by Ginny Dye
“None of us do,” Carrie said solemnly.
Abby nodded, knowing she was thinking of Robert.
Carrie looked pensive for several moments. “You said there were two things,” she reminded her.
“I did,” Abby agreed. “Anthony said something to your father that made him realize he wanted to come home.”
“Anthony?” Carrie echoed.
Abby revealed what Thomas had shared with her. “Your father has decided to spend the rest of his life doing what he believes is most important, Carrie. Spending time with you…getting to know Frances…being home on the plantation. It’s what he wants more than anything.”
“I have one more thing to thank Anthony for,” Carrie murmured.
“Do you love him?”
“Yes,” Carrie replied. “He’s a wonderful man.”
“But…?”
“But I don’t know what I’m going to do with that yet,” Carrie said, her words more hesitant now. “Sometimes, I think I should go ahead and marry him, but then something inside stops me.”
“Is it Robert?”
Carrie met her eyes evenly. “I don’t think so. I would have said yes at first, but I don’t feel that way anymore. I believe Robert would want me to be happy. If marrying Anthony would make me happy, I believe he would want that for me.”
“You’re not sure it would make you happy?” Abby asked gently. She believed Anthony was a wonderful man, but only Carrie could know what was right for her.
“I don’t know,” Carrie said. “It’s really that simple. I don’t know. I would think I would know, really know, if marrying Anthony would make me happy. Since I don’t, I’m not ready to make that decision.”
Abby smiled. “You’re comfortable with yourself.” The knowledge made her very happy.
“I suppose I am,” Carrie acknowledged. “I loved Robert with all my heart, but there was also a part of me that thought I needed to marry him in order to be truly happy. I’m glad I did, and I have no regrets, but…”
“You know your life can be wonderful and fulfilling without a man,” Abby finished for her.
“Yes,” Carrie said softly. “I’m glad you understand. Most women would think I was quite mad to not jump at the chance to marry Anthony.”
“He loves you,” Abby replied. “He’ll wait for you.”
Carrie looked at her oddly. “Will he? I’m not sure how I feel about that. I don’t want to think I’m holding him back from finding a woman who will love him in return.”
“I’m afraid that’s not your choice, my dear,” Abby said gently. “Anthony will be here in a few days.” She hid her smile at Carrie’s look of total delight. Her daughter might not be ready to make a commitment to marry Anthony, but she clearly loved him very much.
“He will?”
“Yes. He’s coming with your father. We received a telegram yesterday, saying he was coming to Richmond. Your father is finishing up some business before he leaves. Anthony will come with him.”
Carrie smiled. “I’m glad. I want him to meet Frances.”
“He’ll love her,” Abby assured her.
“How could he not?” Carrie asked lightly. “Everyone loves Frances.”
“That’s true.” Abby didn’t say anything more. She was quite confident the day would come when Carrie was able to acknowledge that she wanted to spend her life with Anthony, but she needed to come to it in her own time, and in her own way.
*****
Carrie was startled out of her thoughts when the front door slammed open and Frances ran out onto the porch. “Whoa! Is there a fire somewhere?”
“No,” Francis replied with a broad grin. “But I finished my arithmetic. I wanted to escape before Miss Rose decided I need to learn something else.” She clasped her hands and looked toward the barn. “Is it time to go riding? Oma said we could all go riding.”
“Oh, she did, did she?” Carrie teased. “I’ve had a long day at the clinic. I’m not sure I want to go.” She stretched her arms above her head and yawned.
Frances peered into her face for a long moment, and then shook her head. “Nope. I can tell you want to go.”
Carrie smiled, her heart melting. “You think you know me that well, do you?”
Frances grinned again. “Yes.” Then a look of uncertainty crossed her face. “Am I right?”
“You’re completely right,” Carrie agreed. “Let me change out of this ridiculous dress. I’ve got someplace special to take you today.”
Frances clapped her hands and jumped up and down. “Can I go out to the stable and help Amber get the horses ready?”
“Absolutely. Tell Amber I want to ride Granite again. He hasn’t had enough exercise today.”
“All right,” Frances agreed. “Who should I ride today?”
Carrie hesitated, but decided it was time. “Why don’t you ride Peaches?”
“The beautiful palomino mare that Moses brought home two nights ago?” Frances asked in a voice of disbelief. “Really?”
“Really,” Carrie answered. “She’s a lovely mare, has good gaits, and is quite gentle. I want to see if she is as perfect as her owner said she is.”
Frances stared at her. “And you trust me to ride her?”
“I do,” Carrie assured her. “Should I not?”
“Oh, no,” Frances said hastily. “You can trust me. I would love to ride her!”
“Then go get her ready,” Carrie directed. “Abby and I will join you in a few minutes.”
Frances dashed off the porch. “Hurry!” she called back over her shoulder.
Abby was already moving toward the door. “I’m going to change, too. Spencer carried my bag up before he drove back to the city.”
“Spencer has already left?” Carrie was disappointed. “I hoped to talk to him tonight. I thought he would go back in the morning.”
“I tried to talk him into it, but he insisted he had to get back,” Abby responded.
