Hope Rekindled (25 page)

All at once, the riders came to a stop. It was very nearly like a well-planned dance. The horses settled and the shooting stopped, but the leader pressed forward and pointed his long-barreled pistol directly at Jake and Deborah.

“I’m here on account of the bride,” he declared. The masked men snickered, and Deborah couldn’t help but look around Jake to get a better view. It wasn’t like she could see their faces, but even so, she had to look.

Jake pushed Deborah back behind him again. “You’ll have to shoot me to get to her.”

“That doesn’t bother me one bit.” He lowered the gun to aim at Jake’s chest.

“No!” Deborah shouted. “What do you want?” She sidestepped Jake, but he took hold of her arm.

“That’s just what I was gonna ask,” Arjan said, moving in front of Jake and Deborah.

The man on the lead horse stared in silence for several minutes. The eerie face covering gave him a surreal appearance—not quite human, not quite apparition.

Arjan crossed his arms. “I asked what you wanted, mister.”

“I heard you. I reckon I’ll answer you when I’m good and ready.”

“Well, get ready,” G.W. called from the side of the house. “I have a rifle fixed right between your eyes.”

“Well, ain’t you the brave one,” the man replied.

Deborah glanced across the yard to the other side of the house and saw Rob and Christopher. “We have a bit of a standoff here, fellas,” Rob declared. “I’d suggest you put away your guns.”

“I don’t reckon I’ll do that,” the leader said. “And further, I don’t figure you’ll do anything about it. You might shoot me, but my men will kill this pretty bride deader than Mr. Lincoln.”

“So tell us what you want and get off our property,” Arjan demanded.

“Well now, I’m figurin’ you already know full well what we want. After all, we paid you folks a little visit not so long ago. Y’all’ve been stirrin’ up trouble and takin’ up the cause of the colored folk. We’ve decided to put an end to that. First, we took care of the situation in town, and now we’re takin’ care of you. You Vandermarks need to realize that there are far more of us that hate the Negroes than those of you who appear to love ’em.”

Deborah could see the strained expression on Christopher’s face. She feared he might well charge across the yard to reach her. Shaking her head, she mouthed just one word:
No
.

“We aren’t the kind of folks to run scared,” Arjan said. He nodded to the pastor and some of their other friends. “We’re Texans, and we don’t take kindly to threats.”

“This ain’t just a threat, Mr. Vandermark.” The man nudged his horse a little closer and pointed the pistol at Arjan. “This is a bona fide promise. Let our example speak for itself. If you don’t stop tryin’ to interfere, you and yours are gonna end up like the folks in Perkinsville. We’ll burn this place to the ground—just like we did that shantytown.”

“What?” Deborah found it impossible to remain silent. “You burned them out?” The breeze had been westerly all day and no doubt that was why they hadn’t so much as smelled the burning wood.

The man laughed. “Burned ’em and beat ’em. There ain’t much left, and there’ll be even less of this place if you don’t yield.”

“You had no right!” Deborah started for the man, but Jake held her fast. It took only that action to cause Christopher to rush across the yard.

“Stay there, Doc. You don’t wanna make her a widow before she gets a weddin’ night. Worse yet, you don’t wanna be a widower.” He turned the pistol again on Deborah and Jake. The men around him laughed and threw out vulgar comments. “Now, I ain’t in the habit of shootin’ white folks, but I’ll do what I need to do in order to get my point across.”

“Please, Christopher, don’t move.” Deborah felt a sense of dread like she’d never experienced in her life.

Arjan shook his head and stepped forward as if to take hold of the leader’s horse. “This has gone on long enough. I answer to a higher authority. God Almighty directs my steps.”

The pistol rang out without warning. The man had moved his aim so quickly that Deborah actually found herself waiting to feel the bullet pierce her. Instead, she watched Arjan crumple to the ground. The horse reared up beside him, but miraculously missed coming down on the injured man by only inches.

