Ransom of Love (11 page)

“Oh, yes. But he didn’t find her in Texas. As he explained in his letter, young, single, unattached Christian girls are scarce out there. In fact, young, single, unattached girls of any kind are scarce out there. So you know what he did? He advertised for a mail order bride in several Eastern newspapers, and at this very moment, she’s on her way to Austin from Indianapolis, Indiana.”

“Dan, you’re joking!” Catherine said.

“No, Mama, I’m not. Her name is Betty Rhodes. She’s a farm girl … born and raised on a farm about ten miles east of Indianapolis.”

Zack swallowed a mouthful of mashed potatoes, then said, “Mail order bride, eh? Seems scary to me.”

“It would be for me,” said Catherine. “I can’t imagine leaving my home, wherever it was, and going out West to marry some man I had never met.”

“I sure couldn’t do it,” Angeline said.

“I remember when the mail order bride system started back in 1849,” said Catherine, “when the big gold rush hit California. I’ve really never heard how successful it has been.”

Zack had some hot coffee and set the cup in its saucer. “I’m wondering about this situation with Bill and the girl from Indiana. How could the mail order bride system possibly work for Christians?”

“I heard some Christian girls at school talking about it just last week, Pa,” said Angeline. “One of them knows of a Christian young woman in Augusta, Georgia, who answered one of those mail order bride ads from a Christian man in Wyoming, and he had stipulated in the ad that he wanted a born-again woman. After she sent her reply, she got a letter from him. He explained in detail what he meant by born-again, using Scripture. He asked for her testimony, and when he received it, he wrote back and asked her to come to Wyoming with the prospect of becoming his wife. She went to him, they married, and have been happy ever since.”

“Knowing Bill,” said Dan, “I’m sure he put something like that in his ads. You know how close he walks to the Lord.”

Angeline set adoring eyes on her big brother. “Dan, if you go to Texas, I’ll miss you something terrible.”

“We all will, honey,” Zack said. “But your mother and I want him to go out West only if it is God’s will. And the way he’s feeling about it … it just may be exactly what the Lord wants him to do.”

“That’s how I’m thinking, Pa,” Dan said.

Zack smiled at his eldest son. “If the Lord leads you to do it, your mother and I will dip into your share of your inheritance and give you the money so you will have the proper start in the cattle business out there … in Texas, or wherever. We want you to be a real success in it.”

“Thank you, Dad. I’m so glad both of you feel that way.”

That same afternoon at the Moore plantation, Priscilla and Dorena were sitting on the back porch of the mansion. For some months
Priscilla had been teaching Dorena how to read and write. The lessons were an hour long, five days a week.

During this time the girls’ hearts became knit together in a special way, for it was Priscilla who had led Dorena to the Lord a week after Dorena became her slave. Shortly thereafter, Dorena’s parents had come to know the Lord. Priscilla and Dorena enjoyed each other’s company immensely, whether Dorena was doing her work for Priscilla or they were just doing things together.

This day was an especially warm one. The porch was shaded by huge oak trees, and once in a while a gentle breeze wafted over them. They sipped lemonade periodically to quench their thirst.

Priscilla had placed an English textbook in Dorena’s hands, and after the one-hour grammar lesson was over, Dorena closed the book and said, “Thank you so much for doing this for me, Miss—” She looked around to make sure they were alone. “I mean … Priscilla. Because of your tutoring me, I’m doing better and better at reading the Bible you gave me.”

“I’m glad, honey.” Priscilla picked up her pleated fan. She plied it briskly, stirring air to cool her warm face, and looked at Dorena with envy. Dorena was clad in a light cotton frock and was barefooted. Priscilla let her eyes trail down to her own dress with the many petticoats she was required to wear, along with cotton stockings and lace-up shoes.

Dorena’s cheeks dimpled in a grin, and she said teasingly, “There are some advantages to being a slave.”

Both girls broke into a giggle, then Priscilla said in a serious tone, “You are doing well in your studies. It won’t be long before you’ll be able to read and write as well as anybody, Dorena.”

As she spoke, Priscilla saw her brother moving past the porch.

When he laid eyes on them, he stopped and glared at Priscilla, waggled his head, and echoed in a mocking tone, “It won’t be long and you’ll be able to read and write as well as anybody, Dorena.”

