Storm Clouds Rolling In (35 page)

“The big man. Is he coming?”
Jamison hoped so. “His size and strength could come in handy.”

Rose frowned as she shook her head.
“No.” She was sure she had not hidden her surprise very well when Moses had simply stated that he
wouldn’t be takin’ the train right now.
She knew his dream to be free and how much he wanted to find his mama and sisters. Why was he not going? She didn’t understand what was holding him here. Didn’t he know he should get away from Adams while he had the chance?              

“But...”

“I don’t
know why, Mr. Jamison. He just said he wouldn’t be catching the train right now.” Her tone didn’t invite questions. “Time is short. We need to go back now.”

“Lead the way, Rose,” Jamison said, his voice suddenly heavy.
“One more question, Rose. Do the others know you’re not going to be with them?”

“No
,” she said fiercely as she whirled to look up at him. “And I don’t want them to know. It will only make them more scared. This is their chance. I don’t want them to lose it. They’ll find out the night I bring them to meet you. Not before.”

It didn’t take long to firm up the tiny details of the plan that the slaves were allowed to know.
Jamison would meet them at the same bend in the road where he had met Rose, two months from today.

Jamison looked surprised.
“Two months?”

Rose nodded firmly.
“The ones coming with you need more help with their reading and writing. We’ll work extra hard for the next two months.” She hesitated. “Is that okay? You did say we could set the time didn’t you?” Suddenly she was scared her group might miss their chance.

“It’s fine, Rose,” Jamison assured her.

As usual, Rose and Moses were the last to leave the clearing.
The others had waited, talking excitedly while she took Jamison back to his horse, before they dispersed to their cabins. Moses was comfortable in the woods now and didn’t need her to lead him back, but he was always still there when the clearing emptied.

“Did you tell Jamison you weren’t going with the rest?”

Rose looked up at Moses sharply. “What makes you think I’m not going?”

Moses looked at her steadily.
“You’re not are you?”

Rose’s eyes fell before his discerning gaze.
Mutely she shook her head.

“Be it because of your
mama?”

“I can’t leave her, Moses.
I’m all she has. I know she would tell me to go. She would never want me to pass up a chance for freedom.” She caught her breath. “I can’t leave her. I love her too much. She has lost too much already.” Rose couldn’t stop the trail of tears running down her face.

Moses took one of her hands gently.
“I knew you wouldn’t leave your mama, Rose.”

Rose gazed into his compassionate face.
“I can’t,” she whispered. She made no protest when Moses wrapped his strong arms gently around her quivering body, and gratefully leaned into his strength. She was amazed at how good it felt. She was used to being the strong one. Suddenly she looked up into his face. “What about you, Moses? Why aren’t you going? What about your dream to be free and come back for your family? Why are you giving it up?” She suspected she knew the answer.

Moses tipped her head up so that he could look down into her tear-filled eyes.
“I got me some dreams to make come true here, first,” he said gently. He took her hand and led her from the clearing.

Rose followed him, her sorrow mixing with a tingly feeling coursing through her body.
She was too tired to figure it out. The feel of her small hand engulfed with his giant one was a sensation she wanted to simply enjoy.

SEVENTEEN

“Make me a promise, Carrie.”

Carrie looked up at Robert curiously. “And what promise would that be?”

“Promise me we don’t have to say one word about politics tonight
.”

Carrie laughed merrily.
“You will get no argument from me on that one, kind sir. I am sick to death of it.”

Robert smiled down at her.
“I’m glad to hear it. At this moment I am walking in Richmond with the most beautiful girl I know and I’d simply like to be able to enjoy it.”

Carrie, blushing wildly, kept her eyes glued to the ground in front of her.
She simply didn’t know what to say. She had always kept boys at arm’s length. There had been too many other things that interested her more. Now, this situation seemed over her head. Desperately, she tried to regain the easy confidence that had come with the decision they would be simply friends. Why would her heart not cooperate with her head? The silence stretched between them.

“I’m sorry.
I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

The genuine remorse in Robert’s voice gave her courage.
She looked up quickly and tried to smile naturally. “It’s quite alright. I’m sorry. I just didn’t know what to say.”

Robert smiled gently.
“Thank you is appropriate.”

Carrie blushed again, but her gaze was steady.
“Thank you, Robert.”

“Good.
Now that we have established that I am with the most beautiful woman I know in the city I love most, we can get on with the night.” Robert laughed loudly as Carrie blushed brighter. “I’m sorry. That was mean.” This time his voice held no remorse.

Carrie, gaining confidence, said, “So
, tell me how the Convention went.”

Robert pulled back in protest.
“You promised.”

“And your behavior seems to make promises invalid
,” she retorted.

