On to Richmond (44 page)

             
Rose stood and walked into her husband’s arms.  She had so much to be thankful for.  Her mama might be gone, but at least they had known each other and been close.  At least they had never been separated by the cruel realities of the slave system.  “I aim to find my brother someday, too,” she said, speaking more to herself than to Moses.     

 
              Moses’ arms tightened around her.  “I know you are.  And I’ll help you.”

             
Rose smiled as his strong voice sounded over her head.  She could face whatever was coming as long as they were together. She thought she had been fine all alone before Moses had come into her life.  She had been content with her teaching and her dreams.  Now she felt complete only when Moses was near her.  “I heard Mama say one time that she felt complete only when my daddy was with her.  I don’t know how she survived all those years without him.”

             
“She survived because she had God.”

             
“Yes,” said Rose thoughtfully, “but it still had to have been hard.  It’s different when you have someone with flesh on right beside you.” 

             
Moses threw back his head and laughed, the deep sound rolling across the trees and reaching into the night.  “I reckon you’re right, Rose girl.”  Then he drew her into his arms and kissed her deeply.

             
Somewhere in the depths of his tender kiss, Rose lost all her fears.   Love pulsed through her being as she returned the kiss with all her heart.  They clung to each other for several long minutes before they pulled away and stared into each other’s face, giving each other the strength and love they would need to overcome what was ahead. 

             
Finally Rose was ready.  She turned, knelt down once more and reached out to touch the cross above her mama’s grave.  “Good-bye, Mama.  Thank you for everything.”  Tears flooded her eyes, but her voice was strong.

             
The night sky was twinkling with a sea of stars when they finally turned and walked away.

Carrie was waiting for Rose and Moses when they reached the barn.  The sun was just beginning to transform the inky sky into glowing cobalt.   If they were going to make their first connection, it was imperative they get an early start.  Unable to sleep,
Carrie had been at the barn for over an hour already.  Granite and the two horses they were going to ride were already fed, tacked, and ready to go.  She was just leading them out when she saw her friends emerge from the darkness of the surrounding trees.

             
“You couldn’t sleep either?”  Rose whispered.

             
Carrie shook her head and then held her finger to her lips.  She didn’t want anyone to know what they were doing.  If they left no trail, there wouldn’t be one to follow later.  Pastor Anthony had been very stern about the procedures they needed to follow if their hastily contrived plan was to work.

             
Rose nodded and held up the meager roll holding the few belongings she was taking along.   Carrie winced but nodded in approval.  Rose could get more material things when she reached freedom.  What was important now was not to attract any attention.  A black couple with a large pack on their horses, or in their hands, would surely attract attention.  Carrie reached for it and quickly tied it on behind Rose’s saddle.  Then she did the same with Moses’.

             
Just before they climbed into the saddles, she held up a hand to detain them.  “Come inside the barn,” she whispered.

             
Rose and Moses looked at each other in surprise then followed her.  Once inside, Carrie reached for the coats she had laid on top of one of the feeders.  “You’re going to need these,” she whispered.  Already the mornings were getting colder.  The first hard frost was not far away.  Both of them were wearing coats, but not ones that would stand up to the cold farther north.  “One belonged to my mother.  The other is an old one of my father’s.  He will never miss it.”

             
Moses smiled and put on the coat she handed him.  It was a little tight across his broad shoulders, but it fit in every other way.  Rose’s fit perfectly. 

             
Carrie nodded and then led them from the barn.  In minutes they were out of sight of the plantation house.  She kept Granite at a steady, ground-eating walk.  She didn’t want hoof beats to alert anyone to their actions.  Only when they were out of sight and earshot, did she talk normally.  “Are you sure no one saw you leaving?”

             
Rose nodded.  “We’re sure.  We left a note for Sam, just like you said.  Just told him it was our time to go and we were leaving.  He’ll tell everyone.”  Her face was a mixture of sadness and excitement.

             
“You two are going to be missed very much.”  Carrie thought of how the other slaves had flocked to Rose after Sarah was gone.  How everyone counted on Moses to take care of things for them.  “It’s not going to be the same around here.”   She didn’t say anything about how her own heart ached over their leaving.  They already knew.

             
Silence engulfed them as, occupied with their own thoughts, they rode on.  The rising sun transformed the deep cobalt into a rich violet and then suddenly diffused it with streaks of orange and pink as it crept over the horizon.  The morning air was chill and fresh, seeming to hold everything in suspension.  All the horses moved easily, invigorated by the fall air.

             
Suddenly the sun exploded onto the scene, throwing its brilliant rays like lightning rods into the glorious sky.  The brilliant blue sky seemed pregnant with fluffy orange and pink puffs of clouds. 

             
“I reckon we can trust a God who can paint a picture like that,” Moses said in a reverent voice. 

             
Carrie said nothing but took courage from the display dancing above her head.  Moses was right.  She knew there were times ahead when she was going to have to hang on to that knowledge. 

             
Just then they came to the first fork in the road.  Carrie deliberately took the one that would lead them east of Richmond.  They needed to stay as far away from the city as possible.  Too many people knew her.  If she was seen, someone was sure to ask her questions, and sooner or later the information would reach her father. 

