At Liberty to Love (Texas Romance Book 7)
Page 23
On Scene in: HOPE REBORN, DAUGHTERS OF THE HEART, JUST KIN, AT LIBERTY TO LOVE
Mention in: HEARTS STOLEN, SINS OF THE MOTHERS, DAUGHTERS OF THE HEART
~ Buckmeyer, Susannah ‘SUE’ Alicia Abbott Baylor – born May 15, 1803, married Andrew Baylor at eighteen in 1821, widowed at nineteen and became guardian aunt to orphaned Levi Baylor, birthed Rebecca in the next year. At twenty-nine, she married Henry Buckmeyer in 1832. Mother to Mary Rachel, Gwendolyn, Cecelia, Bonnie Claire, and Samuel Houston.
HER TITLE: VOW UNBROKEN
On Scene in: HEARTS STOLEN
Mention in: HOPE REBORN, SINS OF THE MOTHERS, DAUGHTERS OF THE HEART, AT LIBERTY TO LOVE
~ Dempsey, Frederica ‘FREDDIE’ May’s publisher who Charley turns to for help in New York City on his search for Lacey Rose. She has a widowed daughter, Marah O’Connor
~ Eversole, ELIJAH – born January 2, 1826, moved to California in the gold rush days where his parents abandoned him as a teen. He followed in his father’s blacksmith trade and loves inventing and building new helpful machines. Jethro Risen and Moses Jones make him a partner in a gold mine. He marries Cecelia Buckmeyer in 1854.
HIS TITLE: DAUGHTERS OF THE HEART
On Scene in: SINS OF THE MOTHERS, AT LIBERTY TO LOVE
~ Ford, Gabriel – exact day of birth unknown, about five months old in November 1865. He and brother Michael were adopted by Rebecca Rusk then by her husband Marcus Ford.
On Scene in: AT LIBERTY TO LOVE
~ Ford, Julia and Michele, Marcus’ first wife and daughter, died on the yellow fever epidemic in New Orleans
Mention in: AT LIBERTY TO LOVE
~ Ford, MARCUS Aurelius, Major in the Civil War with Levi Baylor and Wallace Rusk under General Buckmeyer. Lost his first wife Julia and baby Michele to yellow fever epidemic in New Orleans. Meets the Widow Rusk in 1865 while traveling. Marries her in 1866 and adopts her two adopted sons, becoming father to Michael and Gabriel Ford.
HIS TITLE: AT LIBERTY TO LOVE
~ Ford, MICHAEL - exact day of birth unknown, about four years old in November 1865. He and brother Gabriel were adopted by Rebecca Rusk then by her husband Marcus Ford.
On Scene in: AT LIBERTY TO LOVE
~ Ford, REBECCA Ruth Baylor Rusk – born June 12, 1823; Sue’s daughter by 1st husband Andrew (who died before Rebecca’s birth). The nine-year-old on the Jefferson Trace in 1832 (book 1) turns twenty-one in 1844 (book 2) before finally meeting Wallace Rusk. Marries him at age twenty-seven in 1850, then is widowed in 1864. Adopted two boys, Michael and Gabriel in 1866 then married Marcus Ford when she’s forty-two.
HER TITLE: AT LIBERTY TO LOVE
On Scene in: VOW UNBROKEN, HEARTS STOLEN, HOPE REBORN
Mention in: SINS OF THE MOTHERS, DAUGHTERS OF THE HEART
~ Jeffcoat, CLAUDIA, a wealthy married woman and avid reader of dime romances who befriended and helped Charley on his search for Lacey Rose. Pauleen Shriver’s sister.
Mention in: JUST KIN
~ Jones, LANELLE Wheeler – born February 26, 1831, Caleb’s cousin, John’s sister, marries Moses Jones in early fall 1851.
On scene in: SINS OF THE MOTHERS
~ Jones, MOSES – born October 13, 1816, a Scot partnered with Jethro Risen in a gold mine, marries Lanelle Wheeler in 1854.
On scene in: SINS OF THE MOTHERS
Mention in: DAUGHTERS OF THE HEART, AT LIBERTY TO LOVE
~ Jones, ‘JOSH’ua Jethro, also ‘JONESY’ – born January 19, 1852 to Moses and Lanelle, but the blood son of Caleb Wheeler
~ Meriwether, CHESTER born a slave on October 7, 1803 to Commodore Meriwether’s field hands Silas and Honey Pie. He was 5, about to be 6, when his half-sister Millicent May was born. He marries JEWEL (formerly Mammy, the Buckmeyers’ cook) in 1851.
