by Marian Wells
Matthew nodded and leaned forward to peer at the river channel. “Caleb, come tell me what you think about that dark line I’m seeing. Is it a snag?”
Olivia slipped out and closed the door. For a moment she faced the wind. Feeling the prickle of cold against her skin, she shivered. “Maggie is right; fall is coming.”
She stopped in the doorway of the cabin. “More coffee?” Alex shook his head. She lingered.
Looking up he said, “Why don’t you come in and close the door; it’s getting cold.”
“What are you going to do during cold weather? You can’t keep this up all winter can you?”
“No. But I’ll be able to get in another trip before ice jams the rivers.” He threw her a quick teasing look. “Want to come?” She snorted. He chuckled. “Just thought I’d ask.”
He continued to make notes while Olivia walked restlessly around the room. She discovered he was watching her. “You could read a book or something.”
“Your Bible?”
“If you want.”
“No, thanks.”
“Know it all, huh?”
“You are insufferable.”
“Maggie thinks we make a great pair.”
“Oh, she’s told you, too. Matchmaking. I happen to feel differently. You realize, don’t you, if I’d any idea what I was getting into, I’d never have listened to Lem.” As soon as she said the words, she put her hand to her lips.
She caught her breath as he dropped his pencil and leaned across the table. “Lem? What—” She watched dismay change to comprehension. Slowly he stood up. Studying her from head to toe, he said, “The youth with your cousin! I thought you were a b—” He sat down and wiped his hands across his face. “I really walloped—”
“Me.” Her voice was icy, and suddenly she began to enjoy his embarrassment.
“Olivia,” he came around the table and she faced him with her chin tilted. “I honestly don’t know how to apologize. It isn’t enough to say I’m sorry. My dear,” he begged, “I’ve never struck a woman in my life.”
“Until now. I shan’t forget it.”
“Then you won’t forgive me?”
“Not enough to get within six feet of you on purpose.” She turned and walked out of the cabin.
****
After the evening meal, Alex addressed the group. “We are getting very close to our destination. At the moment we don’t know enough about the situation ahead of us to make hard and fast plans, but I want to tell you what we hope will happen.”
A ripple of excitement swept around the table. Looking at the bright faces, Olivia felt her own heart lift. Tandy got to her feet. “Alex, we will never in our lives be able to say what you mean to us. But thank you for what you’ve done.”
“Don’t thank me yet,” he said with a tight grin. “We may be approaching the hardest part of the whole trip. And don’t forget, I’m as new at this as you are.
“One of the first things we will do is divide the group and place a leader over each group.” He paused to take a deep breath before he continued. “The reasoning behind this is that there is a possibility we will be separated. I hope this won’t happen, but in the event, we want to be prepared.”
“Leader? What’s his job?”
“Be father and mother and lover.” In the silence, Alex continued, “Whatever must be done for each other, must be done within the group. We will have to depend on each other and stick together. If one reaches Canada, we will all reach Canada.”
“Alex, are you going, too?”
“Certainly. I can’t rest until the job is completed.”
“And the ladies?”
“No. They will either stay at a station on the way, or they’ll be free to leave.”
“Station? Is this part of the Underground Railroad, Alex?”
“It is. The most important part. In Mississippi, we dared not admit this, but in Ohio and Pennsylvania—”
Caleb chuckled. “We stick out like a sore thumb. Except at night, then they can’t tell whether we are black or white.”
“We don’t have to go underground.”
“To the contrary,” Alex said slowly. “There is still need for the utmost caution. We’ll move at night and not consider ourselves safe until we’ve reached Canada.”
Jess turned to Alex. “Are you saying they still catch slaves in Ohio and Pennsylvania?”
“I’m afraid so.” Slowly Alex added, “The Fugitive Slave Act is still in effect. In order to be law-abiding citizens, the Northerners are obligated to turn runaway slaves over to the authorities.”
“We’ll never make it.” Jeb stated flatly.
