The Long Road Home Romance Collection

by Judi Ann Ehresman

  Dirty snow lined the sides of the streets. The Normans’ yard had patches of snow that were still quite white. Bushes and plants were bent from the weight of the snow. The sky seemed as white as the snow and felt cold and unwelcoming.

  The carriage carrying Delaney and Mr. Bart drove into a driveway at the side of the manse. Delaney could see the stables at a distance behind the house as well as some other outbuildings and a fenced-in garden. Everything looked gray and cold, and she could see her breath in front of her face. In spite of the warm blanket tucked over her lap, she shivered.

  But when they entered the home, Delaney soon knew the welcome was sincere and much warmer than the weather. The Normans themselves greeted Delaney and Mr. Bart at the front door. Hot tea and little cookies awaited them as they got acquainted in the spacious library. Delaney enjoyed the reminiscing between the Normans and Mr. Bart and far too soon he had to leave. Delaney felt a sudden wave of homesickness as the door closed behind him, leaving her in the strange city all alone with these strangers.

  However, the Normans were a jolly couple, and Delaney soon felt very comfortable with them. In spite of city life being completely different from anything Delaney had ever dreamed in her life, she knew she would enjoy her time here.

  Mrs. Norman was a very disciplined lady. Delaney assumed it was probably from her years as a teacher in the college for women. But she had a robust sense of humor, and she made life enjoyable in spite of the long days of hard work. Mrs. Norman had smiled at Delaney’s offer of help. “There won’t be time, child. You are here to study, and we must see that you learn all I can teach you while you are here.”

  Their days settled into a comfortable, if grueling, routine. Each morning Reverend Norman read to them from the Bible for an hour following breakfast. Then Mrs. Norman and Delaney would go to the room on the second floor that she had arranged as their schoolroom and they would study hard for two hours until noon.

  After lunch they rested briefly and then went back to the schoolroom for three more hours of study. The evenings were free for Delaney to continue her studies and prepare for the following day’s lessons.

  The Normans’ hired help cared for Delaney the same as they did for the Normans, seeing that her room was cleaned, her clothes fresh, and that she had plenty of good food to nourish her mind and body.

  Only on Sunday did they vary their routine. Delaney enjoyed the messages that Reverend Norman shared with the worshippers in their church. The songs were lovely, too, but they were not like the songs to which she was accustomed in their church in the Quarters. No one here shouted out their praises or clapped their hands. She knew the worship was in their good hearts, but she longed for the services to which she was accustomed.

  On Sunday afternoons Delaney always wrote letters. She wrote to the Traehdniks and to many of the Negroes at Rose Hill, since most of them could read. Many wrote back to her, and she read and reread the letters many times. She came to love the Normans and they were good and kind to her, but the work was hard and in time she missed her home at Rose Hill tremendously.

  Chapter 13

  Welcome, home, Brother!” Sue Ellen welcomed her brother with a hug and tender kiss on the cheek he tilted in her direction. “Now, tell me about your trip. Do you think Delaney will enjoy her time in Baltimore? How did you find the Normans? Are they well?”

  “Hey, little sister. Slow down. Can’t a man sit and wet his dry throat before being bombarded with questions?” He tucked her under his arm and walked onto the wide veranda of the Traehdnik home. “Let me have a look at that husband of yours, and then I’ll tell you everything.”

  As they entered the library, Sue Ellen caught Mariah’s eye. “Mariah, will you please ask Eliza to bring us tea in the library as soon as possible?”

  “Ah’ll he’p her myself.” Mariah showed her wide white teeth when she smiled. “Y’all sit yo’self on down an’ visit. We’ll be in d’rectly.” And she bustled off to the back of the house.

  Sue Ellen smiled as she listened to the laughter and talk in the room. Her brother knelt on one knee before her husband, whom he loved like a brother. Wally was conversing a bit easier now and was much easier to understand. When there was a pause, Sue Ellen said, “Please tell us everything, Bartholomew. Don’t leave out any details.”

  And so they spent a lovely evening remembering their friends, the Normans, and talking of the wonderful opportunity that was afforded Delaney.

