Josephine as a mother! What a thought.
Rebecca entered the post office and waited in the short line for her turn.
“Good afternoon, Miss Davis,” the postmaster greeted when she stepped to the counter. “I have a letter for you.”
“You do?”
He nodded. “It came this morning.”
She looked down at the envelope in her hand and decided against mailing it just yet. She shoved it back in her purse.
The postmaster handed her the letter and she stepped away to read it.
Dear Miss Davis,
Please forgive my delay. Unforeseen circumstances have kept me from procuring the item in question. Will notify you within the week.
Your faithful servant,
R. Hollingsworth
A thrill of delight filled her. Ruth was safe. Her liaison had been delayed. She hadn’t failed the mission. She held the letter to her chest and said a silent prayer to heaven that she hadn’t put the woman in jeopardy after all.
Her liaison would be in touch within the week. And her liaison was R. Hollingsworth.
R. Hollingsworth? Could he be related to Jared? Only time would tell.
****
Crouching low in tall grass, Rory surveyed the surroundings and waited for the mocha-skinned woman in a faded red dress to come closer. He’d spoken with her briefly a few weeks earlier in this very spot. She’d been alone that day, and he’d expected today would be no different. Yet, he was having a devil of a time snatching her. Three other women waded in the water nearby washing a mound of homespun clothing.
Perspiration beaded his forehead and upper lip as the morning sun beat down on his head. He had to get the woman’s attention without alarming the others. There would be hell to pay if the women saw him and could describe him to the authorities.
“You there,” a large man on a horse called, riding up and stopping near the water’s edge. “You’re wanted at the house.”
Rory’s brows arched as the woman he’d been watching picked up a basket of clothes and started toward the main house at a brisk pace. When the man on the horse was preoccupied, Rory slowly inched his way toward a thicket of bushes and trees that ran along the path she took. He’d already scoped out the area and knew no one watched.
He grabbed a handful of pebbles along the way and began throwing them in her direction, hoping to distract her so she’d stop. She paid little attention at first, but when he threw a stick that landed a few inches in front of her she slowed.
“Ruth,” he called, keeping his voice low.
The woman’s head jerked, but she moved a little slower.
“Ruth.”
Finally, she stopped and looked around. Her eyes grew large and worried as she scanned the area.
“Over here.”
She turned in his direction, acknowledgement evident in her brown eyes.
“It’s time.” He reached out his hand to her.
Silently, she jumped into the bushes where he waited. “Leave the basket hidden here. We haven’t got a minute to waste. You’ll be with your family soon.”
Ruth nodded.
He took a huge risk seizing her during the day. Normally escapes were at night. No one would be expecting it to happen in daylight. Though, when she didn’t immediately arrive at the main house as requested a search would begin.
Adrenaline pumped through his veins as he silently led her through the wooded area, careful to avoid stepping on twigs or fallen limbs. Searing pain shot through his abdomen with each move he made. He winced and touched his side. Blood seeped through the rudimentary stitches in the flesh he’d haphazardly sewn last night and stained his shirt. He never should have agreed to one last round of cards when he’d already won the pot. A sane man would have cleared out of town. Instead, he’d followed greed and the loser pulled a knife to regain his losses.
The wound was yet another headache he had to contend with as he tried to complete the mission. He was over a week late in meeting with his contact, but he’d been thrown in jail after a brawl. He’d sent word upon his release explaining the delay, something he rarely did, not living by traditional standards. He enjoyed living dangerously. The higher the risk, the more he enjoyed the gamble.
When they reached the black carriage that awaited them, Rory opened the door and helped Ruth climb inside.
“There are clothes for you to change into in the box. I’ll ride on top with my driver until you are dressed. Use the cane to rap on the roof when you’re finished, and I will join you,” he explained before closing the door behind her.
“Did you run into trouble?” his driver asked.
“None, thankfully.” Rory grimaced at the twitch in his side as the carriage headed toward Jackson.