“You’ll be surprised,” Alex murmured, “how colorblind some Northerners are. There’s only one problem; you don’t know which ones are colorblind and which aren’t.”
Alex got to his feet and spread a map on the table.
“I want you all to study this. Those who can’t read, ask questions. See these circled spots? Every spot represents a station. I’ve written landmarks, towns, and names around each spot. These are your lifelines.”
He paused, and in the dusk, Olivia watched him look into each face. Pointing to a dot on the map, he said, “We are headed for this place—it’s called The Willows. The family name is Cooper. This is just off the Ohio River, in Pennsylvania. Now this little town is New Castle, but if it is impossible to reach this place, we can go to any of the other points and be assured of help. Now, come. I will divide you into groups with a leader. You are now a family group with responsibility for each other.”
Taking a shaky breath, Olivia got to her feet. “Crystal, I think this is the end of the trip for us.” She added, “We might as well go to the cabin and make plans of our own. Coming, Amelia?” As they started up the stairs, Olivia looked back. The excited voices and the huddled figures made her sharply aware of her solitude. For just one second, without willing it, her eyes sought out the figure of the man at the head of the group. Despite the darkening shadows, she saw the gleam of a golden earring, and again she wondered.
****
Olivia, during the following week, observed the change in the people and commented on it. “Tandy, it’s as if there is a whole new adventure starting.”
“’Tis. Just like Alex say we are to do. We’re becoming family, and we’re learning to look forward and make plans.” Looking at Olivia she said softly, “For the first time in our lives, we make the plans. Sure, we are told to stick together and help each other. But that’s good. See, not a one of us has ever been alone before.”
Humbled by the woman’s excitement, Olivia said, “We’re the ones who will be the losers. We will miss the good times, the children. I suppose even the worry of each day.”
Wisely Tandy nodded her head. “It’s a wrenching. People just don’t part easy. And we know it’s going to be hardship ahead. That’s part of freedom. Alex tells us sometimes the hardest part of life is learning to not expect all easy times. He calls it creating our own heaven on this earth.”
“What does he recommend?”
Tandy frowned. “Livie, why don’t you ask? You all the time come around saying, ‘What does Alex say?’ ‘What does Alex think?’ Go ask him.”
****
Amelia finally reached through Olivia’s jumbled emotions. Coming into the cabin one evening she stated, “Alex says we’ll be in Wheeling by noon tomorrow. He showed me the map. The fellows are talking about finding a place to dock for a day or so. Said something about spying out the land. I declare, they’re starting to sound like Joshua’s men.”
“Joshua?” Olivia questioned, turning from the porthole. “Who is he?”
Amelia paused, pursed her lips, and said, “For a churchgoing Christian, your Bible education has been sorely neglected.”
“Oh, that one. Bible.” She moved restlessly around the cabin. “Amelia, have you made plans?”
“I’m going to stay in Pennsylvania for the winter.”
“What are you going to do? Oh,
I shouldn’t be so nosy.”
Surprisingly Amelia laughed. “Alex says he’ll put in a good word for me. See, I decided to give the straight life another try.
“Crystal—” She turned a mocking smile on the girl as she walked into the cabin. “You aren’t the only one who’s learned a lesson by the steamboat explosion. You’re all looking at the reformed dancehall girl. Think God will be impressed if I start by helping the slaves get into Canada?”
Olivia frowned. “I don’t know. Somehow that sounds like all the wrong idea. But then, if you’ve talked it over with God, like Alex says, well, I suppose it’s all right.”
Abruptly the smile slipped from Amelia’s face. “I wasn’t serious. But I do feel I need time to plan my life a little better. I’m too inclined to jump into things.” She winced, and Olivia waited. Looking at her, Amelia said, “Jump—you know, like off burning ships.”
“Oh, Amelia,” Crystal said with a catch in her voice. “Please be serious.”
“More problems?” Amelia asked slowly.
“Yes,” she said with a sigh. “It’s Joseph. I’ve planned this trip just for the purpose of taking him as far north as possible and then giving him his freedom. Now he doesn’t want to go into Canada. What shall I do?”
