On To Richmond

by Ginny Dye

  Shaking her thoughts back, she said, “It’s now that counts. Now we can be together as family.” It seemed too good to be true.

  Fannie’s mama had been hired out to someone in the city. While she was working, she had met and fallen in love with a free slave, a bricklayer. Determined they would be together, he had saved all his money until he could buy the freedom of his love and her little girl. Fannie had been only five when she had come to live in Richmond as a free black.

  The next hour passed quickly as stories flowed around the table. So little living could be crammed into letters. Fannie and her family knew virtually nothing about Opal’s life. She had learned to read and write only months before and had only been able to get two short letters to them.

  Finally, Eddie settled back in his chair and fixed his kindly gaze on his children. “Why don’t you young’uns go outside and play for a while?”

  A chorus of protests rose around, but one look from Eddie ended it. In just minutes, there were only adults sitting around the table. Adults and Susie. The teen-aged girl hadn’t moved.

  “We’re glad you’re here, Opal,” Fannie said softly.

  Opal knew what she meant this time. “I want to help in any way I can.”

  Eddie spoke softly as well. “We probably shouldn’t be talkin’ now, but I wanted Sam to be here.”

  Sam? Opal looked around in confusion. She thought they had just met Sam. Why would Eddie want him to be there?

  Sam chuckled softly. “There’s a lot you don’t be knowin’ bout me, girl. I been knowin’ your family here for a long time.” When Opal just stared at him, he continued. “I made my decision to stay on the plantation and do the job I had to do. Dat didn’t mean I quit helping my people. It didn’t mean I quit dreamin’...

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Carrie rubbed a hand across her weary eyes and stretched to loosen her stiffened muscles. A glance at the clock told her it was long past her dinner hour. She turned back to the desk, made a final entry, and then snapped the record book shut. It was her fault. They should have been done weeks ago, but it was a job she hated and too often found a reason to avoid doing. She needed to send a report to her father soon, however, so she couldn’t put it off any longer. She had ridden the fields with Moses earlier that day and then had locked herself away in the office. Pushing back from the desk with a satisfied sigh, she rose to her feet and smoothed down her dark green gown.

  When she pushed open the door to the office, she saw Sam standing near the front door and peering out the window. “I’m starving, Sam.” Her stomach growled in agreement. “Would you please have Annie bring me lunch in the parlor? I’m going to relax for a little while.”

  “Don’t know ‘bout no relaxing,” Sam said mildly. “It looks like you be gettin’ comp’ny.”

  “Company?” Carrie echoed in surprise. “I wasn’t expecting anyone.” She moved quickly to join Sam by the window. What she saw caused her heart to sink. “It’s Louisa Blackwell,” she said, dismayed.

  “Looks that way. Want me to tell her you’re out?”

  Carrie looked at him in surprise. Her heart screamed for her to say yes, but she felt herself shaking her head no. The hospitality code of the South wouldn’t allow her to do that – nor would her integrity. “Show her to the parlor,” she said firmly.

  Determined to make the best of what she was sure would be a difficult situation, Carrie escaped to the kitchen, drank down a frothing glass of milk and hurriedly ate a biscuit. Whatever she had to face, it would be faced more easily with some food in her stomach. She lingered just long enough for the warm familiarity and delicious smells of the kitchen to calm her heart and gazed out over the pastures as she finished her small meal. Finally, fortified and ready, she patted stray hairs into place and walked slowly to the parlor.

  “Why, Louisa, what a surprise to see you! Welcome to Cromwell Plantation.” She would at least begin this visit in a cordial manner. It was really too bad. She and Louisa had never been good friends, but the proximity of their fathers’ plantations had created a relationship that went back to their childhoods. Carrie looked at her neighbor carefully. She had not seen her since the Christmas ball six months earlier. Their encounter then had not been pleasant. The hardness in Louisa’s eyes warned her not to expect anything different today.