On Scene in: HOPE REBORN, DAUGHTERS OF THE HEART
Mention in: SINS OF THE MOTHERS, JUST KIN, AT LIBERTY TO LOVE
~ Meriwether, JEWEL (formerly Mammy) Rozier the Buckmeyers’ cook after Henry rescued her and her son Jean Paul Rozier who also works for the Buckmeyers.
On Scene in: HEARTS STOLEN, HOPE REBORN, DAUGHTERS OF THE HEART
Mention in: SINS OF THE MOTHERS, JUST KIN, AT LIBERTY TO LOVE
~ Meriwether, Silas born a slave in 1808 on the Meriwethers’ Sea Side plantation, father of Chester and also blood father of May
Mention in: HOPE REBORN
~ Nightingale, CHARLES Nathaniel, Senior - born 1805, married Rosaleen Fogelsong and fathered Charley, though was never around him. Lives in St. Louis with his first wife and two daughters.
On Scene in: HEARTS STOLEN
~ Nightingale, Charles ‘CHARLEY’ Nathaniel - born son to a Comanche chief Feb 27 ’40 to the captive third wife Rosaleen, but Charles Nightingale was his mother’s husband and Charley’s blood father. He’s rescued in 1844 with his mother by Texas Rangers Levi Baylor and Wallace Rusk. He killed a man at ten when Comancheros came to steal him and his mother to return them to Bold Eagle. He marries Lacey Rose Langley in November, 1865.
HIS TITLE: JUST KIN
On Scene in: HEARTS STOLEN, HOPE REBORN
Mention in: SINS OF THE MOTHERS, DAUGHTERS OF THE HEART, AT LIBERTY TO LOVE
~ Nightingale, LACEY Rose Langley born November 16, 1844 in Nacogdoches to Laura, only fourteen when Lacey’s father, a Comanche brave, had captured her. Lacey marries Charley in November, 1865
HER TITLE: JUST KIN
On Scene in: HEARTS STOLEN, DAUGHTERS OF THE HEART, JUST KIN
~ O’Connor, Curry CYLE, Junior Marah’ fourteen year old son
Mention in: JUST KIN
~ O’Connor, CURRY Cyle, Senior Marah’s dead husband
Mention in: JUST KIN
~ O’Connor, MARAH A beautiful older woman (twenty-nine) who almost wins Charley’s heart. She breeds thoroughbreds in Conneticutt and is the daughter of Freddie – May’s publisher who helped Charley in New York
~ Risen, JETHRO – born September 22, 1830 partner of Moses Jones in a gold mine. Married Mary Rachel Buckmeyer Wheeler in 1853 and later that year, reconnected with his estranged father, Boaz. Founds the Mercy House Orphanage and Miners’ Bank in San Francisco.
HIS TITLE: SINS OF THE MOTHERS
On Scene in: AT LIBERTY TO LOVE
Mention in: DAUGHTERS OF THE HEART
~ Risen, MARY RACHEL Buckmeyer Wheeler – born August 3, 1833. Henry and Sue’s firstborn eloped with Caleb Wheeler in 1951 without Daddy’s blessing and moved to San Francisco where she took over the renamed Lone Star Mercantile. Her husband soon murdered, she becomes the widowed mother of Susannah “SUSIE” Wheeler. Remarries Jethro Risen in 1853, adopted an orphan, Francine “FRANCY” and birthed baby girl Rebecca “BECCA” in April, 1853 (blood daughter of Clinton) and Boaz Reuel, Jethro’s firstborn son, in December, 1854.
HER TITLE: SINS OF THE MOTHERS
On Scene in: HEARTS STOLEN, HOPE REBORN, DAUGHTERS OF THE HEART, AT LIBERTY TO LOVE
~ Rozier, JEAN PAUL son of the Buckmeyer’s cook, Mammy or later, Jewel. He and his mother were freed by their former owner when he died and both went to work for Henry. Her in the kitchen, him supervising the cotton fields. He marries Laura Langley, another soul Henry took in.
On Scene in: HEARTS STOLEN, HOPE REBORN, JUST KIN
Mention in: DAUGHTERS OF THE HEART, DAUGHTERS OF THE HEART
~ Rozier, LAURA Langley was rescued at fifteen in 1844 along with Sassy. Pregnant at the time, she delivered the next month—a baby girl, Lacey Rose on the way to the Buckmeyers’ for Thanksgiving that same year. She stays on there as teacher and marries Jean Paul Rozier.
