Carried Forward By Hope (30 page)

Carrie swallowed to keep from being sick when they passed whitened bones or hastily built graves that failed to cover remains.

“My God,” she finally whispered, turning to exchange a long look with her father.

Thomas’s face was white and drawn as the wagon rolled forward. “Virginia has been destroyed,” he said hoarsely.

Aunt Abby put a hand on his arm and gazed at him with sympathy. “And it can be rebuilt,” she said softly.

He turned to stare at her and only shook his head. “From this?” He looked around wildly. “This is too much. There is nothing left.”

“There are people,” Aunt Abby said firmly. “People built it in the first place. They will build it again.”

Carrie watched her father. He had changed his feelings about slavery, but she knew he was thinking about the reality that slave labor had built the South. What would happen now that there were no more slaves?

Aunt Abby read his thoughts as well. “People built it, Thomas,” she said. “Not slaves. People.”

Thomas turned his head to look at her.

“The freed slaves are people,” Aunt Abby said as she held his gaze. “This is their home too. They want to rebuild what it used to be. They just want to do it on their own terms. They want to do it as free people.”

Thomas turned his head toward the men riding with Captain Jones. “You’re some of Moses’s men,” he said.

“Yes, sir,” one replied, riding closer to the wagon. “I’m Simon.”

“June’s husband?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Are you one of the men who wants to work on the plantation?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Is Mrs. Livingston right?

“Yes, sir, Mr. Cromwell. The war has made a mess of things, but we all,” his hand swept to include the men riding with him, “want to help put it back together.”

“As free men.”

“Yes, sir,” Simon said firmly. “We want a chance to do what we know how to do while we take care of ourselves and our families.”

Thomas eyed him. “You know tobacco?”

“All of us do,” Simon replied. “We all come from tobacco plantations.” He lifted his head proudly. “We’re good,” he said confidently. “We can make Cromwell successful again.”

Thomas gazed at him for a long moment and then nodded. “Thank you,” he said simply. “I will pay you all I can, and then we’ll share in the profits.” He paused for a moment. “Captain Jones said you were just accompanying us to the plantation and then going back to the city.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Why? Why aren’t you staying if you’re planning to work?”

Simon hesitated. “Moses said he thought you would be more comfortable if he was there before we all came out. We plan on coming out when he gets back with his family.”

Thomas reached a quick decision. “You’ll have to return to the city to get your things, but I would like it if you would come back immediately. We’ve already lost enough planting time. I’ll be in charge of things until Moses gets back.” He turned to Captain Jones. “Is that okay with you, Captain?”

“Yes. The men know they are free to go. They have served their country well. More troops are coming in to Richmond to take their place in a couple days. They may leave then.”

Thomas nodded briskly. “I’m assuming all of you will bring your families?”

Simon looked at him. “With your permission, sir. At least until we have a chance to get some land of our own and build homes.”

“Of course.” Thomas thought for a moment. “The only lodging I have is down in the slave quarters,” he said apologetically.

“That will be just fine, Mr. Cromwell,” Simon responded. “We know it’s going to take a while for things to be anything close to normal. We’ll all figure things out as we move forward.”

“I’ll meet with you in a week and we’ll discuss wages,” Thomas continued. “That will give me enough time to figure costs for supplies and equipment. I have no idea what is left, or what is still usable.”

Simon nodded. “That will be fine,” he said easily.

“You’re being very trusting,” Thomas said suddenly.

Simon smiled. “You’re Carrie’s daddy,” he said simply.

Thomas took a deep breath and looked at Carrie. “And once again my daughter paves the way for me,” he murmured.

Carrie shook her head. “You have paved your own road, Father.”

“She’s right,” Aunt Abby added. “There are many plantation owners in the South who are going to fight all the changes. You are doing your best to adapt to them and be fair to everyone.” Her voice was thick with admiration.

“We’ve got a long road ahead of us,” Thomas said heavily. “Even if the plantation is in good shape, the Southern economy is terrible. We can grow crops, but we have to find buyers and we also have to find ways to transport it. Entire railroad systems have been destroyed.” He took a deep breath and straightened his shoulders. “But it will be enough,” he said firmly. “We will work with what we have and it will be
enough
.”

Carrie smiled brightly when his eyes met hers. Love pulsed through her as she gazed at the man who was her father. She didn’t believe she had ever been more proud of him than she was right that minute.

******

Silence fell on the group once more as they continued.

Carrie watched Robert carefully. The road was as deeply rutted as she feared it would be, but he seemed to be oblivious. He had not opened his eyes once the entire time they had been traveling. She didn’t know if he was sleeping, unconscious, or simply not willing to open his eyes, but there was nothing she could do about it now. She had made the decision to take him to the plantation. Now they just had to get him there.

