Quinn's War
Page 9
Twelve hours later Will Brown walked up the stairs to Marjorie Wilken’s porch and twisted the bell on the door. A light-skinned negro woman answered and asked who she could say is calling.
“Just say it’s Will. And what is your name?”
“Winnie, sir. I’ll tell her you are here.” She closed the door and Will took a seat on the swing.
When Marjorie opened the door, she screamed. Will hardly had time to get out of the swing before she was on him with one arm around his neck and the other around his waist. “Oh, Will, you’re here, you’re here!”
She released him and then stood on her toes and kissed his cheek. “I missed you so! Oh, Will!”
“Hello, Jorie. You look well.”
She took his hand. “Come inside. I’ve so much to tell you. What kept you?” She led him into the parlor and sat him in one of the wing chairs. “Winnie!” The servant was already in the doorway. “Please make up some tea and cakes, Winnie. Thank you.”
The woman backed out and closed the door.
Marjorie took the chair next to him. “Oh, Will! So much has happened. Thank you for comin’. Thank you for makin’ all this possible. This is all yours, you know. Let me show you the house.” She stood.
Will held up his hand. “Slow down, Jorie.”
“It’s Marjorie now, but you can still call me Jorie if you want.” She sat.
“We can take the tour in a little bit. I’d like to sit and talk for a while. Rest a bit. Floyd and I came down on the boat from Omaha. Do you remember Floyd?”
“Of course. Mr. Burkley, from Council Bluffs. Your friend.”
“We arrived two days ago, and I tell you, the river from Kansas City to St. Louis is an adventure. But I’ll let that go for later. We’re going to have lots of time to visit.”
“Are you here for long?”
“A while. I’m here to set up an office in St. Louis to manage some business. “
Marjorie slipped from her chair and knelt in front of Will Brown. She put her hands on his knees and when he did not take them, she sat back on her heels and looked up. “Will, I’ll devote my life to you. Everything I have is yours. Anything I can do for you I will.”
Will smiled. “I know, and right now I’d like you to sit up in your chair before the maid gets back.”
Marjorie spun back into the chair and apologized. “I’m just glad to see you.”
Will smiled. “I missed you, too. Tell me. What happened? Your letters didn’t really say much. Just that you were OK.”
“I was holed up at the hotel for two weeks before I had the courage to come out during the daytime. Then I invested some of the money you gave me and I bought some nice clothes and felt a lot better after that. I met some people and I rented this little house. It came with Winnie and the two of us have become fast friends.”
“Jorie, is she a bondswoman? A servant?”
“Oh, no. She’s an FWC--that’s a Free Woman of Color, you know. She has her papers and has been in St. Louis for quite some time. She’s a big help and we’ve become quite good friends. She might be more help than me if you’re looking for a place. She certainly knows where not to go.”
“I knew you’d land on your feet, Jorie, but I did worry some, I’ll admit.”
“Yes, I have a long history of falling down and gettin’ back up. But now I’m up for good.” She laughed. “Well, not all good, Will. Winnie and me are working girls. There. That’s not a surprise, is it?”
Will smiled and shook his head.
“And the mistress-maid thing? That’s just what we call our division of labor, the roles we play. Winnie spends most of her time in, and I go out.
Winnie knocked on the jamb and entered and put the tray on the table between them. “Is there anything else, missus?”
“Thank you, Winnie. Yes, there is. You can take my seat.” Winnie paused and the two exchanged places.
Marjorie took the things off the tray and walked over and put it on the sideboard. “This is Will Brown, the man who put me on the boat and sent me down here with $500 and a promise of more if I needed it. Winnie, he’s the man who saved me.”
Marjorie came over and poured the tea. “And I am forever grateful.” She slipped a slice of cake on a plate and handed it to Will. “He’s a good man, a very good man.” She served Winnie a slice of cake. “Let me get a chair and join you.” She went to the desk and pulled the chair over. Winnie poured her a cup of tea and Marjorie fixed it with milk and sugar.
“Did Marjorie get a chance to explain our little business, Mr. Brown?”
“Some. She cleared up some of my misapprehensions about your position here.”
“And the roles we play? It’s our ‘division of labor,’ as we say. I play the maid.”
“Yes, I gathered.”
“It’s convenient for me. I don’t go out much, and I never go alone. St. Louis isn’t safe for people of color. Papers don’t matter to people who would take me. I imagine there’s a price on my head, but I don’t know. When I find out, I’m afraid it’ll be too late. People like me just disappear.”
“I told you Winnie came with the house,Will, but that’s not exactly true.”
Winnie added, “And the assumption is that Miss Lotte sold me along with the house.”
“The truth is, Winnie owns the place and she runs the business.”
“Bought and paid for with the blood and sweat of 20 years a slave. You tell him, Marjorie. You will when I leave, I know. I can’t, ‘cause once I get started I’ll go on forever.”
“Winnie cut her master’s throat with a kitchen knife, stole the silver, and ran off.” Marjorie made big eyes at Winnie. “There. How’s that?”
The two women giggled.
Will picked up his cup and saucer and put it on his lap.
“And Marjorie sat on the chest of the man who raped her and shot him in the eye with his own pistol.” Winnie stuck out her chin and grinned big back at Marjorie.
“We’re both outlaws, aren’t we Winnie?”
“Two wanted women.” Winnie spread her hands in the air. “I can see the posters now.”
Marjorie whooped and burst out laughing and Winnie joined her.
When they calmed themselves,Will put the cup and saucer back on the table and looked at Marjorie. “I’m alone in a house with two madwomen, and no one knows I’m here.” He shook his head. “Oh, boy.” It was his turn to laugh.