My Daughter's Legacy

by Mindy Starns Clark

  “Then you’ll just have to decide for yourself, Therese, with or without her blessing.”

  Her heart ached at the thought. “But what sort of marriage would it be without my mother’s blessing?”

  “All that really matters is Warner’s blessing. He’s the man of the house, even if he is currently incapacitated. I feel sure he’ll approve.”

  Therese looked away, for some reason reluctant to tell him that Warner had essentially done so already when he urged her to head north with Alec weeks ago. But could she really look to Warner rather than Mother for something like this? If only her brother weren’t so weak right now—and Mother so overpowering.

  “Therese, my time here is done. I’m ready to go home. I want you to come with me. I want you to be my wife.”

  She studied his face for a long moment, trying to see their future in his eyes. But then she remembered Mother’s words and knew that if they weren’t careful, he might not even have a future.

  “We have a bigger problem.” Therese took Alec’s hand and pulled him into the alcove at the end of the hall. She whispered, “Mother says there are rumors about the… you know. Livers and lobes and arteries and such.”

  He nodded grimly. “I’ve heard. All the more reason for us to leave—and sooner rather than later.”

  “What about Polly?”

  “She’ll be fine. No one would suspect a young woman in her position.”

  Therese frowned. “What do you mean ‘her position?’ ”

  “Daughter of a prominent Southern family. Pro Confederacy. All of that. Women are much safer than men when it comes to this sort of thing.”

  She considered his words, hoping he was right. “But you know what the punishment is for…”

  He nodded, a grim expression on his face as he drew a rectangle in the air with one finger. The gallows.

  Therese shivered. “I guess that rules out marrying and staying here.”

  “Why would we ever do that?”

  “So I don’t have to go. So I don’t have to leave my family.”

  “Oh, Therese. I can see why you feel that way, but you only have your mother, Warner, and an old plantation your family won’t be able to sustain after the war. It would be ludicrous for us to stay and try to carve out a life here.” He placed his hand on her shoulder. “Not to mention, it wouldn’t be safe right now anyway. Do you understand?”

  “Yes.” A wave of embarrassment swept through her. “Of course.” She’d been foolish to hope. But she had one more question. “If it weren’t for the turmoil of the war, would you consider it? Would you be willing to return to Virginia someday?”

  After a long pause, he said, “Honestly, I don’t know. I’ve never had any desire to live in the South. But… yes. It’s something I would consider.” He remained as calm as ever. “For you.”

  Her heart warmed. He did care. “Thank you, Alec.”

  “For now, however, we need to get away from here. You know we do.”

  “Yes.” She pointed toward the east ward. “I’ll go check on Warner.”

  He nodded. “I’m going to make my rounds. I’ll come find you later.”

  Therese gave his hand a squeeze and then slipped away into the ward. But before she reached Warner’s cot, she could tell he was feverish by the look on his face. She placed a hand on his forehead—it was burning hot.

  “How do you feel?”

  “Worse,” he answered. He’d been more despondent lately too. Nearly every day he’d say he wished the explosion had killed him.

  Therese pulled back the dressing on his stomach wound. It didn’t look any different. Then she lifted the dressing on his stump. The skin around the wound had darkened. “I’ll get Dr. Talbot,” she said.

  She waited until he was finished with a patient who had a hip wound and then asked him to check on her brother.

  Warner had fallen asleep and didn’t wake as Alec examined his leg. “Gangrene,” he pronounced.

  “Oh, no. What can be done?”

  “We’ll scrub it out. I may have to operate again.” He replaced the sheet. “Keep an eye on it and let me know if it changes.”

  That would be a fourth operation, which Therese knew wasn’t unheard of, but she wondered how much more Warner could tolerate. His spirits grew lower with each day.

  A few minutes later, Mother arrived, rubbing her hands together. “It’s getting so cold, I’ve decided to keep Badan here in Richmond for now. We’ll be going back to River Pines soon anyway.”