  Louisa stood up to welcome her. Her petite body encased in a charming blue gown, her blond curls, and blue eyes created a stunning touch to the picture she made. She hurried forward and gathered Carrie’s hand in a warm clasp. “My dear! It is so wonderful to see you!”

  Carrie wanted to laugh at the feigned affection gushing from the other girl’s lips. She knew Louisa had no love lost for her. Their differences seem to hold them constantly in conflict. “Thank you,” she murmured and then moved away to perch herself on the rose love seat positioned by the massive fireplace, the focal point of the parlor. What was Louisa up to?

  “Why, Carrie, I don’t normally call on people without an announcement or an invitation... but I found I just couldn’t wait to tell you my news.”

  Carrie managed to control her snort at Louisa’s drawn out version of invitation... She was as much as saying that Carrie had been remiss in her duties as a neighbor to have not invited her over. Carrie supposed it would have been the proper thing to do since their last neighborly contact had been the Blackwell ball a year ago, but quite frankly she hadn’t been interested in the proper thing. She had been too busy nursing her mother and then running the plantation. Louisa knew that.

  Louisa broke into her thoughts. “Aren’t you even going to ask me what my news is?” she asked in a petulant voice, her eyes becoming harder.

  “Of course,” Carrie responded in an even voice. “What is your news?”

  Louisa leaned forward in excitement. “I have just returned from two glorious weeks in the capital of the Confederacy!” she said triumphantly. She sat back and took a sip from the tea Sam had delivered while she was waiting.

  Carrie nodded. “That’s nice,” she said calmly. When Louisa sat watching her expectantly, Carrie knew she was waiting for her to ask more, but Carrie simply wasn’t in the mood for any games today. If Louisa had something to say to her, she could just say it.

  Louisa finally tossed her head and laughed a brittle laugh. “I was sure you would be dying to hear all about what is going on where your dear daddy is.”

  Carrie bit her lip. This was typical Louisa, trying to manipulate her by insinuating her father wasn’t important to her. Carrie stifled the impulse to throw something at her. She knew she was really too tired to deal with Louisa today. It didn’t look as if she had a choice, however. She thought longingly of Sam’s offer to tell Louisa she was out. She should have taken him up on it. But when a neighbor traveled more than two hours to visit, you couldn’t exactly turn her away. Forcing her voice to remain pleasant, she responded. “Of course, I’m interested. Did you see my father?”

  “No,” Louisa said, waving her hand dismissively. “I was much too busy to do that.” She leaned forward eagerly, her eyes snapping.

  Carrie refrained from shaking her head in disgust. Louisa had the floor for now. She wouldn’t give it up till she was ready. Thinking longingly of the hot meal she could be consuming in peace right now, Carrie settled back on the love seat.

  Louisa tilted her head and smiled brightly. “Being in the center of the social whirl of Richmond kept me much too busy to do ordinary things. I do believe this war is going to do wonderful things for our city.”

  “Such as being the target of Union attacks?” Carrie asked dryly.

  “Oh, pooh. It will never come to that. And besides, let them come if they are foolish enough to try such a thing. Our brave boys will send them running back to the North.”

  Carrie looked at her sharply but didn’t say anything.

  Louisa rattled on, mindless of Carrie’s silence. “This war is doing wonderful things for the social life of our capital. Choosing Richmond to be the capital of our whol
e wonderful new nation was simply a precious move. Why, do you realize the increased number of parties and dances going on there?” She glanced at Carrie but didn’t wait for her to speak. “The teas are simply marvelous, and I, along with some other girls, was out at the Camp of Instruction three different times to take cakes and other goodies to our dear boys. Why, I was even fortunate enough to be there for one of the horse races they stage for entertainment. It was simply a glorious time.”

  Seeming to forget for a moment there were no handsome young men to impress, Louisa smiled and batted her blue eyes. “I do believe I attended a social function every day I was there. There is no end to the eligible bachelors to escort you and dance with you. It is any girl’s dream come true.”