  After dinner, as they sipped coffee in the library once more, Bartholomew ventured the question that was on his heart. “Your foreman, Jeremiah. Does he have a wife?”

  Both Wally and Sue Ellen looked at him in surprise. Sue Ellen said, “He does have a wife and a child, too, I believe. However, they are at another plantation. Jeremiah plans to try to purchase them when he can.”

  “Sister, why don’t you purchase them and move them here with him? Has he been able to see them since he has been here?”

  “Goodness. Not that I know about. We really should ask him where they are, but I wouldn’t know how to purchase them with Wally like he is.”

  “You go fo’ me?” Wally’s speech was slow but deliberate. But he animatedly poked his finger at his brother-in-law.

  “Yes, I would go for you. Do you have funds to purchase another slave?”

  Wally’s head dropped and lifted in an exaggerated nod. “Haven’t been a’le to go auction to buy anyone for long time. Got money, though. You go plantation to ask?”

  “I’ll talk to Jeremiah, get the information, and see what I can do.”

  Devil’s Bend was a good distance from Rose Hill. Bartholomew Kendall had spent several weeks at his own plantation before leaving for Devil’s Bend. As he rode, he thought of his conversation with Jeremiah. In spite of the possibility of having his wife and child with him, Jeremiah had not been overly joyful about his going to Devil’s Bend.

  “He’s a mean man, Mr. Bart, a mean man. And his wife is selfish and unkind. I don’t think they’d let her go ’cause Missus Wickner wants only Deidre in the kitchen. If y’all could buy her and our child, they’d prob’ly charge far more than they should. I can’t think it will work, but I sho’ do ’preciate yer efforts, Mr. Bart. I sho’ do ’predate it!”

  Bart had allowed Jeremiah to believe he had been convinced it was hopeless. But in reality that was far from the truth. Bart had decided that if the Wickners were as unkind as it sounded like they were, he would do whatever was necessary to get Deidre and her child away from them.

  He looked out across the barren fields and knew that money might be tight for the Wickners as it was for many plantation owners. The sale of last year’s cotton was past, and the new crop was just being planted with many weeks before there would be income from it again. It could be that the time was right to make an offer on a slave.

  As the carriage passed by some fields, Bart thought it was easy to tell what kind of slave owner owned the various sections of land because of the way the slaves left the land. The land that still had broken-down plants and missed cotton bolls were obviously fields that belonged to a slave owner who was not loved by his slaves. Those slaves didn’t really care whether they gathered as much as possible in for the owner or not.

  Now and again he passed land that was cleaned and tidily prepared for the next planting. He knew the Negroes who worked there were treated with respect and enjoyed dignity and pride in their work. The more he thought on it, he suspected he knew what kind of fields he would pass when he got to Devil’s Bend.

  As Bart approached the plantation house called Devil’s Bend, he assessed the type of people who worked here. He was convinced it was not a group of colored people that took pride in their work. The Negroes he saw wore worn-out clothes and appeared half starved. If the owner was struggling to keep this place together, he might be willing to sell even a favorite slave. Bart offered a prayer to that effect as he stepped out of his carriage.

  The Negro woman who answered his knock looked half scared of
him. Bart smiled gently when he inquired after Mr. Wickner.

  “Massah Wicknah out t’ the stables, sah. Yo wants us t’ go get ’im? Or yo wants t’ go t’ the stables yo’self?”

  “Is Mrs. Wickner nearby?”

  “Miz Wicknah indisposed today an’ she don’ talk no bus’niss. Yo wants Massah Wicknah. Yo wants we go call ’im fer ya?”

  “No, no. I’ll go down to the stables myself. Thanks for your help.” Bart tipped his hat at the black lady who stared at him with surprise. Obviously she was not used to being treated with respect. Anger rose slowly from the pit of his stomach, cementing his determination to get Jeremiah’s wife and child away from this sorry place.

  Not far from the stables Bart saw a man dressed as a gentleman sitting on a horse and surveying the fields.

