Carried Forward By Hope

by Ginny Dye

  “As do I,” her father agreed. “What do we have to do?”

  Carrie made no attempt to stop the tears from rolling down her face. “Thank you,” she murmured. “I know it might not work…”

  “But you’ll have done everything you could to save him,” Moses finished for her. “When do we leave?”

  Carrie gasped and reached out to grab his hand. “You’ll come with me?”

  “You’ll have a real hard time finding them without me,” Moses said with a chuckle. Then he sobered. “You’ll have a real hard time finding them with me,” he admitted. “I hardly remember that night, Carrie, but I’ll do anything in the world for you. You should know that by now. When do we leave?” he repeated.

  Carrie turned to her father. “Is it really all right if I take Moses? With the crops all in…” her voice trailed off.

  Thomas nodded. “With the crops all in, this is the perfect time. The men are working together well, and Simon can handle things if I can’t be here for some reason. Moses is not needed to get the cabins finished, and the gardens are almost in. I’d say this is the perfect time,” he said gently. “You go find them and see if you can get them to come back here.” He paused. “If they agree, they can live in Ike Adams’s old house.”

  When Rose stiffened, Thomas put a hand on her arm and patted it gently. “I can’t think of anything more fitting than putting black conductors for the Underground Railroad into Ike Adams’s house. Can you?”

  Rose chuckled reluctantly.

  “I thought about just burning it to the ground,” Thomas admitted, “but then I thought it would be much better to use it for redemption. Ike Adams was a sick man, but he’s gone now. He can’t ever hurt anyone again.”

  “Use it for redemption,” Rose whispered. This time when she smiled it was genuine. “I like it.”

  “And you don’t mind if I take your husband away?” Carrie asked.

  “I’ll miss him every minute he’s gone,” Rose admitted easily, “but if him going will give you Robert back, I will do nothing but rejoice.”

  Carrie gazed around the table. “Thank you all,” she said softly.

  “Do you want me to go along?” Jeremy asked. “I’d be more than happy to.”

  Carrie shook her head. “Thank you for offering, but no. I overheard you and Aunt Abby talking. I know you’ve made plans to go and check on the progress of the factory. I want you to do that. Moses and I will be just fine.”

  “He makes a good houseboy,” Jeremy said, his eyes laughing.

  “Why yessum, Miss Carrie, I be right willin’ to keeps you safe whiles you be travelin’,” Moses drawled. “I done know hows to make sure we don’t get in no trouble while we travel through the big, bad South.”

  The table erupted with laughter.

  “You know,” Rose said when the laughter died away, “it’s going to take a long time before we can act like we’re free, isn’t it?” Her serious question hung in the air.

  Aunt Abby was the one to answer. “Yes,” she replied honestly. “At least now you have the freedom to fight for it. Just remember you’re not the only one fighting. Women all over this country are fighting for equal rights. They want to vote. They want to have their voices heard. In any society, there are people who will have to fight for their rights. It’s only when people give up that right that society truly fails.”

  “I just wish no one had to fight,” Rose murmured.

  “I, too, wish for Utopia, but accepting that it is nothing but a figment of my imagination makes it easier to deal with the fact that I don’t live there,” Aunt Abby replied gently.

  “Utopia?” Annie asked, her eyes puzzled. “What dat be?”

  Aunt Abby laughed. “There was a man named Sir Thomas More who wrote a book in 1516 called Utopia. It was about a fictional community that was nearly perfect.”

  “Hmph!” Annie snorted. “Ain’t no such thing. Nots as long as they be people livin’ in it,” she declared. “Ain’t no human perfect, so theys can’t be nothin’ like no perfect place.”

  “And that is the truth,” Aunt Abby agreed. “We can all strive to make our world better, but as long as it’s full of people dealing with human nature, it will never be perfect.”

  “And on that cheerful note,” Opal muttered, “here is a platter of cookies. My arm is about to fall off holding them.”

  Carrie reached for a cookie and took a big bite. “Sugar makes everything better,” she agreed, her eyes shining. She looked at Moses. “It’s Monday. Can we leave in two days?”

