Shifted By The Winds (43 page)

Silence echoed through the schoolhouse as the minutes ticked by. John and Jasper, frightened now by their mothers’ tense silence, left their chalk and crawled into their laps.

Rose pulled John close to her breast, trying not to frighten him any more than he already was, but her heart was pounding so hard she could barely hear herself think. She certainly wouldn’t be able to detect if there were hidden men approaching right that minute. She once again considered dashing out the door and running through the woods, but something held her where she was. She could only hope it was God giving her wisdom, instead of fear keeping her from taking action that would save them. She also knew there was a possibility the men had simply ridden off down the road, but she was too afraid to risk finding out. So she sat.

Louisa gazed at her over Jasper’s head, but she remained silent, too.

Rose felt a moment’s awe that she felt so connected to this woman who had once been Carrie’s worst enemy. She had seen the transformation happen in Louisa’s eyes while they were talking. While she was glad for that, she also hated the reality of the increased danger it put Louisa and her family in. She hated the danger
all
of them were in. Was there to be no end to the threats and peril? Her thoughts took a different direction. Why was the government simply allowing the South to run rampant over the millions of slaves they had controlled for so long? What had been the purpose of the war? What had been the purpose of all the lives lost? Suddenly, anger pushed back the fear.

Rose drew a deep breath and stood, thankful her legs were no longer quivering. John was almost too big for her to carry anymore, but she held him close against her. “We’re going to the plantation,” she declared. She wasn’t sure if it was wise to let the anger force her fear to the side, but she was quite certain she couldn’t sit there one more minute and wait for what may or may not be out there.

“You’re sure?” Louisa asked shakily.

Rose was suddenly positive they needed to take action. “Yes,” she answered. She wasn’t going to voice her fears for the boys to hear. She was simply going to move. She walked toward the door and stepped out. A sudden rustle in the woods made her freeze. The rustling grew louder, but she was too frightened to discern which direction it was coming from. Rose eased back inside, pushing Louisa and Jasper back with her. Fear once again swallowed her courage.

“Quiet!” she hissed, even though no one was making a sound. Louisa and Jasper had frozen into a statue, and John was pressed into her so hard she could almost feel him melting into her.

Moses stepped quietly out of the woods on Champ. She gasped with relief and sagged against the door of the schoolhouse. She began to tremble when Moses’ eyes caught hers across the clearing. He vaulted off Champ and ran to them, grabbing them close in his arms. Moments later the schoolyard swarmed with twenty of his men as they poured from the woods. All of them were armed with pistols or rifles.

Rose pressed her face into his chest as Moses held her and John close. “Thank you,” she whispered.

“What happened?” Moses asked.

“Some bad men were here!” John cried. “They scared Mama, but I knew you would save us!”

Before Rose had a chance to explain further, Robert, Perry and Clint burst from the woods on their horses, their guns drawn. Louisa gave a cry of happiness and ran to Perry, reaching him just as he dismounted.

“Thank God,” Perry murmured as he pulled his wife and son into his arms.

“What happened?” Moses asked again. “Where are the rest of the children?”

“I sent them home,” Rose said as she fought to gain control of her breathing. When she could talk clearly, she explained what had happened.

“You’ve never seen any of them before?” Robert asked. “Are you sure?”

“I’m sure,” Rose replied firmly, her insides settling down as she realized no one was going to attack a large group of armed men. “I watch every white person who passes the school. I’ve never seen any of those men before.” She caught the look Moses sent Robert, but she didn’t press for more information. John and Jasper, both clinging to their fathers, were frightened enough. All she could think about was getting them home to safety. “We’ll talk later.”

Moses understood. He turned and spoke to Simon. “Stay here with at least ten of the men through the night.”

He didn’t have to say he was afraid the men might come back. Rose was simply glad there would be someone protecting the school. She watched the long look he exchanged with Simon, assuring him without words that Moses would make sure no harm came to June and his son.

Carrie waved goodbye to Michael as he pulled the carriage away from the platform at the Philadelphia train station. She hugged her coat closer and reached for her bag. The colorful, tree-lined streets had melted away into gray industrial development, and the wind whipping up the river had dropped the temperature. Indian summer was clearly something for the history books now. The city still wore its fall wardrobe, but the cold temperatures said winter was on the way. Bright leaves were twirling through the air, on their way to forming a blanket that would soon be covered by snow. “I’m so glad to be getting out of this city,” she muttered.

“You and me both,” Janie agreed as she hoisted her bag.

“You’re sure you don’t want to wait and come with Matthew tomorrow?” Carrie asked for the third time since Janie had told her that morning about Matthew’s delay.

“Do I have to write it in blood?” Janie teased.

Carrie smiled, but she was still concerned. “I know you’re worried about me, but I will be fine. I
am
fine.” Watching their three former housemates have the last of their things moved from the house this morning had been a final, wrenching blow, but there was almost relief in having it finished. At least when she returned, she would not have to look at the ghosts of her former friendships.