The destruction was tearing at her, but it was the men they passed on the way that left her truly brokenhearted. The road was full of thin, blank-eyed men walking slowly, many of them with crutches or canes. Some still had bandages wrapped around their heads. They were missing arms and legs — more evidence of the consequences of the last four years. She wanted to stop and help each one, but she knew that wasn’t possible.

She also knew that what they really needed was something she couldn’t give them. They needed hope. She winced as she wondered how many of them suffered from the same nightmares Robert did. She wondered how many had nothing to return to.

“They rip your heart out,” Captain Jones said quietly.

Carrie turned, appreciating the sincere sympathy in his eyes. He had fought hard for the North, but now that the war was over he had chosen compassion. “Yes, they do,” she agreed. “I want to help them.”

“How?”

“I don’t know,” Carrie admitted. “These men need medical help. There are so many of them. I don’t know how they are going to get treatment, especially when they get back out on their farms.” She frowned. “I’m afraid many of them are going to die from their wounds. The fighting may be over, but they will carry these injuries for the rest of their life.”

“We have the same situation in the North,” Captain Jones said, but then he hesitated. “But not the same,” he acknowledged slowly.

Carrie shook her head. “No, not the same. The North has resources to help them. I’m afraid these men are going to be just another casualty of a war that should never have been fought.” Tears filled her eyes. “I’ll find a way to help them,” she murmured, forgetting for a moment that Captain Jones was beside her. “I will find a way…”

“If anyone can, it will be you, Mrs. Borden.”

Carrie turned her eyes to another group of hopeless-looking men huddled on the side of the road.
Yes, she would find a way to help them
.

She turned to the wagon. “Does anyone know what is happening with Chimborazo now?” she asked. “The last I knew, it was being used to treat Union soldiers.” The remaining Confederate soldiers had been moved to other hospitals in the city. Surely, all those men would soon be returning home. Couldn’t the hospital be used to treat veterans who still had life-threatening injuries and illness?

“Yessum,” Eddie replied. “I heard tell they’s gonna turn it into a school.”

Carrie stared at him, envisioning the acres of buildings and white tents. “A school?”

“Yessum,” he said eagerly. “I hear they’s gonna make it a school for all the freed slaves so’s they can learn how to read and write.”

“That’s wonderful!” Rose exclaimed, her eyes as bright as her smile.

“Yes, it is,” Carrie agreed, but her mind was still racing to figure out a way to help. She couldn’t be a doctor yet, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t help. She just had to come up with a way.

“You’ll figure it out,” Captain Jones said.

“Excuse me?” Carrie asked.

“You’re figuring out a way to help those men,” he said quietly. “If you really want to, you’ll come up with a way.”

Carrie smiled, touched by his sensitivity. “Thank you,” she said softly. “I don’t know that I’ve ever really thanked you adequately.”

“For?”

“Saving our plantation,” she said quietly. “I know your orders were to destroy it. Why didn’t you?”

Captain Jones looked uncomfortable. “I couldn’t,” he finally said. “The image of you jumping that fence on Granite…I’d never seen such courage. You reminded me so much of my sister. I knew that someone else might come through and destroy it, but it wasn’t going to be me.”

“I heard your men that night when I was hiding in the woods. You took a big risk of losing their respect.”

Captain Jones shrugged and grinned slightly. “What’s the good of leadership if you don’t get to call the shots sometimes?” His voice grew more serious. “Our goal was to win the war, not just randomly destroy things because we could. I tried my best not to lose sight of the fact we were still countrymen and would someday have to work together to rebuild what we were fighting over.”

“The reason you’re coming out here with us now,” Carrie observed.

“It’s the right thing to do.”

“We’re almost there!” Rose cried.

Carrie’s head jerked up. She’d been so intent on watching the men, and then on her conversation with Captain Jones, that she had lost track of where they were. She caught her breath when they passed the very same hidden trail she had used to escape the plantation three years earlier. Her heart pounded as they turned down the drive between the brick pillars that were miraculously still in place. Captain Jones had sent out a unit a month ago to ensure the house was still standing, but what if something had happened since then? Just because the war was over didn’t mean the destruction had stopped.

A quick glance at her father’s tense face told her they were sharing the same thoughts.

Granite snorted and began to dance lightly down the drive. Carrie couldn’t hold on to her fearful thoughts in the face of his obvious joy. “We’re almost home, boy,” she laughed. “You can feel it, can’t you?”