He placed a handkerchief over the blood stain and donned a full waistcoat to cover the soiled shirt. He tied his blond hair back in a queue at his neck. No one would deny he looked like a gentleman traveling with his lady friend.
A few moments later they heard the rap of the cane and the carriage slowed to a near crawl. He opened the door, filling the inside with light before he joined her. Then he closed the door and pushed the velvet curtains all the way open.
“My, but don’t you make a pretty picture.” He settled on the bench across from her taking note of the way the yellow dress hugged her scrawny frame, enhancing her features. “From now until I say otherwise, you are Delia, a fallen dove from New Orleans. Do you understand what I mean by ‘fallen dove’?”
She nodded.
“You’ll be staying with a friend of mine and
her
girls. She’ll protect you until I can safely get you to the next leg of the journey.”
“I won’t be one of
her
girls,” Ruth protested, indignation thick in her voice.
A deep rumble escaped him at her misunderstanding and he held his side until the pain subsided. “You’ll be hidden away. She won’t make you work for your room and board. I’ll be your only visitor.”
Rory watched her brown eyes widen. The girl was frightened, as expected in her current situation. It was his place to make her feel more at ease, but he did a poor job of it.
He picked up a medium size box lying on the seat beside him and removed the lid. “Here, you’ll need a wig to pull off your disguise. Try this on.”
The wig of ebony curls glistened even in the dim light of the carriage and it made her skin look more sallow than mocha against the pale yellow of the dress. He studied her for a few moments then handed her a pouch.
“You’ll need to learn to wear this as well. Lip and cheek rouge will draw attention away from your dark eyes. The face powder will make you look whiter,” he explained, recalling the detailed technique Monique had showed him before he left Jackson a month ago. “We might just pull this off.”
She shook her head, but he pushed the pouch into her hands.
“We made a deal when I first found you. You agreed to do everything I said in order to get you to your family.”
She nodded. “I remember.”
He opened a secret compartment underneath the opposite carriage seat and withdrew a summer weight cloak. “You’ll wear this over your dress to help cover your arms as we exit the carriage and enter the
house
. Gloves will cover your hands. Your skin must always be covered. Do you understand?”
She nodded her head, the curls of the wig bouncing on her shoulders.
“How do the shoes fit?” he asked, reaching to lift the skirt of her dress, but she slapped his hand away.
“I ain’t never worn shoes before.”
“I know, but you must try.”
“They hurt.”
“Sorry. They were the closest I could get to the measurements I took. You won’t have to wear them long,” he assured her.
“Now, try to relax and I’ll tell you a tale about Madame Monique and her girls.”
Chapter Nine
“What do you think of this pattern?” Josephine held up the quilt topper she’d been sewing for the last few days.
Rebecca examined it from her place on the floor by Lucas. “Very pretty. Do you think they’ll give it to a little girl?”
“I can only hope.”
She smiled, refolded the missive from Jared she’d received earlier that afternoon, and slipped it into her pocket.
“You’ve read and reread that since it came by messenger today. I can only assume it is from Mr. Hollingsworth?”
Her cheeks warmed. “Yes.”
She picked up one of the blocks on the blanket, and turned it over, thinking about Jared. She longed to see him and apologize for her behavior the last time they were together. His letter indicated he was eager to see her again and hoped they could meet later in the week.
“Rebecca, are you in love?” Josephine asked.
Caught off guard, Rebecca’s head jerked up and she stared at her aunt, “In love? I—I…”
“No need to answer, dear,” her aunt amended. “It was a silly question. You hardly know the man. I can see you’re troubled by the mistake you think you made. If it has nothing to do with him, then I suggest you put it behind you and go forth with the relationship.”
If you only knew how much I wanted to do just that.
Rebecca stacked the block on two others, making a small pyramid. Lucas squealed in protest, knocked them down, and laughed.
