Shifted By The Winds

by Ginny Dye

  Carrie watched, a sense of something close to awe flooding her as she watched Amber’s face fill with determined purpose. She joined Mark and Susan at the fence as Amber clambered up to perch on top.

  “That is Eclipse’s Sparkling Lady,” she began, pointing out a powerful sorrel filly with an etched, refined head. “She was the first to be born this spring. She was also the first to learn to lead. She’s already used to the halter and bridle, and I’ve been putting the saddle pad on her for several weeks now. She’s spirited but friendly. She’s got her sire’s fire, but she is also as gentle as her dam.”

  Amber shifted to point toward a prancing bay with two white stockings on his front legs. “That’s Eclipse’s Jim Dandy.” She launched into her explanation of where he was in the training process, her voice confident and smooth.

  “And that one?” Susan asked when Amber finished.

  Carrie hid her grin as her eyes followed Susan’s pointing finger.

  “That’s All My Heart,” Amber said.

  “She’s beautiful,” Susan murmured, her eyes taking in the filly’s perfect conformation with hungry eyes.

  “And she’s mine,” Amber added. “Robert gave her to me.” Her voice was thick with pride and love.

  Susan turned to gaze into Amber’s eyes. “You are a very lucky little girl.”

  “Luck had nothing to do with it.” Robert strode up and put his hand on Amber’s shoulder. “I owe this little girl more than I can ever repay, and All My Heart is in the best hands possible.”

  Amber grinned and ducked her head, but not before Carrie saw the sheer adoration she had for Robert on her face. Once again she battled her fear they may never be able to have children. Her husband should have the chance to be a father.

  Robert turned to shake hands with Mark. “What a surprise!” He embraced Susan. “To what do we owe this pleasure?”

  Susan exchanged a glance with Mark. “Should we tell him now?”

  A clatter of wagon wheels and the pealing laughter of children filled the air.

  Amber slid down off the fence, her face glowing with excitement. “Everyone is here!” she cried. “The Harvest Celebration is beginning!”

  Carrie watched as a steady stream of people, laughing and talking, poured into the yard. Their arms were full of blankets to sit on. “The Harvest Celebration has begun,” she agreed. She understood the look on Robert’s face. “You can stay here and talk to Mark and Susan while I go greet everyone.”

  Robert hesitated, his expression saying that was exactly what he wanted to do, but he shook his head. “This day is too important.” He turned to Mark. “We can talk afterwards?”

  “Absolutely,” Mark agreed. “Thomas told me this is the best tobacco harvest he has ever had.”

  Robert nodded. “And all these people are the ones who made it possible. We’re going to give them the party of their life!” He turned to Carrie. “Finish getting Granite ready. Thomas, Abby and I will greet everyone. Moses and Rose will be here in just a minute. They are finishing up down at the tournament arena.”

  “I’ll come with you,” Mark said. “I’m eager to see Moses.”

  Robert grinned. “He is going to be thrilled you are here, Captain Jones.”

  Susan waved as Robert and Mark left the barn, and then she turned to Carrie. “Can I stay here with you?”

  “I would love it!”

  “Me too,” Amber said shyly.

  Susan put a hand on Amber’s shoulder. “Will you introduce me to All My Heart?”

  “Yes, ma’am!”

  Carrie smiled, knowing Susan had made a friend for life. She suddenly couldn’t wait another moment. “If I promise not to say anything to Robert, will you tell me why you’re here?”

  “And me too?” Amber cried. “My mama was right, wasn’t she?”

  Susan smiled. “When we got your father’s invitation, we were intrigued. We became more intrigued when we learned Eclipse’s lineage.”

  “He’s out of Lexington,” Amber boasted. “My brother, Clint, had Abby buy him when Robert was still real sick.”

  Susan looked at Carrie with surprise. “Is that right?”

  Carrie nodded. “Clint is a very gifted horseman. He spent the years during the war studying everything he could get his hands on about horses so he would be prepared. He fell in love with horses when Robert taught him how to ride. He never gave up hope that someday he would work with Robert.”

