Mississippi Brides

by Diane T. Ashley,Aaron McCarver

  Alexandra pushed herself up from the settee and wandered around the room, her mind spinning.

  “Not everyone trusts banks to hold their money. Perhaps your father secreted a large amount of cash about the house? Perhaps in a safe?”

  She considered the suggestion, hoping it might be valid, but shook her head after a few moments. “We’ve gone through P—my father’s study, sorting through his papers. We have not found a safe or any appreciable amount of cash.”

  “I see.” The lawyer walked over to the table and pulled papers out of the portfolio he had brought. He drew a pair of spectacles from the inside pocket of his coat and settled them on his nose. “Then I am afraid your situation is rather bleak.”

  He showed Alexandra lists of expenses and assets until her head was nearly spinning. She rubbed her temples to ease a throbbing pain there. “So if we sell everything, how much will we have?”

  Mr. McKinley took in a deep breath. “Not much, I’m afraid. Do you have any family who can help you through this…difficult time?”

  Alexandra looked out the window. “We do not have family in Tennessee.” She watched the lazy downward journey of an oak leaf as an errant wind blew it loose from its limb. How nice it would be to have someone here to rely on. “Papa brought us here because General Jackson wanted him here. I once hoped I might marry into one of the local families, but after the trouble…” She let the words drift off. This man surely understood her meaning. Her social hopes had been dashed as soon as word had leaked out about her father’s “indiscretion.”

  Alexandra knew what Papa had done was more than an indiscretion, but it was the only term she allowed herself to use when thinking of his actions. She wished more than anything that she could start afresh, but—

  An idea came to her then. Why had she not thought of it sooner? She turned to look into the attorney’s grave countenance. “Do you think we could amass enough money to pay for passage on one of the steamships?”

  “Passage to what destination?”

  “We have family in Natchez.” Alexandra could feel her heart thumping. It was the answer to everything. She and Mama could move in with Grand-mère. No one down in the Mississippi territory would have heard about Papa’s indiscretion. They would be able to start anew.

  “I’m certain that can be arranged.” The attorney smiled at her, relief apparent on his features.

  “Everything really is going to be all right.” She pushed back from the pile of confusing papers and stood up. Her mind began to imagine going to Tanner Plantation.

  The attorney barely had time to get all his things together before she practically shoved him out the front door. He told her he thought he knew of a buyer for the house. That would relieve the greatest financial burden. And since they were going to leave anyway, it hardly mattered.

  As soon as the man was gone, she skipped upstairs to tell her mother what they were going to do. The townspeople of Nashville were no longer of any concern. Even Asher. Let him have his Rebekah. Perhaps one of these days, she would return to Nashville on the arm of her wealthy, influential husband. Then they would see who had made the best of their circumstances.

  Chapter 4

  Fog wafted pale and cool over the brown river as the steamship churned its way into the port at Natchez. Alexandra clutched the edges of her cape and imagined that the mournful steamship whistle must sound like the cry of lost souls. She shivered, her gaze combing the bank ahead for a sign of one of her relatives.

  Plenty of people scurried about even though the hour was advanced. The sun had not yet set, but she wasn’t sure it would still be light by the time the steamship made landfall. Steamers might be the fastest vessels on the river, but this captain was very wary of snags and took a long time bringing his boat to shore. She supposed she ought to be grateful for his caution. They had experienced a very uneventful trip from Nashville to the Mississippi Territory.

  The fog dampened her hair and clothing before sliding silently onto the bank. It obscured her view and gave an otherworldly feel to the late afternoon. Of course, it also softened the outlines of the ragged buildings, turning the shacks into hazy outlines that might have been fancy homes.

  Alexandra could not see any sign of her relatives. She turned and headed back to the cabin she and her mother had shared for the past weeks. Jemma, the only slave who remained after they sold off their property, was folding their clothes and putting them away in one of the many trunks they had brought along. It was a good thing they had ordered new wardrobes before they found out about their financial situation or she and Mama would have been clothed in inappropriately bright colors.

