Her Captain's Heart (19 page)

But she'd fainted. Or had Orrin knocked her unconscious—or worse? He pressed his head against her chest, listening for her heartbeat. It was rapid but strong. He looked around for the rest. “Joseph? Beth?”

“Here. I'm here.” Joseph staggered into the room, supported by Dace. “When they broke down the door, they knocked me out.” Dace helped Joseph onto the rocker by the fireplace. “Beth's sleeping.”

Then Samuel came in, his rifle in hand. “Why don't you build up the fire, Matt? So we can see what needs tending here.” Samuel walked over and lit the oil lamp on the mantel. Though he didn't want to leave Verity's side, Matt started a fire in the hearth.

Then Dace and Samuel stood around the love seat where Matt again knelt, all of them gazing down at Verity, unconscious. Her lip had been split and her eye was swollen. Matt wanted to kill Orrin Dyke with his bare hands. Dace handed him a handkerchief and Matt dabbed her lip with it. Rage still tore through him.

He looked up at Dace. “Is Dyke dead?”

“Yes, I shot him,” Samuel answered.

Dace glanced at Samuel, shocked.

Matt could feel only satisfaction. The bully would never strike a woman or child again. “Dyke must have set up the cross-burning to cover attacking Verity.”

“Probably.” Samuel still looked angry and ready to shoot more Klansmen.

“I shot one of his lowlife cousins,” Dace said. “Matt, you must have winged another one, who high-tailed it away. I'm sorry we didn't get here sooner, but Alec had to run the whole way from his place to mine. He'd overheard what his dad was going to do and he came for me to stop it.”

Matt heard the bitterness, anger and irony in his cousin's voice. “You didn't know, then, that the Klan has popped up here?” Matt asked his cousin.

Dace gave him a dark look. “I thought it was just a matter of time. But burning a cross is one thing. Attacking this good lady is quite another. I wouldn't permit
any
woman to be attacked, even if she hadn't saved my life.”

Dace's words ignited the flash and flame of Matt's old anger. “Well, at least you did more for this lady and her family than your father did for my family all those years ago. When they broke out all the windows and rode around our house shooting guns, my mother was terrified. She trembled and wept for days.”

“At least she survived,” Dace snapped. “If my father hadn't stepped in, all three of you would have been lynched that night.”

Matt gawked at his cousin.

“I'm not saying it was right. But your father knew the temper of the county at that time—”

“He did what he knew was right,” Matt declared, rising. “That man was a free black and he didn't deserve what had been done to him. The judge would have been happy to rule against the man, but the facts and documents were crystal clear.” He glanced down at Verity, still lying silent and motionless.

Dace frowned. “I didn't know that. All I know is my father let it be known that if any harm came to your family, he would make the ones involved pay for it with their lives. He was prepared to call out anyone who harmed them.”

“Dace.” Samuel spoke up in his steady, cool voice. “From your way of thinking that was what your father should have done in the situation. But to my way of thinking, Matt's father shouldn't have been in danger for seeking justice for a black man. Just for doing what was right. If you'd been that free black, how would you have felt being pressed back into slavery?”

The three friends stared at each other.

Samuel continued in that calm, clear voice, “I know what it felt like to be a slave. And the fact that I ran away should have told you what I thought of it.”

“Why did you run away?” Dace sounded as if he'd long wondered about this.

A brand-new thought pierced Matt. Had Dace missed him and Samuel?
I never thought of that.

Samuel sucked in breath. “I fell in love with Abby—you all knew that. But by the time I was fifteen, I realized that I could never protect her. I could marry her but still not keep her safe from any white man who would want her.” Samuel's voice was tinged with anger. “Falling in love made me feel powerless in a way I had not before. And I realized that no matter how long I stayed here or how hard I worked, I would never be more than a
boy.
I would never be a man. I couldn't stand that, so I made my plans and my connections and I got on the Underground Railroad, headed north.”

