On to Richmond (15 page)

             
“And I love you,” Thomas said fiercely.  “I’ve lost one of the two women in my life.  I’m not prepared to lose the other one.”

             
Carrie hugged him again and moved back to her place at the table.  It was better to deal with this now.  “I intend to return when the danger is past,” she said quietly.

             
Thomas opened his mouth as if to argue then shut it and simply shook his head.  “I know it’s no good to argue.  But I’m going to hold you to your promise,” he said hoarsely.  “You promised me that...”

             
“I would leave the plantation if it became too dangerous,” Carrie finished for him.  “You have my word, Father.”

“Can’t you go any faster, Sam?”  Carrie asked impatiently.

              “Ain’t never learned how to fly one ‘o these things like a bird, Miss Carrie.”  Sam’s voice was amused but kind.

             
Carrie groaned with exasperation but knew he was right.  There was no quick way to get the carriage through the mass of humanity thronging the streets that led to the railroad depot.  But she had to be there!  She had to at least catch a glimpse of Robert before he headed off to battle. 

             
Her father had told her Robert would leave from the station at 11:00.  She had left the house at 9:30 for what was usually a twenty-minute trip.  It was already after ten, and they had not yet even started up the long hill that was more than a mile from the station.  They had not moved an inch in more than ten minutes. 

             
Carrie bit her lip in frustration.  “I’m walking,” she announced and jumped from the carriage. 

             
Sam turned in protest.  “Your daddy ain’t gonna like dat, Miss Carrie.  He done told me - and you, too - dat this city done got right dangerous since so many people been pouring in.  Said it ain’t the same city you wandered around in before.”  He shook his head firmly, “No, sirreee!  I can’t let you be walking to the station.  You best be gettin’ back in this carriage.  I’ll get you there.  You see if I don’t.”

             
“I don’t plan on seeing that you don’t, Sam!  I’m sorry to upset you, but I simply have to be at the railroad station.”  She hadn’t told him why it was so important.

             
Sam’s eyes narrowed, and he stared at her intently.  “This got somethin’ to do with dat Mr. Borden?”

             
Carrie chose not to reply. 

             
Sam’s eyes softened with understanding and something akin to pity.   Sam knew what Robert had done that day to his slaves.   He knew no more letters came for her.  Struggling to control her sudden desire to cry, Carrie spoke abruptly.  “I’ll wait for you at the station.”

             
“Yes, ma’am.  You be careful.  I don’t want to have to face yo’ daddy if somethin’ done happen to you.” 

             
Carrie waved and began to walk up the steep hill.  It was impossible to move fast because of the crush of people, but at least she was moving.  Ducking her head, she wove in and out of the people as fast as she could. 

             
Suddenly she was bumped hard from behind and almost lost her balance.  Stumbling, she managed to grab onto a lamp post at the last moment and kept herself from falling.  Indignant, she whirled around to speak to whoever had been so rude.  Richmond may have changed, but surely there must be some limits.

She opened her mouth
, but before she could say anything, a well-dressed man of middle age, grabbed her arm and pulled her back.  “Let it be, ma’am.” 

             
Carrie stared up into his mild blue eyes and tried to yank her arm free.  “Did you see what he did?”

             
Just then voices caught her attention.

             
“What did you say, buddy?”  The voice was tight with anger. 

             
Carrie quickly scanned the crowd and located the speaker.  He was a young man, barely out of his teens, clad in the buckskin garb of the western Virginia mountains.  He had taken a defensive stance, his legs spread wide, his hands loose at his sides. 

             
An elegantly dressed man of similar age, with a haughty face and an expensive air about him, answered his question.  “I said I would rather be home than here fighting Virginia’s battle for her!”  His tone was both refined and hostile.  His accent identified him as a South Carolinian.

             
“I should say you have some nerve, rich boy!” the buckskin man retaliated coldly.  “It was you South Carolinians who started all this trouble.  Now it’s being left to Virginia to settle it for you.”

             
“You calling us cowards, mountain boy?”  The words were delivered with deadly quiet. 

             
Carrie gasped as the Carolinian reached for his waistline and pulled out a sharp knife. 

             
“You care to back up that fancy talk with some action, mountain boy?”

             
“Have it your way, rich boy!”  With a quick movement, the buckskin man produced his own wicked looking knife. 

             
Carrie slowly backed away, unable to take her eyes from the scene in front of her.  She had never seen such a thing happen in Richmond in broad daylight.  Oh, the city had its fair share of violence, but it didn’t usually happen during the day, and it certainly didn’t take place in the middle of a crowded street.  Angry men usually took their arguments to the dueling fields located on the outskirts of town. 

             
The two men began to circle cautiously, all other pedestrians giving them a wide berth.  Some stopped to stare and watch, but most pushed their way on by.  That fascinated and horrified Carrie even more than the fight.  Had Richmond actually become that immune to violence? 

             
Just as the buckskin man pulled back his arm, the fight was over. 

