On to Richmond (74 page)

             
“What’s it matter to you?” Adams’ voice tightened with anger. 

             
Hobbs knew he had hit a sore point.  He also knew he had no real reason to make it his business.  “Just curious,” he said casually.  Then a thought struck him.   Perhaps running into Adams had been a piece of luck.  If he could get him to lead him to the plantation tonight, he would lessen his chances of anything happening to Miss Cromwell.  He decided to ignore the alarms.  He could forgive the man for being a slave hunter if Adams could get him to Cromwell Plantation sooner. 

             
“You know the way from here to Cromwell Plantation?”

             
Now it was Adams’ turn to study him closely.  “Might.  What’s it to you?”

             
“That happens to be where I’m headed.”

             
Adams peered at him.  “What for?”

             
It was a fair question.  Why would he be headed to Cromwell Plantation when everyone else in the area was running away?  “I have orders to bring Carrie Cromwell back to the city.  Her father is very worried about her.  I understand she is growing huge crops of food on the plantation to help feed Richmond.”                             

Once again Adams adopted his fake caring voice.  “Carrie Cromwell is alone on Cromwell Plantation?  She hasn’t retreated to the city yet?”
             

             
Hobbs shook his head, wondering if he had said too much. 

             
Adams was quiet for few minutes.  Then he seemed to reach a decision.  “I tell you what.  I’m going to do you a big favor.  Sure, I could lead you back to Cromwell Plantation, but it would take a lot longer for both of us to do it.  I can make much faster time on my own.”  He paused.  “Time is critical, Hobbs.  I took to this trail because I saw Union soldiers scouting the road a ways back.”

             
Hobbs listened carefully although he had no intention of going along with anything Adams might suggest.  Lieutenant Borden had made Carrie Cromwell his responsibility, and he planned to finish his mission.  But he was willing to hear Adams out.  He had a feeling there was more going on here than he knew. 

             
“You can go on back to the city,” Adams continued.  “I’m sure your skills are in demand there.  You can tell them the Union soldiers are advancing.  I’ll get Miss Cromwell and return to Richmond with her.”  He gave a sympathetic laugh.  “I’m sure her father is worried sick.  I know I would be if she was my daughter.”  Then he paused.  “Let me guess.  She has refused to leave the plantation.  Carrie Cromwell can be very hard-headed.”

             
In spite of his attempt to sound caring and sympathetic, Hobbs heard the edge of anger in his voice.  He was certain now he had made a mistake in revealing his mission to Adams.  The only thing to do was send him on his way and move on in the morning.  He tried to keep his voice casual as he responded.  “Thanks for your offer, Adams, but I reckon this job is mine.  I started it.  I aim to finish it.”

             
Adams scowled.  “And what if your staying here in the woods tonight means harm comes to Carrie Cromwell?  Her father will never get over it, and he will certainly never forgive you.”

             
Nor the lieutenant
, Hobbs thought silently.  He would not be swayed, though.  The lieutenant had trusted him.  He was not going to let him down.  Hobbs took a deep breath and stared at the ground.  “I reckon I’m gonna have to take that chance,” he said firmly. 

             
When Hobbs looked up again, he was staring down the barrel of Adams’ pistol.  “And I don’t reckon I’m going to
let
you take that chance.  Carrie Cromwell is too important to me.”

             
Hobbs shuddered at the hatred he heard in the man’s voice.  He also cursed himself for his stupidity for letting this happen.  “What’s your game, Adams?” he asked coldly.

             
Adams merely shrugged.  “Seeing as how you’re the one at the end of
my
pistol now, I reckon I get to ask the questions,” he said sarcastically.  “But just for your information, Miss Carrie Cromwell ain’t nobody you should be risking your life for.  She ain’t nothing but a nigger lover.  Her and those Union fellows ought to get along just fine.”

             
Hobbs stared at him.  He had no idea what Carrie Cromwell had done to gain the enmity of this man, but whatever it was, he was quite sure Adams had deserved it.  He had seen men like him before.  Men so full of hatred and bitterness it poured out on everyone they came in contact with.  He found himself hoping Adams’ wife and kids truly were safe in Richmond because he was quite sure they weren’t safe with him. 

             
As he stared down the barrel of Adams’ gun, he frantically tried to figure a way out of the mess he had placed himself in.  Wrestling Adams for his gun was out of the question.   He for sure wouldn’t do Miss Cromwell any good if he was dead. 

             
Adams read his mind.  “You don’t even need to think about getting away.  It wouldn’t hurt me none to put a bullet right between your eyes.”

             
“Accept if Yankee soldiers in the area hear you,” Hobbs reminded him, thinking fast.  “I don’t think you’ll be able to pass as a Yankee with that accent.”  When Adams scowled, Hobbs knew he had scored a point. 

             
Adams sat silently for a moment, never removing his eyes from Hobbs.  It was almost completely dark in the woods now.  The glow from the moon rising on the horizon cast the only faint light there was.  “I reckon you’re right, boy.  I reckon you’re right.” 

             
Hobbs tried to duck as Adams raised his arm, but then everything went black.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

             
His lips curled in a hateful sneer, Adams stared down at Hobbs’ still form.  It had not taken him long to discover there was nothing but a kid on the other end of that pistol.  Once he had thrown him off guard, it had been easy to take control. 

