Northern Star (22 page)

Perry slept, curled in a ball, hardly moving all night. Just after dawn, Abram working with the horses awakened her. As she climbed over the hay she saw both Hunter and Abram dressed and ready to leave.

Abram spotted her first. “Mornin’, Miss Perry. Help yourself to some of the breakfast the farmer’s wife sent out.” He motioned with his head to a small basket propped on a post in the corner.

As Perry moved close to the basket the smell of coffee engulfed her. She discovered an old black pot sitting on the ground under the breakfast basket.

She poured herself some of the rich brew before examining the breakfast. To her delight she uncovered huge sourdough biscuits, still warm from the oven. Each one had been split in half and a piece of sausage added to the middle. As she bit into one she found to her surprise that the sausage had been dipped in honey.

As Perry savored each bite she heard Hunter laugh behind her. “Those are mighty good. After no supper last night I believe it’s the best breakfast I’ve ever had.”

He turned to Abram. “Maybe I should ask the farmer’s wife for the recipe. Jennifer could fix them for me after we’re married.”

Abram’s voice was low. “I doubt if Miss Jennifer even knows where the kitchen is.” Hunter didn’t see the frown on Abram’s face as he worked with the horses.

Hunter laughed. “You’re probably right, Abram. Come to think of it, all the years I’ve known her I can’t remember her ever cooking me anything.”

Moving over to pat one horse, he added, “The farmer said these were all he could spare. If Perry can make the long ride, the two of you can be in Philadelphia by late tonight.” He turned to stare at the top of her head. “If you like, you can wait here for a few days with me till the crew arrives. Then you can ride back in the wagon. I need to spread the balloon material out to dry so the threads won’t rot. The last thing we need, the next time up, is to have her start to come apart at the seams.”

“I can ride as long as need be,” Perry answered. If she rode with Abram, she could be at Molly’s late tonight. If she waited and traveled by wagon, it would be days before Abram could even return to pick them up.

“I thought you’d want to go.” Hunter turned to Abram and continued. “As soon as you reach the house, let the crew know where I am. They’ll be ready to start immediately, but you’ll need to sleep. So I’ll see you in three, maybe four days. There’s no need for you to return with the wagon. Stay in town. I’ll join you there.”

“Sounds good to me.” Abram gave one mighty nod of his head. “I’ll just get Miss Perry situated, then wait for you.”

“Have one of the men wait a few hours before leaving, so these horses can rest. Have him ride my horse out and lead these two back.”

Hunter handed Abram the reins to one horse. “I should be anxious to get back to Philadelphia and Jennifer, but I want to stay in this peaceful countryside a few days. I’ve got some thinking to do.” There was a sadness in his eyes. He was dealing with his own hell behind the calm manner he displayed.

Perry removed the horse’s reins from Hunter’s hand. He. seemed fascinated by her tiny hand, as one might watch a spider dancing along his web. Though her fingers were
dirty and covered with scabs of dried blood, he seemed to see beauty in her movement.

Hunter dug into his pocket. “You’ll need some money,” he said to her.

“No,” she answered firmly. “You have helped me enough.”

Realizing he’d hurt her pride, he added, “Perry, if you do need anything, please get in touch with me.”

“I’ll be fine. All I ask is that you tell no one you brought me here,” she whispered.

“You have my word.” Hunter helped her mount her horse. He looked into her face for a moment, then she turned away as always. She didn’t want him to see her bruised face, and she couldn’t look at his wonderful, expressive eyes without holding him once more in her arms.

Perry kicked her horse into motion. She could barely deal with her own pain, much less his. He must never see her again; he must never know of Wade and her. He would be married in a month and she would vanish from his memory soon. Perry knew his piercing gray eyes would haunt her forever. She knew that for the rest of her life he would be her standard for measuring other men.

Perry rode out of the barn, tears streaming down her face. She could hear Abram riding hard to catch her. As he maneuvered beside her, the horses began to move swiftly in unison.

Half an hour later, when Abram slowed his horse to a walk, Perry followed suit. He turned his sad face toward her but said nothing.

After a few minutes Perry’s question exploded from her. “Why is he going to marry a woman like Jennifer?” She didn’t expect an answer, she was just voicing her thoughts. The question had been in her mind ever since the night she’d seen Jennifer at the hospital.

