The Long Road Home Romance Collection

by Judi Ann Ehresman

  As the women rocked the little girls, there was silence for a short time before Deidre said, “You know, every time I look at our precious little girls, my heart feels heavy for Edna. I can’t imagine how it must feel to lose a child, but I know her heart has been very sad. It seems to have changed her whole personality.”

  “Yes, and I wonder sometimes if she has heard from her parents. She dreaded so much the chore of telling them of the loss. Being an only child herself, I know her parents cherish each one of their grandchildren, even though they live so far and can’t see them. The last time Ethan saw Ned, they still had not heard from her parents. I hope they have by this time.”

  “It must be difficult to be a mother and grandmother from such a distance. It would be wonderful if her parents could move closer to Ned and Edna.” Deidre tried to keep Callie’s attention, but each time Mandy spoke, Callie tried to see her. At last Mandy finished nursing Christy and handed her to Deidre as she took Callie for her turn.

  Deidre placed Christy into the carrier the women had fashioned for her back and then went back to finish the laundry. As she headed out the back door, she added one last comment to the conversation. “I know it is difficult to live so far away from those you love. I pray Edna will get to visit her parents before too much longer.”

  The women sat under the shade of the large oak tree. It was late May, and they had just finished planting the last rows in the rich brown earth. The twins were still napping on a blanket beside them as they rested their weary backs for a time before going to the house to start their supper.

  Noisy silence surrounded them. Birds busily built their nests and called loudly to one another in the branches above them. Bees hummed frantically as they darted in and out of the daffodils and columbine that grew wild along the path.

  Deidre lay back on the grass and stared up at a small patch of blue sky showing between the branches overhead.

  Mandy pulled a blade of sweet grass and chewed thoughtfully on the end. “Thinking about Jeremiah?” Her sad tone spoke volumes. She ached for her friend to be reunited with her husband. How hard it must be to never know where he was and if she’d ever see him again. Mandy truly did know what it was like, but she and Ethan had been separated only a little more than a year. Deidre had been without her husband for more than six years now. How very hard it must be.

  Deidre was quiet for some time before she turned toward Mandy. “Sometimes I wonder if I should go searchin’ for him. I know it would be terribly risky and probably not wise, but how will he ever know where to start lookin’ for us? How will he ever find us?”

  Mandy regarded her friend with alarm. “You can’t mean that, Deidre! The risk would be terrible. Think what could happen to Jeddy. Think what could happen to you. Deidre, tell me you are not really serious about this.” She watched her friend’s face as she pummeled her with the questions. She knew Deidre really did understand the danger. So why would she say such a thing? Why would she even think it?

  Deidre watched Callie as she began to awaken from her nap. Before the baby could wake her sister, Deidre picked her up and held her close, laying her head on the baby’s small shoulder.

  “I realize it would be too risky to take Jeddy into the South again, and I certainly do not want to find myself separated from him, so at this point I believe my hands are tied. I continue to pray for Jeremiah, but it gets more and more difficult to be patient. I wish there was a way for God to let me know He’s workin’ on this. I think then it would be easier to be patient. But for now, I will keep prayin’ and trustin’, even though it becomes easier and easier to doubt.”

  Suddenly Christy realized her sister was no longer lying beside her; her head popped up and bobbed around, looking at the women. The laughter from the women was spontaneous as Mandy reached for her lonely daughter. Kissing her face and neck, Mandy said quietly, “I’m afraid I’d feel just like Christy if you ever leave here. It probably wouldn’t take long at all before I’d come looking for you. But I love you so much that I would certainly never wish to keep the two of you apart. I just don’t want you to take any unnecessary risks.”

  “I know, Mandy. And I do understand. Don’t worry. For now I’m not goin’ anywhere. I believe we will both know in our hearts when the time is right for me to find my Jeremiah. And then God will help us both.”