“See if you can walk His way with a bullet in one leg.” He repositioned the pistol on Jake and Deborah. “Now, unless you want the next one to cut down this heroic young man, and then the bride . . . I’d suggest you all put down your guns.”

For several minutes, no one did anything. Deborah strained to see if Arjan was all right, but she couldn’t tell.

“We’re puttin’ ’em down,” G.W. announced, his words surprising Deborah.

“That’s a wise choice. Now, like I said, today is your last warnin’. The law won’t help you because
we
are the law—the new law of the land. You’d do well to understand that fact right now.” He backed the horse up with the slightest pull of the reins.

“I want five of you boys up on the road, holding guns on these kind folks.” Without questioning the request, five riders headed off toward the main road. The leader waited for them to be in position.

“I never intended to shoot you, Vandermark, but it’s enough for you to know I’ll do what I have to. The boys and I are gonna leave you to your weddin’ party, but in the future, I’m hopin’ you’ll remember this and realize that the times have changed. Mr. Lincoln’s war may be over, but Southerners everywhere are regaining their legs—we’re gonna rise again, and that’s a fact. Best you figure out which side you’ll be on.”

He reined the horse hard to the left and gave him a kick. “Yah,” he cried and the other awaiting riders did likewise.

Deborah didn’t wait for the men to clear the yard. She rushed to Arjan’s side, mindless of her wedding dress. She reached out to steady the leg. “Hold still.” She waited for Christopher to join her. He gave her a look that said far more than words.

“Let’s get him inside.”

G.W., Jake, and Rob came to help, as well as Jimmy and Tommy. Mother appeared at the door. “I saw it all,” she said, biting her lower lip. “Is it grave?”

“I don’t know yet,” Christopher told her.

Sissy already had an oiled canvas atop the dining room table and the men lowered Arjan onto it. Christopher wasted no time tearing away the man’s trouser leg. He assessed the wound and motioned to Deborah. “Get my bag.”

She hurried through the kitchen and out the door. The shock of what had happened kept her from breaking into tears. She had to do what was needed. She had to help Arjan.

To her surprise, the cabin had been decorated for their wedding night. Someone had brought in flowers and candles. But there was no time to take any pleasure in the setting. Deborah went quickly to where Christopher had begun to set up a small examination room. She grabbed the bag, bandages, and several other items before heading back to the house.

“Oh, God, please help us. Please help Uncle Arjan.”

“Is there anything I can do?” Jake asked, appearing on the path.

Deborah nodded. “Pray, Jake. Please pray.”

I
t’s not much more than a flesh wound, shot clean,” Christopher told them. “It didn’t hit the bone or major blood vessels. Take it easy for a while, and I think it will heal up nicely.” He washed his hands and looked to where Deborah was applying the final bandages to Arjan’s leg.

Euphanel shook her head. “I can’t believe this has happened. What in the world are we going to do?”

“Well, Christopher and I are going to head into town and see how we can help the people there,” Deborah announced.

Christopher glanced at the clock and nodded. It was just after one o’clock. “Can I borrow a wagon?”

“You know you can,” Arjan said, struggling to sit up.

Deborah gripped him firmly at the shoulders. “You need to rest. G.W. and the others can put you to bed for Mother. Then they should probably come help us.”

Zed and Rachel headed for the door. “I think we’d all best get back to town.”

“I’m so sorry for all that’s happened,” Jael said, coming to give Deborah a hug. “This certainly wasn’t what any of us would have wished for your wedding day.”

Deborah embraced her friend. “I didn’t even have a chance to realize that you were here until we were gathering to eat. I’m sure Stuart was livid about your coming.”

“He’ll get over it, I assure you,” Jael said with a weak smile. “You’d best go. We can talk later.”

“Yes.” She looked down at her clothes. “I need to go change.”

When Deborah turned back from Jael, Christopher frowned. The front of her wedding gown was saturated with blood and dirt, ruined. There would be no passing it down to their children. No beautiful memento of their joyous day.

Some joy, he thought. He just couldn’t shake the picture of that horseman holding a gun to her.