             
“That will be all, boys.”  A tall policeman appeared to tower over the two men.  “Y’all got some fighting to do, but it ain’t here in the streets of Richmond.  Where you two boys headed?”  His firm, no-nonsense voice did the job of cooling off the two men. 

             
The Carolinian was the first to speak.  “You’re right, officer.  I am due to ship out in less than an hour.  I was on my way to the station.”

             
The policeman scowled.  “I think you should be anywhere other than where you are right now.  Why aren’t you with your unit?”

             
Both men, without answering, edged away and melted into the crowd. 
              Shaking his head and muttering under his voice, the policeman continued on his rounds. 

             
Carrie stared after them and then turned to the kind man who had pulled her away and was still standing by her side.  “Thank you.”   Now that she had time for a good look, she was instantly drawn to this friendly looking man.  His warm blue eyes spoke of a deep capacity for caring.  He reminded her of her father. 

             
“You’re welcome, ma’am.  You need to be careful.  It’s not a real good idea for ladies to be roaming the streets alone right now.”

             
“Why, I’ve walked the streets of Richmond ever since I was a child,” she protested.

             
“Live her now?”  he asked keenly.

             
“I’m from a plantation east of the city,” Carrie admitted.

             
“You’ll find your city has changed a lot,” he observed wryly.  “Being the capital of a nation at war can do that.” 

             
Carrie stared at him.  “Does that happen often?”

             
“Fights?  Not as much now that the troops are on the front.  You got to give the boys a little break though.”  He hesitated and then answered her questioning look.  “These boys been pulled away from home, brought down here to drill and march till they drop, and now they’re being shipped off to fight.  A lot of them don’t really know what the war is all about, they’re just doing their patriotic duty and thinking it will all be over soon.”  The disdain in his voice was obvious, but the tone was still kind.

             
Carrie liked him even more.  “Who are you, sir?”  She astonished her own self at her directness, but suddenly it was important that she know who he was.

             
“Pastor Marcus Anthony,” he replied, bowing slightly. 

             
“You’re a pastor?”  Carrie asked in quick surprise.

             
“You’re surprised?” he asked in an amused tone.

             
Carrie struggled to recover.  “You just don’t...  I mean you don’t...”

             
“Look like one?  Thank you,” he replied with a smile. 

             
“No.  I mean, yes...”  Firmly Carrie pulled herself together.  “Excuse me for sounding like a school girl.  No, you don’t look like a pastor, but I find I like that.”  She forgot for a moment that she was in a hurry.  “I’m sorry for sounding so flustered.  I guess the recent encounter left me a little shaken.”  Suddenly she remembered why she had been hurrying up the sidewalk.  “Excuse me, Pastor Anthony, I must be going.”  Not waiting for a reply, she turned and continued her rapid stride, praying she still had time to make it. 

             
She had just arrived at the train station when she heard the band began to play.  Her father had told her that departing troops were sent off with great fanfare.  Not caring who glared at her, she edged and shoved her way to the front of the mass of people surrounding the platform.  She had just gotten situated when the first troops moved into sight. 

             
Carrie’s heart caught at the young faces, so serious above their smart gray uniforms.  Why, some of them were hardly more than boys!  Surely there mothers must be frantic with worry for them.   It was impossible not to see the determination and bravery shining in their eyes.  Many of them searched the crowd eagerly for a familiar face, smiling brightly and pulling their shoulders back even farther when they found one. 

             
“Halt!”  A strong voice rose above the crowd to direct the troops. 

             
Carrie recognized the voice at once.  Her eyes flew to the erect figure bringing up the rear of the column.  As his men clicked smartly to a standstill, Lieutenant Robert Borden strode to the front. 

             
Carrie’s heart beat faster as she looked at him.  His tall, muscular frame had taken on an erect military bearing.  Every line of his face was set with determination.  He had always been handsome.  Now he had become distinguished as well.  His dark eyes snapped as he reviewed his troops.

             
As the troops remained at attention, the band began to play again.  The crowd sang along as the familiar strains of “Dixie” filled the air.  The sense of pride and expectancy was a palpable thing all must feel and almost see.   Carrie could not help feeling it herself as she gazed at Robert.  That he believed in what he was doing, no one could doubt.  His eyes were filled with pride and courage as he looked out over the men he would be leading in battle. 

             
Battle!
  As the word surged to the front of her brain, Carrie was gripped with a sense of fear and urgency.  She looked around the crowd and noticed the tear-stained faces full of pride and love.  Families - come to see their loved ones off. 

             
“Go get them, old man!”  a strong voice sang out. 

             
As Carrie watched, Robert’s face lighted with a grin that twisted her heart.  Following his gaze, she saw another young man standing on the sidelines.  The familiar lines of his face said he could only be Robert’s brother, Abe.  She was glad he had someone there to see him off.  She resisted the impulse to call out to him.  

             
“All aboard!”