  Chapter 15

  The snows were muddy, and the days were getting longer. As Delaney stood at the window in her lovely room at the Normans’, she finally allowed the tears to fall. The gray, heavy skies matched her lonesome mood. She knew in her heart that she was wrong to cry, because she did love the Normans and was grateful for the opportunity to learn what had been extended to her, but she longed for the companionship of the families at Rose Hill Plantation. She had been in Boston for a little more than a year and was feeling quite homesick.

  She scolded herself for the tears. “Delaney, how many Negro girls have the opportunities that have been given to you? You will go home in time, and then you will remember all this and regret that you spent time shedding tears of longing for home. Even though it seems unlikely, this new turn of events may be God’s special leading in your life, so look for the good in it and stop moaning over your poor lonesome heart!” Even though she kept her voice low, she spoke aloud and the scolding served to help her put her life back into perspective once more.

  “And the good part is that you now get to travel and see sights that very few colored people have ever dreamed of seeing. You’ll go home soon enough. You must stop worrying about being lonely and start thanking God for the opportunities He has given you.”

  A few weeks ago the Normans had received another letter from their daughter who lived in Indiana. She had been expecting their ninth child, when she had suddenly taken quite ill and the little girl had been stillborn. This had happened in the autumn, but their daughter’s letters continued to be filled with a sadness that the Normans had never heard from her before. Finally, after this most recent letter, Reverend Norman decided that his wife must go to Indiana to visit their daughter and her family. They had written to the Traehdniks and received permission for Delaney to travel with Mrs. Norman for companionship, since Reverend Norman could not take a leave of absence from their church.

  Of course the Traehdniks had responded affirmatively. They reaffirmed that Delaney was a free woman in reality, and that they only kept papers on her to prevent someone from taking and reselling her. They encouraged her to enjoy this experience and thanked the Normans for the opportunity for Delaney. They even enclosed money to help cover her expenses and for Delaney to use as she needed.

  As she talked out loud to herself, Delaney realized that she truly was very blessed to have had all the opportunities and experiences that had been hers this past year. And so she decided that she would expect, and be watching for, something very special to happen as a result of this trip that delayed her return to her home.

  As she stood at the window this Sunday afternoon, she watched the snow dripping in a steady pattern as it melted from the branches of the large tree outside her window. The black branches looked almost ghostly against the gray skies. Delaney shivered from the dampness.

  Suddenly she surprised herself with a thought. Perhaps it’s not as nasty out as it looks. After all, the snows are melting, so there must be some warmth out there in spite of the gray skies. Grabbing her wrap, she descended the front stairs. She would walk around the neighborhood. Perhaps the fresh air would dispel any lingering homesickness and invigorate her spirit.

  Wondering if she should tell someone before leaving the house, she looked back into the darkened home. Both of the Normans enjoyed napping on Sunday afternoons, and the servants usually were not present on Sundays. Seeing no one, Delaney shrugged and slipped quietly onto the front porch, closing the door firmly behind her.

  Once outside, she found the air was much warmer than it appeared from inside the house. Standing on the porch, Delaney breathed deeply. She had never smelled anyth
ing quite like this in the South, because the ground never froze or thawed. The aroma of the wet earth was laden with another fragrance as well, but Delaney couldn’t tell what it was.

  She walked down the wide front steps and, looking both ways, decided at the last moment to walk toward the town instead of around the neighborhood. There were brick walkways along the sides of the streets, making walking much more pleasant than having to walk in the streets dodging horse dung all the while.

  Again she inhaled the scents around her. The earth was awakening and, as she turned the corner, she saw the origins of the lovely fragrance wafting on the air. Hyacinths. There, before her, was a garden laden with blooming daffodils, tulips, and spears of colorful hyacinths, giving off the heady sweetness she had noticed from half a block away. Wasn’t it like God to create such beauty at a time when the earth looked as though it would literally rot in the melting of winter? And wasn’t it like God to steer her in this direction on a day she needed the cheering so desperately?

