Storm Clouds Rolling In (72 page)

Sarah rolled over and looked at John.
Then she gazed toward the bed of ashes banking the fire. Normally John would already have the fire roaring by this time of the morning. Sarah smiled and rolled out from under her blankets. After doing it herself for so many years, it certainly hadn’t taken her long to become spoiled. No matter, when John woke up this morning it was going to be to a warm cabin. Sarah stirred the ashes until live coals lit the tinder she held out to them. In only a few minutes she had hungry flames licking at the armloads of wood she had dumped into the fireplace. Humming softly, she turned to stir up some cornbread for breakfast.

She smiled at John’s sleeping form, but she suddenly felt a vague uneasiness.
She stood quietly and watched him. What was wrong? Suddenly she knew—a deep knowing that caused her hands to tremble and her heart to pound. Frightened, she just stood there staring at him, willing him to wake up.

Rose was striding up the path when she saw the smoke rising from her mama and daddy’s cabin.
She was in a hurry to get home to Moses, but something made her break stride and turn toward the tiny cabin. When a knock on the door produced nothing, she frowned slightly and turned away. A slight sound caused her to turn back and stare at the door.

“Rose girl?”

The voice was so low Rose wasn’t sure if she heard it or just imagined it.
It was enough to make her push the cabin door open. She stepped inside, and then stopped in confusion. Her mama stood still as a statue beside the table, her hands still covered with cornmeal, staring toward the bed where her husband lay. Rose turned to look at her daddy. He was still sleeping peacefully, just his face showing above the blankets. “Mama? What’s wrong, Mama?”

Sarah still stared at the bed.
Slowly, she began shaking her head as if trying to force herself to accept what she could not bear to. “John.” Her voice was just a whisper, but somehow that single word spoke a lifetime of loving.

“Daddy?”
Rose had a sudden urge to run from the cabin. Instead, she stepped over and forced herself to put her hand out and touch her daddy. “Daddy!” she cried, and then collapsed beside the bed with gigantic sobs.

             
Sarah moved over to wrap her arms around her daughter’s shaking shoulders and gently stroked her head. Moses found them that way when he entered the cabin. Sarah looked up at him. “Rose be needin’ you now, Moses.” She stepped back and allowed Moses to take Rose into his arms.

“How long?” he asked simply.

Sarah shook her head. “The Lord done took him sometime in the night. When I woke up he was already gone.”

Rose pulled back from Moses’
s embrace. “But why?” she cried. “Why would God take him? We just got him back! We just got him back...” Her voice trailed off in a confused whimper.

“Yes,” Sarah said.
“We got him back. That’s the important thin’. All those years, I just prayed God would let me see him again. I never did say for how long,” she mused. “This last few weeks been like heaven to me. We done did a lot of loving these last few weeks.”

Rose stared at her.
“But aren’t you angry, Mama?”

Sarah smiled.
“Angry? I’ll miss my John, sure ‘nuff, but it ain’t gonna be eighteen years before I see him again. I reckon it won’t be long now ‘fore there won’t be nothin’ to keep us apart.” She walked over and laid her hand on Rose’s head. “God gave us a special gift, Rose. We could have lived our whole life and never seen him again. We done got a real special gift.”

Rose tried to hear her
mama. She tried to find solace in the fact that her daddy had been restored to her for three glorious weeks. She closed her eyes and remembered the long walks they had taken and the long talks they had shared. Tears continued to roll down her face, but slowly her mama’s peace filtered into her own heart.

Rose’s daddy had been laid to rest in a shallow grave carved out of the frozen ground. It was four days later before Rose thought to tell Moses about her dream, or vision, or whatever it was, down on the rocks.              

Cradled in Moses’
s arms, Rose stared into the flickering flames of the fire. “One year, Moses. The voice said we would be free in a year.” Once again she felt the awe she had experienced that morning on the rock. Suddenly, she realized Moses was frowning. “What’s wrong, Moses?”

He spoke reluctantly, “What about your mama?”

