The Quaker and the Rebel (16 page)

Captain Smith stared at him quizzically, but the matter was soon out of their hands. Inside, someone extinguished the barn’s lantern. Then they heard the door open and close with a thud. Miss Kitty began to prance as the mysterious rider struggled to get on her back. The rider, swathed in a hooded cloak, patted the horse’s flank before heading up the path. As luck would have it—for the colonel, not for Miss Emily Harrison—the moon emerged from the clouds and the wind blew back her hood as the rider passed their hidden position.

Neither man had any doubt as to the identity of the fair-skinned, auburn-haired woman sitting astride in the saddle. At the top of the hill she spurred her horse toward Front Royal and vanished into the shadows. Alexander was left staring into the night with a clenched jaw and wrath emanating from his eyes like sparks from a bonfire.

True to his word, Porter Bennington returned to Hunt Farms the following evening, haggard and ten pounds thinner. Upon his arrival he went straight to the farm pond with a bar of lye soap and scrubbed himself until his skin was nearly raw. Mr. Hunt’s valet scurried around with towels and fresh clothes, not knowing quite what to make of someone bathing in the pond. The doctor instructed the servant to burn the clothes worn in Front Royal and to tell no one. Later he joined his family at the dinner table eager to hear about what he’d missed at the ball. For the remaining years Augusta and Porter would spend together, he never spoke of his days at the hospital following the battle of Winchester, despite her attempts to coax him. It remained
an experience he would never forget. The unspeakable carnage he witnessed and treated—the aftermath of what men did in battle—would stay with him always. He no longer viewed the Southern cause as glorious. Neither side could possibly receive God’s grace with boys as young as twelve dying on the battlefield.

Porter’s nephew did not attend his reunion dinner, however. Alexander had mysteriously disappeared and still hadn’t returned to Hunt Farms. No one seemed to know where he’d gone. Emily was also absent. She had complained of a piercing headache and excused herself for the remainder of the day. Because light or sound made the jarring pain worse, she had asked not to be disturbed by anyone.

Lila certainly didn’t disturb her because she knew Emily was not cloistered in her room with a cool cloth pressed to her forehead. She wasn’t in the house at all. Lila didn’t like lying—it wasn’t how she’d been raised. But she would even break the Commandment about bearing false witness to help Emily. Lila spent the day in the basement kitchen helping her mother in order to keep from running into Mrs. Bennington or Mrs. Hunt. That evening she sat alone on the back steps listening to hoot owls and crickets, unable to sleep until Emily safely returned. So many things could go wrong. This close to the front lines, armed patrols stopped and questioned everyone. Or Emily could simply lose her way on unfamiliar roads. When Lila finally spotted her friend riding up the drive, she breathed a sigh of relief and ran to open the stable door.

Emily quietly entered the barn, dismounted, and then pulled the saddle from Miss Kitty’s back. She startled upon noticing Lila in the shadows. “I’m so glad to see you.” Emily threw her arms around Lila breathlessly. “I was so scared, Lila. I didn’t think it would be so dark on the roads. I know how absurd that sounds, but I thank God that Miss Kitty was able to find her way home.”

Lila hugged her fiercely. “It doesn’t sound absurd. Of course you
were scared. Any normal person would be, but I’m proud of what you’re doing.”

A stable boy crept from the shadows and silently took the saddle from Emily. He placed it on the shelf and began rubbing down the sweaty horse. “Thank you, Jack.” Emily nodded her gratitude. “Did Mrs. Bennington or Mrs. Hunt get suspicious?” she asked Lila.

“Nope, not that I could tell. I stayed out of their way today.”

“What about Alexander? Did he inquire about me?” Her voice faltered.

“No, he’s not home from Front Royal yet. William came back alone with the empty wagon.”

“Is that so?” Emily didn’t like this news one bit as they left Miss Kitty in Jack’s capable hands. “I’d better get upstairs before someone notices me gone. Good night, Lila. Sweet dreams.” But Emily’s dreams were anything but sweet as she tossed and turned for most of the night. The next morning she overslept and found her employers already in the dining room.

“Good morning, Miss Harrison,” greeted Dr. Bennington.

“Welcome back from Front Royal, sir. I’m sure you’re glad to be home. Good morning, Mrs. Bennington, Mr. and Mrs. Hunt.” Smiling politely, she nodded at the other three. When she noticed Alexander had not yet come down to breakfast, her smile faded.

“Yes, Miss Harrison, I am,” said Dr. Bennington. “If your headache is better, I have a favor to ask of you.”

Hiding her confusion, Emily filled her plate with biscuits and sausage gravy. “I feel fine this morning, sir. How can I help?”

“I must cross the lines into Frederick to buy medicine. Our surgeons are frightfully low on laudanum, quinine, and chloroform. I heard apothecaries there have it for sale, and because I treat as many Union soldiers as Confederate, the people of Frederick shouldn’t mind selling to me.”

“Oh no, Porter,” interrupted his wife. “You’ve just gotten back. You’ll be no use to the wounded if you drop over dead yourself.” Her strong words reflected her anxiety.