On Scene in: HEARTS STOLEN, HOPE REBORN, JUST KIN
Mention in: DAUGHTERS OF THE HEART, DAUGHTERS OF THE HEART
~ Rusk, WALLACE – born August 15, 1819, a sixteen-year-old orphan picked up by Henry Buckmeyer and young Levi Baylor on the way to the Battle of San Jacinto, served with Levi Texas Rangering, fell in love with his sister Rebecca sight-unseen, and after six years of proposing, fina
lly wears her down and marries her in 1850. He is wounded in the Civil War and dies from stubbornness, not allowing his leg to be amputated. No children, but Lacey Rose Langley Nightingale was named after him.
On Scene in: HEARTS STOLEN, HOPE REBORN, JUST KIN
Mention in: SINS OF THE MOTHERS, DAUGHTERS OF THE HEART, AT LIBERTY TO LOVE
~ Shriver, PAULEEN a Wealthy married woman and avid reader of dime romances who befriended Charley on his search for Lacey Rose
Mention in: JUST KIN
~ Wheeler, Caleb – born August 29, 1828, cousin to John and Lanelle, partners in the Mercantile in San Francisco after eloping with Mary Rachel Buckmeyer in 1851, father of Susannah.
On Scene in: HOPE REBORN, SINS OF THE MOTHER
~ Wheeler, John – born April 17, 1825, Lanelle’s brother, Caleb’s cousin, partner in San Francisco Mercantile.
On Scene in: SINS OF THE MOTHER
~ Wheeler, Susannah “SUSIE” – born October, 1851 in San Francisco to Mary Rachel (father Caleb deceased)
On Scene in: SINS OF THE MOTHERS
Mention in: DAUGHTERS OF THE HEART, AT LIBERTY TO LOVE
And now, without further ado…
The Bedwarmer’s Son
A sampling…
“He sold us right before he married that fancy lady from England then bought us back the next spring.”
Will placed his hand on his grandfather's arm. “Aww, Pappy, no need to go that far back. Miss Parmele didn't come all this way to hear our family history.”
The old man leaned back and stared across the metal table at the woman then glanced at him. “If I don't start at the beginning, then how's Missy here going to know why that cracker had to die?”
Stepping around the table, he bent close to his Pappy's ear and hunted for the balance between loud enough for the old ears and soft enough that his words wouldn't leave the cell. “Pappy, please. Don't use that word. You know full well the guards are all white.”
“So? I'm half white. And you—you’re so pale skinned iffin' everyone in six counties didn't knows you and I was kin, you could pass for a snow bunny.” Pappy grinned at the lady lawyer. “Anyways, you tell me, ma’am. Want to hear the whole truth or my grandson's shorter version?”
“No, sir, I want to hear it all.” You start wherever you need to.”
“Isn't that something? Gettin’ called sir by a pretty while gal; a smart lawyer to boot all wrapped in one nice package.” He grinned at her. “Well then, she was named after a beautiful, fragrant flower.” He closed his eyes and sucked in a deep breath.
The wagon hit a rut and knocked Jasmine off her seat. The heavy manacle bit into her wrists. She hated chains, hated the leather strap around her ankle just as much, hated it all to blue blazes.
“Uncle Tom, iffin' I promise not to run, could ya unlock me?”
The old man snickered. “I sure enough ain't ya uncle, gal. An’ my name be Thomas, not Tom. You smart as you think you is, best be learnin’ ya’self some manners. Two more creeks and ussin’ be home. I tell ya true, little gal, run this time…it be more than a whippin’ and getting’ sold ya be in for.”
A whipping? Jasmine would not call what she got a whipping, more like being beat half to death. But still, she’d almost made it. Best week ever, seven whole days of being free.
Didn't matter what they did. She'd run again, first chance. Being someone's nigger wasn't no life. Be better off dead than a slave.
A pungent aroma like lye soap mixed with a sweet rose-tinted toilet water rode on the breeze. She’d ’bout decided it blew off from the man. He didn’t smell of foul body odor like most. She studied him.
Wasn’t really that old either, but the spunk had been beat out of him. His slump showed nothing but submission. Still, she had to ask. “You ever run, Thomas?”
“No, ma'am, ain’t never. Not even when I’s young. No siree, too smart for that.” He glanced over and grinned. “Now some sweet day, I's be free for sure. Maybe not on this side.” He gazed ahead as though seeing more than the dusty road. “The Good Book says be happy. Slave or free, rich or poor. And if you is a slave, be a good’un.”
“I’ll never be happy long as I’m owned by nobody. Ner good either. Why would I? What do ya get but another beating or being sold?”
“Oh, gal, my reward ’ll be just like poor old Lazarus’. He had it way worse ’n me till the angels come and carried him right straight to old Abraham’s bosoms. And that rich man? Sho, he had it great here on this ol’ earth, but –”
“I don’t know no Lazarus.”
