Shifted By The Winds (62 page)

Carrie swung around to meet her eyes again. “When are you thinking about making the trip?” She had made a promise to Felicia that she had no intention of breaking.

“I had already planned on returning with you and Janie,” Abby admitted. “I want to go, and then return home, before the first snows come. Your father assures me winter is coming early this year, though I have never seen a wooly caterpillar talk!”

Carrie and Thomas both laughed.

“I don’t know that we’ll ever turn our city woman into a farmer,” Thomas said affectionately.

“Probably not,” Carrie agreed, “but I’m not sure either of us will ever be as wise as she is. I’d say having the benefit of her wisdom is much more important than turning her into a farmer.” She smiled when she saw relief fill Abby’s eyes. “You’re right, Abby. As usual,” she sighed.

Abby shook her head. “There are plenty of times when I’m wrong,” she insisted.

“Perhaps,” Carrie replied. “But I have yet to see them.” The moment she decided to return, she knew she was making the right choice. She was also quite sure she and Abby would have a wonderful time, and then she would come home to spend the winter right where she wanted to be.

Four days later, Carrie stood next to the wagon already pointed toward Richmond. She wrapped her arms around Robert. “I’ll miss you,” she murmured.

Robert smiled as he leaned down to kiss her. “You’ll be back in two weeks. You’re not leaving, Carrie, you’re going on vacation. I hope you have a wonderful time.”

Carrie grinned. “You’re right.” She was very much looking forward to her time with Abby and Janie. Matthew had left two days earlier to cover the elections in Washington, DC. Janie would start school almost immediately upon their arrival, while she and Abby would have time to enjoy the city. She knew Abby had some business obligations, but she had already been assured they would not take much time.

Felicia ran out onto the porch. “Don’t forget you promised you would be back, Carrie.”

Carrie gave the girl a firm nod. “I wouldn’t miss the Leonid Shower for anything,” she assured her. “I know I could see it in Philadelphia, but I also know the street lights would diminish it, and I want to have you there to explain everything to me. I’ll be here, Felicia,” she promised again.

Felicia, obviously satisfied, nodded and then ran forward to hug Thomas one more time. “Thank you for everything, Uncle Thomas.”

Thomas knelt down so he would be at eye level and took her in his arms again. “I’m proud of you, Felicia.”

Felicia looked startled for a moment, and then her smile beamed out. “You’ll send me everything about the election as soon as you get it?”

Thomas smiled back. “I’m sending a special courier just for you as soon as we have the results,” he told her.

Felicia stared at him, wide-eyed with wonder. “By special courier,” she gasped. “Really?”

“I promise. This election will probably mean more to your people than any other election in history. I won’t leave you in suspense.”

“It is important that black men get the vote,” Felicia said. “That won’t happen until Congress is held by enough Republicans to veto anything President Johnson comes up with.”

Abby cocked her head. “Just black
men
, Felicia?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Felicia said in a solemn tone. “I wish women would get the vote at the same time, but it’s not going to happen.”

“And why is that?” Abby pressed.

Felicia frowned. “Partly because I don’t believe our country is ready for it, but everything I have read also tells me that women are not united enough to make it happen. There are too many women who don’t understand the necessity of having a voice.”

Abby was the one to frown now. “I’m afraid you’re right, my dear.”

“It won’t be long before I will be able to help, Aunt Abby,” Felicia said fervently. “I’ll be eleven years old soon, and then I will just keep getting older.  I believe this will be a long battle, but there are a lot of us growing up who will be able to make sure it happens. I believe it will happen in my lifetime.”

Abby seemed at a loss for words as she gazed at Felicia.

“I told you she’s not your average ten-year-old,” Thomas said.

“I’m almost eleven,” Felicia protested.

“When is your birthday?” Carrie asked.

Felicia grinned.  “The same day as the Leonid Meteor Shower,” she revealed.  “It will be the best birthday present ever!”

Thomas smiled.  “You’re almost eleven,” he agreed.  “But you’re still not an average
eleven
year old.”

“You’re absolutely right.” Abby knelt down beside Thomas. “You are a remarkable girl, Felicia Samuels.”

“Not a remarkable
little
girl? So many people tell me I shouldn’t worry so much about these things because I’m just a little girl.”

“You are definitely not a little girl,” Abby said. “You are a very intelligent young lady on the verge of becoming a powerful woman. Age should never make a difference.” She reached out and grasped Felicia’s hand. “Keep learning. I predict people will be listening to what you have to say very soon. In fact, I’m going to make quite sure they do.”

Felicia straightened as her eyes snapped with a determined confidence. “I’ll keep learning, Aunt Abby. I’ll be ready when the time is right.”

Abby met her eyes squarely, woman to woman. “I know you will be, Felicia.
I know you will be
.”