  “Good morning, sir.” Bart did his best to sound friendly, in spite of the sour taste in his mouth.

  The man continued to stare out across the barren land for a couple of more minutes before turning in his seat to observe the stranger. He scowled. “Do I know you?”

  “I don’t believe we’ve had opportunity to meet.” Bart looked up at the man still sitting on his horse and shaded his eyes with his hand. “My name’s Bartholomew Kendall, and I came to inquire after a slave.”

  “Ain’t seen no runaways out this way. Where you from?”

  “No, I’m not looking for a runaway. I’m looking to purchase a slave from you if you’re willing.”

  Greed lit the man’s eyes immediately. He swung his leg over the horse’s back and dropped to the ground beside Bart. Wiping his hand on his pants, he offered his hand as he said, “Haaman Wickner at your service. Which one of my slaves did you have in mind to purchase? Perhaps we can talk.”

  “I’m looking for a cook named Deidre, and I believe she has a child also. I’d like to purchase them both if you’d consider such.”

  Mr. Wickner looked at him long and hard, then scowled and rubbed his hands over his face and into his hair. Slowly he started back toward the house, holding the horse’s bridle as he moved. Turning his head toward Bart, he growled, “Don’t have such a nigger. She done took the brat and ran away probably two years ago. We’ve searched high and low and found nary a trace.”

  “Hmmm…now that is a problem.” They walked in silence for a spell. “You still have her papers?”

  “Sure, I still got ’em. If she’s ever found, I got proof that I’ve got the right to whup the tar outta her hide. She near broke my wife’s heart when she left. I’ll whup her good if I ever lay eyes on her again.”

  Again they walked in silence before Bart finally asked, “Any chance you’d sell the girl’s papers to me?”

  “What you want her papers for? She’s long gone. What good are her papers to you?” He stopped in his tracks and stared at Bartholomew. “You got her? You know where she’s at?”

  “No, sir, I don’t know where she is. But if I had her papers, I could legally look for her, and my sister would like to have her. Would you sell her papers?”

  Haaman Wickner appeared to think long and hard. Then greed glinted in his eyes again. “Okay, I’ll sell her papers for $1200 cash.”

  They walked in silence for a little while again. Finally Bart said soberly, “I might pay that much if I were purchasing the girl herself, but I am only buying papers. I will give you $600 cash for her papers and those of her child together.”

  Mr. Wickner grunted. “No. I have a feeling you know where she’s hiding. I say $1200 will buy her and the brat…$1200 or no deal.”

  They were approaching the front of the house now, where Bart’s carriage awaited. He headed toward the carriage and called over his shoulder, “Well, I’m sorry then. It was just an idea, but maybe it’s best this way. Good day.”

  Bart stepped into the carriage. As he picked up the reins, he heard Mr. Wickner clear his throat. “If you want to step inside for a drink, we can discuss this further.”

  “No, thanks just the same, but I’d best be getting on my way.” He tipped his hat in Mr. Wickner’s general direction.

  Quickly the plantation owner stepped up beside Bart’s horse. “Look, Mr. Kendall, I could probably sell you the papers for the two of them for maybe $800.”

  “Done!” Bart pulled gently on the reins and stepped from the carriage. “I might have that drink of tea after all, while you gather the papers.”

  Chapter 14

  Slowly Edna Browning regained her strength and health. By December she was caring for her family once again, but a sadness permeated her spirit and carried to the whole family. She didn’t have the same energy with which she had faced her life before.

  The Evanstons invited the Brownings to have Christmas at their house this year, and Ned and Edna gladly accepted. Edna didn’t know how she would make it through Christmas without spoiling it for everyone, and she was thankful she could be a guest instead of a hostess this year.

  Edna realized that the loss of her baby was affecting the whole family one day when she asked Ned why he didn’t sing in the barn anymore. “I do sing, Edna. But the songs have changed. I think we buried a wee part of me when we buried that young-un. Something quieted in my spirit somehow.”

  “Yes, I know what you mean. Everything seems to be much more effort now. I don’t know why all of life seems to have changed so. I am praying God will heal us from this great loss.”

