Glory Over Everything (44 page)

“That nigra Belle always did think too high on herself, not wanting somebody like me!” he said, sneering. “Even said no to your daddy when he got on her, and he was the masta!”

“She had a right to say no!” I shouted.

“She was a nigra!” he growled. “And then she had you. Thought her yella baby was somethin' special, so I fixed her good! Took you away! Oh, the hootin' and hollerin' that woman did when I got hold a you.”

I dared not look Robert's way as he eased a pitchfork from the wall. Though Kitty screamed, I knew I had to keep Rankin's focus on me.

“So you took me?” I asked. “It was you who took me away from her?”

“Boy oh boy, you sure did make a fuss leavin' that mammy a yours.” He laughed. “You two sure did raise a stink!”

Robert grunted as he thrust the sharp tines of the pitchfork into Rankin's back. The gun flew, and Rankin yowled, twisting in pain. As he turned back for Robert, I used the knife to end Rankin's life.

Robert scooped Kitty up from the floor, then swayed and sank onto a sack of grain, but my strength grew to that of two men. I slung bags of feed aside and pushed Rankin's body into the soiled hiding spot that I knew well, then quickly stuffed it up again before I rushed us out to the waiting carriage.

The carriage door was flung open and we were not yet seated when the horses pulled out. Robert pushed past the frantic goat and dropped onto a seat, while I, clinging to Kitty, was saved from being thrown forward when someone clutched my jacket and pulled me back. “I got you, Mr. Burton,” Pan said, and I felt a swell of relief to know he was safe as I sank down beside him. The goat bleated, Kitty wailed, and our carriage raced ahead.

“Are you all right?” I asked Pan.

“I was scared for you and Kitty,” he said.

“We're safe now,” I said in an effort to comfort him.

“And thank heavens for that! What a relief to find you safe!”

I looked about in surprise. “Adelaide Spencer!” I said, recognizing her voice even in the dark. “Is that you?”

Before she had time to reply, another woman across from me reached out her arms. Her dark face looked out from under her traveling bonnet. “Mr. Burton, give me the chil'.” It was Hester!

“Be careful with her,” I said, my arms suddenly feeling lifeless as I handed her over. “I don't think she's been hurt, but she's been badly frightened.”

The carriage swayed and creaked, and the dark swamp flew by. The goat fought for footing and bleated mercilessly until she finally dropped onto the floor amid the feet and baggage. “Where are we?” I asked.

“By now we should be safely in Virginia,” Robert said, “but we will keep the pace for a good number of miles.”

“We picked you up at that hotel because it was at the border,” Addy broke in.

“Should a crime be committed by you in North Carolina, you cannot be arrested for it in Virginia,” Robert said pointedly. “Patrollers from North Carolina have no say in Virginia.”

“And where are we headed?” I asked.

“We're on our way to a tavern just past Suffolk, where we will rest and change out our horses. From there we will travel to a ferry that will take us across the James to Williamsburg.”

“Excellent!” I said, and sat back, trying to take in this turn of events. Was it possible that we had made it to safety?

“Shhh, shhh,” Hester crooned to Kitty. We all grew silent, soothed by her voice and the repetitious grinding and clanking of the carriage wheels. After the baby quieted, Hester spoke low. “Mr. Burton?”

“Yes, Hester?”

“Where Sukey?”

Pan, wedged next to me, stiffened.

“Hester, she's gone,” I said.

Hester turned and looked out into the night.

“But you are holding her daughter,” I offered.

“We go back a long way,” Hester said.

“She was a brave woman, Hester. She saved our lives.”

“She help a lot of others, too, but all she ever want is for her babies to go free.”

“Kitty will be raised free. I will see to it that she has every opportunity,” I promised.

“Who gon' care for her?” Hester asked.

“I will see to it,” I repeated. I leaned my head back and closed my eyes, meaning to quiet Hester. I needed some time to think. Now that I had reached safety, new worries began to bombard me. What awaited me in Williamsburg? And where was I to go from there? Without a home, I could provide nothing for Kitty and Pan, never mind my daughter. Images of my home in Philadelphia kept coming to me, and I felt sick with longing.