  Not any girl, Carrie thought silently. Her mind strayed to the things she still had to do that day. When Louisa prattled like this, it wasn’t necessary to really listen. If Carrie simply nodded her head when the girl took a breath, Louisa would be content believing she had undivided attention.

  Louisa took a breath, watched for Carrie’s nod, and hurried on. “I don’t believe I have ever seen anything so noble as the masses of soldiers coming to protect our city. Some of them are really quite plain young men, but many of them are the finest Virginia has to offer. They have laid aside their riches and position to perform their duty in this, our time of need.” Louisa paused, her voice becoming reflective. “Why many of them have come with only a servant or two. Of course, it is ridiculous to expect them to do the work of a regular soldier. A group of us girls talked with several of them while they directed their servants in cleaning the military grounds they had been ordered to clean. Don’t you think they’re terribly clever?”

  Carrie spoke carefully. “I think they may be surprised when they are forced to take care of themselves on the battlefield.” Her mind was full of the struggles she had faced in learning to care for herself and not rely on another person.

  Louisa shot her a cross look. “Why must you always be so negative, Carrie Cromwell? All this talk of battlefields is so depressing and really quite unnecessary. I have talked to many people who believe there won’t be any real fights in this war!”

  Carrie’s mind flashed back to the letter she had received from her father just the day before. In it he had talked about the surety that the battle to win Southern independence would be a long, hard fought one. She knew it would do no good to say anything, so she remained silent. “I find I rest better facing reality, rather than imagining fantasy,” was all Carrie allowed herself to say, knowing already the result it would have but finding she didn’t really care.

  Louisa flushed with anger, opened her mouth, but then shut it again. She looked down at her hands for a long moment as if regaining control and then looked back up with her simpering smile. “You really should go to Richmond yourself, Carrie. Your position as a government man’s daughter would open many doors for you. There is no end of young men who would eagerly pursue you.”

  I’m only interested in one. Instantly, Carrie pushed the errant thought aside. It had been her decision to end the relationship. Still… she couldn’t control the yearning of her heart - just the actions.

  “Of course, I’ve noticed you don’t always wait for young men to pursue you.”

  Carrie’s head shot up as Louisa’s voice took on a calculating tone. She had a feeling she was about to discover the real reason for Louisa’s visit. The cold look in her neighbor’s eyes shot out a warning. “Whatever are you talking about?” Carrie asked in a steady voice.

  Louisa shrugged. “You had no trouble pursuing Robert Borden last year.”

  Carrie’s eyes flashed, but she managed to control her temper. Louisa was still angry about not having her way at her ball the year before. She had wanted Robert to choose her as queen of the event - not Carrie.

  Louisa didn’t wait for her to reply. “Of course you put the dear boy in a horrible situation, hanging on him and making him feel it was his duty to choose you as queen.”

  Carrie moved to stand and demand that she leave the house. She didn’t have to sit and listen to such nonsense. Louisa’s next words kept her where she was.

  “I tried to make him feel like he had nothing to be responsible for, or feel badly about, when I saw him at one of the dances last week.” Louisa’s tone was gloating.

  Feeling as if she had received a blow, Carrie settled back in the love seat. Louisa had danced with Robert? They had discussed her? She could do nothing but stare at her tormenter, all the while knowing she was playing into Louisa’s hands.

  Louisa laughed again, this time a triumphant laugh. “I wouldn’t feel too badly about losing Robert Borden, Carrie. You never could have been what he needed.” Louisa paused again and then continued, each word spoken carefully. “He needs someone more suited to his position in life. Not someone who throws overseers off her plantation and then becomes a nigger lover.” Her last words were delivered with angry, cutting precision.

  Carrie gasped and stood up. “That will be enough, Louisa Blackwell. I hardly think it is your place to come into my home and insult me. I will have Sam show you to the door.” She struggled to control the angry tremor in her voice.

  “Oh, sit down!” Louisa said in a sharp voice. “Do you really think everyone around here doesn’t know what you are doing? Someone had to come over and try to talk some sense into you. Don’t you realize what you are doing to all our reputations? Especially your father’s?”