“Don’t worry yourself, my dear.” He reached over to pat her hand. “I will deliver the supplies to the field hospital and then return to here. The enlisted doctors have the situation well under control now.”

“How can I help?” asked Emily.

“I would like you and Lila to visit my office in Martinsburg and load up a list of things.” He produced a folded sheet and placed it on the table. “Because Lila often assisted me on the island, she should be familiar with most of the items. But I don’t want the two of you traveling alone. James, can you spare someone to drive them?”

“I would send Alexander, but he’s off on one of his jaunts.” Mr. Hunt shook his head. “I’ll send William. He can be counted on to conduct the ladies safely to Martinsburg and back.”

“Thank you. I’m in your debt.” Dr. Bennington pulled his plate of breakfast closer.

“Nonsense, and I’m coming with you. If medicine is for sale in Frederick, I will be the one buying it. I can’t let you earn all the laurels while I sit around on my backside. How would that look to my wife?”

“In that case don’t forget your wallet. We’ll buy all they have available.” Dr. Bennington smiled at his brother-in-law with appreciation.

Emily finished her breakfast in silence, only vaguely aware of table conversation. She had sworn not to help the Southern cause. She was determined to use her employment solely for her Underground Railroad purposes. But how could she refuse Dr. Bennington, especially as the supplies could as easily save the life of a loyal Unionist as a Rebel? Then her lips curled into a smile as her mind crafted the perfect solution. The Bennington mansion in Martinsburg would be empty except for a few slaves. But it would be fully stocked with food for their benefit and in anticipation of the family’s return. Who was to say their trip to his office couldn’t include a stop at the barn in Berryville? Emily couldn’t stop grinning. This would be easier than she hoped with only one problem. William wouldn’t do as their driver. As Alexander’s valet, William was loyal to him. She couldn’t trust the man to keep quiet about odd things he might see. Judging by the stable boy’s behavior
last night, Jack would be a better choice. She would wait until the last minute and insist upon him, giving William no opportunity to argue.

There was nothing quite like a perfect plan.

Emily’s plan, however, proved far from perfect. William put up a fuss when she chose Jack instead of him. “He doesn’t know the roads well, Miss Harrison, because he seldom leaves Hunt Farms. What if you and Lila get lost?” William crossed and uncrossed his arms. “Mr. Alexander is not going to like this. No, ma’am. He’s not going to like this a’tall.”

“I appreciate your concern, William, but I insist on Jack. Mr. Hunt will need you here when he returns from his trip.” Emily refused to budge, even though William continued to mutter as he walked away.

Mr. Alexander doesn’t have a say-so in the matter
. Unfortunately, Lila also thought taking Jack was a bad idea.

“Why can’t William go?” she pleaded. “Jack is a skinny runt of a man, not much older than a boy. What good is he if we find ourselves in a scrap?”

“Stop and think about this.” Emily set her valise in the buggy. “William probably won’t like the idea of two people disappearing during Mr. Hunt’s absence. He’s loyal to him. He’ll try to stop me, or at least tell Alexander when he returns. This is serious, Lila. I could be arrested and jailed.”

“I know it’s serious. I could get in trouble just for being with you. But just because William is free black like me doesn’t mean he won’t help a widow and her child reach freedom.” Lila crossed her arms, mimicking William’s posture.

“I’ve made up my mind and refuse to take the chance,” insisted Emily. “You only prefer William’s company because you fancy him. Please climb aboard. We need to go.”

While Jack held the reins and Lila sulked, Emily plotted their
route from Front Royal to Martinsburg via Berryville on her map. Although Jack seemed a nice young man, he couldn’t read or write and was indeed unfamiliar with the roads. But on the other hand, he didn’t raise an eyebrow as a twenty-year-old woman and her month-old son crawled into the storage compartment of the buggy. Before dawn, Emily had checked the space to be sure it contained enough cracks for air. Then she stowed the woman and her son inside and left their canteens of water and hampers of food under a tarp.

Lila had learned from the kitchen staff the name of a likely candidate for their first attempt at setting someone free. Widowed the previous spring from a yellow fever epidemic, the woman refused to marry any suitors who presented themselves. Annabelle had no parents or siblings at Hunt Farms, either slave or free, and few friends. Emily had approached the woman during one of her nightly walks near the slave cabins. Although at first reluctant to talk, Annabelle worried she would be sold to another plantation and possibly separated from her son. She possessed few skills to earn money to purchase her freedom. Being sold to another plantation was a fear she shared with the entire slave population.

“I’ve got nothing holding me here,” she whispered to Emily during their initial meeting. “I heard winters up north are cold and free Canada is nothing but a wilderness, but I ain’t takin’ a chance of ending up where they beat folks. Most plantations ain’t run like this one.” Annabelle had locked eyes with Emily. “I have someone worth living for…even if it means dying. Gabriel is gonna grow up free.” She hugged the boy to her heart, and at that moment her destiny with Emily had been decided.