  “And now he is,” Susan murmured before she turned to Amber. “Your brother made a very wise choice.”

  “Yep.”

  Susan grinned. “As I said, we were intrigued enough to make the trip down. We recently decided to expand. Thomas’ letter came at the perfect time.”

  “What did my father say?”

  Susan shrugged. “Just that the folks around here were too stupid to recognize the best horseflesh he had ever seen.”

  Carrie laughed. She could hardly wait to tell her father she wasn’t going back to Philadelphia. She wouldn’t be in Richmond, but she would see him far more often. “He does know how to encapsulate an issue,” she said.

  Susan turned back around to stare into the pasture. “He was right.”

  Amber stepped up to tug on her arm. “Miss Jones?”

  Susan looked down. “Yes, Amber?”

  “You can’t have All My Heart because she’s mine. And you can’t have Dandy Delight, either. He belongs to my brother,” she explained earnestly.

  Susan nodded. “Which one is Dandy Delight?”

  Amber pointed toward the tree where a sorrel colt rested in the shade, his head lifted to attention as he watched everyone arrive. “That one!”

  Susan chuckled. “Why am I not surprised the two of you chose the best ones of the bunch?”

  “They’re all fine colts and fillies,” Amber promised. “Any one of them would be a fine addition to your stable.”

  Carrie’s heart swelled with love. “You are absolutely right, Amber.” She turned to Susan. “Do you have any idea how many you want?” She could hardly wait for Robert to discover some of them were going to have a home. Perhaps that would open the gate for other buyers.

  Susan hesitated. “I should probably wait for Mark…”

  “Or just tell us since we’re all women here,” Amber broke in. “We have to stick together, you know!”

  Carrie laughed. “She listens to Rose and me.”

  “And to June, and Annie, and my mama,” Amber added. “Are they right?” she demanded.

  “They’re right,” Susan chuckled. “I really should wait for Mark, but I already know we are in agreement.”

  “So how many?” Amber pressed, her eyes fixed intently on Susan’s face.

  “All of them.”

  A long silence fell on the barn as more people streamed into the yard. Carrie finally found her voice. “Did you say all of them?”

  “All of them?” Amber echoed in a whisper.

  “Well, all of them except All My Heart and Dandy,” Susan responded. “Unless you decide to change your mind and sell her to us, Amber,” she teased.

  “No, ma’am,” Amber said, but a wide grin was spreading across her face. “Robert is sure going to be happy!”

  Carrie had dozens of questions swarming through her mind, but Thomas, Abby, Matthew and Janie were walking out onto the porch. It was suddenly important to be with them. Granite was ready for the tournament. Now that she wasn’t going back to Philadelphia, she wanted to take a more active role on the plantation. “You’ll have to excuse me,” she said quickly. She wrapped Susan in a hug. “Thank you,” she whispered. Then she turned and hurried across the yard.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Granite snorted and pranced as the crowds pressed closer to the arena. Carrie couldn’t hold back her grin as she felt him move beneath her. After years of dreaming about it, she was finally going to compete in a tournament. She knew Granite was just as excited as she was.

  It was a perfect day for the Harvest C
elebration. The early morning chill had retreated with the sun, but the air was still crisp and cool. The aroma of roasting pigs seemed to fill every inch of the plantation. The men had dug pits for four huge hogs, to make sure there was enough for everyone. The long tables groaned under the weight of all the food, but the feasting would not begin until someone had been crowned the winner of the tournament.

  She watched as the crowd talked and laughed. She couldn’t help comparing the spectators to those from the Blackwell Tournaments of years past. The Blackwell Tournament and Ball had always been an event where every woman from surrounding plantations strove to outdo the others who would attend. They chose their resplendent gowns carefully, always wore hats to protect their delicate complexions, and would never be seen without a frilly parasol. Men wore elegant suits and chatted with friends they saw only a few times a year.