Granite snorted again and bobbed his head.

Everyone laughed, but the wagon quickly grew silent as they all stared ahead.

Carrie held her breath as they reached the final curve and rounded it.

A joyous laugh bubbled in Carrie’s throat as the familiar house rose up before them. “It’s still here!” she cried. “We’re home!”

Thomas’s laughter mingled with hers as he stared at the three-story mansion. It had a soft air of neglect. Its once-gleaming white paint no longer gleamed, but its columns still spoke of strength and pride. He could tell, even from a distance, that the windows were sparkling and clean, sending back shafts of the dying sun as it sank toward the horizon.

“Oh, Carrie…” Aunt Abby murmured. “I expected it to be beautiful, but I didn’t anticipate it would be so magnificent.”

Rose stared at the house with wide eyes. “I didn’t know how I would feel about coming back after so many years.”

Carrie knew she was remembering the years of slavery, the death of her mother, and the fear of their escape. “It’s your home now,” she said softly. “For however long you and Moses want it to be.”

“So many memories,” Rose murmured. She smiled brightly. “It’s good to be back. It’s as beautiful as I remembered.”

“My goodness!” June exclaimed. “I’ve seen some plantations in my days as a slave, but I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a place like this one.” Her voice reflected her overwhelmed eyes.

The only two in the wagon that remained silent were Eddie and Susie. Their eyes were locked on the house, their faces tight with anticipation.

Carrie understood. Would Opal and the rest of their family still be there? She had no way of knowing. She wanted to race ahead on Granite, but she held back, wanting to share the homecoming with her father. Suddenly the door opened and someone stepped out on the porch, shading their eyes to see who was coming. Carrie’s face exploded with a smile and she cried out the exact same time as Rose did.

“Sam! Sam!”

The figure moved slowly to the edge of the porch and peered harder.

Carrie couldn’t stand it. She released Granite into a gallop and covered the last hundred yards in moments. “Sam!”

The old man, his ebony face lined and weathered, his eyes still sharp, straightened his bent body as his face wreathed into a broad smile. “Carrie girl? That be you for real, Carrie girl?”

Carrie laughed, vaulted off Granite and raced up the stairs into the arms he held out. “You’re safe!” she cried. “You’re still here! I was so afraid you would be gone.”

Sam shook his head. “I done told you I’s be here when you got back,” he said simply as he patted her shoulder. “Who else be with you?” he asked.

Carrie realized his elderly eyes couldn’t see as far as they used to. “Come see for yourself!” she said excitedly, taking his elbow and helping him down the stairs, a little alarmed when he didn’t insist he could do it himself. Sam had indeed gotten older.

Rose was the first out of the wagon when it pulled to a stop. “Sam!”

Sam made no attempt to hide the tears in his eyes as he caught her close. After a long moment, he held her away to stare down into her eyes. “Rose girl?” he whispered. “I’d given up hope of ever seeing you again.” He pulled her back into a tight embrace, looked over her shoulder, and suddenly stiffened to attention and pushed her away gently. “Welcome home, Master Cromwell,” he said gravely.

Thomas smiled and leapt from the wagon. “Hello, Sam.” He reached out to shake his hand.

Sam stared at it for a long moment before he slowly reached out and shook it firmly, an odd look on his face. “Never shook hands with a white man before,” he said slowly.

“Things have changed,” Thomas said. “You are now a free man. Please call me Mr. Cromwell. I find I never want someone to call me master again.”

“Yes sir,” Sam agreed faintly. “That mights take a bit of gettin’ used to,” he murmured, his eyes shining with pride. “I’s real glad you be home, Mr. Cromwell,” he said firmly. “We done took real good care of eberthin’.”

Thomas nodded. “I’m sure you have, Sam.”

Susie stepped forward. “Hello, Sam.”

Sam’s smile, if possible, grew even wider. “Susie! What…?” He looked over her shoulder and stopped talking, his face twisted with emotion. “Is that…?”

Susie nodded and reached behind her to pull Eddie forward. “Sam, this is my father, Eddie.”

Sam stared at him. “For real? You for real be Eddie?”
     Eddie nodded, his eyes staring past Sam up to the house. “Are they still here, Sam? My kids? Opal? Are they still here?”

Sam opened his mouth to answer just as the door swung open.

“What in the world is going on out—” The question dropped away as Opal stared out at the group on the porch. “Good Lawd!” she screamed as she stepped out. The first person her eyes lighted on was Eddie. Her hands flew up to grab her mouth, and then slipped away as she screamed again. “Eddie! Eddie!” She launched herself forward and wrapped him in her arms. “You’re alive! You’re alive!”

