The Last, Long Night (#5 in the Bregdan Chronicles Historical Fiction Romance Series) (66 page)

Moses is real strong, June.  If anyone can come back from this he can. 

I don’t think it will be long before we take Richmond.  I’ll write again soon as I can and let you know how things are.

I love you so very much,

Simon

“Moses has been shot…”  Rose made no attempt to hide the tears falling down her face as she turned into June’s arms.  The two women held on to each other as sobs shook their bodies.  Once the tears had run their course, Rose sat back and straightened her shoulders.  “When Simon wrote this letter Moses was still alive,” she said firmly.  “He probably still is.”  What her voice lacked in confidence, she was sure her heart made up for in fervent hope.

June remained silent; her frightened look saying it had been almost ten days since Simon had written that letter.  Why hadn’t another one come through? 

Rose felt June’s fear grab her and pull her in.  Tears filled her eyes again.  Suddenly her mama’s face was clear in her mind; Rose could hear her voice almost as if she were right there. 
Girl, you be borrowin’ trouble ‘fore trouble be here.  That Moses of yours be a real strong man.  And I don’t reckon God be done with him just yet.  You gots to hang on, Rose Girl.  You gots to hang on and send lots of love right through the air to him.  Don’t you be lettin’ those fears of yours swallow you up.  You done come too far.  Hang on!

Rose took a deep breath, willed the fear away, and swallowed back her tears.  “We don’t know anything yet, June.  He could just as likely be alive as be dead.  Until someone tells me he is dead, I’m going to believe he’s alive,” she said firmly.

June nodded slowly, some of the fear receding from her eyes.  “You’re right,” she whispered.

Rose knew the Union army had taken Richmond.  The news had been swirling through the camp for the last four days with wild celebrations in every house, and dancing in the streets all through the lengthening spring days.

“I wish I could go to Richmond,” she said fiercely.  “I want to find Moses.”

“I just might be able to help with that,” said a soft voice behind her.

Rose whirled around.  “Aunt Abby…”  Abby held out her arms.  Rose collapsed into them, her body trembling.  “Moses…”

“I heard,” she said gently.  “I got here a few minutes ago.”

Rose blinked her eyes at her.  “Why are you here?”

“To get you,” Abby replied.  “I’m going to Richmond.  I came to take you with me.”

“To Richmond?” Rose gasped with disbelief.  “Are you serious?”  Her thoughts spun in dizzying circles. 

“I’ll keep John here with me,” June offered instantly.

Rose shook her head.  “John will stay with me.” She couldn’t imagine leaving the warmth and love of her little boy.  And when she found Moses she knew he would need his son.  Then she peered at Aunt Abby.  “Will that be okay?”

“Absolutely.  We’re catching the train out tomorrow morning.  We’ll be there by the afternoon.”

Rose stared at her.  “Carrie,” she said softly.  Then her eyes swam with tears again.  “And I can find Moses.”

Chapter Thirty-Five

Carrie stepped back from her final patient and rubbed the small of her back.  The last few days had been complete chaos as Richmond struggled to deal with the occupation.  The Union had moved all Confederate soldiers to Jackson Hospital, and taken control of Chimborazo for the Union.  Carrie was the only Confederate medical personnel still at Chimborazo; retained because the black soldiers had begged for her to stay with them.  She’d heard that Captain Jones had stepped in to make the odd request a possibility.

“I’m real glad you stayed with us, Miss Carrie.”

Carrie smiled down at Charlie, his eyes clear and free of fever.  “I’m glad, too,” she said sincerely.  Many of the soldiers had shared their stories with her over the last few days.  Her love for these men who had suffered for so long in slavery, and then had to walk through the agonies of war, had grown.  She’d had mixed feelings about losing her patients from Chimborazo, but now she was simply glad she’d had the opportunity to care for these amazing men.

“Them doctors from the Union took care of us back at the camp,” Charlie continued, “but it’s like you done care about us like real people.”