“Mama!” Rose gasped as the meaning of Moses’s question hit her heart. She had sworn never to leave her mama. With her daddy gone, she was once again all her mama had. She shook her head slowly. “I don’t know, Moses. I don’t know… I’m just telling you what I heard.”

Neither one spoke for a long time as they stared into the flames and pondered what the coming year would bring.

THIRTY-FOUR

The blush of spring was kissing Virginia as the month of March claimed the wintry landscape.
Red maple buds bulged with the promise of life. Low-hanging willows proudly sported their fresh tendrils of green. Carrie was glad for the robes tucked around her legs. The sun was warm, but the air was still nippy as Charles urged the horses down the road at a rapid trot. She leaned back against the carriage seat and pulled out the two letters that had prompted her sudden trip to Richmond. The first was from her father.

        
Dear Carrie,

I find I have not much time to write.
The political affairs of our country are consuming all my time and energy. Having just returned from Washington, there is too much happening at present for me to make a trip to Cromwell. I miss you, daughter. It would give me great pleasure if you would come to visit your devoted father. I’m sure it would also do you good to get away from the plantation for a while. I will look forward with great anticipation to a positive response.

With deep love,

Father

Carrie smiled as she folded the letter and slipped it back into its envelope.
There was a troubled look on her face when she pulled out the second letter.

       
Dear Carrie,

How I miss you.
With activity so slow on the plantation during the winter months, I have found myself often in Richmond. I have become very involved with the militia units Governor Letcher has been so wise to develop. My cavalry unit from Goochland continues to give me many reasons to be proud of them, and I am finding myself in demand in Richmond as our leaders discuss the preparation of Virginia’s defense if we have need of it. That we will indeed have need of it becomes more certain in my mind every day.

I long to see you,
Carrie. I visited with your father recently and know he feels the same way. I am writing to add to his plea for you to come to Richmond. I long to get away and come visit you, but it seems to be impossible now. Please put two men out of their misery. Come to Richmond soon!

With deep affection,

Robert

Carrie released a heavy sigh as she stared at Robert’s letter.
Her internal struggle had not lessened since Christmas Day when she had discovered Robert’s horrendous actions on his plantation. That his actions were completely legal under Virginia law made not one bit of difference to her. The very thought of it caused loathing in her soul, and her efforts to put it out of her mind had been to no avail. The arrival of the two letters had made her accept the truth. She must face the issue. No longer could she run from it. She had left Cromwell only three days after receiving her letters.

Carrie gazed up at the handsome brick house
as Charles stopped the carriage. Overlooking the city from its impressive perch on Church Hill, the three-storied structure was graced by a massive front porch, its small yard surrounded by filigreed ironwork. Stately boxwoods lined the walk and blooming camellias surrounded the porch.

“Carrie!”

“Father!” Carrie jumped from the carriage and ran up the stairs to embrace her father. She was relieved by the strong, steady light in his eyes. Obviously, there were no ghosts here to haunt him. “It’s wonderful to see you. I’ve missed you.”

Thomas smiled warmly and kissed her on the cheek.
“Thank you for coming. My old heart needed the sight of my beautiful daughter.” He took her arm and led her into the house. “I have invited Robert over for dinner at six o’clock. He is quite anxious to see you.”

Carrie looked around as she entered the house.
“You have quite a beautiful home here,” she murmured. The expansive entryway was lined with glorious pictures and a glistening chandelier cast its soft glow. A glance into the rooms off the hallway revealed the same kind of splendor. If possible, it was even fancier than the plantation.

Thomas shrugged.
“I bought it as you see it. The previous owner passed away quite suddenly. The one heir didn’t want to be bothered with selling off belongings individually.” He paused. “I am quite comfortable here.” Carrie followed him into the elegant parlor. After they were both seated, he turned to her. “My original intent was to provide a safe haven for you and your mother if war should come and you would have to leave the plantation, but it has served quite well as my residence and base of operations.”

“You look better than I have seen you in months.”