Abram smiled, as if he knew she would ask. “They’ve known each other most of their lives. Seems everyone knows about Jennifer except Hunter. Nobody’s got the
nerve to tell him. She’s all sweet around him.” He hesitated, as if debating how much to tell Perry. “I’ve seen her other side many times over the years. Talk is, she’s had several lovers during the war. Her maid told me Jennifer loves to brag about them. Says she laughs about spending Hunter’s money after they’re married.”

Abram shook his head. “I never talk about folks, but somehow I felt you should know how it is between Hunter and Jennifer. I feel like you need to know the truth, not just what Hunter sees or what Jennifer plans. Honest, Miss Perry, I don’t know what to do to stop the wedding, short of kidnapping him. But I feel all the way to my bones that their marriage will be wrong.”

Perry’s mahogany eyes were brimming with tears. “You’ve got to think of something. Hunter needs someone who’ll love him. He needs a love that lasts a lifetime, like John Williams has with Mary.”

Abram understood her better than she did herself. He had watched the caring and love she bore for Hunter grow each time she looked at him. Somehow the key to the solution to his problem lay with Perry, and he aimed to unlock the secret.

After a brief silence Abram asked, “Did you tell Hunter anything other than that you were a girl?”

Perry shook her head. “It’s better that I didn’t. I don’t know if I could live if Wade and Hunter fought over me and something happened to Hunter.”

“You plan on disappearing so Wade will never find you?” Abram added sadly.

“Yes. I’ve got no one really to care about me, anyway. My grandfather called me by my mother’s name most of the time I was with him. My brother will have enough problems getting started again if he ever comes back from the war. I think Molly will welcome me. We’re about as different as two women can be, but we’re both alone, and that might just make it work.” Perry paused. “Abram, you must promise to tell no one where I am.”

Abram raised his hand, palm forward, in the air. “As before, you have my word. But I plan on keeping an eye on you, just in case you need me.”

Perry attempted a smile, and Abram thought that even through the bruises she still looked very much a lady to him. In unspoken agreement they increased their pace.

Hours passed endlessly, as did the miles. She was too tired to do more than grip the reins as they rode into Philadelphia. Just after entering town, Abram stopped at the back of a massive home and asked her to wait for him. He disappeared into a side door, half hidden in the garden. Men must have been waiting, for within seconds after Abram returned to Perry a crew of men burst from the house and hurried toward the stables. “That back entrance leads upstairs. The left door is mine, the right Hunter’s, if you ever need to find us fast.”

“I’ll be fine.” Perry tried to assure herself and him. She looked up at the darkened windows of the two rooms. Somehow it was comforting to know where Hunter lived.

Abram mounted without another word and signaled for her to follow. He led until they were near the hospital, then Perry pointed the way. No one paid any notice to a black man and ragged boy moving along the darkened streets. She remembered the direction to Molly’s house well as she encouraged her horse.

Within a few minutes they were at the side entrance of Molly’s garden. Perry allowed the tiredness she felt to show in her posture only a moment as she climbed down from her horse.

Abram held the mounts as she moved into Molly’s back gate. “I’ll wait here for ten minutes to make sure everything is fine. If your friend is home, there is no need to come tell me. If not, I’ll help you find somewhere to sleep.”

Perry whispered back, “I see her light, Abram. Thanks for all you’ve done. I know you’re exhausted. Go on, I’ll
be fine from here.” She touched Abram lightly on the arm, wishing there was some way she could repay him.

Walking silently up the blackened path, she prayed with each step that Molly would welcome her, for there was nowhere else for her to turn.

She rapped lightly on the kitchen door. A frightened voice yelled, “Go away, I say, or you’ll be dead!”

Perry realized her unexpected night visit must have frightened Molly. She shouted, “Molly, Molly, it’s me, Perry!”

Only moments passed before Perry heard the bolt being pulled back. The door swung wide as light poured out onto the path. Molly stood before Perry with her arms wide and tears flooding her face. “Come in, my little lady!” she shouted.