  Ned was thoughtful for several minutes before saying, “It seems I look at each of our eight children with a new love now, Edna. I have always been thankful for each one, but now the thankfulness has grown. I have told myself I must look at all the blessings God has given us instead of feeling the great loss of the child He didn’t choose to let us keep.”

  “Yes, you’re right. I try to tell myself the same, but my arms feel so very empty. I guess they were more ready than I knew for the new baby.” When tears ran down Edna’s face unheeded, Ned took her into his arms. Dropping his face into her neck, he said softly, “I’m so thankful God didn’t take you too, Edna. I don’t know how I could have gone on without you. I’m so thankful.”

  With much help from Betsy, Ellie, and Essie, the Brownings were ready for Christmas Day with their friends. The three daughters seemed to have matured overnight. Edna told them many times she didn’t know how she’d make it without them. Together they made gifts for each child in the family. As they knitted the little caps for Ethan and Mandy’s twin girls, Edna felt herself grow eager to see the babies again and hold and cuddle them.

  Christmas day dawned dark and still. The older boys helped Ned finish the barn chores very early so the family could enjoy Christmas breakfast together. As they packed their food into boxes and loaded them and the gifts into the two sleighs, Edna caught a bit of the spirit herself and sent a prayer of thanks to heaven from her heart.

  At first, everyone was quiet as the sleighs started the drive through the snowy forest. But in a short time Thomas started singing softly. Soon the others were humming and singing along. Edna noticed that the singing had changed from previous years. Even the children seemed quieted by the family’s loss, and it saddened her and created a new determination to seek God’s healing touch.

  Christmas was a joyous affair as the families continued their tradition of enjoying the holiday together. This year Callie and Christy were the center of attention. Mandy was concerned that it would act as salt in the wound for Edna to be around her healthy little girls. Instead, Edna enjoyed them thoroughly, confirming Mandy’s opinion that there was not one streak of selfishness in that dear woman.

  With the snow gone now and the ground thawing and muddy, Mandy and Deidre started dreaming of the gardens they would plant. The days were growing longer, and the sun warming the earth sent the longing to get into the garden deep into their hearts. Ethan had built wooden boxes by the windows, which the women filled with earth and planted with tomato and pepper and other seeds. They still remembered with laughter their experiences of trying to plow the earth by themselves the
spring that Ethan was gone.

  “I’m still thankful every year that Ned came at the right time that year,” Mandy said.

  Deidre laughed. “Yes, and do you recall the hailstorm we had that night?” They both smiled and nodded as they remembered those hard times that had cemented their friendship.

  They were scrubbing the laundry on the washboards when Deidre straightened. “You know, it’s so nice today, why don’t we hang these clothes outside instead of in here? They would smell so fresh, and we wouldn’t have to walk around them in here all afternoon.”

  Mandy rubbed her back. “Do you think it’s warm enough for them to dry?”

  “If they don’t dry completely, they’ll be easier to iron anyway.”

  “Great idea. Let’s do it. Do you think we can get them hung up without being in mud up to our ankles?”

  “If it’s that muddy, I’ll go barefoot and wash my feet after.”

  “What fun! Barefoot in April. It makes me feel like a child just thinking about it.”

  Suddenly the women heard baby jabbering from the direction of Mandy’s bedroom. “Guess it’s time for you to take a break and feed the babies. I might get to hang these out myself.” Deidre grinned at her friend. “If you want to feed one of them while I finish here, I’ll take her out on my back while you feed the other.” Now that the babies were starting to crawl, it was all they could do to keep track of them both.

  “Sounds like a good plan.” Mandy dried her hands as she walked toward the bedroom. “What would I do without you?” She grinned over her shoulder. “How do mothers of twins ever do it alone?”

  By the time Mandy reached her bedroom, both girls were howling shamelessly. She talked softly to them as she changed their diapers, but both continued to cry. Finally she lifted them both and carried them to the main room of the house.

  “Deidre, would you mind drying your hands and holding Callie while I feed Christy first? I should have watched the time closer and awakened Christy before they both became so hungry.”