             
Adams continued to stare down at him as he pondered his options.  It was quite interesting to know Carrie Cromwell was on the plantation alone.  He had thought about her briefly but was sure she would have followed the example of all her neighbors and fled to Richmond.  He should have known better.   His eyes narrowed as he realized there was probably no one in the house to afford her much protection.  Her father was in Richmond.  Moses was in Philadelphia somewhere. 

             
Adams cursed under his breath as he thought again of the beating Matthew Justin had inflicted on him.  He had deemed it wise to leave Philadelphia for the time being, but it certainly didn’t mean he had given up his mission.  Money from Cromwell was no longer even a point to consider.  He was out for vengeance, pure and simple.  Vengeance against Carrie Cromwell.  Against Moses and Rose.  And now he had added Matthew Justin to his list. 

             
It would be foolish to turn back to Cromwell Plantation, he decided.  For some reason Carrie must not be aware of the advancing troops.  If she was, surely she would have left.  From the talk he had heard today while he was hiding in the woods on the side of the road, the Union soldiers were wandering far afield in their search for food.  It was just a matter of time before they found Cromwell Plantation.  Still, they may decide not to harm the beautiful girl.  They would frighten her, but Adams wanted more than that. 

             
Maybe he should sneak back in the woods after all.  He wasn’t sure what he would do once he got there, but he would think of something.  A snap in the woods startled him, bringing him to reality.  If he turned around now, he was in danger of running into Union soldiers or spies.  Hobbs had been right about one thing.  His accent would reveal his identity immediately.  

             
Adams made his decision.  He would press on to Richmond.  Hobbs would not be able to deliver his message, and Carrie Cromwell would be left to deal with things on her own.  He smiled grimly in the dark, feeling somewhat satisfied.  Miss High and Mighty liked to be in charge.  She would soon discover it wasn’t always so much fun.

             
Adams gave a hard laugh and then stared down at Hobbs.  He couldn’t just leave him here like this.  Hobbs would come to eventually even though he was sure it would be a while.  He had delivered the blow to his head with all his strength.  With a thoughtful look, he leaned down close to the prostrate form.  He was still breathing.  What a shame.  It would have made things much easier if the blow had killed him.  Hobbs had been right about one other thing.  A shot would alert any Union soldiers in the area.  He wasn’t willing to take that chance.  But how could he make sure Hobbs didn’t reach Carrie to warn her? 

             
Suddenly an idea sprang into his mind.  He quickly stripped Hobbs of his clothes, then removed his own and tied them behind his saddle.  Then he put Hobbs’ uniform on.  The fit was almost perfect.  A Confederate uniform would certainly make it more difficult to reach Richmond if he was spotted by Union soldiers. On the other hand, he would have an easier time getting past the blocks without a pass.   And Hobbs wouldn’t be going very far with no clothes.  He certainly wouldn’t dare show up at Cromwell Plantation wearing nothing but his underclothes.  He would look just a little suspicious!  Adams laughed silently as he gathered his reins and mounted. 

             
He rode several yards then realized he couldn’t leave Hobbs’ horse there.  He cursed and turned back around.  Another horse would add to the noise as he moved through the woods, but it couldn’t be helped.  He untied the lead line and led the horse behind him.  He would lose the horse when he broke out onto the road.  

             
Adams’ face was scratched and bleeding from lashing limbs before he had gone little more than a mile.  He thought of stopping many times, while cursing the necessity of continuing.  He simply couldn’t take the chance of traveling those roads in the daytime in a Confederate uniform.  Hobbs had been lucky.  Adams knew how close the Union soldiers really were. 

             
Finally, he broke free from the woods and found himself on the road leading to Richmond.  He dismounted quickly and tied Hobbs’ horse to a nearby tree.  Someone would find the horse soon.  In the meantime, he would not be slowed by the added encumbrance. 

             
Adams walked back to his horse and stood quietly, straining to hear any noise in the stillness.  Thankfully, there was not a loud chorus of crickets and frogs tonight.  They would have drowned out any warning sounds.  Finally, satisfied he was alone on the deserted road, he gathered up his reins and mounted.  He would be in Richmond before dawn.               

             
Adams was smiling as he turned Ginger in the direction of Richmond.  Up ahead he could see the white house that acted as a general store for people in this area.  He could tell by its vacant air that the owners had followed the others fleeing for the capital.  He toyed with the idea of stopping and helping himself to some food.  He hadn’t eaten since morning.  Then he discarded the idea.  He could eat when he reached the safety of Richmond. 

             
He had just drawn even with the house when four men on horseback emerged from the shadows to confront him.

             
“Halt!” the lead rider commanded.

             
Adams cursed under his breath and stopped.  There was no other choice.  He would not make it past four men.  He reached slowly for his pistol, certain the darkness would obscure his movement.  A hand grabbed his shoulder from behind.

             
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you, Rebel boy,” an icy voice spoke clearly into his ear. 

             
Adams almost groaned aloud as his pistol was lifted from his waist.  As the four men facing him edged closer, he could see they were all dressed in Union blues.  He realized now the foolishness of dressing in Hobbs’ uniform.  He should have worn his own clothes until he’d gotten closer to Richmond.  They would never believe he was not actually a Confederate soldier.  His mind raced to figure a way out of his newest predicament.

             
“Who are you?” the lead soldier demanded.