Dorena felt her stomach muscles tighten.

“Leave us alone, Lewis,” Priscilla said.

Lewis scowled at her tone of voice and clamped his teeth together, then bounded up the porch steps, and said, “You’re wrong to be teachin’ her to read and write, Priscilla! If certain people found out, you’d be in real trouble! You know it’s against the law in South Carolina to teach Darkies to read and write! If the authorities found out, you’d be punished severely … maybe jailed! And for certain, they would take Dorena away from you!”

Lewis’s demeanor frightened Dorena. She trembled and ejected a tiny whimper.

Priscilla jutted her jaw stubbornly, fixing her brother with flashing eyes. “That law you’re referring to, Lewis, is a stupid one! Dorena is my slave, and I can help her become literate if I want to! It’s nobody else’s business! Dorena has the right to be able to read her Bible as much as any white person does!”

A dark flush moved swiftly up Lewis’s face. “You shouldn’t be so friendly with Dorena! You’re puttin’ yourself on a low level to fraternize with a slave like you do! Darkies are nothin’ but animals!”

Hot tears surfaced in Dorena’s eyes.

Priscilla shoved back her chair and took a step toward her brother and swung an open palm at his face.

Lewis deftly seized her wrist and squeezed down hard as he said, “Don’t you ever try that again!”

“Let go of me!” Priscilla leaned toward him in an attempt to ease the pain.

“What’s going on here?” Evelyn’s strained voice came from the back door of the mansion.

Releasing his grip on Priscilla’s wrist, Lewis met his mother’s gaze and said, “We were just havin’ a little disagreement.”

“About what?”

“He’s being his usual repugnant self, Mother,” Priscilla said. “He just called Negroes animals.”

Evelyn’s gaze ran to a teary-eyed Dorena, who was slumped and cowering in her chair. Turning back to Lewis, she said, “Lewis, you apologize to Dorena right now!”

Lewis gave his mother a defiant look, wheeled about, and stomped off the porch.

“Lewis! Don’t you turn your back on me!”

He ignored his mother and set fiery eyes on his sister. “You shouldn’t be teachin’ that black animal to read and write, Priscilla! I’ve got a good mind to report you to the authorities!” With that, he pivoted and stomped away.

“Lewis!” Evelyn screamed. “You leave it alone, do you hear me? Don’t you dare go to the law! Your sister has a right to teach her own slave anything she wants! Do you hear me?”

Lewis did not break his stride. Seconds later, he disappeared around the corner of the house.

Priscilla rushed to Dorena and wrapped her arms around her. Dorena sucked in a sob, feeling a hot drift of tears on her cheeks.

“I love you,” Priscilla said, squeezing her tight.

“I love you too … Miss Priscilla. I don’t want to be taken away from you!”

“I’m not going to let that happen. Nobody is going to take you away from me.”

“That’s right, honey,” Evelyn said, patting Dorena’s shoulder. “Don’t you worry. Master Charles will keep Lewis in line.”

Looking up at Evelyn through her tears, Dorena said, “Why does Master Lewis hate me and my people?”

“I don’t know. But don’t let him frighten you. Everything will be fine.”

Brushing tears from Dorena’s cheeks with her fingertips, Priscilla said, “I’m so sorry for Lewis’s cutting, untrue words. I don’t know what’s the matter with him, but don’t let what he said bother you.”

Dorena drew a shuddering breath and nodded. “I’ll be fine as long as you two and Master Charles love me.”

Evelyn bent over her and said, “Well, then, you’ll be fine. Because we do.” With that, she went back into the house.

Priscilla sat down at the table again, facing Dorena. “I’m so glad we have each other,” she said.

“I am, too. I … I hope we can still be close, even when we are adults.”

“I’m sure the day will come when we will have to part. I mean, when the young man God has for me comes along and I get married. For sure, we won’t live here on the plantation. We’ll have to live in our own home and live our own lives. But whether we live in Charleston or many miles away, you and I will still be together in our hearts.”

“But you will come and see your parents now and then, won’t you? Even if you live many miles from here?”

“Of course.”

“So we can see each other then.”