“You win,” Robert sighed.
“I have been properly put in my place.”

Carrie laughed at the impudent look on his face.
She doubted Robert would ever be
put in his place.
She was quite sure he didn’t know the meaning of the words. Suddenly, she was enormously glad to be strolling the streets of Richmond with him. “Where are we going?”

“Are you up for a long walk?”

“Why, yes,” she responded, her interest immediately piqued.

“I thought we would walk up to Church Hill and see the lights of the city.
If we hurry we might even catch the sunset.”

Carrie quickened her pace.
“I hope you can keep up with me.”

Robert said nothing as he lengthened his strides to match her own.

Carrie gave a sigh of happiness as the late afternoon air caressed her.
Fragrant flowers lent a perfume that mixed pleasantly with the smell of tobacco permeating the city. The sky was crystal clear, with the exception of a low band of clouds on the horizon that promised a glorious sunset. It seemed as if the whole city was out to celebrate this gorgeous spring day. Activity surrounded the pair as they walked rapidly down Broad Street. Women dressed in every color of the rainbow strolled with their servants close by. Carriages jockeyed for position in the afternoon parade. Horses pranced proudly along, completely ignoring the clanking and clanging of trains at the depot. Elegantly dressed gentlemen ambled along, either deep in conversation or trying to pretend they weren’t gawking at the surrounding ladies.

“It’s wonderful, isn’t it?”

“The city?” Robert asked.

Carrie nodded.

“It is wonderful,” he agreed enthusiastically, “but there is nothing like Oak Meadows.
I can stand, and even enjoy, all this busyness for a few days, but I’m always ready to get back home to the beautiful peace and quiet. After all the time I spent in Charleston, I will admit I’ve had my fill.”

Carrie nodded thoughtfully.
“I’ve never gotten to stay in the city long enough to know if I would grow tired of it.” She grinned up at him. “I’d love the opportunity to find out, however.” She stopped abruptly in the middle of the sidewalk and turned to Robert. “I almost forgot. I’m going to have my opportunity soon.”

“What do you mean?”

“Why, I’m going to Philadelphia. For a whole month!”

“A month?” Robert echoed, staring at her.

Carrie nodded.
“I’m going with my friends Natalie Heyward and Sally Hampton.” She continued to walk while she filled him in on all the details she knew. “Robert, this means I can go to the medical school myself. I might actually discover I can attend school there.” She knew her face was glowing.

Robert smiled down at her.
“That’s wonderful, Carrie.” Then he paused, looking off as if he was thinking deeply.

“What is it, Robert?”

“You’ll be there in July?” She nodded. “I have a very close friend in Philadelphia. A journalist by the name of Matthew Justin. We were at the university together. I’m sure he would be willing to show you around the campus and introduce you to some people.”

Carrie beamed.
“That would be wonderful.” She could hardly believe how fast everything was happening. Less than a month ago she had despaired of ever finding a way to leave the plantation. Now the road seemed to be wide before her. In her happiness, it was easy to ignore the dark clouds descending on the country.

Little more was said as they tackled the Broad Street incline that would take them to Church Hill.
The sun dropping lower on the horizon made them increase their pace. Carrie felt a warm glow as she walked rapidly beside Robert. She knew countless people who would frown at their unrefined race up the hill. Let them disapprove. She was having a wonderful time.

Carrie was sweating in a very unfeminine way when they reached the top of the hill.
She loved the two and three-story brick homes overlooking the city. Many wealthy people had picked the elegant heights of Church Hill for the view it afforded them of Richmond. She started to turn around, but Robert reached out and took her arm to stop her.

“No fair looking yet.
We’re not where I’m taking you.”

Carrie smiled up into his laughing eyes.
“Lead on, sir.”

Instead of removing his hand from her arm, Robert reached down for her hand and tucked it firmly into the crook of his arm.
“Do you mind?”

Carrie merely shook her head, speechless as she attempted to understand the wild flutter of feelings coursing through her.
She concentrated on keeping up with Robert, aware she was not really seeing anything as she stared straight ahead.

“Now you can look.”

Robert had stopped. She forced her thoughts to come back and looked up.
“Why, it’s St. John’s Church,” she exclaimed. “It’s one of my favorite places in the city. Father brought me here several years ago. I’ve always remembered it.” The church was just the way she recalled it—a white clapboard building with tall windows lining the sides of the sanctuary. The stately church was surrounded by a beautiful, though somber, cemetery. Her father had felt it very important that Carrie visit the place where Patrick Henry gave his famous
Give me liberty, or give me death
speech at the beginning of the Revolutionary War.

She was staring up at the church when Robert took her gently by the shoulders and turned her around.
“I meant that you can look over the city now. You’re about to miss the sunset.”