When Hester placed a sleeping Kitty in her basket, then settled herself for a rest, Pan did the same. Addy surprisingly took to the idea of sleep, bundling her green shawl to use as a pillow. Silence descended as we traveled on.

Only Robert and I remained awake. He stared out the dark window, and though I wanted to converse with him, I found myself at a loss for words. I was trying to formulate a plan for my future, and I wanted to make the right decisions for all concerned—not only the children but Robert as well. I had no home to offer Robert, and especially after the trauma of the last few months, I felt that the kindest thing I could do for this good man was to give him a substantial stipend and relieve him of his service to me. But right now I could not face that.

I leaned forward. “Robert,” I said softly.

“Sir?”

“Thank you. I don't know that I would have survived today without you. I'm sorry for the position I put you in.”

“We both knew the danger, and we need never speak of it again.”

“Thank you for coming for me, but was it wise to leave Williamsburg? Are you certain my daughter is well cared for?”

“Fear not.” He gave a quiet laugh. “As necessary as it was to come to your assistance, I would not have left if I hadn't been sure of her well-being. Your young Miss Caroline has quite stolen everyone's heart.”

“What does she look like, Robert?”

“My description would not do her justice. Her eyes are as blue as the sky.”

“Is her temperament that of her mother? Is she gentle?”

In the night light, I saw his smile. “You will not be disappointed,” he reassured me.

“And Williamsburg?” I asked. “What awaits me there? What is the mood?”

His smile left.

“Robert?” I asked again.

“It is welcoming enough, sir.”

“Yet?” I asked, hearing his hesitation.

“Yet I would prepare you for some controversy with regard to the guardianship of Miss Caroline.”

“Controversy? With whom?” I asked. “Have the grandparents . . .”

“No, no! It is the two women. Miss Meg and Miss Eleanor have both fallen under Miss Caroline's spell.”

“But they know that she is mine?”

“Well. Yes. However, I believe they've decided that she would be better raised with them, feeling they are more qualified to shelter and raise a young girl.”

“And they are prepared to voice this to me?”

“Yes, sir, I do believe so.”

“We shall see,” I said. “Surely they have other interests.”

“Indeed. They are taken up with their school.”

“And they seem equally invested in this venture?”

“They are, though I'm afraid their livelihood is in jeopardy.”

“In what way?”

“It seems they offered some evening classes to Negro children, and because of it, the school's enrollment has dropped off dramatically.”

“I see,” I said, understanding too well the full implication of their problem. “So it is not a town that would take to the likes of someone . . . like me.”

“No, sir, I do not think it would serve you well.”

Exhausted, I sat back and rubbed my face with my hands. I hadn't expected to make Williamsburg my home, but I had hoped that it might serve as a resting place for a few months. Again I thought of the comfortable home that the Burtons had gifted me, and my heart ached. “Oh, Robert,” I said, “what I wouldn't give to go home to Philadelphia!”

Robert nodded sympathetically, and we fell silent once again.

I
T WAS DAYBREAK
when we drew up to the small tavern where we were to change out our horses. We disembarked with great relief. During the last miles, Kitty had squalled from hunger while the goat bleated out her own distress.

Inside the tavern, after fresh milk was supplied for Kitty, the women were shown a room, while Robert as my valet and Pan as my servant accompanied me to a room of our own. There, Pan slept while I, in preparation for Williamsburg, was provided with the luxury of a hot bath. Later, as Robert shaved me, I asked how it was that he had known to come for me.

“I received a note from Mr. Spencer advising me that you and Pan were in jeopardy. I needed nothing more to arrange for a carriage.”

“So you traveled directly to the Spencers'?”

“Yes, and I waited there until Mr. Spencer and the others could plan your safe passage.”

“And what of Miss Adelaide? How was it that her father allowed her to accompany you?” I asked.