  Therese nodded, even though she knew it wasn’t true. Now that Warner had taken another turn for the worse, Mother would probably want to stay. And Badan would never be going back to River Pines again.

  Soon he and Aggie would be headed north for good, whether Mother gave her permission or not.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  Therese

  Unfortunately, the gangrene did grow worse, and by the third week of January, Alec operated again. Mother paced outside the room, certain she should have taken Warner home weeks ago.

  The surgery was successful, and after he’d finished, Alec pulled Therese aside and said he’d asked for Warner’s blessing to marry her the day before and received it. Now he planned to go to the Corbetts the next day to speak with Mother, allaying her fears as needed.

  Therese shook her head. “It won’t do any good. She can’t bear the thought of losing me.”

  Alec shrugged. “She’s a mother. Surely when it comes down to it, she’ll place the rescuing of her child above her own selfish needs.”

  Therese bristled a little. Was that how he saw her? As someone in need of rescue? But then his eyes warmed, and she softened.

  The next evening Therese slipped away from the hospital with Alec after supper duty, saying a quick prayer that Mother would be in a gracious mood. Together they hurried to where Mother was staying. Mr. Corbett answered the door, happy to see Alec, who quickly introduced Therese. He invited them into the parlor while he sent his wife to collect Mother.

  “Is everything all right?” Mother wore a faded housedress, a worn shawl, and a cap on her head, and she froze in the doorway to the parlor at the sight of Therese standing beside Alec. “Is it Warner?”

  “No,” Alec answered, motioning to the parlor. Mother led the way. Once they’d all sat down, he said, “Warner is unchanged. This is about Therese and me. Warner gave his permission for us to marry, but I wanted to speak with you too.”

  Mother pursed her lips together and then said, “Have you decided to stay here in Virginia, then?”

  “No. Therese will be returning to Maine with me.”

  Mother’s face fell.

  Alec spoke quickly. “I know this is hard for you, Mrs. Jennings, but Therese is a grown woman, and this is what she wants.” His expression grew kinder. “You will always be welcome in our home. You will always have a place with us if needed.”

  Therese nodded in agreement.

  Mother looked as if she might cry but didn’t. Alec spoke more about his work in Maine, concluding with, “I assure you, I can take care of Therese as she deserves. She won’t have a concern in the world, I promise.”

  “But she promised her father she’d care for me.”

  Therese nearly gasped, remembering the moment clearly. Mother was right, but would her father expect her to sacrifice in such a way now? Therese barely comprehended the rest of the conversation, except that Mother wouldn’t change her mind. She’d never be in agreement with Therese and Alec.

  That night in her attic room, Therese ignored the question of what she’d promised Father and thought more about the trip to Maine. Without Mother’s permission, they’d be taking Badan and Aggie illegally, which would put all of them at risk. If they were caught, perhaps an investigation would reveal Alec’s spying too. All of them could hang.

  There had to be a safer way for Alec and Badan and Aggie. She stayed awake late into the night, weighing her options and trying to come up with a way to convince Mother to give Badan and
Aggie their freedom.

  The next afternoon, Therese arrived at the hospital to find Alec in the hallway on the second floor. After they greeted each other, she pulled him toward the supply closet. He smiled down at her.

  “Is Mother with Warner?” she asked.

  Alec nodded.

  “Then I have a question to ask you.”

  “Go ahead,” he said, smiling down at her and taking her hand.

  “Will Badan and Aggie be treated well in Maine?”

  He hesitated, and then he said, “For the most part. I’m not saying there’s no prejudice, but it isn’t like here.”

  “What is the difference?”

  “There’s no comparison. Here there is darkness, cruelty, and oppression. In Maine there is free discourse, social justice, and hope for all humanity.”

  “So even though they’re black, they’d be accepted and cared for?”

  “Yes. For the most part. At least I can say they’ll be free.”

  “And you’d be willing to take them, no matter what?”

  “Yes, Therese. No matter what. It’s my Christian duty.”