  Carrie chuckled. What a difference six years could make. The dresses surrounding the arena were just as colorful, but there were no fancy gowns, and not one woman wore a hat or carried a parasol to protect their ebony skin. The look of happiness on their faces was the only adornment they needed. The men, forged by months of working together under brutal conditions, wore justified expressions of pride as they laughed and talked.

  Carrie looked over and saw Clint talking earnestly to Amber. The expression on her little face was as intense as Carrie had ever seen, but she couldn’t detect even a trace of nervousness. Amber was ready. She sat easily on Eclipse, probably not even aware that people were discussing how such a small girl could handle such an enormous horse.

  Carrie’s gaze swung to Robert. He was mounted on a black gelding named Mischief. In spite of his name, the gelding was calm and well-mannered. She admired her husband’s dark looks on the stunning horse, but had no concerns that Mischief could outpace Granite or Eclipse. She was sure Robert was disappointed he couldn’t ride his stallion, but she knew he was equally proud of the fact that Amber had won the honor.

  Moses was astride Champ. The powerful horse easily handled Moses’ size but was not going to be competition for Granite. She smiled at him and continued scanning the field of competition.

  There were several of Moses’ men on their horses. They would have fun, but they did not present a challenge. She glanced at them and looked around until her eyes settled on the last minute competitor.

  Susan, inspired by the fact that both Carrie and Amber were riding, had accepted the offer of a Cromwell horse for the Tournament. She looked magnificent on Lucky Lady, a towering gray Thoroughbred that looked like a feminine version of Granite. Carrie inspected the mare carefully. Out of all the horses, this was the one she knew the least about, but she knew Susan was savvy enough to pick a mount that would give her the best advantage. The mare’s legs were powerful, and her wide chest spoke of speed, but Carrie’s examination brought her to the conclusion that Lucky Lady would not be as fast as Granite, and she knew Susan had never practiced capturing the rings. She would not be a threat.

  Granite snorted again and shied a little as a piece of cloth went flying by. Carrie quit inspecting the field of competitors and turned all her attention to her horse. Granite had almost lost the competition six years ago when he had been frightened by a loose handkerchief. It was up to her to keep him calm and focused. Blocking out everyone else around her, Carrie soothed Granite and murmured softly to him, her hand stroking his neck as her father mounted the platform built next to the arena.

  Carrie, completely immersed in her horse, was surprised when she heard the horn blow. She knew Louisa had found the old tournament horn in a hiding place on Blackwell Plantation that the Union soldiers had not discovered. Perry flashed her a grin when he lowered the horn from his lips. He had been practicing for days to make sure he could do more than make the horn sputter. Carrie grinned back at him and turned toward her father as he climbed the stairs to the platform. The boisterous crowd fell completely silent.

  Thomas, resplendent in a black suit that marked the importance of the occasion, smiled as he gazed out over the crowd. Carrie felt a surge of pride but pushed aside any thoughts other than the tournament as he began to speak.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, it is now time for the charge of the knights.” Thomas’ deep voice rang out through the still air. The quiet seemed to grow even deeper as everyone listened intently. Not so long ago, the closest any of the people in this crowd could have gotten to a tournament was in their role as slave. To simply be part of the spectators was a momentous occasion. Not one person was taking it lightly.

  Carrie straightened as her father turned to gaze at the group of competitors gathered below the platform. His eyes rested on her for a moment, warming her with their pride and love, and then he smiled at all of them. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Amber flash him a big grin.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, you are gathered here today to participate in the most chivalrous and gallant sport known. It has been called the sport of kings, and well it should. It has come down to us from the Crusades, being at that time a very hazardous undertaking,” Thomas said solemnly.

  Carrie shivered as she felt the years melt away. Her father was speaking the exact same words that Colonel James Benton had spoken every year of the Blackwell Tournament. It was as if no time at all had passed, but yet it also felt as if several lifetimes had been lived. She glanced over and caught Robert’s eye. She knew he was thinking the same thing she was—reliving the day they had begun to fall in love. She smiled at him lovingly and then turned her attention back to her father.