  Mama sat in one corner of the room, a kerosene lantern casting its yellow glow on her shoulders and the needlework in her lap. “Hi, dear.”

  “It’s foggy and cool outside.” Alexandra pulled her cloak off and dropped it on the bed that took up most of the room. “But we’re almost there. Soon we’ll be resting at Grand-mère’s home.”

  “Yes.” Mama’s smile was shaky and seemed to be growing weaker with each day that passed, each mile that drew them closer to Natchez.

  The mournful tones of the steamboat’s whistle made all three women jump. Jemma closed the first chest and moved to another one. “Can’t get off this boat soon enough fer me.”

  Alexandra put a hand out to keep herself upright as the steamboat lurched slightly. “Me either.” She turned to look at her mother. “I didn’t see anyone I know waiting for us, Mama. Do you think we’ll have help when we disembark?”

  Mama’s smile disappeared. She wrung her hands. “Oh my. What will we do if they’re not here? I don’t know how we’ll manage. Everything was so much easier when your father was alive.”

  “It will be all right, Mama.” Alexandra shrugged. “I will find a carriage or a wagon. There must be someone who will be willing to take us to the plantation.”

  Mama grabbed her handkerchief, never far away, and started to cry.

  Alexandra wanted to lash out at her, but she was so pitiful. Life would be much easier if Mama would take a little responsibility, but it seemed that was beyond her. Alexandra had arranged their passage with the help of the nice lawyer. She and Jemma had gone on board early to make certain the accommodations were acceptable. Then they had returned to the house and packed up the clothes and other meager belongings that had not been sold. All the while, Mama sat and stared out the window or wept into her handkerchief.

  “Jemma, I have spoken to the captain about getting our things on shore. He assured me there would be no problem. We’ll all go ashore, and I’ll leave you to watch over Mama while I find a carriage or wagon, some kind of conveyance to get us home.”

  Jemma’s eyes widened, but she nodded.

  Alexandra sent her an encouraging smile. She had been a jewel during the trip. In fact, Alexandra didn’t know if she could have made it without her help.

  Alexandra grabbed Mama’s cloak and coaxed her to stand and let it be draped around her shoulders. When she was certain Mama was suitably wrapped up, she pulled her own cloak on and helped her mother negotiate the steps leading to the deck. It only took a few more moments before the boat was secured and the loading plank was swung over to the bank.

  “Let’s go, Mama.” Alexandra took a tentative step and flung her arms out for balance. “See how easy this is.” She beckoned for Mama and Jemma to follow. All three of them made it safely to shore and looked around.

  Natchez Under-the-Hill. Alexandra had heard stories of the area. It was a hiding place for gamblers, criminals, and lawless men, most of them running from New Orleans justice. It was no place for two ladies to spend any amount of time. Well, she’d better remedy that situation before it got any darker.

  After repeating her instructions to Jemma and her mother, Alexandra walked toward the nearest building, hoping she would find it to be a livery stable. A woman who looked even more bedraggled than Alexandra felt stepped outside. When questioned, she pointed the way toward a stable a
few blocks toward the east, away from the river.

  The fog swirled around her legs as she walked, obscuring the ground and making it difficult for her to see where she was going. Hoping the woman had directed her correctly, Alexandra turned a corner and found herself in a quieter part of town. Buildings rose up on either side of her, their shadows lengthening as full dark began to settle on them.

  A horseshoe hanging from a metal rod indicated that a building ahead was the one she sought. Intent on her destination, Alexandra hurried forward, hope singing through her. But disaster struck when she put her foot into an unseen rut and twisted her ankle. A shriek of pain and fear broke through her lips as she fell, landing with a jarring thump.

  It took her a minute to recover her senses, and when she did, she groaned. She was covered in mud and dirt, her hat drooped to one side, and her cloak was torn in several places. She dragged herself up with some effort and leaned against the nearest wall, ignoring the bite of splinters that pierced her gloved hands. Her breath came in labored spurts, and the street seemed to move as though it had turned into the river.