“Did you ever consider I’m doing it for me?” Janie asked seriously.

Carrie stopped walking and swung around to look at her. “What?”

“You may have started the ball rolling that resulted in our withdrawal from the Female Medical College, but I made my decision on my own,” Janie said, her voice a mixture of patience and frustration.

Carrie cocked her head, not sure she had ever heard Janie sound like this. She had watched her friend change after her disastrous marriage to Clifford. Janie had become stronger and more confident when she decided to go to medical school. Now that she was engaged to Matthew, she seemed to have a strength and power Carrie wasn’t sure how to describe.

“You are not responsible for the world, Carrie Cromwell Borden,” Janie scolded. “And I am not responsible for
you
. I just happen to want to be with my best female friend while I’m dealing with the fact that the three women I thought were my other closest friends have turned their backs on me because they don’t agree with
my
decision.” Her voice faltered as sadness darkened her eyes. “I need to be with you, Carrie,” she said. “I love Matthew, but he can truly understand only part of what has happened. He’s a man—an incredibly sensitive man—but he’s still a man. I need to be with the woman who is also my best friend.”

Carrie dropped her bag. Mindless of the horde of passengers swarming around them, she swept Janie into a hug. “I’m sorry! As usual, I was only thinking of myself.” Remorse flooded her heart. “I am so very glad you insisted on coming that I don’t have words to express it. I didn’t want to make the trip by myself,” she admitted.

Janie dropped her own bag, returned the hug, and then stepped back to examine Carrie’s face. “Truly?”

Carrie managed a smile. “The last few days seem to have knocked the wind out of my sails. I’m glad to be going home, but I don’t know how to release the pain in my heart right now.”

“We’ll make it like old times,” Janie promised. “We may not have a window seat to curl up on like we did during the war, but we’ll have our separate room on the train. We’ll talk everything through until it doesn’t feel like a weight anymore.”

Carrie wasn’t sure that was possible, but she acknowledged there were many times during the war she had felt even worse than she did now. Their late night talks had always soothed her and given her courage to move forward. She hoped this would not be the exception.

“I can’t believe your father got us our own separate seating section,” Janie continued. She picked up her bag, waited for Carrie to grab hers, and then began to push through the crowds toward the loading platform.

“Me either,” Carrie replied, her gratitude increasing as she saw the masses of people waiting on the platform. The train was going to be full, but instead of having to sit on hard wooden benches crammed in with all these people for the entire trip to Richmond, she and Janie were going to have their own small room. Even if they had the same rigid benches, the unexpected solitude was going to be a luxury. “We should have plenty of space,” she said, forcing her voice to sound light. “The room was reserved for six, but there will just be the two of us. I can still hardly believe trains have advanced enough to offer private rooms.”

“Are they quite expensive?” Janie asked.

Carrie shrugged. “I imagine they must be, but Father tells me the factory is doing extremely well, and the tobacco crop was the best the plantation has ever had.” A surge of joy pushed through her sadness as she thought of what the crop’s success would mean to Rose and Moses, as well as all the rest of the workers. She was sure the Harvest Celebration was indeed going to be grand. She wanted to enjoy it, but her heart was still too heavy.

“Do your father and Abby know about what we have done?”

“No. I sent a telegram yesterday, but I didn’t explain the situation. I just told them only you and I would be coming.” Carrie knew there would be a barrage of questions when they reached Richmond, but she didn’t mind. There was nothing she wanted more than a long honest conversation with Abby. She was looking forward to being with her father, too, but Janie was right, there were times you just needed another woman.

Janie nodded but said no more as the crush of people pressed around them. The shrill whistles and the sound of trains arriving and departing made it impossible to talk once they reached the platform. Conductors yelled out instructions as metal wheels screeched on the rails. The air was thick with coal soot from the engines, and wood smoke from the heaters blazing in each car to keep them warm. As eager as Carrie was to get home, she wished there was a more pleasant way. Trains were a blessing, but she found the whole experience stifling and suffocating. She kept her thoughts fixed on the fragrant, fresh air waiting for her on the plantation.

Janie had been right. When Carrie stepped off the train in Richmond, most of the weight had been lifted from her heart. She still felt sad over what had happened, but she no longer felt she would be crushed. They had talked through every aspect of the situation. They had laughed together and cried together. They had even made plans, suddenly realizing they had empty rooms for some of the students from the Homeopathic College if they were needed.

Carrie took a deep breath as she walked across the platform. The air had the same coal and wood aroma, but it wasn’t as thick and cloying as the atmosphere in Philadelphia. It was also quite a bit warmer. The air was crisp, but it didn’t hold the whisper of winter lurking around the corner. She smiled as she glanced up and saw the riot of colors lining the hills of the city. The downtown area was still mostly bare of vegetation after the fire, but she knew the city leaders were busy replanting trees to replace the ones that had been lost. In the meantime, the oaks, maples and poplars crowded on the hills made it seem as if the city were ringed by fire. “Home…” she whispered.