Carrie stared at her when she hesitated. “What aren’t you saying?”
Abby shook her head. “Nothing. I’m a little uneasy, but I have no reason to be.”
Carrie stiffened. She couldn’t help looking around for anyone lurking in the trees. She supposed she would always have that reaction. “Uneasy about what?” she demanded.
Abby shook her head again. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “I think it’s just that I’m not used to playing hooky from my life. I’m glad I’m here, but I will admit it feels rather odd to not be at the factory.”
“You seem to be forgetting how well I know you,” Carrie muttered. “Will you at least promise to tell me when you know what is bothering you?”
“I promise,” Abby said. She reached for the door handle. “But right now, I’m going to change so we can take our beautiful girl for a ride!”
*****
Frances stared around in awe when they broke out into the clearing by the river. “It’s so beautiful!” she cried. “I’ve never seen anything so beautiful in my life.”
Carrie could not have agreed with her more. Her special place by the river was beautiful in any season, but it was even more spectacular in May. Spring had exploded throughout the entire South, but it seemed to be making more of a statement in this place she loved so much.
Wisteria spilled purple blooms from the trees, their heady fragrance perfuming the air. Virginia bluebells crowded the ground, while columbines waved their coral heads in the breeze. Delicate white spring cress gave a touch of elegance among the brilliant fire pinks. A light breeze tossed the limbs of the trees, making the leaves dance in time with the whitecaps breaking on the river.
Carrie took a deep breath, feeling the expected magic fill her heart. She looked at Frances’ face as her daughter gazed around with a reverent hush. Carrie had always dreamed of sharing this place with Bridget. It relieved her to know sharing it with Frances brought her just as much joy.
“What is this place?” Frances asked. “It’s very special.”
&nb
sp; “How do you know that?” Carrie asked.
Frances shook her head. “I can just feel it.” She turned to look at Carrie. “Is it a special place?”
“The most special place in the world,” Carrie answered, reaching out to hug her daughter close. “I found this place when I was your age. My parents didn’t know I used to go out riding on my own. It would have scared my mother to death, and I didn’t want Father to have to hide it from her. By the time I finally got permission, I had been coming here for over a year.” She laughed. “I probably shouldn’t be telling you this…”
“You’re certainly giving her ideas,” Abby acknowledged wryly.
“How did you find it?” Frances demanded.
“Just roaming around,” Carrie answered. “My most favorite thing to do was to find deer trails through the woods so I could follow them. I never knew where they would go. One day, I followed a new deer trail that brought me here.”
“And you’ve been coming here ever since?” Frances looked around again. “I used to dream of a place like this,” she said quietly.
There was something in Frances’ voice that made Carrie look at her more closely. “What do you mean?”
Frances turned to stare at her, uncertainty making her gaze waver.
“Go ahead,” Carrie encouraged her. “What do you want to say?”
Frances still hesitated. “You’ll think I’m silly,” she protested.
“I won’t,” Carrie promised. “I used to dream about all kinds of things, too. I still do,” she admitted.
Frances took a deep breath. “I didn’t use to dream of a place like this.” She lifted her amber eyes to look into Carrie’s. “I dreamed of this place. I feel like I’ve been here before.” She took a deep breath and waited for Carrie’s reaction.
Carrie took a deep breath of her own as she felt warmth spread through her. She gripped Frances’ hands tightly. “I have no trouble believing that.”
“You don’t?” Frances breathed with a look of relief.
“No,” Carrie assured her. “I have a feeling God knew you would become my daughter a long time ago. Don’t you think God would want you to feel at home here?”
“So, you think I had the dream so I would feel at home here?”
“Don’t you?” Carrie asked gently.
Frances nodded, slowly at first, and then more firmly. “I do,” she agreed. She pulled away from Carrie to walk around the clearing. “I love it here,” she whispered. “Can I come here whenever I want to?”
Carrie smiled. “I want you to get more comfortable riding first, but then yes, you may come here whenever you want.”
Frances grinned. “I think I’ll get comfortable riding Peaches very quickly,” she proclaimed.
“Oh?” Carrie asked with a raised brow. “Why do you think that?”
“She fits me,” Frances said earnestly. “She’s so gentle, and she’s so smooth.” She paused. “I think she really likes me, and I already love her,” she proclaimed.
“I’m glad to hear that,” Carrie said lightly, “especially since I bought Peaches for you.”
Frances had turned to stare at the river, but now she swung slowly back. “What did you say?”
“I said I’m glad to hear you love her, because I bought Peaches for you.” Carrie gazed at her daughter with love, remembering the day her father had presented her with Granite.
Frances turned to look at Abby.
Abby nodded. “If Carrie says Peaches is yours, it’s true.”
Frances looked back at Carrie, her expression saying she still wasn’t at all convinced. “Peaches is my horse?”
“Well, only if you want her,” Carrie teased. “If you don’t, I can do something else with her.”
“No!” Frances cried, rushing into Carrie’s arms. “I want her! Of course, I want her.”
Carrie was alarmed when the little girl’s voice choked with tears. “Honey, what’s wrong?”