“I do,” Carrie said firmly.  “I know you’ve got a lot of challenges ahead of you now that you’re free, but at least you’re free.  I’m so glad for you.”

Charlie gave her a huge grin.  “Yes’sum, we all be free now!”  He paused, his expression serious.  “Have you heard any word from the armies, Miss Carrie?  I realize we be on different sides,” he said hesitantly.

Carrie smiled softly.  “I want this war over as badly as you do, Charlie.  I accepted a long time ago that we’re not going to win it.”

“That bother you, Miss Carrie?”

Carrie struggled to find the right words.  “I never thought this war should have happened in the first place.  There are times when I wish the North would have just let us go in order to form our own country because it would have spared so many lives and stopped so much destruction, but in the end I’m glad I’m still going to be a citizen of the
entire
United States of America.”  She paused.  “And I can be nothing but glad that the slaves are free.  I know that would not have happened if we had won the war.”  She managed to smile at Charlie.  “I’m sad because of everything that has happened, but I’m not bothered.  We never had a chance to win this war.”

Charlie watched her closely.  “So you don’t mind telling me what is happening?” he asked eagerly.

Carrie laughed.  “My understanding from what I hear is that Grant and Sheridan are in relentless pursuit of our army.  There was a serious loss for the Confederacy two days ago when Sheridan forced over eight thousand men to surrender.”

Charlie whistled.  “That be a lot.”

“Close to a sixth of Lee’s army,” Carrie confirmed.  “There was another battle at High Bridge.  Our troops had set fire to the bridge to keep the Union from pursuing them.  Your troops put out the fires and caught up with them.  I think our troops managed to hold them off, but your soldiers are after them again.”

Charlie nodded.  “I reckon the war about over sho ‘nuff.”

Carrie didn’t want to talk about the battles anymore.  Every thought of it increased her fear of whether Robert would come home to her.  “What are you going to do when the war is over?” she asked.

Charlie stopped grinning and frowned slightly.  “I don’t reckon as how I got an answer to that just yet.  I joined up with the army when they came through my plantation down in Mississippi.  I was real happy to fight to help set everyone free, but I ain’t thought much beyond that. I reckon I’ll figure it out, though.”

Carrie nodded.  She had heard the same story over and over.  She was happy beyond measure that the slaves were free, but she knew they were going to need a lot of help to create new lives.  She hoped there were enough people who cared about them to make it possible; that those who had fought for their freedom would fight just as hard to help them create a new future full of justice and opportunity.

“You were a fine soldier,” she said encouragingly.  “I imagine you’ll do just fine with whatever you decide.”

Charlie stared at her for a few moments and then nodded.  “I reckon you’re right, Miss Carrie.  Did you know the doctor said I was going to get out of here tomorrow?”

“Tired of my company, are you?”

“Of course not…”  Charlie broke off when he saw the laughter in her eyes. “I’m gonna miss you, Miss Carrie, sho’nuff.”

Carrie squeezed his hand.  “I’m glad you’re better, Charlie.  You just keep taking care of yourself,” she added firmly as she pulled off her smock and prepared to leave. 

The sun was sinking low on the horizon when Carrie stepped from the ward, looking for Janie out of habit until she remembered she was now at Jackson Hospital.  Oh well, they would have dinner together.  All of them were now crowding into Moses’ room to eat so they could share that time with him.  May cared for him during the day, treating him like he was a hero. 

So many gaps had been filled in with hours of conversation, but it had also increased her ache to see Rose.  Surely it wouldn’t have to be much longer.  She had sent a letter to Fort Monroe for Moses just the day before, but she didn’t know how long it would take to arrive.  Simon had told her about the letter he had sent June so she was sure Rose was sick with worry and fear.  She frowned as she thought about what her best friend must be feeling.

“Sure is a nice day for a frown.”

Carrie heard the words and registered the voice, but was sure her thoughts had conjured them up.  She continued moving down the hill.