  “All right.” She let go of his hand and led the way toward the ward. Six months ago she wouldn’t have stood up to Mother. But she would today.

  Mother sat by Warner’s side. Therese watched silently for a moment. Mother, with a weary expression on her face, had a hand on Warner’s shoulder. Someone had propped him up with a pillow and combed his hair and trimmed his beard. His eyes were closed, but Therese knew he wasn’t sleeping. The look of agony on his face gave it away.

  Mother glanced up. “Therese.” Her eyes narrowed. “And Dr. Talbot.”

  “Hello.” Therese stepped closer as Warner opened his eyes and turned his head a little.

  “I heard you told Mother what you were doing instead of asking.” He smiled despite his pain.

  Therese met her mother’s eyes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be disrespectful.” She walked around the cot and knelt at her mother’s side. “You’re right. I did promise Father I’d take care of you.” She glanced up at Alec. His expression was stoic, but she could see a glimmer of confusion in his eyes. Therese turned her attention back to her mother. “And you promised Father to do everything you could to seek justice for the oppressed. Do you remember that?”

  Mother inhaled sharply.

  “It was the day before he died. The two of you were talking about River Pines, of what would come of it. You told him you would do all you could to convince Grandfather to free his slaves.”

  “We’ve had this discussion—”

  “I know, but now I have a proposal for you. I’ll stay,” Therese glanced again at Alec and then back at her mother, “if you’ll free Badan and Aggie so they can go with Dr. Talbot and Ruth to Maine.”

  Alec crossed his arms.

  Therese didn’t make eye contact with him.

  Mother whimpered. “You’re manipulating me.”

  “Yes, I am.” Therese stood. “But I’m only doing so to keep my promise to Father. That was the legacy he wanted for us.”

  “We’ll starve, regardless of who wins the war.” Mother turned her attention to Warner. “Your brother won’t be able to farm. What will we eat without help?”

  Warner shook his head. “Don’t use me as an excuse.”

  “But you’ve always been in favor of the ways of the South. You love River Pines. I want nothing more than for you to live your life there, safe from worry.”

  Warner scooted himself up against the pillow. “Mother, none of us will ever be safe from worry. And my admiration for ‘the ways of the South’ had more to do with money than anything. Grandfather’s money. But Father was right. Slavery is a sin that I don’t want to benefit from. I realized that soon after I joined, realized what a fool I’d been. Send Badan and Aggie north—but don’t make Therese sacrifice her future for theirs. She should be able to marry the man she loves.”

  Loves. The word stopped Therese. Did she truly love Alec? Did he truly love her?

  A pout settled on Mother’s face, but Therese could tell she was weighing Warner’s words.

  Therese glanced at Alec and said, “I’ll stay for now, no matter what. I need to honor my vow.”

  Alec nodded curtly and then turned on his heel and headed for the door.

  “Go after him,” Warner said.

  Therese hesitated.

  “Please,” Warner pleaded. “I don’t want to be the cause of your unhappiness.” He turned to Mother. “We’ll allow Badan and Aggie to go—and Therese to decide her own fate and future.”

  Therese obeyed her brother before their mother could respond. By the time she reached the hall, Alec had started up the stairs to the third floor. “Alec, wait,” she called out.

  He stopped on the landing. She hurried up the stairs. “Can we give this time? And decide, once the war is over, whether you will return to Virginia or I’ll join you in Maine?”

  He looked down on her, his eyes heavy. “I will not return to Virginia. I know I said I’d be willing to consider it, but I’ve given it more thought since then and made my decision. The answer is no. I could never agree to raise children here.”

  “All right. I understand. Would you allow them to visit?” Would her mother never see her grandchildren?

  He sighed. “It depends on how the war turns out—and what happens after. I’d hate to think of our children being exposed to—difficult situations.”

  “I see.” She couldn’t help but think of everything her father hadn’t shielded her from. “That leaves me joining you in Maine then.”