             
Carrie’s heart ached as she thought of her father.  He was such a loving and kind man in so many ways.  That they were so far apart on this issue caused her great pain.  She knew he would be hurt and angry if he knew what she was doing right now.  She shook her head to force the pictures out of her mind.  She was doing the right thing.  Maybe someday she and her father would see eye to eye. 

             
“How we doing on time, Carrie?”  Rose asked when the sun was high in the sky and the colors had faded to reveal a startlingly clear blue sky. 

             
“We’ll make it.  If we keep up this pace, we should be there ahead of schedule.  That will give you a little time to rest before you have to go on.”

             
“What if the conductor isn’t there?” Moses asked.

             
Carrie tried to smile reassuringly at Moses even though she had entertained the same doubts herself.  “He’ll be there,” she said firmly.  “And if he’s not,” she added after a moment, “we’ll think of something.”  She had no idea what, but she saw no need to say that.  It was too late to turn back now.  “We’ll cross all those bridges when we get to them.  You’ll have to do the same.” 

             
Rose laughed then, a welcome break in the tension.  “Seems like we’re crossing bridges in a lot of ways.”

             
Carrie laughed then, too.  It felt good and released some of the heaviness in her heart.  They were meeting their first conductor under the bridge that ran beneath the Pamunkey River.  Just a few minutes before they had made the turn that dumped them onto the Mechanicsville Turnpike.  Pastor Anthony had at first been concerned about using this route because it was a favorite and a heavily used route for runaways, but finally he had surmised it was the best way.  Carrie’s presence would throw off most suspicions.  Once she had to turn back, they would face more danger, but every precaution would be taken. 

             
“Still seems strange to be running away in broad daylight.”

             
Carrie nodded.  “I know, but Pastor Anthony said it would be the best way to throw off suspicion.  They patrol these roads with the militia pretty heavily at night, but during the day they largely ignore it.” 

             
After a few more minutes, she stopped and pulled her coat off.  “I don’t think I need this anymore.”  The sun, rising steadily in the sky, had taken the early morning chill out of the air.  Moses and Rose followed her lead, quickly tying their coats on top of their packs.  “It will work well to keep anyone from asking questions about your packs, too,” Carrie said. 

             
Then she reached down into her saddle bags and pulled out a carefully wrapped package of biscuits and bacon.  “We have a few minutes.  Let’s stretch our legs and have a bite to eat.”  Once they had tied the horses, they found a large rock beside a tree and settled down to eat. 

             
The sound of hoof beats caused Carrie to lift her head.  Headed straight toward them were several Confederate soldiers.  “Remember what I told you,” Carrie said quietly.  It was all she had time to say. 

             
“Good morning, ma’am,” the one in charge said courteously.

             
“Good morning, Captain,” Carrie responded pleasantly, hoping her tone didn’t reveal her nervousness.  “Beautiful day, isn’t it?”

 
              “That it is, ma’am.”  He looked carefully at the three horses.

             
Carrie watched him closely.  She saw the spark of suspicion in his eyes.  She knew it looked strange.  Surely he was wondering why they weren’t in a carriage - why Moses and Rose were riding horses of their own.  Too late, she realized the very quality of their coats would be suspicious.  What were slaves doing with coats like that?
              “Where you headed, ma’am?”  The captain turned to look at her with sharp eyes. 

             
Carrie smiled brightly.  “Why, Captain, I’m headed to visit some of my family just the other side of Mechanicsville.  Surely you know the McCormicks!” she gushed enthusiastically.   “They are just the most wonderful people.  First cousins you know.  It’s been simply ages since I was able to see them.  My father, bless his heart, insisted I take the family carriage, but my dear mother is so ill.”  She stopped speaking to dab at her eyes.  “I simply couldn’t see taking the family carriage.  What if she were to take ill and need to be transported somewhere?”  She almost laughed at the confusion on the captain’s face as she rattled off her prepared speech so quickly she could almost not keep up with it herself. 

             
The captain frowned slightly.  “I see what you mean, ma’am.”  Then he opened his mouth as if to ask another question. 

             
Carrie was afraid he was going to ask her where the McCormicks lived.  Since it was an entirely made up name, she had no idea.  If he knew some McCormicks and was aware of where they lived, a wrong answer could be their undoing.  “Oh, Captain, I was just sure you would understand.  Our boys in gray are so wonderful.  What y’all do for us is simply amazing.  I’m grateful from the bottom of my heart.”

             
“Thank you, ma’am.” 

             
The captain seemed to be looking at her a little closer.  The look said he wasn’t necessarily thinking of his job anymore.  Still, she couldn’t be sure.  “This really is the first little fun thing I’ve gotten to do since this war began.  I just couldn’t see going about having a good time while y’all suffer and fight for our protection.  Why, I’ve spent almost every day working on mittens and scarves for our troops this winter.”  She paused for just a moment.  “And my daddy says y’all do such a wonderful job protecting us.  Why, do you know what he told me?”  She pretended to shudder.  “He told me there are runaway slaves trying to use this very road to leave their beloved masters...”  She caught her breath in a gasp.