  Carrie remained standing where she was, but her face whitened at the mention of her father.

  Louisa peered even closer. “He still has no idea what you’re doing, does he?”

  Carrie didn’t respond, her fists clenching at her side as she considered attacking Louisa as she had once when they were much younger. She had deserved it then, and she certainly deserved it now.

  Louisa laughed again, this time in disbelief. “How in the world have you managed to deceive him for so long? It must be true. The poor man is in his own little world. I almost feel sorry for you, Carrie, being left behind to manage this plantation while your father runs away to Richmond.”

  Carrie had heard all she intended to listen to. She walked slowly over to stand directly in front of Louisa. “That will be all, Louisa. You have insulted me. Now you insult my father. It is time for you to leave.”

  “Oh, pooh, why let such little things disturb you?” Louisa made no move to leave, but merely sat back in her chair, and reached for her tea. “Surely you aren’t afraid of a little truth?”

  “When the truth becomes a distorted pack of lies, it is indeed disturbing. I will have Sam show you out.” Carrie turned sharply and headed for the parlor door.

  “Don’t you even want to know that Robert asked after you?”

  Even when angry, Louisa could be simpering. Carrie hesitated the merest second and then continued to move toward the door. “Sam?” He appeared at her side instantly. “Miss Blackwell is leaving now. Would you please show her to the door?”

  Carrie heard Louisa’s angry gasp from behind her and then heard the rustle of her skirts as Louisa jumped up from the chair where she had been sitting. Carrie knew she was safe for the moment from that acid tongue. Louisa would never consider talking about personal things in front of a slave.

  Carrie watched her stalk to the door and then stop just long enough to throw an angry glare over her shoulder.

  “I’m sorry I ever came all the way over here to see you. I told them it would do no good,” she said as a parting shot.

  “I’m sorry you came all the way over here, too,” Carrie replied quietly. “I hope you have a good trip home.” With those words, she turned and walked back into the parlor. She stood at the window and watched as Louisa flounced down the stairs and settled herself stiffly into the carriage. A sharp word from her, a raise of the driver’s hands, and the carriage rolled smoothly down the drive.

  Carrie watched her for just a moment before she sank into the chair next to the fire and lowered
her head into her hands. Her head pounded and her face burned with anger and embarrassment. It was bad enough that Louisa had insulted both her and her father. To know that Louisa had been discussing her with Robert made Carrie feel sick inside. You don’t know how much of what she said is true, a voice cautioned.

  “Can I bring you some food, Miss Carrie? That might make you feel some better.”

  Carrie looked up at the sound of Sam’s deep voice and managed a wavering smile. She didn’t feel like eating, but she knew he was right - it might make her feel better. “That would be nice, Sam. Thank you.”

  He nodded but didn’t move away from the door. She looked up to see him regarding her thoughtfully.

  “The best thing to do with folks like dat is to just ignore them. They ain’t be worth the worry and heartache.”

  Carrie knew he had probably heard every word that had passed between them. Voices carried easily from the parlor. Slowly, she nodded her head. “I know... You’re right,” she said halfheartedly. Then her face tightened. “Do you think she’ll tell my father?”

  Sam shrugged his shoulders. “Your daddy gonna find out what’s goin’ on ‘round here sooner or later. But I don’t reckon he be findin’ out from her. People like dat girl... well, they just like to cause trouble and make other people squirm. They’s too busy takin’ care of demselves, though, to think much ‘bout other people when they ain’t close enough to pester.”

  Carrie nodded thoughtfully and then managed to smile. “I’ll take that food now, Sam.”

  Louisa was furious as she rolled away from the Cromwell Plantation. Her cheeks were flushed red, and her blue eyes were shooting sparks. “You’ll be sorry for that, Carrie Cromwell,” she muttered under her breath. She would never think of talking loud enough for her driver to hear. She was still mortified that Carrie had as much as ordered her out of her home within hearing distance of her butler.