“Yes. And when the Lord brings His chosen young man into your life, you will marry him and be very happy. Of course, that young man will have to be a slave here on our plantation, and you will live in one of the cabins.”

“As long as it is on this plantation, I will be happy,” Dorena said. “Even if your brother does hate me.”

“Forget him, honey. Just think about the future and the happy life the Lord has planned for you with the man He has picked for you.”

Dorena smiled. “Isn’t it wonderful to know that as God’s children, He does plan our lives?”

“It sure is,” said Priscilla with a soft sigh.

Both girls grew quiet, and a faraway look captured their eyes as they thought about their futures. After a few minutes, Priscilla took hold of Dorena’s hand.

“Even though we both know that we will be separated by our cultures, and maybe by miles … let us both vow in our hearts that we will always have our special friendship.”

“Oh yes,” Dorena said. “Always.”

“Always,” Priscilla echoed. “Because we are true friends, time and circumstance cannot change our love for each other.”

“Never,” Dorena said softly.

Priscilla squeezed her best friend’s hand. “Never.”

There was silence between them for another brief moment, then Priscilla said, “I’ve thought about it a lot. The Lord will probably bring His chosen young man to me by putting him in our church.”

“I would think so,” said Dorena. “And the only way I can see the Lord bring His chosen young man for me into my life is for your father to purchase him as a slave.”

Priscilla smiled. “Unless he’s already here.”

Dorena shook her head. “Not from what I have to choose from at the moment. As you know, there are some boys my age, but only a few are Christians, and even then, they don’t interest me. They’re nice boys, but …”

“But not husband material?”

“For sure.”

“Well, then, the Lord will have to guide my father in his slave purchases and put that right young man on his heart. And He can certainly do that.”

“I know He can,” said Dorena, her eyes shining.

“Oh, honey! It will be wonderful to watch the Lord work in His marvelous way to accomplish His will in both of our lives.”

“Yes, it will. Dear Priscilla, I’m so glad you brought me to Jesus!”

“I’m glad I had that privilege,” Priscilla said. She rose from her chair and Dorena stood up too.

As the girls embraced, Priscilla said, “We’ll make every minute count before we grow up and get married.”

It was a bright, sunny Sunday in Charleston as the church services let out and the people emerged from the white frame building. They were rejoicing in the good number of people who walked the aisles to open their hearts to Jesus.

Charles Moore and Zack Johnson stood together talking, squinting against the harsh rays of the sun. Both Evelyn and Catherine held their lacy parasols to block the sun from their faces.

Zack Johnson noticed a middle-aged couple come out the door. He waved to them. To the Moores, he said, “Charles and Evelyn … have you met Darrell and Roberta Brown? They’re new in town.”

“We were in the line that greeted them when they joined the church a couple of weeks ago,” Charles said, “but other than that, we haven’t gotten to know them.”

Zack motioned to the Browns. When they stepped up, he formally introduced them to the Moores, explaining to Charles and Evelyn that the Browns had moved to Charleston from way up in Maine and were New Englanders by birth. They now owned and operated the Main Street Clothiers in downtown Charleston.

After a few comments about the contrast between Maine and South Carolina, the Moores excused themselves and headed for their carriage.

“Nice folks,” said Darrell Brown, watching Charles and Evelyn walk away.

“The best,” Zack said.

Catherine ran her gaze over their faces and said, “Darrell, Roberta, our cook has plenty of food on the stove at home. Would you honor us by having Sunday dinner with us?”

“We’d be delighted!” Darrell said. “We’ve never been on a plantation before. They don’t have them in Maine.”

The Johnsons laughed.

“We would love to see your plantation,” said Roberta.

“Tell you what,” Catherine said. “After dinner we can sit out on our shaded back porch and maybe catch a stray breeze.”

Roberta chuckled. “That will be better than being cooped up in our living quarters above the store!”

“Right, Mama,” Darrell said. Then to the Johnsons he said, “We’ll follow in our carriage.”

When they reached the parking lot, the Browns saw Dan, Angeline, and Alexander waiting in the Johnson carriage. Dan was already in the driver’s seat.

The Browns invited Angeline and Alexander to ride with them,
then both vehicles pulled out of the parking lot with the Johnson carriage in the lead.