  “The knights of that day rode in full armor, charging down the lists at each other with the intent that the best man would knock his opponent from his horse. It was a rough and dangerous pastime. Many were seriously hurt. Some were killed. But we, in this day, have gotten soft and tender—as well as much smarter, I believe—and have eliminated the danger and roughness of the sport.” Laughter rippled through the crowd, but as in years past, no one spoke up to mar the seriousness of the charge.

  Thomas sobered as he leaned forward to address the riders. “But with all that, it is still a challenging and fascinating sport. One that tests the horsemanship, dexterity, skill, quickness of eye, and steadiness and control of the rider, and the speed, smoothness of gait, and training of the horse. It is an honorable sport and I do not need to mention that a knight taking any undue advantage of his opponents will be ruled out of the tournament.” His eyes bored into each competitors’ until he seemed confident he had made his point. “Now, for the rules.”

  Carrie knew the rules by heart, even after all these years, but she listened attentively, still hardly believing she was actually going to ride.

  “The three ring hangers are spaced twenty yards apart. The start is twenty yards from the first ring—making the total length of the list sixty yards. Any rider taking more than seven seconds from the start to the last ring will be ruled out. Should anything untoward happen during the tilt that would prevent the rider from having a fair try at the rings, he will so indicate by lowering his lance and making no try at the rings. The judges will decide whether he is entitled to another tilt.”

  Carrie glanced over to where Matthew, Perry, June, Louisa and Abby sat, their solemn faces communicating they were aware of the importance of their role as judges.

  “All rings must be taken off the lances by the judges,” Thomas continued. “No others will be counted. The rings on the first tilt will be two inches in diameter; on the second tilt, one and a half; on the third tilt, one; on the fourth tilt, three quarters; and on the fifth and last tilt—if there are any competitors left—one half inch.”

  Carrie listened closely, allowing her mind to envision her capturing all of the rings on every tilt.

  Thomas smiled and swept his arm grandly. “All of you are riding not only to win, but to gain the coveted honor of crowning the lady of your choice the Queen of Love and Beauty at the ball later tonight.”

  Carrie cleared her throat loudly.

  Thomas
looked down with a grimace. “I’m sorry. Old habits die hard,” he said ruefully. “I should have said all of you are riding not only to win, but to gain the coveted honor of crowning the lady, or man,” he hesitated as he looked at Amber, “or boy of your choice the Queen or King of Love and Beauty at the ball later tonight.”

  Everyone laughed but quieted quickly to hear the rest of the instructions. A sense of competition had charged the air as Thomas had been talking. The crowd, here for a celebration, suddenly seemed to realize the importance of what was about to happen.

  Thomas continued. “The next seven riders will have the privilege of honoring the person of their choice as royalty-in-waiting for the queen or king. Only the members of the court will participate in the opening dance at the ball tonight. Good luck to you,” Thomas finished. “May the best person win!”

  Another mighty blow on the horn announced the beginning of the competition. A rousing cheer rose from the crowd, along with a whoop from all the riders as they galloped their horses toward the start line.

  Carrie felt a flurry of nervousness and tamped it down firmly. Granite’s confidence and steadiness would come from her. She gripped her lance tightly, ignoring everyone else around her as she stared down the list at the rings that already seemed impossibly small at two inches. Had they really been so tiny six years ago? She straightened in her saddle and pulled her shoulders back. She had waited all her life for this moment. She was going to compete, and she was going to win. She looked over to find Robert’s eyes fixed on her. “Good luck,” he mouthed.

  Carrie smiled, blew him a kiss, and then touched the handkerchief he had given her the night before as her token. He touched his pocket lightly, his eyes sparkling with laughter. Carrie’s focus melted as her own laughter bubbled in her throat. In memory of the first tournament six years earlier, she had cut a lock of her hair and left it for him on his pillow before she joined Rose. He had been holding it tightly in his sleep when she had gotten in late.