Hearing the familiar welcome in Molly’s words, Perry stepped through the doorway and into the warm kitchen. Both women were within inches of each other when they stopped, frozen. A blast from a rifle sounded in the silent night. Molly’s arms encircled Perry as both women fell to the floor.

Wade Williams paced the long porch in front of Perry’s grandfather’s house. Three days had passed since his ruined wedding. Three days and no answers. Wade had slept and eaten little, as had all the others around him. Deep lines carved his features, and a permanent frown spread across his thin lips.

When Wade first arrived at Three Oaks, he’d thought Perry’s disappearance was only a plot to stall him. Confidently he’d begun to search the house, assuring himself her ploy would only cause a few minutes delay. But his confidence faded as he widened his search to include the barn and fields beyond. His anger grew with each passing minute. He plowed through each room with Perry’s bewildered grandfather, a whimpering Noma following in his wake. Perry was spoiling his plans, not only for a wedding but also for owning Three Oaks. The longer he searched, the more he thought about how he’d make her pay.

Just after noon, Sarah, the black cook, came running from the creek, waving Perry’s muddy slippers above her head. Tears ran down her face as she heaved for air and climbed the last few feet to the porch.

Noma spotted her first and burst into tears, exclaiming everyone’s fears. “My baby! My baby’s drowned!” She
ran toward Sarah and both women wailed their pain as they hugged.

Wade had men search the creek for miles downstream. They found Perry’s tattered nightgown, but Wade continued to push them relentlessly to find her body. He wanted to see her, no matter how mangled and bloated her body.

Now, after three days, Wade had little hope. He tapped his leg restlessly with his riding whip. It was really too bad, he thought, that the silly girl couldn’t have done this a few months after they’d married. She’d destroyed his carefully made plans. Now he would have to reorganize. His goal to run this part of the state would be delayed by weeks, maybe even months.

Noma interrupted his thoughts as she stepped from the house. She was sick with grief, her face swollen from crying and her voice husky from yelling Perry’s name. Wade was finding her of less and less value to him, therefore his manner grew sharper at each meeting.

“Did you search the room again?” he barked.

“Yes, Mr. Wade. But as I told you twice before, there weren’t nothin’ missin’. I know all Miz Perry’s clothes, and only her nightgown and slippers is gone.” As Noma turned to point to the slippers and gown piled on a porch table, she burst into tears. “I don’t understand why my baby would go off like she did. It just weren’t in her to do a thing like kill herself. She always was a-fightin’ death, never headin’ toward it.”

Wade could stand no more of her whining. He shoved her back into the house and resumed his pacing. Noma was right about one thing. It just did not make sense. The question kept pounding in his brain—why would a girl with Perry’s spirit kill herself? Though everything pointed to suicide, Wade kept searching his mind for another answer. He would believe that she was dead only when he saw her body.

Reluctantly he decided to call off the search. He knew he had pushed all the people at Three Oaks to their limits.
They were a pathetic lot to begin with. He was sick of ordering them around. The old man had vanished into his study and into a bottle. Wade doubted if Perry’s grandfather would ever see the light of sanity or sobriety again.

Climbing onto his horse, Wade cursed the house and its inhabitants for spoiling his plans. He rode toward the Williams farm, plotting his next step. Luckily, few people knew of his engagement. After a reasonable time he could marry another—though no other woman bore Perry’s qualities. He whipped his horse in frustration.

Within a few hours Wade stood before John and Mary Williams. They’d been waiting for word of Perry. Wade was amazed at the depth of their grief when he told them Perry had drowned. John’s gray eyes were filled with sorrow as he held his crying wife in his arms.

“I’ve done everything I can to find the body. I guess it must have washed farther downriver by now,” Wade stated matter-of-factly. He paraded back and forth across the width of their porch. His boot heels tapped a rhythm to his bland voice. “With the rain, the stream was swift. She could be all the way to Cape Fear River by now.”

Mary stopped crying and looked up at her husband. “Oh, John, we were watching Hunter leave that morning. To think poor little Perry was drowning.” Mary was speaking to John and was unaware of Wade’s reaction to her mention of Hunter.

“Did Hunter see Perry while he was here?” Wade asked the obvious question, his lips drawn tight across a facade of calmness. Only small white marks around his mouth hinted at his frustration at the mention of Hunter’s name.