  Several minutes passed, but finally the street regained its solidity and her breathing settled into a more normal pace. She pushed away from the wall and put her full weight on her injured foot. Pain shot up her leg, causing her to fall back once more. At least this time the street did not waver, but she knew her situation was serious. Her mother was counting on her. She could not fail. She wanted to sink to the ground and sob, but crying would not help the situation. What was she going to do?

  How many blocks had she walked in her search? She wasn’t certain. She could no longer see the waterfront, or Mama and Jemma. And no one seemed to be around in this dark, narrow corridor. Alexandra closed her eyes. God, help me. The words formed in her mind even though she didn’t really believe He would answer her plea.

  A sound to her right made Alexandra’s eyes fly open. Two men rounded the corner and lurched toward her. They appeared to be drunk, leaning on each other and weaving their way up the street. The drunker of the two was shorter, and he was moving in an odd hopping fashion while leaning against his taller companion.

  “Come along, Judah,” the taller one encouraged his companion. “We’re almost at the stable where we’re supposed to rendezvous with your lady.”

  Alexandra was surprised at the lack of slurring in the man’s voice. At least he wasn’t drunk. He must be helping his master home. She remembered seeing other boats at the landing. Perhaps this pair had arrived on one of them.

  As they drew closer she realized the shorter man, a soldier by his garb, was moving oddly because he had lost the lower part of his right leg. She pressed a hand to her mouth, sympathy for his plight filling her. Suddenly her twisted ankle seemed a minor inconvenience.

  The smaller man looked up and saw her. “What have we here? A lady in distress?”

  The servant stared at her boldly, his gaze taking in her torn clothing and the spatters of mud on her face. “More likely a lady of the streets.”

  Alexandra’s mouth fell open in shock. She closed it with a snap and directed her attention to the soldier. “You should teach your man to bridle his tongue. It will do neither of you any good to allow him to criticize his betters.” She would have liked to turn her shoulder on both of them and stalk away, but the throbbing in her ankle halted her.

  What the soldier’s answer might have been was muffled by the sound of horses’ hooves approaching. A carriage rounded the corner. Alexandra shrank back against her wall, biting her lip to keep from moaning as her leg throbbed once more.

  The carriage came to an abrupt halt as it drew even with the two men, and a blond whirlwind emerged from it. The woman was even smaller than the soldier, but what she lacked in stature she made up for in energy. She ran to the soldier and threw her arms around him.

  “Careful, or you’ll overset him,” the manservant warned.

  “Praise God for bringing you home to me.” The lady placed a kiss on the lame man’s cheek before turning to his companion. “And Jeremiah, how can I ever thank you for your duty to my husband? He has written to me of your bravery and constancy. No amount of money could ever repay you for what you have done.”

  “It is my pleasure.” The tall man smiled down at the blond woman, and Alexandra caught her breath. His features, which she had considered harsh, were transformed. His hair fell forward across his broad forehead, his lips curved upward and revealed a pair of dimples, and his warm gaze made her toes curl even though it was not directed at her.

  “Oh, it is so good to see you both. Judah, my love, you cannot imagine how much I have missed you all these months. I cannot wait to get you home. You look so pale, dear. But we’ll take care of that in a matter of days.”

  “Susannah, I have missed you so.”

  The words were filled with such emotion that Alexandra felt like an interloper. For a moment she wished someone missed her that much. Even though Asher Landon had been kind to her, he had never shown her the same depth of emotion. Suddenly she was truly glad he had decided to marry elsewhere. Perhaps one day she would meet a man who loved her as much as this man loved his wife. Alexandra shifted her weight to ease her discomfort, wishing once again for the ability to walk away.

  The lady noticed her for the first time. “Who is this?”

  The soldier shook his head. “I was about to find out if she needed our help when you arrived, dearest.”

  “I’m trying to find the livery stable. I need to hire someone to get me and my mother to Tanner Plantation.”