“Given all we’ve been exposed to during the past two and a half months, this is unbelievable,” Amelia said slowly. “Crystal, why doesn’t he want his freedom?”
She shrugged and turned away. “I guess you could call it faithfulness, or laziness—I don’t know,” she mumbled as she began to pull pins out of her hair.
After a moment Amelia looked at Olivia. “What are you going to do?”
“Take the first steamboat south. I’ll go home.” Olivia paused as the picture of home washed across her mind. The gentle, lovely picture seemed dim and far away. She strained to feel the familiar tug of family and friends, but the backwash left her moving restlessly around the cabin. “Imagine,” she said dryly, “having to decide what dress to wear! I’ll even have my choice at breakfast instead of porridge, porridge, and porridge. I’ll go for a walk, and I won’t fall in the water when I step out my front door.” She stopped.
Crystal said, “I don’t think you are any more interested in returning home than I am.”
“Right now it does sound boring,” Olivia admitted. “Even too secure and ordered. But I don’t have anything else in mind.”
Amelia pulled off her shoes. “Well, you don’t need to decide before morning. Do you object if I go to bed now?”
Chapter 28
Anew ritual had been added to the breakfast time. At the conclusion of Bible reading and prayer, Alex would spread the map on the table. Daily his pencil marked out the course ahead of them, and always there was one dark head nodding at the map. “Alex, we getting closer. Will we see the big rocks today?” And from the back some anxious voice would say, “How will we know there’s someone to lead us on?”
Olivia found herself admiring the unending patience of the man as Alex explained, “We don’t know. We have only the promises to go on. We know they have provided in the past. And if they had failed to do so, I believe we would have been told.”
“Tell us again what is going to happen.”
He pointed to the largest circle on the map. “This is our destination. But at any point marked on the map, you can be assured of help.”
Solomon’s thick finger traced up into Canada. “A mighty long way up there.”
“Don’t matter,” Jess said, “That’s freedom. I could walk near forever if that’s where it would end. Might be my family is there already.”
One day, Alex’s pencil rested on the Pennsylvania state line. He said, “There’s no reason we can’t be right here by mid-afternoon today.”
“In the middle of the day?” Jess questioned. “Is that good?”
“No,” Alex replied. “And I don’t intend to push in there today. This means we’ll be cutting our speed just about noon. Hopefully we’ll find a place to dock soon after. I’m going to scout around, get the feel of the land, then after dark we’ll move on up the river.”
“Don’t you think we should let them know we’re coming?” Olivia asked.
Alex looked at her. For a moment his eyes warmed her. She blushed and looked away from him. Slowly he said, “We’ve considered doing just that. But we don’t want to raise suspicion. Remember, we mustn’t bring danger upon these people.”
True to his statement, when the sun was overhead, the women around the table heard the gong signaling reduced speed. Tandy cocked her head. “Only one gong; that means we won’t be going too slow.” She hugged herself and shivered with excitement.
Feeling the excitement too, Olivia stood up and restlessly paced to the railing. Crystal said, “You had better find something to do.” When Olivia turned, Crystal’s eyes flashed a warning.
Tandy said, “That pot of coffee is ready; why don’t you take it up? There’s bread and ham in the box, too.”
Olivia looked into the box. “And apples? What are we celebrating?” She saw Crystal’s dismal look and Tandy’s grin. With a shrug, Olivia picked up the coffeepot and the box and started up the stairs. Thinking of the women’s expressions, she measured her own lack of emotion and could only feel bewildered by her friend’s expression. Fear? Yes, of course I’m afraid for them. Only God knows what lies ahead. But Crystal, why are you looking as if this is the end of the world?
As she walked up the final flight of stairs Matthew came down. He looked into the box. “Have you seen Crystal?”
“She’s sitting at the table.” Matthew started past her, and she said, “What’s wrong between you two? I’ve seen her avoiding you.”