“Maybe she didn’t hear you.”

Carrie froze.  How could she have conjured up Aunt Abby’s voice too?  She hadn’t been thinking about her just then. Slowly, telling herself the whole time that she had to be imagining it, she turned toward the voices.  She gasped when she saw the two women silhouetted against the woods, the setting sun casting a glow over their bodies.

“Carrie!”  Moments later Rose rushed into her arms, laughing and crying. 

Carrie stared in disbelief and then burst into joyous tears.  Her heart swelled until she thought it would surely burst from her chest.  “Rose!  Rose!”

“Carrie!” 

They went back to rocking and hugging, ignoring the stares of medical personnel passing by.

“You’re two intelligent women, so I know you can say more than just each other’s names,” came a teasing voice.

Carrie suddenly remembered the other voice she had heard.  She froze again, her eyes growing wide. 
              Rose laughed with delight.  “It’s not a dream, Carrie.”

“Aunt Abby?” Carrie whispered, turning slowly to see Abby standing with her arms open.  With a cry she rushed into her arms, and began to cry and laugh all over again.  “How…  Where did you…  When…?”

Abby laid a finger over Carrie’s lips as she held her back to stare into her face.  “You’ll get your questions answered,” she said softly.  “I just want to look at you.”

Rose moved up to stand beside Carrie and wrap an arm around her waist. 

“Both my girls together,” Aunt Abby said quietly, struggling to control her emotion.  “We’ve all waited so long…”

Carrie stared from one to the next, struggling to capture her breath.  Finally she shook her head.  “I don’t care how you got here.  I’m just so glad you’re real and that I’m not hallucinating.” 

“Mama!”  A wail of protest split the air.  A nurse stepped forward, a toddler squirming in her arms.

“I’m sorry, Miss.  I couldn’t keep him quiet any longer.”

Rose laughed and reached for the little boy.

Carrie put her hand out and stroked her finger down his tear-stained cheek.  “John…  You’re so beautiful. You look just like your daddy.”

“Thank you, he…” Rose said, a brilliant smile on her face, and then fell silent, confusion clouding her face.  “How did you know about John, Carrie?  He hadn’t been born when Moses saw you at the plantation.” 

Carrie smiled, joy exploding in her heart, and held out a hand to each of them.  “To quote a friend,
‘You’ll get your questions answered’
.”  She began to walk rapidly down the hill.  “We have so much to talk about, but first I have something to show you.”  She shook her head when she saw both of them open their mouth to ask questions.  “Not another word,” she said playfully as her heart threatened to burst wide open again. 

Carrie was laughing as she hurried up the stairs to the house.  “This is my home,” she explained simply, not bothering to say anything else.  She waved at May and Miles when she strode into the house, but didn’t bother with explanations; instead she pulled Rose and Aunt Abby up the stairs, John grinning happily as he bounced on his mama’s hip.  If Moses was sleeping, the clatter of footsteps was sure to wake him.

She slowed when she reached his door, and then put a hand out to stop Aunt Abby.  She smiled and nodded at Rose.  “There is a surprise in there for you,” she said, hardly able to contain herself.

Rose stared at her and then walked into the room.  Her scream sounded a moment later.  “Moses!”  A sound of joyous laughter exploded from the room.  “Moses!”

“Rose! My Rose!”  Moses’ booming voice vibrated through the house.

Only then did Carrie walk into the room.  Rose was down on her knees beside the bed; her head nestled on her husband’s shoulder, John dancing around on the floor with excitement.

Carrie scooped him up where he could stare down at his father.

“Daddy!  Daddy!” 

Moses’ face was split with a grin as he looked up at Carrie.  “I know… I know...” he said, “I’ll get my questions answered soon.”

“
Your
questions?” Rose breathed.  “I can hardly believe I’m really seeing you.  I’ve been so worried.”

“Me, too!” Aunt Abby said as she walked into the room.