Tracie Peterson & Judith Miller - [Lights of Lowell 01] (42 page)

Across the room, Spencer whimpered, and Kiara hurried to the cradle and lifted him into her arms. ‘‘Is he hungry?’’

Jasmine nodded and took the baby, gently putting him to her breast. ‘‘You know, Paddy had several people looking out for his welfare. Papa related that Matthew Cheever had approached him, offering to buy Paddy’s papers on behalf of a dear friend. At quite a profit, I might add,’’ she said with a smile. ‘‘Once my father explained the final arrangements he was making with Grandmother, Mr. Cheever acknowledged the boy would be safe with her and he did not pursue the matter further.’’

‘‘ ’Twas Rogan at the heart of that,’’ Kiara whispered, her love for him doubling as she grasped the depth of his kindness.

‘‘Rogan?’’

Kiara’s cheeks grew hot with embarrassment. ‘‘Rogan Sheehan, Bridgett’s cousin from the Acre. He works for Liam Donohue. He knew of my plight and said he would be helpin’ find a way to save Paddy. He told me to pray, but I grew angry and told him I did na trust him or God to take care of Paddy. Rogan said Mr. Donohue was a friend of Mr. Cheever and he might help, but I did na think anyone would help. But I was wrong. Look how many people were tryin’ to help me and Paddy. It seems God does care about us after all.’’

Jasmine smiled at her friend. ‘‘You know, Kiara, God has always cared about you and Paddy. If you’d only stop being afraid to believe others love you, you might find yourself truly blessed and even happy.’’

Kiara gave her a lopsided grin. ‘‘You’re likely right, Missus— maybe that’s already true.’’ Kiara gave her a thoughtful glance. ‘‘But I still do na understand how ya happened to be in the barn that day.’’

‘‘Early that morning, I went into Bradley’s study, and what I saw made me believe he’d been up late into the night transferring figures. He had a new ledger, not the one I’d seen him use in the past, and the ink was still wet on the last page. That in itself might not have persuaded me, but the entries were for the months prior—all obviously entered that evening. I knew he was to have a meeting with my father to go over the accounts later that morning. I feared he was stealing money from my father and the other cotton producers in Mississippi and Louisiana. But I knew I wouldn’t be able to prove what Bradley had done because I didn’t have the original ledger book, so I closed the new book, knowing the pages would smudge and stick together.’’

Kiara looked unconvinced. ‘‘He could have told yar father he fergot to blot the pages and that would have been the end of it. I do na understand.’’

‘‘If the pages were smudged in several places, it showed he had entered the figures all at one time rather than a few entries at a time, as would be normal.’’

Kiara’s eyes sparkled and she nodded her head. ‘‘Oh, I see!

Ya’re quite the clever one, ain’t ya?’’

‘‘I’m not pleased I had to resort to such tactics, but I knew something must be done to make Bradley come to his senses. I went to my father and explained Bradley was making false entries in the ledger. We agreed it was time for Bradley to admit what he’d been doing. My father was willing to work with him to resolve any misappropriation of money, still wanting to believe Bradley was merely under stress from being overworked. They met as planned, and my father slipped away for a cigar, knowing Bradley would discover the final pages were smeared and stuck together.’’

‘‘So yar father was off to get a cigar, knowin’ Mr. Houston would have to make a decision as to how he was going to handle his lyin’ and stealin.’ ’’ ‘‘Exactly. However, we thought he would beg Papa’s forgiveness and ask to pay back the money he’d stolen. When he stormed from the room without showing my father the final pages, we knew he’d sneak from the house at the first possible opportunity. Papa immediately went to the barn to hide and wait for Bradley.’’

‘‘And you, ma’am, where did
you
go?’’

‘‘I feared Bradley might grow violent when my father confronted him. So I went upstairs to get Bradley’s pistol.’’

‘‘I think I know the rest,’’ Kiara said. ‘‘I’m truly sorry for all that’s happened. My guilt is deep. Had I never come to this place, yar babe would still have a father and ya’d not be a widow, but I want ya to believe I never wanted nothin’ bad to come yar way. I tried to stop him, but I could na. I’m beggin’ yar forgiveness, fer ya have been nothin’ but good to me.’’

‘‘Oh, Kiara, you owe me no apology,’’ Jasmine said, pulling the girl into an embrace. ‘‘If it will make you feel better to hear me say I forgive you, then know that for any perceived wrong you believe you’ve done, I give you my forgiveness. However, I know you were an innocent victim, and I believe you would never intentionally hurt me.’’

