“I know,” he said. “I felt the same, but what I couldn’t get over was the fact that he wished to return to his line of work. I naively assumed he’d have a change of heart, that he would have seen the error in his ways and would now want nothing more to do with the institution of slavery. It is clear, though, that he sees his vocation as nothing more than a source of income, no different than what you or I are doing.” He sighed. “I am beginning to have my doubts about the effectiveness of the upcoming vote.”
“You don’t think slavery will be outlawed?”
“I hope it is, but if we do win, I don’t believe it will be by an overwhelming majority.”
“But it will still be a victory.”
“A partial one at best. It’s the hearts and attitudes concerning slavery which must be changed. If not, the laws will simply change back and forth in regards to whichever politicians control the statehouse at the given time. People have to see for themselves that this is not an economic issue or a state right. Slavery has to do with people. People created in God’s image who, if for that reason alone, deserve to be treated with respect.”
He then told her of his concerns for Elijah and Elisha, how he feared the dry goods merchant would attempt to sell them off rather than see them freed. He sounded so discouraged.
Elizabeth wanted to tell him that if he would just continue reporting, he could make a difference for those two little boys and scores of others. That when presented with the truth, people’s hearts would change.
But she didn’t. She kept silent. After all, in her case, she had learned the truth too late.
Chapter Eight
David did his best not to let the interview with Thad Tompkins or Elijah and Elisha’s present state discourage him. He knew he had to focus on what he could do, not worry about what he couldn’t. He had spoken to Sam concerning the children. That man understood better than he who to contact and how to go about assisting them. He trusted that Sam would know how to avoid the more radical element, like the ones who’d attacked Thad Tompkins.
He wanted Elijah and Elisha to be free, but he knew they were not the only ones in bondage. Wallace himself was a captive of ignorance and hate. David had written what he hoped had been a careful, yet compelling article aimed at changing such perspectives, and Elizabeth had been part of it. Her sketch was on the front page of this morning’s edition of the Free American.
He brought the paper over for her to view, but it was Trudy who first met him at the door. She nearly knocked him over with her enthusiasm.
“Did you bring it?” she demanded.
“I did indeed.”
She grinned and held out her hands expectantly. “Then let me see it!”
David couldn’t resist tormenting her, as an older brother would. “Oh, no,” he said holding it well out of her reach. “You must allow your sister the first viewing.”
Trudy pouted slightly. “Very well.” Turning for the kitchen she called, “Beth! Come quickly! David is here!”
Elizabeth stepped into the room with a completely opposite demeanor. The expression on her face was wary, almost as if she feared her sketch had been drastically altered or, worse, not printed at all.
Wanting to set her mind at ease, he immediately snapped the paper open. She gasped in disbelief.
“It’s real,” he assured her.
A slow grin spread across her face. She looked happy, and that made him feel the same. Trudy craned her neck for a view. Her mother had joined them now, too.
“Oh, how wonderful!” Mrs. Martin said. “Everyone in Baltimore will see it!”
David didn’t know about everyone, but he had come across three people perusing the paper just on his way here. He told them so. Elizabeth’s smile broadened.
“I can guarantee your circulation will improve,” Trudy announced. “Mother and I have told all our friends about your partnership.”
David felt a flush of pride, felt it even further when Elizabeth then looked to her sister and said, “We appreciate that.”
We, he thought. He liked the sounds of that.
“You tell that publisher of yours that I will keep promoting his paper as long as the two of you are featured,” Mrs. Martin said.
David chuckled. “Thank you, ma’am.”
Now taking the paper in hand for herself, she moved toward the parlor. Trudy followed alongside, studying it closely with her.
Elizabeth shook her head but did so with a continued smile. “I suppose I’ll have to wait to read your words,” she said.
“It looks that way. No matter. We are due at the Davis home within the hour.”
She blinked. “William Davis? Emily’s father?” she asked, referring to her friend who had married Dr. Mackay.
“Yes. Sam told me about their servants, Joshua and Abigail. I would very much like to tell their story.”
The man and his wife, both in their midthirties, had once been slaves in a Baltimore household. When their owner died with a considerable amount of debt, his personal affairs had to be settled. Local lawyer William Davis had been called upon to do so. The deceased man’s debt demanded that Joshua and Abigail be immediately sold. Rather than see them sent to auction, Mr. Davis had ransomed the pair. Upon receiving their freedom, the couple had asked if they could work for the lawyer and his family, as housekeeper and chief caretaker. Joshua and Abigail had been married shortly after their arrival in the Davis home.
“It’s a tale with a happy ending,” David said. “And though I pray the effort to outlaw slavery will pass, if it doesn’t, perhaps this story will inspire more citizens of Maryland to follow William Davis’s example.”
She nodded slowly, pensively, her expression far from eager.
“Is something wrong?” he asked.
“No,” she said quickly. “Just give me a moment to collect my things.”
“Certainly.”