  Suddenly Delaney felt like laughing out loud. Seeing that blooming garden reminded her of how near God was and that He did care that her heart was lonely. As she continued to walk, she heard the birds calling and noticed their beautiful colors as they sat in the budding bushes and trees. The longer Delaney listened to the cacophony of sound, the more she realized how foolish she had been to feel lonely. God had called her out into His melting world to show her all the beauty He had created for her enjoyment. She felt His presence all around her. As she turned the final corner, bringing her back to the Normans’ home, she was no longer lonely.

  She also knew that God had a purpose for her in this trip she was about to take. There had not been words but a quiet assurance in her soul that the trip was not a mistake. Now she looked forward to leaving tomorrow with eager anticipation instead of the heavy dread and homesickness she had endured earlier.

  Delaney smiled as she turned the doorknob. No one had even missed her, but she felt as though her whole world had changed in the past hour. She walked quickly back up the stairs with a spring in her step and a fresh eagerness to pack her clothes in preparation for the journey before her.

  Chapter 16

  Riding a train in the North was much less unpleasant than riding a train coming from the South had been. There was still the heavy smoke that seemed to cover the passengers with its gray, pungent blanket, but at Mrs. Norman’s request, Delaney was allowed to ride with her in the comfortable Pullman car. They had brought books to read, but there was so much activity and lovely scenery that Delaney’s book lay unopened in her lap.

  She felt much like a small child before Christmas. She rode with eager anticipation as she remembered the feeling that God was taking her on a mission. She couldn’t help wondering what was before her.

  The two women chatted companionably as they rode. Mrs. Norman told Delaney as much as she could about all of her grandchildren. In spite of having only one daughter, she was blessed with eight grandchildren besides the baby Edna had lost in the fall. It had been a good number of years since the two families had opportunity to visit one another, so the Normans had never even seen the five younger children. Mrs. Norman was quite excited as the train drew ever closer to the desired destination. Delaney could sense Mrs. Norman’s eagerness in spite of her everconstant self-discipline. There was a new twinkle in her eye and even a flush to her usually pale cheeks. Delaney smiled and was glad to note that her own homesickness was hardly noticeable in the anticipation for what lay ahead.

  What would spring and summer be like in Indiana? Baltimore had been much cooler, and there was much more moisture than what she had known before in the late spring. There had been some flowers and trees, but she really didn’t know what the summer would be like in the wooded North, where there was no stench of horse manure in the streets and where the heat was not magnified by the bricked and cobblestone streets. She was certainly learning a lot about geography that she would be able to share with her students when she returned home.

  Suddenly she realized that Mrs. Norman was quiet. She checked to see if she was waiting for a response of some kind from Delaney. But Mrs. Norman’s head was resting comfortably on the back of her seat and her eyes were closed. The rocking and swaying of the train as well as the constant rhythm of its metal wheels on the tracks had lulled several in their car to sleep. Delaney smiled. Neither of the women had slept well with the bouncing and noise of the train in the night. Now she sensed her own weariness but felt much too excited to sleep. However, she laid her head against the window and sighed deeply, closing her eyes to rest, and soon was also lulled to sleep.

  It seemed only minutes but was indeed over an hour later that a loud clanging awakened the ladies from their rest. People bustled about, preparing to disembark. A conductor made his way through the passenger car calling out, “Ten minutes to Brownsville. If you are going to Canton, you must leave the train in Brownsville and finish your journey by carriage.”

  “Oh, my!” exclaimed Mrs. Norman. “That’s where we’re headed. I didn’t realize we were this close to Brownsville. We must have slept longer than I thought.”

  “How far is it from Brownsville to Canton? Will we continue our journey yet this evening?” Delaney felt like a child with all her questions.

  “It’s still nearly two days’ journey by coach, so we will find a hotel or boardinghouse and rest our weary bones tonight. We’ll begin the last phase of our journey tomorrow. I hope they have built a nicer hotel in this town since we visited last.”