“Doc, you’d best change your clothes, too,” Sissy said. She gestured to his instruments. “I can boil these things for you. I has the water hot on the stove.”

“Thank you, Sissy. Boil them for exactly five minutes, then dry them and wrap them in a clean towel. We could also use any spare bandages or sheets.”

Euphanel waited until her sons had carried Arjan from the room before moving. “Tommy, run upstairs to the attic. There’s a stack of old blankets and sheets. If those men burned the town down as they said, then those folks will need all the extra supplies we can spare.” She turned to Jimmy. “Take Darcy and the little ones and go to where we keep the canned food. Start packing crates with whatever you can.”

Christopher shook his head and headed for the door. “I’ll gather my things from the cabin. Perhaps we can talk Mr. Albright into sharing goods from the store.” He doubted that Stuart would consider it, but it was worth a try.

Making his way to the cabin, Christopher felt a heaviness settle over him. As much as he longed to see an end to prejudices and negativity, he knew they would go on. People were people, with their own opinions and desires. Some were productive and useful to society. But with the hatred and bitterness of racism, the bad seemed to outweigh the good.

He rushed through the cabin, peeling off his wedding clothes. Like Deborah’s, they were stained with blood. How much more blood would he have on him before the day was over? He gathered his things and headed back to the house, not even bothering to tuck his shirt in.

G.W. stood ready with the wagon and Christopher’s horse, while Rob helped Mara into her father’s carriage. “I’ll head in with them,” he told G.W. and jumped up to join the Shattucks.

Deborah and her mother were bringing out baskets of food. “I’ll be here with Arjan and the children,” she told Deborah. “Send word if you need anything.”

“I want to help,” Darcy said, coming to stand by the women. “Can’t I go?”

Christopher couldn’t help but think of the ugliness that awaited them. “You’d be more of a help here keeping the little ones busy. I’d like Sissy to come with us. Mama Euphanel won’t have anyone else.”

Darcy met his gaze and seemed to understand. “I’ll stay.”

“Thank you.” He mounted his horse.

Sissy came from the house with the doctor’s bag. She handed it up and motioned to where Jimmy and Tommy were climbing into the back of the wagon. “I figure to go along.”

He nodded. “I hoped you would. I know you’ll be a comfort and help.”

The rest of the wedding guests had already headed back to Perkinsville. Christopher kicked his horse into action and headed down the road at a full gallop. He passed Jael and her father, giving only a nod as he rode on. His mind was on the tragedy at hand. How much time had passed? How bad would he find things? The men had said they burned out the shanties. Would any structure remain to shelter those who had survived?

Deborah wasn’t surprised to find Stuart Albright doing nothing. He was sitting on his porch, casually watching the chaos with disinterest. How could he be so heartless? Deborah wanted to climb from the wagon and rail at him for his lack of Christian charity toward the less fortunate. She wanted to call to mind that these people were, in every way that mattered, his responsibility.

Instead, she held her tongue. Stuart wouldn’t care. In fact, he’d probably laugh at her, and that would only anger her more. As G.W. drove the wagon across the tracks, Deborah cast a brief backward glance and saw that Mr. Longstreet had brought the Albright carriage to a stop in front of the house. Perhaps as his business partner, he could talk some sense into Stuart.

The smoke hung heavy in the air, as some of the houses were still afire. The school for the colored children was now completely gutted, as were the houses nearest the railroad tracks. Men and women were struggling to pull bodies of the unconscious to safety.

“Oh, Lord, have mercy. Have mercy,” Sissy said, weeping. She didn’t wait for anyone to help her from the wagon and nearly fell as she jumped from the back. Hurrying across the ground, she came to where several women were heating kettles of water over fires. “Let me help you,” she commanded.

Deborah looked out across the destruction. The charred, smoldering remains bore witness to the violence—the broken bodies, along with the screams and moans of the wounded, assaulted her like a slap across the face. What kind of monster did such things?