“Oh really, sir?” she said, gently ruffling his hair. “Do you really want to do that?”
He grinned. She glimpsed the first signs of a tooth underneath the gum. He reached his arms out for her to take him. She obliged and he cooed, blowing spit bubbles.
“You spoil him, Rebecca.”
She wrinkled her nose at her aunt. “Isn’t that what children are for? To love and spoil?”
Josephine mumbled something under breath and went back to her sewing. Rebecca loved Lucas and she’d dote on him all she wanted, no matter what her aunt thought.
“How’s Doctor Gordon?” she asked, breaking the momentary silence.
Josephine dropped her needle, but recovered it without looking up. “How should I know?”
“I thought he attended Midday services with you.”
“Yes, he does.” Her voice took on a defensive note. “But that doesn’t mean I speak with him regularly.”
“Really?” Rebecca managed not to smile. She’d watched from the hotel window and seen them meet at the corner before walking to the church together almost daily. If that didn’t suggest a developing friendship, what did?
“Weren’t you going to pay a visit to Mrs. Paxton this afternoon?”
Rebecca jostled Lucas on her lap and gave her aunt full points for smoothly changing the subject. She’d put off going to Oak Hill for a few days, but now that she’d heard from Jared she didn’t have to worry about accidentally seeing him while there.
“I guess I should go on if I want to return before supper. Charlotte, will you put Lucas down for his nap?”
“Yes miss,” Charlotte said, coming into the room with a spool of thread Josephine had requested.
Rebecca kissed Lucas good-bye, and handed him to the maid. “Mama will be back soon. Have a good nap.”
“M-m-m,” Lucas cooed.
“Enjoy your visit, dear,” Josephine called.
****
Frowning, Jared exited the bank. He’d expected the news he’d received, but had hoped for better. Even though he’d paid his monthly note on time for the last year, he’d been turned down on a further note to cover Rory’s gambling debts. It had taken the bank three weeks to make this decision leaving him little time to come up with an alternate solution and prevent Delaney from claiming Oak Hill.
Mitchell’s inquiries into Rory’s whereabouts had produced nothing. It didn’t look as if his cousin would resurface in time to make good on his markers to Delaney either. For that, Jared vowed to do bodily harm to Rory when he saw him again despite his resolve not to strike another human being.
He crossed the street to where Higgins waited. Mitchell had also suggested at their last meeting that he consider remarrying a wealthy woman. But to marry for money wasn’t something he wanted to do. And even though he had met Rebecca and found her extremely desirable, he was hesitant to enter into a marriage with her just to save Oak Hill. He knew of marriages based on financial need, and they were rarely happy unions. He felt it was only right that Rebecca have love in
their
marriage.
The thought stopped him dead in his tracks, and he stared off into the distance as he thought about what he wanted.
When had he started thinking about marrying Rebecca?
“Where to sir?” Higgins asked.
Did he really want to marry her?
He’d married for love the first time, but losing his wife and child had left him cold. It had taken several years for him to even allow another woman to get close to him again. But Rebecca had. He’d realized that whole-heartedly when he’d kissed her. She’d been so soft and trusting in his arms.
He felt in time he could love her the way a husband should his wife. There was no question about it. This realization made him feel hope was within reach. Oak Hill could be saved and he wouldn’t have to compromise his principle to do it.
“Mr. Hollingsworth?” Higgins called again.
Hearing the concern in his driver’s voice, Jared looked up. “Wait here. I have another errand to run.”
“Certainly, sir.”
Jared turned and headed toward the Bakersfield Hotel. Rebecca hadn’t invited him, but his letter had said he would call within the week.
He straightened his waistcoat as he walked down the street imagining what he would say. That is, if she would accept his call. She must. He would not go away until he spoke to her. He needed to know whether she had developed feelings for him or not before he spoke of marriage. He knew he was rushing this, but if he gave himself too much time to think he’d back out.