Robert grinned as Mark and Susan emerged from the barn. “Did you get your goodbyes all said?” he called teasingly.

Susan laughed. “I can hardly bear to leave them,” she murmured. “I know all those babies are in the best hands possible, but I’m heartbroken that I won’t see them again until spring.”

Amber, walking at their side, piped in. “They aren’t even going to look the same, Miss Susan. They’ll be almost all grown.”

“Great…” Susan groaned. “Just rub it in.” Then she brightened. “Those colts and fillies are going to put our stable on the map, just like they are going to do for you.”

Amber nodded. “Yes, ma’am. I reckon that is true. Me and Clint will work real hard with them over the winter.”

“Clint and
I
will work with them.” Rose corrected as she gazed down from the porch, Hope asleep on her shoulder.

Amber shook her head sadly, but her eyes danced with fun. “You see what it’s like, Miss Susan? All I want to do is work with horses, and instead I have my teacher hounding me about how to talk. I just can’t ever seem to get away from it.”

Susan patted her shoulder. “You’ll be glad for it one day,” she promised. “Most people, rightly or wrongly, judge others by how they speak. You don’t want anything to stand in your way of being seen as exactly what you are—a smart girl who is also an amazing horse trainer.”

Amber lifted her head proudly. “Yes, ma’am,” she replied. “Clint and
I
will work with your colts and fillies all winter long. I promise you and Mr. Mark will be thrilled with them.”

“That I’m sure of,” Mark agreed as he pulled Amber into his arms to hug her tightly. “It has been an honor meeting you, Amber.”

Amber ducked her head shyly, but her eyes shone with delight. “Thank you, Mr. Mark. Will I see you in the spring?”

“That you will, young lady. We had discussed Robert shipping them up to us, but we feel better about taking the entire journey with them. We’ll be back in April or May, depending on the road conditions, to take all of them home.”

A sharp whinny sounding from the pasture made all of them laugh.

“Not you, All My Heart!” Amber called. “No one will ever take
you
away from me.”

The laughter increased as All My Heart stared at her young mistress and bobbed her head several times to confirm the promise.

Matthew gazed up at the Capitol Building in Washington, DC, his heart pounding as he envisioned what must be happening within Congress. He had lived through many exciting and intense times in American history, but he was quite certain none of them could exceed the impact the next months and years would have. The war had changed the canvas of the country. What happened in the next months and years would determine what was painted on that canvas.

“Wouldn’t you like to be inside those walls today?”

Matthew nodded as Peter Wilcher joined him on the bench. He had been thrilled to run into his friend the day he had arrived in the city. They had secured a hotel room together, sharing the exhilaration of the election returns as they had come in. “I would give just about anything to be in there,” he admitted.

Peter leaned his lanky frame back against the wooden slats. “There’s never been an election like this,” he said, satisfaction dripping from his voice.

Matthew smiled. “It’s the first time a midterm election has swung so far from the typical results,” he mused, creating his next article in his mind as he spoke. Political experience said this election should have resulted in the Republican Party losing influence. Instead, the party that had taken power with Lincoln’s election had just swept the midterm elections as well, giving them enough members in Congress to gain the two-thirds majority required to override any of President Johnson’s vetoes.

Peter chuckled. “The most amazing thing is that the Democrats seem to be actually shocked by the results. Surely they knew what was coming.”

Matthew lifted a brow as he stared up at Lady Liberty reigning over the city from her perch atop the Capitol Building. “I think they actually believed the possibility of black suffrage would sway enough people from the Radical Republican stance to change the outcome of the election.”

Peter scowled. “In spite of the Democrats’ insistence on making the entire election about black rights, the country is smart enough to recognize this election actually determined whether the war had any true meaning or not. The last months have made it obvious that President Johnson’s policies are doing nothing but allowing the South to recreate the same society that led us into the war in the first place. The country has paid too high of a price to allow that to happen.” He glanced over at Matthew. “The articles you wrote after the riots in Memphis and New Orleans played a large role in making people realize the truth.”

“Thank you,” Matthew replied, wishing he could believe that, but too frustrated with the reality for Peter’s statement to make him feel better. “We still have a long way to go, though. While the Republicans have regained Congress, the situation in Memphis and New Orleans is still ridiculous. It’s not going to change,” he added. He watched the wind catch the flag flying over the Capitol. The breeze caught it and made it stand out strongly against the blue sky. The sight caused a mixture of pride and a despair he was doing his best to battle.

Peter turned to look at him more fully. “I’m afraid the election has taken all my attention,” he said apologetically. “I’ve lost track of what has happened in the aftermath of the riots.”

“You and the rest of the country,” Matthew said wearily. “I’m sorry. I know the elections have taken up the majority of everyone’s time and attention, but the people of Memphis have received nothing in the way of justice.”