The old man laughed. “All he wanted in the end was what old Lazarus had, but he couldn't even get one drop of water to cool his tongue.”
“Why do you believe all that nonsense? That's nothing but white man's religion.”
“No, ma'am. Jesus weren't white.” The old man held his hand out. “Hush now, child. I’s hear a rider coming up. Mind your manners now, ya hear? Ain't got need for no smart mouth gal causing me troubles.”
She sat up straight and smoothed out her ruffled dress. She heard the stranger approaching, too, galloping toward the wagon from behind. One more poor white man looking to collect a mite of dirty money for returning a couple of escaping slaves to their master.
“Hey, boy! Hold up! Right there.” The man reined his bay to a hard stop next to Thomas.
A body stench and the foul odor of his poor horse’s lather assaulted her nose. Neither one ain’t had no bath in his whole life from the stink on them.
“Where you headed, boy? And who’s this little gal you got?”
Like Thomas knew his place and was happy to go there, he lowered his chin practically to his chest as if studying on the mule’s rump and pulled his paper from his inside pocket. He held it out without looking at the man.
“Old Tom here, suh. Done been to my Mistress June's cousin's place over yonder by Catfish Creek to fetch this gal here, suh. She to be the massuh’s new bedwarmer.”
What? Jasmine couldn't believe her ears. She wasn't no one's bedwarmer.
Why, she'd be picking the man she jumped the broom with her own self, Mama done told her. And it sure wouldn't be some old stinking sickly white man needing a hot body to keep him from freezing of a night. No, sir, she never be no bedwarmer.
The rider flung the paper back at her driver then spurred his mount without wasting another word. Amidst his stinking dust, the piece of white fluttered just out of Old Tom’s reach, and she grabbed it. He stuck his hand out, but she turned sideways, blocking him.
“Says here you are one fine old nigger slave.” She moved her finger along the line of words. “And that you have permission to be on the road driving this wagon anywhere you thinks you need to.”
“Go to hell’s fires for lying, gal. It don't say that.”
“How you know nothin’? You cain' t read.”
“I know what the paper say.”
“Do not, not for sure. How could you? It’s agin their law.”
“I know on account Mis’ess done told me.”
“She coulda lied.”
He shook his head and put some steel in his voice. “Don't you nevermind, young miss. Now give it here..”
She bumped him hard. “Well, you mind this, Mister high and mighty Thomas. I ain't warming nobody's bed. Ain't never no man been under my covers, not ever, not once, and I ain't jumping into your master’s four poster, and that's a fact. So you might as well untie me and take off these chains.”
For the longest, the old man didn't say a word, then short of the next creek, he looked over. “I's gots me a fine wife, and three good strong boys, and a pretty little gal jes ’bout your age. And well… I’s sorry, Miss Jasmine, but I cain't unlock ya.”
“Could iffin’ ya wanted to.”
One of the wagon wheels dipped and threw her off balance. She fell hard against Thomas, pushing him near off the bench. In that instant, she spied that note folded in his coat pocket, and without thinking twice on it, slipped it out and tuck
ed it under her waistband.
Might just come in handy one free day.
“That man just now—or one like him—be catching you ’fore morning were you to take off. Even if they didn't bring ya back for the reward, they'd –”
“Don’t you be worrying over me none, Ol’ Tom. I can take care of my own self.”
He shrugged. “Good Lord’ll work it out. I's be praying for you anyhow, Missy.”
She pouted and looked away. Didn't matter. She'd slit her new master's throat, and either she’d get away, or she'd be dead.
With each clop of the mule’s hooves, her heart hardened. If the old man say true words, and another life really did wait to be had, must be better than this one. She closed her eyes. The horrible image that had haunted her for so long hung right before her mind’s eye again. Her mother’s screams ringing in her ears as they dragged her away.
Why couldn’t she see her mam’s face?
The dark curls she’d loved to twist around her finger flew wild as the trader pulled her mama toward his wagon. Mud soiled her skirt and petticoats. Her mother’s mistress be screamin’ almost much as Mam.
Never thought her mam be sold. Miss Beatrice loved her, said so many times. Hurt Jasmine’s heart to the bone, and she tried to join in the ruckus herself, but her throat wouldn’t let no noise through.
Poor Mam set such store in being clean as new-fallen snow, loved being spotless.
But that white devil pulled her through that muddy yard in front of the big house like an old tow sack full of taters. He didn’t care how dirty she got. Not one bit. Miss Beatrice ran off her porch and hit old Satan in the back with her fist, but the master dragged her off him.