She knew the answer. She’d dealt with those monsters face-to-face. Well, not really. They hid behind masks, and she understood why. If she’d ever done something so heinous, she would hide her face, as well.

“Well, they did exactly as they said,” Christopher said, helping her from the wagon. “Are you ready?”

“I don’t really have a choice, do I? Helping the sick and injured is what I want to do—what God has called me to do.”

He nodded. “We need to open the hospital. Do you suppose we can talk Stuart into that?”

“I don’t plan to talk him into anything,” Deborah declared. “We will simply tell him that’s how it’s going to be. After all, there are more of us.” She crooked her finger to G.W. “We need to open the hospital,” she told him as he approached.

“I’ll take care of it.”

Christopher reached for his bag. “I’ll leave it in your capable hands. Come along, Deborah. We need to see whose injuries are the worst.”

She started to follow him, then noticed the trees near the edge of the clearing. “Oh no!” Her gasp caused Christopher to take note.

Deborah thought she might vomit. At least seven swinging bodies, lynched. A couple of young boys were struggling to bring down the dead. Several bodies were already on the ground.

“I’ll take care of that,” Rob said, coming alongside them. “I’ll take Jimmy and Tommy. It’s hard for a boy to become a man this way, but we have no choice.”

“I’ll help you,” Pastor Shattuck declared.

Deborah and Christopher made their way to where the injured were gathered. Many had been shot. Some would make it; others were certain to die. Deborah watched as Christopher assessed each man, woman, and child.

One little girl had been shot in the face. It was a glancing blow, but she would be marked for life—if she lived.

G.W. came running—his limp hardly noticeable. “I’ve got the hospital ready.”

Christopher looked from his patients to the wagon. “We need to get the worst of them to my examination room. Take these folks first. I’m going to have to operate. Arrange them as best you can in the front room. We’ll move as quickly as possible.”

“What do you want me to do?” Deborah asked her husband.

“I’ll need you to assist me in surgery,” he told her. “Sissy!” The black woman came running.

“Yessuh, Doc?”

“I need you to tend those whose wounds are less severe. Deborah and I are going to be operating over at the hospital.”

“You jes’ leave it to me,” she assured him. “I’ll get hot water to you, too.”

He nodded and turned back to G.W. “Let’s get the wagon unloaded at my place, then you can use it as an ambulance.”

“Sounds good.” The two men jumped into the wagon.

Deborah motioned them on. “I’ll be there shortly. I’m going to see if Jael can help.”

She crossed the tracks and made her way to the Albright house. Stuart and Mr. Longstreet seemed to be arguing. She didn’t have to explain her presence, however. Jael bounded out of the house, her arms full of sheets. She had changed her clothes and now wore a full apron.

“What can I do?” she asked Deborah.

“You’ll do nothing,” Stuart said, coming between them. “I will not have my wife acting in such a manner.”

“What manner, Stuart?” she asked. “That of a compassionate human being? No doubt that is foreign to you, but I will not be stopped.” Jael looked to her father. “We could use help from both of you. After all, you’re the ones who own this place. At least that’s what you’re always boasting. Have you no concern for your people?”

“They aren’t
my
people. The land and the buildings that have been destroyed are mine, but the people were set free—or have you forgotten?”

She shook her head. “Sure doesn’t look that way to me.”

Deborah wanted to applaud her friend, but instead reached out to take some of the bedding from Jael’s arms. “Come. We need to hurry. I hope you aren’t squeamish.”

Jael gave Deborah a look that said it all. “I’m stronger than you think.”

As night closed in, Deborah had never known such exhaustion. She remembered briefly when Sissy had sent someone with food and instructions that Deborah and the others were to eat or she would come and feed them herself. Deborah paused long enough to grab a piece of bread and ham. She downed it without even tasting it. Christopher and Jael did likewise, and by then, Mrs. Perkins and Mrs. Huebner had come to assist in the infirmary. They had agreed to stay through the night and attend the wounded. As Christopher explained, there was little else he could do at this point but wait.