  “I’ll be ready, Carrie,” Moses promised. “I’ll do my best to help you find Gabe and Polly, and their kids.”

  ******

  Eddie was waiting for Opal in the kitchen when she came back in from delivering the cookies, his lanky form leaning against the butcher block cutting table. “Hi, Opal.”

  Opal smiled shyly and ducked her head, annoyed with herself for feeling uncomfortable. She had lived with Eddie and Fannie for more than a year in Richmond. Never once had she felt nervous around her cousin’s husband. She forced herself to lift her head and smile naturally. “Hello, Eddie. You need something?”

  “Just to see if you’re done for the night.” Eddie hesitated when he looked around and saw the unwashed pots still in the tub. “Or maybe if you could just take a little break.”

  “Something wrong with one of the kids?” Opal asked sharply, reaching behind her to untie her apron.

  Eddie shook his head, suddenly looking uncomfortable himself. “I ain’t doing this right,” he muttered. He stood straight and looked her in the eye. “I’d like to take you for a walk, Opal.”

  Opal stared at him, something fluttering in her stomach. “A walk?” she echoed faintly, jumping when Annie shoved the door to the kitchen open.

  Eddie turned to Annie. “It be alright if I take Opal out for just a little while?”

  “Before the kitchen be clean?” Annie asked. “What you thinkin’?”

  “I’m thinkin’ I’d like to take Opal to see the sunset over the river.”

  Opal’s eyes grew wide, but she remained silent, suddenly not able to think of even one word to say.

  Annie eyed Eddie closely. “Sure be a right nice night,” she finally said. “I reckon I can finish up in here.” She waved a hand at Opal. “Get on with you den,” she ordered. “Just plan on me not bein’ the first in the kitchen in the mornin’,” she growled, her eyes dancing.

  Opal managed to nod and then followed Eddie down the stairs into the backyard. She remained silent as he led the way through the woods, holding back limbs so they wouldn’t hit her in the face. When they broke out onto the trail, he moved back to walk beside her, but he seemed content to not talk. Opal was too busy trying to analyze what was happening in her heart to care if they were saying anything or not.

  “Sure is a nice night,” Eddie finally said.

  “Sure ‘nuff is,” Opal agreed, relaxing enough to feel the warm breeze and smell the wisteria perfuming the air. She gazed up at the cascading purple blooms hanging from the vines climbing the trees toward the sky. She smiled as she took a deep breath, letting the rich fragrance wash over it. “Sure ‘nuff is,” she repeated softly as she caught the look in Eddie’s eyes.

  Nothing more was said until they broke out onto the banks of the river. Opal sucked her breath in sharply as she gazed out at the thick cumulus clouds piled on the horizon. She watched silently as they shifted from glistening white, to a glowing pink, to a brilliant orange, and then gasped when they were shot through with glorious purple as the rays of the sun sent shimmering shafts through the canvas. A stiff breeze kicked up white caps on the river, each one reflecting the riotous colors of the sunset as they danced their way out of sight.

  “I’m not sure I’ve ever seen something so beautiful,” Opal murmured. As she thought about it, she realized that was true. During her years on Cromwell as a slave, no one had thought of going to watch sunsets. They were too busy working. Her time in Richmond kep
t her confined to the black quarter or the factory. In the two years she’d been back on the plantation, it never crossed her mind to watch a sunset. “Thank you,” she murmured softly.

  “If I get my wish, it may not be somethin’ you can see that much,” Eddie responded.

  Opal watched until the dying sun carried the colors below the horizon before she turned to Eddie. “What you be talking about?” she demanded.

  “I ain’t planning on staying down South,” Eddie began hesitantly.

  Opal waited, knowing from the pounding in her heart that something important was about to happen.

  “I know there prob’ly be hard things in the North, but I don’t reckon they’s gonna be as hard as they gonna be down here. I’s planning on leaving the South, Opal.”