Frances took a deep breath. “Nothing is wrong,” she said. “Everything is right. It is so right.”
“And that’s making you cry, because you never thought your life could be like this,” Abby said.
Frances turned to look at her Oma. “That’s right,” she said, glad to not have to find words to explain what she was feeling. “I got real used to things being bad. I just kinda expected that things would go wrong. That way I wasn’t surprised.
Abby wrapped an arm around her granddaughter. “There will always be things that don’t go the way we want them to,” she said softly. “Hard things will happen that cause us pain. But,” she said, “there will always be enough good things to balance them out.”
“Always?” Frances asked.
“That’s been my experience,” Abby replied.
“And mine,” Carrie added.
“What about losing Bridget? Do you think enough good things will happen to balance that out?”
Carrie thought for a moment and then began to smile. “Frances, I know that’s true. Many good things have happened since losing Robert and Bridget, but you becoming my daughter has been the best thing of all. The joy of you being my little girl has balanced everything out.” Tears filled her eyes as she realized how true it was. She knew she would always miss Bridget, but the thought of her daughter no longer caused her pain.
Chapter Thirty
Anthony swung from the train. He was glad to be back in Richmond, but he was mostly excited because he would be leaving for the plantation with Thomas tomorrow. He could hardly wait to see Carrie again and have a chance to meet Frances. He looked toward the carriage row eagerly, disappointed to discover it was empty. He considered walking to Thomas’ house with his luggage, but didn’t relish the idea of trudging up the hills on a hot spring day. He dropped his bag, and settled back to wait. Richmond was getting busier every day.
As Anthony waited, he thought about the fact that there were not enough carriages. His thoughts began to form into a plan, congealing in his mind with seemingly little effort. He smiled slightly as he realized his frustration could actually be an opportunity. His smile widened as he glanced down the row of other stranded businesspeople checking their pocket watches with impatient looks. He began to calculate how much it would cost to buy wagons and hire drivers. He would need a place to stable them, but certainly he could find enough stalls. In time, he could build his own stables, making sure his horses received the best of care.
Even if the economy took a dive, there would always be need for transportation in a growing city. The investment would be relatively low, but the returns would come in for a long time. He already knew that if he treated his drivers fairly, making sure they were compensated better than any other drivers in the city, he would never run out of people eager to work for him. The Cromwells had taught him that valuable lesson.
His thoughts were interrupted by a carriage rolling to a stop in front of him. “Church Hill?” Anthony called.
The driver nodded, jumped down from his seat, and grabbed Anthony’s bag. “I’ll get you there quick as I can, mister.”
Anthony was already calculating how long it would take to get this new business venture up and running. The one thing he had learned well from his father was the value of building a business that didn’t require your constant presence and involvement. He wanted to make money, but he also wanted to live a good life. He was certain it was possible. All one had to do was keep their eyes open for the right opportunity.
“What you do, mister?” the driver asked once they had pulled away from the station.
“I’m a businessman,” he informed him, making a rapid decision as he spoke. “I’m starting a new carriage service here in Richmond.” There was no time like the present to discover if his idea had as much validity as he believed it did.
“That right?” the driver drawled. “I reckon we need another one. There sure ain’t enough of us to get everybody where they need to be.”
“It certainly looks like that,” Anthony agreed. “Do yo
u have any friends looking for work?”
“I might,” the man answered shrewdly. “Guess it depends on how much you be paying them.”
“I’m still working that out,” Anthony admitted, knowing the man driving the carriage was his best source of information. “Can you tell me what a good wage is?”
The man cocked his head. “I don’t know that I would call it a good wage,” he stated, “but I’ll tell you what I get paid.”
He named a figure much lower than Anthony would have anticipated. “Is that what everyone pays?”
“Pretty much,” the man grunted. “It ain’t real easy to get a job in this city, so we gots to take what they pay us.”
“I see,” Anthony murmured. He continued to calculate rapidly in his head. When he was sure of his figures, he said casually, “I’m prepared to pay more than that.”
The man eyed him keenly. “How much more?”
“I don’t believe paying by the hour is the best way to do business,” Anthony replied. “I also believe that men who are willing to work hard deserve to be paid more.”
“How do you do that?” the driver asked.
“I still have some final calculations to make,” Anthony responded, “but I figure I need to make a certain amount from every carriage I buy. The rest of the money made that day would go to the driver.”
“How much you need to make?” the man demanded.
Anthony appreciated the calm caution in the man’s eyes. He also understood why the driver’s eyes widened in disbelief when he named the figure.
“And the rest would go to the driver?” he asked with astonishment.
“That’s right,” Anthony answered, more sure than ever that his plan was solid.
“That’s almost triple what drivers make right now. Why you gonna pay that much?” the man demanded.
“Don’t you think you’re worth it?”
The man cocked his head. “I am,” he said, “but I can’t say that about every driver. There be a lot of lazy men driving carriages.” He shook his head. “As hard as jobs be to come by, it seems right stupid to me to not work hard, but I ain’t got no say what anyone else does.”