“I only wish I knew,” he muttered. “Olivia, put in a good word for me.”
“Fight your own battles. Might be she’s guessed your wild past.”
He snorted, “That’s an exaggeration, and you know it. Please, Olivia, this means an awful lot to me.”
“What about our parents? How will they feel?”
Impatiently he said, “Crystal is from one of the most influential Creole families in New Orleans. How can they possibly object?”
“Well, I still think you should fight your own battles.” She relented. “But I did tell her I’d like her as a sister-in-law.” He chuckled and kissed her cheek.
When Olivia walked into the pilothouse, Alex gave her a brief glance, nodded, and turned back to the wheel. Caleb, who was prone on the bench, shifted his red cap and groaned. “Coffee and food,” she explained.
“Not ready yet,” Alex muttered. “Just leave it.”
Caleb sat up and grinned at her. “Want me to leave?”
“Why?” she asked astonished.
He glanced at Alex and shrugged. “Thought you’d come up to talk.”
She shook her head, “Nothing to talk about. I was restless and the others too comfortable, so I’m the maid today. Shall I pour coffee for you?”
Caleb’s eyes sparkled as he chuckled and nodded. Alex asked, “Please, what is there to eat?”
“Bread and meat,” she said, surprised at Caleb’s amusement. With a puzzled frown, she watched him and waited.
“You go ahead and prepare it for him,” Caleb said, his eyes still twinkling. Silently Olivia poured the coffee, wrapped the ham in the bread, and carried it to Alex.
She saw a reflection of the amusement in his eyes. “Don’t mind Caleb; he’s practicing being a free man.”
She looked at Caleb and asked, “Are you going to Canada?”
Without waiting for an answer, she turned to Alex. “How will you manage without Caleb?”
He shrugged, “Guess I’ll have to hire me another pilot. Too bad you didn’t learn steamboating. I’d give you the job.”
“You’re teasing,” she said slowly. “You’d never give a woman a chance at a job like this.”
He signaled half speed and looked at her. “I was teasing, but as of this minute I’m not.”
�
��That’s astounding; I can’t believe that you are anything except the perfect Southern gentleman as far as women are concerned.”
“Believing that they are beautiful toys, to be pampered and enjoyed?” His eyes glimmered, but behind the teasing there was a sober question that pushed at her.
“With all that implies, you think I’m only a typical Southern woman?”
He balanced his coffee against the wheel and took a bite of the sandwich. She studied the earring and watched him gulp coffee before he finally said, “Yes.”
She walked to the door. “Caleb, you can bring the box down later.”
The door closed slowly and carefully. Caleb said, “Alex, you didn’t do so well.”
“And you, my friend, set me up for that.” Alex finished his sandwich.
“You know,” Caleb said around his mouthful, “I have a very strong feeling that Missy likes you much more than she pretends to.”
“Then I’m a mighty poor judge of the Southern woman.”
Caleb chuckled. “She’d be a mighty poor Southern lady if she couldn’t keep you guessing.”
Alex handed his mug to Caleb. “Now, to important matters. I’m feeling the Lord is urging caution.”
“I guessed that,” Caleb said. “It makes sense to believe that big house on the hill could be watched.”
“And we can’t go charging in there with all these slaves.”
“Those officials would have a lapful,” Caleb chuckled. “But they wouldn’t stand a chance. Them black people would scatter in fifty different directions.”
“Fine, as long as the men don’t have guns,” Alex answered soberly.
****
Crystal looked up as Matthew came down the stairs. He tipped his nonexistent hat. “Mademoiselle, will you stroll with me in the park?”
He came to her with a quizzical smile and his hand was insistent under her elbow. She sighed, “Matthew, you are—”
“Impossible to resist? I’m willing to get grass stains on my knees for you.” Tandy giggled, and he added, “At least come take fresh air on the hurricane deck.”
With a sigh, Crystal allowed Matthew to lead her up the stairs. When they reached the bow, Crystal faced into the wind and asked, “Matthew, are you going to continue to work with Alex?”