  Opal stiffened but nodded. She had fallen in love with Eddie’s kids just like they were her own, but she’d always known they were not really hers. She knew the day might come when they would leave. “I understand,” she replied, determined not to shed a single tear as she held his gaze. “What you planning on doing?”

  “That depends,” Eddie replied, a strange look on his face.

  “Depends on what?” Opal demanded. She’d always known Eddie wasn’t one for a lot of talking, but the idea of losing the children made her want to rip the words from his throat — not patiently pry them out.

  “On whether you gonna come with us,” Eddie replied.

  Opal stared at him, suddenly unable to find any words. “You want me to come so I can help take care of the kids?”

  Eddie shook his head. “I want you to come as my wife,” he said firmly.

  Opal gasped and looked around for something to sit on, sinking down gratefully on a boulder as she stared up at him. “What you say?”

  Eddie smiled and knelt down in front of her, his eyes suddenly soft. “I won’t never forget Fannie,” he said, his eyes glistening for a moment before he took her hand, “but I also never met another woman as fine as her until I met you, Opal. You was just my Fannie’s cousin for a long time, but I don’t look at you that way no more.”

  Opal locked her gaze with his. “You don’t?” she whispered, her heart beginning to dance joyfully. She had been stomping on her feelings ever since Eddie arrived in that wagon. She had been scolding herself as she watched him play with his kids or help Sam around the house. She loved his kind eyes and his strong heart. Telling herself a hundred times a day that he was her deceased cousin’s husband had done nothing to temper the building feelings.

  “I don’t,” Eddie answered. “Do you think you could ever love me?” he asked uncertainly.

  Opal’s heart exploded with joy as she reached out her hands to cup his face. “You might better ask if I could ever learn to stop loving you. I’m afraid that answer would have to be no.”

  Eddie sucked in his breath and moved forward to take Opal in his arms. “I love you, Opal,” he murmured.

  They remained silent for a long time, the sun sinking lower and lower until the sky began to turn a cobalt blue. After the years of loneliness, neither one wanted the embrace to end.

  Opal finally pulled back but slipped her hand into Eddie’s. “Where are you figuring on going?”

  “Depends.”

  Opal grinned. “Do you ever use a lot of words?”

  Eddie smiled back as he shrugged. “Not less I have to.”

  Opal nodded. “Then I reckon I’ll have to do enough talking for both of us.”

  “Shouldn’t have too much trouble with that,” Eddie said matter-of-factly.

  Opal snorted but kept grinning. Happiness was exploding in her heart. She was just going to let the wonder of it sink in. “So what does it depend on?”

  “On where you want to have your restaurant.”

  Opal became very still and finally looked up at him. “My restaurant?” she whispered.

  “You still want to have your own?”

  The happiness grew as Opal nodded her head. “I sure ‘nuff do!” she exclaimed. She closed her eyes to think. “I’m thinkin’ Philadelphia would be a good place,” she said slowly. “Rose and Moses have told me a lot about it. I know things ain’t perfect for black folks there, but they told me about other black restaurants.”

  Eddie nodded. “I’ve heard it can get real cold up there,” he warned.

  Opal shrugged. “Ain’t no place perfect. The weather might get real cold, but I think the kids will have an easier time growing up there.”

  “You really love them kids, don’t you?”

  “Like they were my own,” Opal said firmly. “Nothing in the world would make me happier than to be your wife and to keep on being their mama.”

  Eddie gripped her hand and began to lead her back to the house. “Let’s go tell the kids.”

  ******

  Gabe slammed open the door to the cabin.

  Polly jumped back from the fireplace where she was stirring a big pot of soup. “Land sakes, Gabe. You about scared the life out of me!”

  “Better me din them other scoundrels,” he growled.

  Polly took a deep breath and pulled the pot off the hook over the fire, placing it on the table. She glanced at Amber and Clint. Both had stopped their studies as soon as their daddy slammed in the house. “Is it time?” she asked quietly.

  Gabe nodded his head in frustration. “I think it be best,” he finally growled.

  Eight-year-old Amber got up from the table and walked over to stand in front of her daddy. “Is it time for us to go away now, Daddy?” Her eyes were full of a sweet trust.