He shook his head with the memory. “Sir, I have never seen the likes of it. It is not in my place to judge the decision of a father, but Mr. Spencer did not appear to have a choice. On the day I was to leave, there she was, dressed and toting bags packed for travel. In spite of Mr. Spencer's objections, Miss Adelaide stepped into the carriage and refused to come out. As time was swiftly passing and your safety was tied up in it, her father was forced to include Hester before he would allow his daughter to leave. On our arrival in Williamsburg, they are to return home immediately with a male cousin.”

“Why did she insist on coming?” I asked.

“She was certain that she could ensure your safe passage by naming you as her tutor.”

I couldn't help but chuckle and shake my head, but Robert was not amused.

R
EFRESHED AFTER A
few hours' rest, I sent word to the driver to prepare for travel and then arranged for us to have a meal. When our small party convened in the lobby, Kitty, Hester, Pan, and Robert were taken to a back room where the Negroes ate, while Addy and I were shown into the dining area.

Though I had little appetite and was anxious to be on our way, Adelaide was no sooner seated than she removed her purple gloves and helped herself to a biscuit, one so hot and fresh that steam escaped when she tore it open. She slathered it with salted butter, topped it with a hearty slice of ham, added two thick slices of pickle, set it together, and passed it over to me. To please her, I took a bite, and she smiled as she prepared another for herself. As she ate, she gave a few soft moans of pleasure but said nothing else until she finished the loaded biscuit and drained an oversize mug of heavily sugared and creamed coffee.

“And now, Mr. Burton, I am pleased to say that I feel more myself,” she said, sitting back with a satisfied sigh. “Were you . . .” Her words faded as my thoughts traveled ahead to what awaited me in Williamsburg.

“Mr. Burton!” Her agitated voice broke through.

“Pardon me?” I said.

“I asked if you were not surprised to see me?” She sniffed.

“Oh! I was,” I said. “Indeed!”

“Well, if Father had his way, I would not have come. I don't know what he will have to say on my return,” she said.

“Then why did you insist on coming?” I asked.

“How could I not? They were saying such vile things about you! I decided you had need of my protection.”

“Your protection!”

“Father said that he could not leave Patricia and me alone again, so he could not come with Robert to vouch for you. Of course, the solution was quite simple. I would come along and pose as your student. If any authorities had questions, I would tell them you were my tutor. After all, that is the truth.” She smiled.

“And why would you do that for me?”

“A man who is willing to risk his life for the cause has nothing but my admiration.” She buttered another biscuit and drizzled honey over it before she handed it to me. “You'd best eat another,” she said.

I took the warm bread from her, wondering at her fire. “The truth is, Miss Adelaide, you know little about me.”

“Mr. Burton, I assure you, I know everything that is important. You are an admirable man who came to release that poor young boy from slavery. You upset that miserable man Bill Thomas, and he set out to destroy your good name, accusing you of heaven knows what. When he did not find you at our home, he hired others to bring you back so he might press charges against you for theft of his property. Because of it, your life was in danger.”

I shook my head. “I don't understand how your father could have allowed you to leave under such dangerous conditions.” I said it more to myself than to her.

“Father has no idea what to do with me. I believe you suggested that yourself.”

“But at your young age?” I said.

“I will be sixteen in two week's time,” she said.

I laughed. “Exactly! You are still a child!”

Her eyes flashed. “I am not a child,” she said. “I may be young, and my cousins accuse me of being naive, but I was willing to sacrifice my life for you and your young Pan!”

“Miss Adelaide,” I said with true remorse. “How could I be so thoughtless? Of course you are not a child. You are a young woman, and a most brave one at that. I shall never forget how you saved Pan's life.”

“And I came prepared to act as your protector as well!” she said.

“My dear, I assume that you planned to use your beauty as your weapon?” I asked, trying for levity.

“No, I planned to use this!” she said, opening and tipping forward her leather reticule to reveal a small pistol.

“Adelaide!” I said. “Where—”

“It was Mother's!” she said defensively. “Don't be so concerned. I am quite capable of using it. Goodness, I've known how to use a gun for years!”