked out of the store hoping that he’d made the proper decisions. He longed to be on his way home. However, there was one final stop he must make. He needed to tell Chester Goddard of the agreement he’d made with Jeremiah Horton.

“I’ll be glad to help you out. You must have made a good impression on Jeremiah. I’ve never known him to be generous with his tools— or anything else, for that matter,” Mr. Goddard remarked after Thomas had explained their arrangement.

“He treated me more than fair and taught me a lot. I’s grateful for the work and ’preciate ya sendin’ me out to his place,” Thomas said. “I best be on my way. Hope to see you with those new settlers real soon. And tell ’em to bring lots of supplies,” he added as he walked out of the livery.

“I’ll do that,” Mr. Goddard yelled after him.

It was close to noon before he pulled out of town. Though he had hoped to make it home as soon as possible, Thomas knew he’d be forced to stay out at least one night. Pushing the horses any harder in the hot August sun would be cruel.

As he rolled up his blanket before sunup the next morning and then hitched the team, he wondered how he would be received when he finally arrived in Nicodemus.

Late in the second day he saw the white canvas roofs flapping in the breeze and smoke rising from campfires in their small settlement. “There it be, boys. Nicodemus!” Thomas said to the horses. He slapped the reins and urged the team to step up their pace.

He could now see what appeared to be the entire group of settlers gathering near the largest of the fires. An unexpected sense of exhilaration overcame him as he rode the wagon into the townsite and brought the horses to a halt near the assembled residents. He had expected shouts of exhilaration but instead was greeted with an eerie silence. He scanned the group, surprised by the angry faces.

“Where you been?” Herman Kemble hollered. “You shoulda been back days ago. I tol’ Ezekiel if you took off with our money, I was gonna track you down and see to it you was hung.”

Thomas flinched at the words. He had expected the folks to be concerned, but the thought that the settlers had actually discussed hanging him was more than a little disturbing.

“I tol’ Ezekiel I didn’ wanna be the one to go. Wasn’t my idea— none of it. You’ll find what supplies your money would buy in the back of the wagon.” He gathered his bedroll and a box of supplies he’d purchased with the money Jeremiah Horton had paid him. “You can unload and fight amongst yourselves about who gets what. I’m through with all of it ’cept for that breaking plow. Don’ nobody touch that, ’cause it’s here only on a loan to me. I’ll unload it myself.”

“What’s that you’re carryin’ off?” Herman Kemble called out.

“These here is supplies I bought with money I earned workin’ in Ellis. I had to wait ’til the train arrived with supplies for the general store. Ain’t none of you got cause to think I’m shortchangin’ you. There’s a list I had the storekeeper write out that shows what I bought and the cost. You’ll find every penny you gave me’s accounted for.” He angrily strode away from the group.

CHAPTER
8

Georgetown, Kentucky
•
September 1877

S
amuel Boyle lifted a medical book from one of the glass-fronted bookcases in his office and began flipping through the pages. Surely he could find something between the covers of one of these tomes to help him diagnose Mr. Stavely’s illness.

“No patients to see?”

Samuel looked up from his reading. “Carlisle!” He dropped the book onto his desktop and jumped to his feet. “What an unexpected surprise! When did you arrive?” He pulled his son into a warm embrace.

“Only minutes ago. I thought you’d be here at your office, so I decided to stop before going to the house.”

Samuel held his eldest child at arm’s length and surveyed his lanky frame. “You appear to have lost some weight. And I believe you’re at least an inch taller.”

Carlisle laughed at his father’s assessment. “You’re correct that I’ve grown taller, but I’ve not lost any weight. They feed us well enough— not nearly as good as the meals Cook serves, but filling enough.”

Samuel fondly patted his son’s shoulder. “Sit down, sit down,” he said, pointing to a chair. “So tell me what brings you home from seminary without so much as a letter telling us to expect you? Some problem with your studies?”

“No. Quite the contrary. My grades are excellent, and I’ll soon complete my courses. This matter is a bit more serious, and I thought it best to sit down and talk with you and Mother rather than merely send a letter.”

Samuel grasped the leather arms of his chair for leverage as he rose to his feet. “Then we best be on our way home, for if we remain here, I’ll badger you until you’ve divulged your news. Besides, I’m weary of poring over these medical books.”

Samuel walked alongside Carlisle, tucking his reading glasses into his jacket pocket. Once they were seated in the buggy, Samuel handed the reins to Carlisle. It was good to have his son sitting beside him. Yet, try as he did, Samuel could not imagine the cause for Carlisle’s return. Surely he wasn’t planning to embark upon some madcap plan for his future. Carlisle had always been the sensible child, the one most like himself—at least that’s what Samuel had always thought.

Of course, how could he condemn his son for choosing a diverse path when he, a staunch opponent of slavery, had married a southern woman and settled in a state that had embraced slavery as a civilized way of life? He shook his head at the thought of the foolishness of his youthful decision. But he had been deeply in love with Margaret—still was for that matter—and he’d told himself he could make a difference if he lived in the South. Of course that hadn’t proved out. Oh, he’d been able to covertly lend medical care to a number of slaves, but not enough to make any great difference. In the process, he’d managed to anger and alienate most of the prestigious southern gentry while causing his wife a good deal of embarrassment. And now he was making plans to move the family to Kansas. Likely nothing Carlisle had to tell them would compare to that piece of news. Otherwise, Margaret would dissolve into a fit of apoplexy and take to her bed.

Samuel gave his son an encouraging nudge on the shoulder as they stepped out of the carriage and walked up the front steps of the house. Though the cause of his son’s return remained a mystery, Samuel knew Carlisle would need his support.

“Margaret! Come see who sauntered into my office only minutes ago,” Samuel called.

The two men grinned at each other when they heard Margaret’s footsteps click across the wooden floor in the hallway.