From Mount Vernon they traveled a few blocks to a home larger and more ornate than even those in Elizabeth’s neighborhood. William Davis promptly greeted them, exchanging handshakes with David and then a fatherly embrace with Elizabeth. Joshua was there, as well, and he smiled kindly at her.
“Abigail and I saw your sketch in the paper this mornin’,” he told her. “It sure was a fine one.”
Elizabeth humbly blushed and thanked him. Mr. Davis then led them to the parlor. It was there that both wives were waiting. They each hugged Elizabeth and congratulated her.
“Oh, how good it is to see you again,” Mrs. Davis then declared. “I have missed you so, and I have much news to tell!”
“Are Emily and Evan well?” Elizabeth asked.
“Oh, yes indeed! And so blessed! My first grandchild is on the way!”
David inwardly winced. Elizabeth did her best to smile at Mrs. Davis’s news but he knew her heart was pained. She and Jeremiah had wanted children right away, an entire household.
“She’s done tole’ everyone in Baltimore that news,” Abigail said. “I ’spect the provost marshal himself now knows.”
Everyone laughed, Elizabeth included, but David knew it was not without effort. Lord, give her strength.
“He does not know,” Mrs. Davis said. “At least, not from me. But if I ever meet the man...”
“That is wonderful news,” Elizabeth said. “Please, tell Emily congratulations for me.”
“I will, but enough of my news. You have business to conduct. Abigail, I suppose we’d best serve the tea.”
The women moved to do so. After they had finished, Mrs. Davis left the room, insisting she had other work to attend to. Abigail smoothed out her skirts and settled in beside Joshua. He looked pleased to have her beside him. David couldn’t resist stealing a quick glance at Elizabeth. She was laying out her pencils, preparing her sketchbook, now looking entirely focus
ed on what she was about to do, her grief once more pushed aside.
Thank You, Lord.
His mind relieved, David began the interview. He started first with Joshua. He asked him what his life had been like before coming into the Davis home. The man’s slave masters had varied in cruelty. Some were better than others, but all had seen Joshua as subservient, ignorant and beneath God’s grace.
David took copious notes as Joshua continued. He then told of his trade. The man had a vast knowledge of plants and animals, and his skills concerning animal husbandry, especially horses, were impressive.
“Where did you learn such things?” David asked.
“Some I picked up along the way, different jobs and such. Most, though, I’ve learned from reading.”
It was against the law to teach a slave to read. David wondered if Joshua had learned upon receiving his freedom. He asked.
“I did. Mr. Davis himself taught me. Abigail, too. He started our lessons the day we entered his home.”
David then turned to the lawyer and asked him a few questions. The man politely declined answering most of them.
“Don’t make this about me,” he said. “This is about Joshua and Abigail.”
“But you, sir, have certainly played a major role. Some people would call you a hero.”
The man humbly shook his head. “I only did what any decent, God-fearing man would have done. I only did what my faith compelled me to do.”
David asked if he could quote the man on that, and when Mr. Davis agreed, he wrote it down. He then turned his attention to Abigail. “Will you tell me of your own experiences?”
Sadly hers were just as disheartening as her husband’s. There were beatings, often for no reason, backbreaking labor, and like Elijah and Elisha, chains and lack of food.
To think what some men will do... “And what is it like to be free?” David asked.
At that Abigail grinned a mile wide. “Freedom is the best thing there is.” She looked to her husband. “Second, of course, only to love.”
Without thinking, he then glanced again at Elizabeth. She had completed the image of Mr. Davis quite quickly, but Joshua and Abigail’s likeness seemed to be giving her some trouble. Eraser in hand, she hurriedly wiped away what she had just laid down. David saw the frustration on her face, the hard set of her mouth.
He had gathered more than enough information for his article already but decided to linger longer so Elizabeth could have more time. He asked if the couple had any plans for the future. Were they interested in striking out on their own?
“No,” Joshua said. “We’re right happy here.”
“We want to be here when Emily comes back to visit,” Abigail added.
After a few more questions David looked over again. Elizabeth still had little more than Joshua and Abigail’s basic outline. Once more her eraser was in hand.
While conversing with his hosts, now about subjects unrelated to the interview, he passed Elizabeth a page from his notebook. On it was a question circled for her attention.
Do you need more time?
When she discreetly responded No, he thanked the family for their time and bid them farewell.
Leaving the Davis home, Elizabeth marched a quick step. David knew for a fact she was troubled.
“Are you all right?”
A fool he was for asking a direct question, for although she said she was fine, she didn’t look it. She tugged at her satchel and walked a little faster. David wondered if the comment Mrs. Davis had made about Emily being in a family way was still bothering her. He debated asking but decided against it. He figured the best thing he could do was focus on tomorrow.
“I’d like for us to visit a former bounty hunter on our next interview.”
She froze. A look of fear suddenly filled her face. He wasn’t certain why. Perhaps she hadn’t heard the word “former.” “The man has converted,” David quickly added. “And he now spends his time advocating the abolishment of slavery.”