“No one would have harmed Abby on our plantation,” Dace said, sounding defensive.

“Are you sure about that?” Samuel challenged with keen sarcasm.

“My father and I—”

“What about your overseer, Dace?” Samuel asked. “What about the fact that though Abby's family had been slaves on the Ransford plantation for over a hundred years, your wife sold Abby South—away from her people—just so she could buy a new dress?”

Silence. Matt watched Dace chew the inside of his cheek, an old childhood sign of stress. Dace clearly didn't like what he was hearing, but it was the truth.

“Samuel, your leaving didn't help Abby any.” Joseph spoke up, reminding Matt he was in the room.

Samuel looked stung. He gave a dry, mirthless chuckle. “I was only fifteen. I wasn't very wise at that age.” He paused. “Dace, slavery is still tearing you all apart. How many people have to die before the South admits it was wrong? Before you admit that my dark skin doesn't make me less of a man?”

Matthew waited for Dace to reply to Samuel's question. But Dace gave no answer. Evidently Dace would not willingly accept a future that included free black men voting. Dace sat down on the love seat and put his head in his hands. “Lirit ran off today. She left me a note and took off with some stranger.”

Matt looked at Samuel. This news shocked neither of them. Matt leaned over to listen to Verity's heartbeat again. Her soft hair tickled his face.
Please wake up. Soon.

“You're well rid of that woman.” Joseph spoke up. “Find yourself a sweet woman this time. Pretty lasts only so long. True beauty that shines from a woman's heart lasts for eternity. And it helps if she's a good cook.” Joseph smiled and then rose from the rocker. “Will one of you help me up to my bed? I'm an old man and I'm feeling it tonight. Thank God little Beth slept through all this. The sleep of the innocent.”

Samuel went to help Joseph. Dace said, “I'll go get help to remove Orrin and his cousin's bodies. And I'll put out the word that I killed them.”

Matt knew why Dace was telling this lie—it was to protect Samuel and his family. Otherwise, the Klan would come after them.

Samuel paused at the door and looked back at Dace. “Thank you, Dace. And how would you like to host my wedding to Abby in a couple of days?”

“I'd like that fine,” Dace said, then exhaled deeply. “I'd like to see you and Abby happy. And you, too, Matt. If you let Mrs. Hardy slip through your fingers, you're a blockhead.”

Matt felt a soft hand squeeze his and looked down. “Verity.” He took her hand and kissed it.

“Matthew,” she whispered, her eyes worried. “Where—”

“I'm here. Don't be frightened. Orrin's gone and we're all safe.” He gently stroked the hair that had come loose from her hairpins. The past now made some sort of sense.

Dace, just like his father, had been caught up in the blindness of slavery but had not abandoned Matt's parents then. Or Matt now. Now he knew why Samuel had run away. And now Samuel had found Abby and was going to marry her. Even Dace had been given a second chance. He was well rid of Lirit. Matt heard his cousin's words again:
If you let Mrs. Hardy slip through your fingers, you're a blockhead.

Verity whispered, “I was frightened. Beth, is she—”

“Beth slept through it all somehow. Don't worry.” He kissed her forehead without thinking.

“Matthew, thee is kissing me again. What does that mean?”

“It means you're going to marry me, Verity Hardy. As soon as Cates and Wolford get another teacher here, you'll quit teaching. I'm going to take good care of you and Beth. And nothing is ever going to separate us again.”

Verity drew in a deep breath. “Yes. Nothing is going to separate us again. But, Matthew, the children—”

He bent down and kissed her bruised lips gently.
She will be mine and I will be hers.
Then he swept her up and carried her toward the stairs. “I'll put you to bed, but I'm sleeping here in the parlor. I'm not taking any chances with your safety tonight.”

“Whatever thee thinks is best, Matthew.”