  “Tanner Plantation?” The blond lady peered up at her. “Are you a relative of the Tanners?”

  Alexandra nodded. “My mother was a Tanner before she married. My…my father died recently and we—”

  “Oh, you poor thing,” the lady broke in on her explanation. She turned back to her husband. “We must help them, Judah.”

  Jeremiah shook his head. “You are too trusting. If she was who she claims, her family would be here to meet her and her mother. You should send her to the livery stable.” He pointed to the horseshoe a few feet away.

  The harsh words brought a rush of tears to Alexandra’s eyes. If only she could slap this impertinent servant. What had the world come to that such as he was allowed to speak so to a lady?

  No matter how badly it hurt, she would not stay here one moment longer. Setting her jaw, she pushed away from the wall. If she was very careful, surely she could make it. She ignored the threesome and stepped forward on her good foot, but when she took her next step, the pain overwhelmed her. The light from the carriage faded, as did the voices of the strangers, and she pitched forward once more.

  A pungent smell made Alexandra’s head jerk back against a solid shoulder. Mama had burned a feather and was waving it under her nose.

  “There, she’s coming to now.” A puff of air tickled her ear. The voice was unfamiliar, but the cadence of his words was not. For a moment she believed she was back in New Orleans right after the war. Papa was still alive, and everything else was naught but a strange dream.

  Reality pushed her hopes aside as Alexandra opened her eyes to find herself inside a strange carriage. She was not in New Orleans; she was in Natchez…Natchez Under-the-Hill. She struggled against the arms holding her but could not break free. Horror stories of unwary victims being snatched from the streets and robbed—or worse—came to life in her mind. Her movements grew more frantic, but the arms were more like iron bonds than flesh and blood.

  “Jeremiah, let go.” A woman’s voice came from the opposite bench. “Can’t you see you’re frightening her?”

  Instantly she was free. Alexandra dragged herself as far away from him as she could manage and stared at the people inside the carriage.

  The crippled soldier and his wife sat opposite her, while the rude servant sat on her side, his arms now folded across his wide chest.

  “Where am I?”

  The soldier smiled at her. “You blacked out, my dear.
Jeremiah here caught you and transported you to safety.”

  Her fears faded somewhat. The couple’s concern seemed genuine.

  His wife leaned forward and placed a hand on her arm. “We would like to see you and your mother safely to your destination.”

  “I still think you should hire a separate wagon for them if you are so determined to be taken in by this woman’s tale.”

  She could hear the censure in the servant’s—Jeremiah’s—voice. But he had a valid point. “Perhaps he’s right.”

  “Nonsense, just tell us where to find your mother.” The woman smiled at her. “We will take care of the rest.”

  Alexandra could not resist her friendliness. And she was so tired. And her foot was throbbing. So she directed them to the waterfront.

  It took a few moments to find her mother, who had become distraught at Alexandra’s long absence. But after explaining the chain of events and providing introductions all around, it was settled. Alexandra and her mother would ride inside the carriage with their new friends, Judah and Susannah Hughes. Jemma and Jeremiah would ride up front next to the driver as soon as he and Jeremiah stowed all of the luggage.

  Their arrival at Tanner Plantation caused a flurry of activity. Uncle John and Aunt Patricia welcomed them as Grand-mère had already retired. Alexandra was hurting too badly to notice much. She thanked Mr. and Mrs. Hughes and allowed a slave to carry her inside and deposit her in the bedroom she was to use. Someone was summoned to wrap her ankle in bandages while someone else helped her undress and found a gown for her to sleep in. The pampering was a luxury she had not experienced since Papa’s “indiscretion.” Perhaps things were finally beginning to change back to what they should be.

  As she drifted into slumber, a voice seemed to whisper in her mind. It didn’t speak in words but in warmth. She felt loved.

  A thought of her own drifted through and brought her crashing back into wakefulness. Was it a coincidence that Judah Hughes and his servant had found her right after she had pleaded for help from God? Or had the Almighty answered her prayer?