Her fear faded, but only a little. “Perhaps it would be best if you went without me.” She started walking again.
“If it is a matter of a previous commitment, I can reschedule the interview.”
“No,” Elizabeth said. “I-It isn’t that... I’d just rather you went without me.”
“Without you?”
“Yes. In fact, perhaps it would be best from now on if you work without me.”
His heart slammed into his ribs. Reaching for her elbow, he stopped her in her tracks. “Elizabeth, what is it? What’s wrong? Are you upset over what Mrs. Davis said?”
She reddened, but he couldn’t tell if the reaction was in embarrassment or anger. Whatever her emotion, he knew he had spoken of something he shouldn’t.
“I’m sorry,” he said quickly. “I shouldn’t have asked that. I’m afraid questions are a habit.”
“The interview is over, David. I’m not part of tomorrow’s article.”
“Yes, you are. I need you, Elizabeth. You are part of everything I write.”
The words were out of his mouth before he even realized. As the color drained from her face, David feared he had just ruined not only their business partnership but everything else, as well.
* * *
I need you. Elizabeth felt an unmistakable tug on her heart the moment he said those words. All this time she had thought that he was simply being kind when he asked her to accompany him, that he was only encouraging her talent the way someone surely had once done for him.
But clearly our relationship is a true partnership indeed. He was leaning on her as much as she was on him. The last thing she wanted was for him to think she didn’t want to work with him. David’s clear blue eyes were fixed on hers, and in them she saw fear and uncertainty.
Tell him, her mind whispered. Tell him the truth.
But the truth was a double-edged sword. What if she told him her story and he no longer wished to work with her? It wasn’t the potential loss of income that frightened her now. It wasn’t even the opportunity to learn more of Jeremiah. She couldn’t bear the thought of David looking at her with disdain.
“Whatever it is, Elizabeth, you can tell me. You know you can.”
Yes, her heart told her, I can tell him anything. And like a torrent, the emotions poured forth. “Oh David, I can’t visit that bounty hunter! What if he is the one who took that little boy?”
“What little boy?”
“The one who was hiding in the bushes.”
She knew she wasn’t making any sense. She could feel herself shivering, and it had nothing to do with the cool spring breeze. The horrible scene flashed through her mind. If only she could go back... If only she could do things differently...
David must have feared for her well-being. “There’s a bench just ahead,” he said. “Come. Sit.” He took her hand in his, but instead of placing it on his arm, he held it tight, using it to lead her to the seat.
Elizabeth settled on the bench, but it was getting hard to breathe. She drew in several short breaths. David gave her hand a comforting squeeze. “It’s all right, Elizabeth. Tell me about this little boy.”
“I was seven. It was just after sunset, and I was supposed to stay in the front garden, but I didn’t. I was chasing lightning bugs. I wandered up the street to where at the time was still a vacant lot.”
She could see him as clearly as she could David. “He was in the bushes. I was just about to cup my hands around the lightning bug when all of a sudden I noticed a pair of eyes. I looked closer. He was about my age. He had a cut across his forehead and his shirtsleeve was torn. He looked so scared. I asked him his name, but he didn’t answer. Then...a man came riding up the street.”
David’s face darkened. Obviously he already knew where this story was going. Even so, he kept hold of h
er hand.
“The man quickly dismounted,” she said. “He asked me if I had seen a little boy. He said it was important that he find him soon because it was getting dark and he might be sick or hurt.”
“And you believed him.”
Elizabeth shook her head. The memory made her sick. “He was hurt. I thought I was helping. I knew the moment that I told him where he was, the moment I saw his evil-looking smile, that I’d made a terrible mistake. That man wasn’t there to help.”
“He was there to capture him.”
“Yes.” It was imperative that he understand. “David, please, believe me, I had no idea what was actually happening or what that little boy would suffer. I knew almost nothing about slavery. We had Negro servants, but they were free. They were like members of our family.”
He squeezed her hand once more. His touch, his words gave her strength. “I believe you, Elizabeth. What happened next?”
“I screamed, told the little boy to run, but there was no place for him to go. There were buildings on all three sides of the lot, and the only way out was past that bounty hunter. I’ll never forget how that man dragged him from the bushes. He bound his hands and feet! He threw him over his saddle as if he were an animal!”
“What did you do then?”
“I just stood there. I was so shocked, so scared. Before that bounty hunter rode off he looked at me and told me to hightail it home before someone threw me over his saddle.”
“And so you went home.”
Shame burned her cheeks. “I ran up to my room and hid under my blankets like a coward. I should have done something... I should have at least told my mother and father about him.”
“Elizabeth, you were a child. You were frightened. Besides, your father couldn’t have done any more than you. Bounty hunters operated legally. The fugitive slave act was the law of the land.”
“I know that now, but when I think about what that bounty hunter did to him...what his master probably did to him when he was returned home...” Tears flooded her eyes.
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