Matt grinned. He wondered how often his headstrong wife would repeat those words in the years to come. The corners of his mouth tried to crinkle up.
Thank you, Father, for this woman. I probably don't deserve her, but I'll do my best for her and Beth. With Thy help.

 

Three days later Matt, Verity, Joseph and Beth, with Barney jogging happily by their side, walked to the Ransford plantation. A January thaw had blown in the day before. Today was balmy, sunny with beautiful white clouds floating in a true blue sky. When they reached the manor, they saw a large crowd of former slaves gathered on the sunny south lawn, dressed festively. Many happy voices were already singing. Matt led his family to join them. His family. A feeling of joy expanded inside him as he pondered those words.

As they approached the group, Matt was somewhat surprised to see Pastor Savage there. In the past Dacian Ransford, and his father before him, had performed slave marriages. But of course Samuel and Abby were not slaves anymore. Matt easily recognized Abby, whom he had not seen since he left in 1852. She was a very handsome young woman, despite the harsh blows life had dealt her. A boy who looked a bit older than Beth stood on one side of her and a little girl on the other side. During the marriage ceremony, the boy shyly moved to stand beside Samuel, and Samuel took his hand.

Matt felt good seeing Samuel, Abby, her children, and Hannah and Elijah so happy. The outdoor wedding proceeded, with solemn ceremony. Hannah and Elijah stayed at the front of the gathering, beaming.

Matt looked at Verity, who still showed signs of Orrin's attack. She had one blackened eye and a bruised face, and she moved slowly. He thought she might have a cracked rib. Would he ever forget seeing her struggling with Orrin?
No one will ever hurt her again,
he swore to himself.
No one.

Gritting his teeth, Matt dragged his focus back to Samuel and Abby in time to hear Pastor Savage announce, “I now pronounce you man and wife. I present to you all today Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Freeman.”

The gathering shouted and clapped with approval. Beth stood up and cheered. “Samuel got married, Mama!”

Verity smiled and nodded. Then her eyes met Matt's. She blushed and he smiled, tucking her closer. They would tell Beth tonight of their intentions to wed.

Before long, the gathering was dancing and singing. Samuel drew Abby's arm through his and led her and her two children toward Matt.

“Mr. Matt,” Abby greeted him. “I'm happy to see you again. And this is your lady?”

“Yes,” he said, drawing Verity's hand over his arm and wrapping his other arm around Beth.

Verity smiled. “Who are these lovely children?”

“This is my son, Ezra, and my daughter, Delia. Make your bows, children,” Abby said. Both children obeyed, grinning shyly.

“How soon is thee taking thy family to Albany, Samuel?” Verity asked.

“We will be leaving tomorrow,” Samuel said. “My father and my mother will be traveling to New York with us by train. I own a house near Albany with six acres.”

Verity squeezed Matt's hand in hers. “We will miss thee. But perhaps after Matthew finishes his work for the Freedman's Bureau, we can visit thee.”

“Both Abby and I would like that.” Samuel stroked Delia's tightly braided hair and put a hand on Ezra's shoulder.

Matt drew in the hint of lavender that would always mean Verity to him. He wished she wouldn't wear that bonnet. Perhaps after they were married, he would suggest she stop wearing it so he could see her lovely face. He smiled at the thought of her reaction to this suggestion.

Beth was wearing the red ribbons Matthew had given her for Christmas. She glanced up at him and smiled, her innocent affection cutting through any remnant of his hard soldier's heart.

Dace approached them with Alec. “May I wish you every joy, Samuel and Abby.”

Abby curtsied and looked down.

“Thanks, Dace.” Samuel held out his hand. “And thanks for allowing us to hold our wedding here.”

Dace hesitated and then gripped Samuel's hand. “Don't mention it.”

Alec moved to Verity's side. “I'm going to miss coming to school, ma'am,” he said.

Matt was pleased to see the boy here. Orrin had been buried and mourned by very few, least of all by his wife and son. Orrin had been given a sweet wife and a good son and he'd treated them like trash. Why?