Kiara pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and wiped her eyes. Jasmine’s forgiveness lifted her burden of guilt, yet she knew that it was God’s forgiveness she truly wanted and needed—not for the things Bradley had done to her, for those reprehensible acts were not of her making. The visits he had made to her bed were his sin, not hers, and she knew she’d not face God’s retribution for Bradley Houston’s ugly deeds.

But she had hardened her heart against God. Even when Jasmine had read Bible verses to her, she’d turned away, not wanting to hear the truth of what God would tell her.

‘‘Please don’t cry, Kiara. All is forgiven and you’re going to be fine,’’ Jasmine said, obviously confused that Kiara’s tears had not yet subsided.

‘‘I’m thinkin’ I’d like to be askin’ God’s forgiveness fer turning away from Him. Would ya be willin’ to pray with me?’’

Jasmine grasped Kiara’s hands firmly in her own. ‘‘Nothing would please me more, dear friend.’’

‘‘Kiara, could you come to the parlor? I need some help with Spencer,’’ Jasmine called.

Kiara hurried down the hallway while wiping her hands on the tail of her worn cotton apron, wondering what possible help Jasmine might need with the wee babe. She stopped short when she reached the parlor doorway. Rogan and Paddy were seated side by side on the settee, and Alice Wainwright was settled in the sewing rocker. Jasmine was holding Spencer, while Nolan Houston sat opposite her.

Seeing all of them gathered together caused her to clutch the hem of her apron all the more tightly. ‘‘What’s all this about?’’ Her voice warbled unrecognizably in her own ears.

‘‘I sent Paddy to fetch Rogan. I thought he should be here for this gathering,’’ Jasmine replied. ‘‘Come sit down and join us.’’ She patted the cushion of a nearby chair.

Kiara’s gaze darted from person to person as she made her way to the chair. They all smiled at her, yet she wasn’t completely sure she could trust their smiles. There was an ominous feel to such an odd grouping of people. ‘‘And why are we all here?’’ she asked.

Jasmine handed the baby to Alice and retrieved several sheets of paper from the mahogany side table. ‘‘This is your contract of servitude,’’ she said, showing it to Kiara.

‘‘Aye. That it is.’’

‘‘And this is Paddy’s, given to me by my father,’’ Jasmine added.

‘‘I see,’’ Kiara said, but in truth she did not.

Jasmine walked to the fireplace and threw the papers into the crackling fire. Kiara watched in awe as the flames licked up around the white pages, charring them as black as night. The fire snapped and ebbed as the burnt paper quickly turned to an ashy residue.

‘‘You’re free to go wherever you choose. Nobody owns you; nobody can hold you against your will ever again,’’ Jasmine said.

‘‘But I want you to know that it’s my hope that you and Paddy will stay here with me for a time. Grandmother has agreed to move in with me, but if you and Paddy are of a mind to make a decent wage, we could certainly use your help.’’

Kiara stared at Jasmine, unable to say a word. The woman’s kindness had rendered her completely speechless.

‘‘Can we stay, Kiara? Can we?’’ Paddy asked excitedly as he jumped up from the settee and danced about in front of her as though he’d been attacked by a colony of red ants. ‘‘Ya know I do na want to leave the horses. Ya do know that, don’t ya?’’

‘‘I can na even think with you hoppin’ from foot to foot in front of me, Padraig. Sit yarself down. I do na know how to thank ya for what ya’re doing fer us, ma’am. As fer stayin’ and helpin’ ya . . .’’

Rogan got up and stood before Kiara. ‘‘Before ya go makin’ any rash decisions, lass, I’ve got somethin’ to say in this matter. Ya know I’m in love with ya, lass, and I’m wantin’ ta make ya my wife. Will ya marry me, Kiara O’Neill?’’

Tears rolled freely down Kiara’s cheeks as she nodded her head vigorously.

Rogan lifted her hand to his lips. ‘‘I do na have a ring ta give ya just yet, but I hope ya know my heart is full of love fer ya,’’ he said. ‘‘I hope ya’re not angry with me, Mrs. Houston.’’

Jasmine gave him a broad smile. ‘‘I had Paddy bring you here because I knew of your feelings for Kiara. I would never deny her the joy of finding true love. I’ve no doubt you make a fine wage working for Liam Donohue, but it’s still my hope that Kiara and Paddy will make their home with me until you wed. I was even thinking that perhaps the three of you might be comfortable in the small caretaker’s house until you decide where you might want to eventually settle.’’

Paddy moved close to Rogan’s side. ‘‘I told her ya loved Kiara and wanted to buy a big farm out West when ya saved enough money.’’

Rogan tousled the boy’s mop of black curls. ‘‘Aye, ’tis true enough.’’