  He nodded.

  “I can’t.”

  “What?”

  She shook her head. “I’ve also changed my mind. I won’t be joining you.”

  He crossed his arms. “I don’t understand.”

  “It’s not what I want.” She met his eyes. “I’m sorry, Alec. Mother’s right. I did promise Father I’d care for her, and with Warner doing so poorly, I can’t leave her. They’re all the family I have.”

  His eyes narrowed, but finally he acknowledged what she’d said with a quick nod.

  “But you’ll still take Badan and Aggie?”

  “Of course.” His shoulders sagged. “Ruth and I will sponsor them. Our community will help them find jobs and a home.”

  “Thank you.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “I appreciate it more than I can ever express.” Badan and Aggie’s freedom was much more important than her happiness.

  He reached for her hand, in a tired, defeated sort of way. “I’m sorry things didn’t work out, Therese, for both of us.”

  She swallowed hard. She couldn’t blame him for not wanting to stay—or not wanting to return after the war. She thought of her father and all he’d sacrificed for her mother. If Alec couldn’t do that, it was best to know now. Best to free him to the life he wanted to live, and free herself to the life God seemed to have for her back at River Pines.

  But now, she needed to make sure Alec and Ruth left with Aggie and Badan before anything changed. However, she wouldn’t say a word to Aggie until everything was set.

  For the next week, Therese was sure Alec did his best to avoid her. She heard from others that he and Ruth were readying to leave. Mother wasn’t very warm to Therese either, but she did say she had Aggie and Badan’s papers with her and would give them their freedom when Dr. Talbot was ready to go. Therese still hadn’t told Aggie and Badan, not wanting to get their hopes up in case the plan fell through.

  The next day, as Therese taught the girls, Mrs. Galloway took to her bed. The maid had escaped two weeks ago, most likely taking her chances on heading north. Only the cook, who didn’t seem to have any nursing skills, was left. Therese waited until Mr. Galloway returned home from work and told him she was willing to stay for the evening if needed. She could send word to the hospital that she was unable to come in tonight.

  He insisted she go ahead. “Take care of our soldiers, Therese. I’ll send for the midwif
e.”

  She left, hoping there would be a new baby in the house by morning. She said a prayer for Mrs. Galloway and the little one as she hurried toward the hospital.

  When she arrived, Polly told her Michael was in the kitchen. “Go say hello to him,” Polly urged. “They lost quite a few men last week. You might be able to cheer him up.”

  Therese doubted it, but she would give it a try. She found him in the back of the kitchen, deep in conversation with Auntie Vera. Neither saw her. Therese stepped closer.

  “They’re planning to escape with strangers. A man who was visiting a soldier here approached Badan. I’m afraid it could be a trap,” Auntie Vera said, but then her face fell when she saw Therese.

  Therese put a hand to her chest, guessing Badan felt he’d waited long enough and Therese didn’t have a plan after all. But they couldn’t do that—even if Mother didn’t report that they were runaways, they might be pursued anyway. Or if they were captured without papers, they might be harmed. However, if Therese let Michael know that Alec planned to take them north, he might try to implicate the doctor as someone helping the slaves—and in doing so harm others in the spy network too.

  Michael turned around slowly.

  “It’s too dangerous,” Therese said. “Tell them not to follow through with that offer.”

  “That’s right,” Michael said. “Auntie Vera was telling me so that I would persuade Badan to wait until the war is over.” He turned toward the old woman. “Isn’t that right?”

  She nodded.

  Michael ran his hand through his hair. “This is a little awkward,” he said to Therese. “I hope you’ll take into consideration that Auntie Vera was doing the right thing.”

  Therese nodded, wishing she could explain her plan but knowing she didn’t dare.

  “You could have them punished, if you wish,” he said.

  She shook her head.

  Auntie Vera muttered her gratitude and slipped by them.

  Therese dropped her voice. “Tell Badan to be patient, please. Something will work out for them.”