“No need to shout as if—” She stopped in midstep and clutched one hand to the bodice of her dress. “Carlisle! Do my eyes deceive me?”

He leaned down into her open arms. “Not at all, Mother.”

When Margaret finally loosened her embrace and moved back a step, Samuel could see her eyes were brimming with tears.

“Look how much taller you are—but it appears you’ve lost weight.” Her voice was filled with motherly concern.

“Exactly what I told him only a few minutes ago. He says he’s hungry as a bear, so I trust we’ll soon be eating supper. A hearty meal will provide you with the opportunity to put some additional weight on his frame.” Samuel turned to raise a sly eyebrow at Carlisle.

“Fortunately for you, I had planned an early supper for this evening. Macia has plans to attend a concert at the lyceum, though I hope she’ll change her plans when she sees you’ve arrived home for a visit. And Harvey cares little what time we dine.” Margaret emitted an exasperated sigh.

Carlisle’s cheerful laugh brought a smile to Margaret’s lips. “You fret overly much, Mother. Harvey is young—he’ll mature in good time.”

The flounce of Margaret’s skirt swayed gracefully as she paced back and forth in front of the fireplace. “I fear your father doesn’t think Harvey will ever become a man.” She turned and directed an accusatory gaze at her husband.

Samuel unbuttoned his jacket and sat down on the divan. “Carlisle is merely being kind. We
all
know Harvey is going to require an additional push if he’s ever going to grow up and become a responsible adult. The difference is that I’m willing to both state the truth and seek a solution. And please do sit down, my dear. All that pacing is making me weary.”

Carlisle looked from one parent to the other. “It appears some things haven’t changed around here—at least where Harvey is concerned.”

“Enough about Harvey!” Margaret declared. “I want to know why I didn’t have a letter advising me you were coming home for a visit. Something is amiss, isn’t it?”

“You and Father always assume the worst. I have a short break before my classes resume and thought it a good time to make the journey home. I’m not ill, and I’ve not been booted out of school. I thought you’d be pleased to see me.”

“Of course I’m pleased. I’m more delighted than words permit. But it’s just so . . . so . . .”

“Unexpected?” Samuel completed his wife’s statement.

“Well, yes—and unlike you. You’ve never been one to throw caution to the wind,” she added. “At least not until you decided to attend school in Maine!”

“I suppose I have been the least impulsive of your children. But I don’t believe I’d characterize my decision to attend school in Bangor as throwing caution to the wind.” Carlisle’s tone had grown defensive, and Margaret settled back into her chair.

“ ’Tis true you’ve never been so foolhardy as Harvey,” she stated.

“Did I hear my name?”

Margaret shuddered at the crash of the front door as it closed. “How many times must I ask you—”

“Not to slam the door?” Harvey asked with a boisterous laugh. “I truly don’t know, Mother. I believe I lost count after a thousand. And look who’s here! Nobody bothered to tell me you were coming for a visit, Carlisle. It’s good to see you.”

There was an edge to Harvey’s voice that Samuel didn’t fail to notice. “Carlisle’s visit was totally unexpected.
None
of us knew he was arriving.”

Harvey dropped onto the divan beside his father. “So what brings you home, dear brother?”

“The remembrance of an excellent meal and the desire to spend time with my family.”

Harvey gave his brother a sly grin. “You’ve never returned home unannounced before.”

The statement hung in the air, begging a response. When Carlisle said nothing, Samuel glanced at his wife. “Where’s Macia?”

Harvey leaned forward and rested his forearms across his thighs. “You can be certain she’s not in the kitchen learning how to prepare supper, though it seems she should begin spending some time with Cook if she’s going to adapt to life on the frontier. Don’t you think?”

Carlisle raised his eyebrows and gave Harvey his full attention. “Life on the frontier? Whatever are you talking about, Harvey?”

“You mean Father hasn’t told you of his latest idea?”

Margaret wagged her right index finger back and forth. “Your father’s decision isn’t firm yet, is it, dear?”

“Barring unforeseen circumstances, I would say I’ve made a final determination. I’ve signed papers to purchase the land, and I’m meeting with Mr. Hill tomorrow,” Samuel replied before glancing at his older son.

Carlisle looked concerned. “I wish you had told me.”

Samuel understood. Obviously Carlisle feared his mysterious news was going to cause his mother some sort of distress. Having her upset before he delivered his news would make the announcement all the more difficult. Samuel shrugged and gave the boy a sympathetic look. There was little else he could do except hope that Margaret would maintain a sense of decorum when Carlisle finally took them into his confidence.

“Ah, here’s Macia now,” Samuel said. “Macia, come and see who’s here.”

Macia hurried into the parlor, holding the train of her candy-striped frock in one hand while patting her perfectly coifed blond curls into place with the other. There was no denying Macia’s beauty. In fact, she looked as though she’d stepped directly from the pages of
The
Ladies’ Treasury
. Her gaze settled upon Carlisle, and a smile immediately illuminated her features.

“Why didn’t anyone tell me Carlisle was coming home?” Her simpering voice sounded like a spoiled child’s rather than a young woman anticipating marriage.

Margaret patted her daughter’s arm. “None of us knew, my dear.”

“I smell something wonderful cooking,” Samuel said before Macia could ask any further questions. He hoped to complete the evening meal before Carlisle divulged his news. Otherwise, they might never reach the dining table, and his stomach was growling for food. “Margaret, would you see if Cook is ready to put supper on the table?”

Moments later, at his wife’s signal, Samuel jumped to his feet and began motioning his family toward the dining room. He herded his family through the doorway and began saying grace before Harvey had even seated himself. The moment the prayer ended, Samuel grasped the platter of roasted beef and browned potatoes, helping himself to a healthy portion of each.