‘‘If we stayed here, I could help with the housework and the babe while we saved our money to buy a farm,’’ Kiara said. ‘‘Do ya think that would work?’’ She searched Rogan’s eyes for any sign of objection.

‘‘I think ya may have a good idea, lass. One that would work well for all of us.’’

‘‘And I want you to keep making your lace, Kiara,’’ Alice said, holding up a piece of handwork from Kiara’s basket. ‘‘There are plenty of women who are willing to pay a good price for it.’’

‘‘I think we’ve got a plan, but perhaps it should be sealed with a kiss,’’ Rogan said, pulling Kiara to her feet. ‘‘If ya will excuse us, I think we’ll step outside fer a wee bit.’’

Paddy hurried to join them, but Alice quickly interceded.

‘‘I’m going to take Spencer up to the nursery for his mother. Why don’t you come along and help me, Paddy? Do you remember an Irish song you could sing to Spencer while I rock him to sleep?’’

‘‘Aye, that I do. Before the famine, me mum and Kiara sang all the time. I’ll sing him the lullaby Kiara used to sing to me.’’

‘‘And I’m certain he’ll enjoy every note,’’ Alice said while lifting the baby out of Jasmine’s arms. Paddy tagged along at her heels like a duckling following in parade formation.

‘‘Thank ya,’’ Kiara whispered to the older woman.

Alice winked and smiled. ‘‘Go on, now, before Rogan decides you’re not interested.’’

The fire burned low. Only Jasmine and Nolan remained in the room. ‘‘I understand you’ve been seeing Velma Buthorne. She’s a lovely young lady,’’ Jasmine observed.

‘‘Yes. She enjoys literature, and we have many acquaintances in common. I’m not certain she shares my strong abolition beliefs, but at least she voices a distaste for slavery.’’

‘‘Her father is a member of the Associates, is he not?’’

‘‘I understand he recently invested quite heavily in order to become a member of the group. Prior to that, he owned a small group of mills in New Hampshire, along with a small shipping business. He controlled much of his own operation. I would assume he grew weary of shouldering the entire burden and viewed an investment with the Associates as a way of remaining in a business he knew while increasing his stature and wealth.’’

‘‘Similar to Bradley,’’ she mused. ‘‘Of course, Bradley was primarily enamored with the power he hoped would come his way once he became aligned with the Associates.’’

Resting his elbow on the arm of the chair, Nolan cupped his chin on one hand and looked at Jasmine. ‘‘I’m truly sorry for all the unhappiness you experienced in your marriage to Bradley.’’

‘‘Yet had it not been for my marriage to Bradley, I wouldn’t have Spencer, nor would I have developed a closer relationship to God. And my father and I have also learned some difficult lessons— he about his priorities and I about forgiveness. So, you see, there is good that can come out of even the most difficult situations,’’ she said. ‘‘Of course, I must admit that while I was going through my trying circumstances, I didn’t see anything but the desperation of my situation. It took God’s strength to help me through each day, and now I can say I know I’ve become a better person because of all that’s occurred in my life.’’

Nolan’s eyes shone with admiration. ‘‘You’re an amazing woman, Jasmine. I’m hoping that once Spencer is a little older and your life has settled, you’ll give consideration to joining those of us who are growing bolder in our stand against slavery. I know your ability to work with the movement was thwarted by your marriage to Bradley as well as Spencer’s impending birth, but I also know when we visited Mississippi, your heart was heavy when you saw the conditions on your father’s plantation. And, as I told you, most plantations are even worse than The Willows.’’

‘‘I don’t know how much I’ll be able to help, but you know you can count on my support wherever and however I can be used, Nolan. Grandmother has remained active in the antislavery movement here in Lowell, and now I’ll be able to attend meetings with her once again. I’ve been told there’s an even stronger movement here in Lowell than I had thought, and that pleases me.’’

‘‘True. We’ve received both financial and verbal support, but it’s dedicated workers who are willing to accept the risk and actually help more of our brothers and sisters find their way to freedom that make us truly blessed.’’

Jasmine nodded. ‘‘Placing yourself or others in peril is always a difficult choice. Now that I have a son, I can certainly understand the dilemma. I would give little thought to placing myself in jeopardy, while I would give grave consideration to such a notion should Spencer become endangered.’’

Nolan pulled his chair closer. ‘‘I know this may be an awkward time, but there is another matter on which we must speak.’’

Jasmine raised a brow. ‘‘Pray speak of it, then.’’

Nolan took a deep breath. ‘‘It has come to my attention through our family solicitor that Bradley has left his holdings to me.’’