  Gabe ground his teeth but kept his face calm as he knelt down in front of her. “I’m afraid it be, honey.”

  “How long are we gonna be gone?”

  Polly strode forward, knowing the innocent question had no answer. “We don’t know, Amber,” she said briskly, determined to keep all fear from her voice. “We’re just going to go on an adventure and see how long it lasts.”

  Clint snorted but said nothing. Polly shot him a look of gratitude, knowing he was keeping silent not to increase Amber’s fear.

  Amber swung her gaze around to her sixteen-year-old brother, who had grown even taller than his daddy. She walked over, crawled onto his lap, and cupped his face in her hands. “Don’t worry, Clint,” she said soothingly. “You don’t need to hide nothing. I know we aren’t really going on an adventure.”

  “How you…?” Gabe started.

  Amber looked at him. “I heard you and Mama talking one night when you thought I was sleeping,” she confessed easily. “Don’t worry, Daddy. I’m not scared,” she said firmly.

  Polly stared at her, trying to calm the pounding in her own heart. “You’re not?” she asked finally.

  Amber shook her head. “Not a bit. I know you and Daddy will keep me and Clint safe. Then we’ll come back to our house.”

  “How can you be so sure?” Gabe growled, not sure if he was angry or thankful that he was asking this question of his eight-year-old daughter.

  “We done had things to be scared about before,” Amber answered. “Like when Robert came.” Her eyes grew soft with the memories. “Having Robert here scared both of you real bad, but look how good it turned out.”

  “I guess that be true,” Gabe admitted.

  “And look how many people we helped by being conductors for that Underground Railroad,” she continued earnestly.

  Polly sucked in her breath.

  Amber laughed brightly. “Did you think I didn’t know about that, Mama? You told me and Clint they was just people coming to visit, but I knew back then that wasn’t true. I figured it out later when…”

  “When you heard them talking,” Clint finished for her, pride in his voice.

  Amber nodded. “That’s right. I learn a lot just by listening.”

  “I’ll say,” Polly muttered. There was nothing but pride shining in her eyes.

  “So where are we going for our adventure?” Amber asked.

  Laughter rolled through the cabin as the an
ger and fear fell off Gabe’s heart and mind. He took a deep breath and settled down at the table, waiting until everyone joined him. “We’re just going to go back into the woods for a while,” he said. “I don’t know for sure how much danger we’re in, but we’re not going to take any chances.”

  “I thought the slave owners were just apprenticing their old slaves’ children?” Clint asked. He knew about the state constitutional amendment that passed after Maryland abolished slavery the year before. Slave owners, not knowing how they would run their plantations, decided to enact a pre-war statute that allowed local courts to apprentice black children, even over the objections of their parents.

  Gabe shrugged his shoulders. “That’s what I thought,” he replied, “but I’m hearin’ different things. The courts are tellin’ black parents they can’t have their young’uns back ‘cause they ain’t got the means to take care of them.”

  Polly snorted. “How they gonna have the means when they just got free?”

  “It’s nothing but a way for slavery to keep goin’!” Clint growled.

  “Are they comin’ after children like us?” Amber asked, bravely trying to control the fear in her voice.

  Gabe turned to her and put his hand under her chin, tilting her face so their eyes could meet. “They’re not going to get you, Amber,” he promised. “Ain’t no one taking you and Clint.”

  Amber took a slow breath, staring into her daddy’s eyes. “Okay, Daddy,” she finally said. “I believe you. When we leaving?”

  “Today.”

  Polly gasped. “Today?”

  Gabe nodded grimly. “I heard about some white men roamin’ around the country when I was over at Lee’s this morning. He ain’t sure what they be up to, but he pretty sure it ain’t to no good. If them plantation owners want black children, we couldn’t stop them if they come here.” He had a brief vision of being beaten or shot if he tried to stop them, knowing they would take the kids anyway. “They could be figurin’ they would get a lot of work done before the courts would make them give our kids back…” He knew he didn’t need to finish that thought.