  The two women had already gathered their belongings earlier in the day, so they did not need to be part of the activity in the train car. Delaney was glad she could watch the scenery out the window and was doing just that as the train slowed and pulled into town. She spied a handsome large, white building surrounded with bright tulips and golden daffodils. There was a post by a small path with a sign swinging in the breeze: CLARA’S PLACE–ROOM AND BOARD. The large porches looked welcoming, and a couple of rocking chairs and a large porch swing made Delaney realize how very travel-weary she was.

  “Look—a nice boardinghouse. That looks much friendlier than the old hotel where we stayed years ago. I do hope there is a room available for us.” Mrs. Norman had seen the same building that had caught Delaney’s eye.

  Together they picked up their belongings as the train’s motion finally stopped. When the conductor stopped to see if he could be of service to the ladies, Mrs. Norman asked about the boardinghouse.

  “Oh, it’s a lovely place. Miss Clara owns it, but Miss Rose Ellen is the cook, and her food tastes better than any other place along the way. You’ll enjoy a pleasant stay if you plan to stay there.”

  “Will there be a carriage that we can hire to take us to Canton?”

  “Miss Clara will know who to ask and how to take care of all your needs. She’s a very friendly lady, and you will feel quite at ease with her, I’m sure. Would you like to have your trunks taken to Clara’s Place, then?”

  “Actually, if we could leave our trunks at the station, we will take only our carpetbags and have the carriage driver pick up the trunks tomorrow. Is that acceptable?”

  “Yes, certainly. Just go to the ticket window and explain, and they will see to your trunks and help you.”

  The ticket master had been quite helpful and had even secured a young man to carry the ladies’ carpetbags to the boardinghouse. Before they knocked at the front door, they stopped to listen. Beautiful music was being played inside. The piano and violin seemed to frolic and dance with one another as the women stood on the porch and listened shamelessly.

  But when the young man carrying their bags reached around them and knocked, the music suddenly stopped. Immediately they heard the staccato steps as someone approached the front door.

  “Good evening, ladies. Are you looking for a place to rest?”

  Mrs. Norman collected herself in time to respond. “We need a room with two beds for the night, as well as an evening meal and breakfast
. We need to leave for Canton in the morning.”

  “I have just the room available. Please come with me.” Placing a coin in the young man’s hands from her own pocket, the lady took the carpetbags herself as she held the door open for the weary travelers.

  “I haven’t visited this area for a number of years now, and your establishment is certainly a welcome sight,” said Mrs. Norman.

  “I hope you will know that the welcome is genuine as you stay here. I have been blessed to have this place for only a few years, and to date have had very little competition.” The lady speaking was quite lovely, and in spite of carrying the bags herself apparently was the owner of the establishment. “My name is Clara, and if you will follow me up these stairs, I will show you to your room. You will have ample time to freshen up before dinner is served.”

  As they started up the gently sloping stairway, Mrs. Norman spoke for both Delaney and herself when she said, “We heard lovely music when we approached. Will we be entertained at dinner?”

  “Miss Rose Ellen’s children were playing their instruments. Victoria plays the piano beautifully, and not long ago Eddie picked up a violin and has been accompanying her marvelously. The children have a wonderful talent, but unfortunately they are terribly shy and seldom perform. I am pleased you were able to enjoy their talents for a little while.”

  “Miss Rose Ellen?”

  “She’s the cook. And she cooks every bit as well as her children play music. You are in for a treat for sure.”

  Clara set their carpetbags on a cedar chest against one wall of a lovely rosepatterned room. There were crisp white curtains at each of the two large, latticed windows, and a beautiful hooked rug covered most of the wide plank floor. The two beds were parallel with one another and boasted beautiful matching quilts. The small stand between the two beds held an oil lamp with a polished globe and a Bible next to the lamp. The windows were on the two outside walls, with a pair of rocking chairs and another small table in the corner between the windows. Along the wall on one side of the far window was a washstand with a large pitcher and bowl on top and a small stack of clean towels. It was a very simply furnished room but quite welcoming and restful to the weary travelers.