Eddie was laughing as he nodded his head, his thin face lit with joy. Then he stepped back. “Opal…my kids?”

Opal saw Susie, laughed even harder, and reached her hand out to her. Holding both of them tightly she said, “I hope y’all won’t mind if I take care of somethin’ real important right now.”

Carrie, a beaming smile on her face, nodded. “Go find those kids,” she insisted.

Moments later, shrieks coming from behind the house confirmed Eddie and Susie had indeed found Carl, Amber, and Sadie.

“I don’t believe I’ve ever experienced a more satisfying homecoming,” Aunt Abby said, emotion thickening her voice.

Sam raised his eyebrows as he looked at Carrie. “And this must be your Aunt Abby,” he said.

Carrie stared at him. “How could you know that?”

“You done tole me she be the kindest person you ever knew. Them eyes are the kindest eyes I eber did see. Couldn’t be nobody else,” he said simply as he reached out to take the hand Aunt Abby had extended to him. “Welcome to Cromwell Plantation, Aunt Abby.”

Rose laughed with Carrie. “And now you know why we couldn’t ever get away with anything when we were growing up here,” she said playfully.

Sam snorted. “You two girls got away with more den a body had a right to!” His eyes glowed with love and pride. “It does my heart good to see you back together again.”

His eyes lit on June. “Anybody gonna tell me who this pretty girl be? And these two fine young’uns peering over the wagon?”

Rose smiled. “This is Moses’s sister June and her son, Simon.” Then she nodded her head to the soldiers with Captain Jones. “And that fella who is almost as big as Moses is her husband, Simon.”

Sam shouted with joy! “Moses done found them!” he hollered. “He came through here on his way, but I neber did hear what happened.”

June smiled. “He found us, Sam. It’s a joy to meet you.”

Simon swung off his horse and shook Sam’s hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Sam.”

Sam eyed all the soldiers. “Somethin’ I should know?” Then his eyes widened as he stared at Captain Jones. “Ain’t you…” he asked, his face instantly becoming suspicious.

Captain Jones swung down from his horse so he could look Sam in the eye. “Yes, Sam, I’m the same man who came to the plantation at the beginning of the war.”

“The same man who did
not
destroy it,” Carrie said firmly. “He is a friend, Sam. He and some of Moses’s old unit rode out with us to make sure we stayed safe. All of these men are going to be working on the plantation to bring it back to life. We’re home, Sam!”

“Good Lawd,” Sam finally managed. “I done had me some happy days in my life, but I don’t reckon none of them match up to this one.” Sam’s grin faltered as he looked over at little John peering over the wagon. He turned and stared hard at Rose. “Rose girl?”

Rose nodded, her face glowing. “This is John, Sam. We named him for my daddy.”

Sam had tears streaming down his face when he stepped forward and took John’s hand with something akin to reverence. “Hello, John,” he said gently.

“Hello, Sam,” John lisped, his eyes watching him solemnly. “Mama told me about you.”

Sam laughed. “Well, you just wait, because I got stories to tell on your mama,” he announced.

Rose groaned and rolled her eyes.

Sam turned to Rose and took her hands. “My Rose girl is a mama,” he murmured. “Your mama would be so proud.”

Rose smiled and glanced in the direction of Sarah’s grave. “I believe she is,” she answered softly.

Just then Opal and Eddie came around the house with the four kids in tow, all of them laughing and talking.

Opal stepped forward. “I don’t have food for everyone, but Eddie tells me you have baskets in the wagon.”

“Enough for an army,” Carrie declared.

“Well, I just pulled a whole bunch of rhubarb pies out of the stove.”

Eddie grinned. “Opal makes the best pies in the world!” he declared.

“I’m glad May isn’t around to hear you say that,” Jeremy replied teasingly.

Carrie grinned, her heart almost bursting with happiness. “Opal, we’ll help you put everything out on the table inside,” she said. “We’ll just have a huge buffet for everyone.” She looked at Captain Jones. “Will you please bring Robert inside? I’ll show you where to put him, and then we would like all of you to join us for some supper.”

Sam frowned and stepped closer to the wagon. “I’s didn’t even see Mr. Robert in there.” He turned back and looked at Carrie, his eyes troubled. “What be wrong with him?”

“Nothing being back on the plantation won’t take care of,” Carrie said firmly. She’d been dismayed that he’d not opened his eyes once during the reunion, but she was determined to hold on to her belief that being on Cromwell would restore him to her. “I’ll tell you more about it later. Is the blue room available?”

When Sam nodded, she led the way into the house as the men carrying the stretcher followed her.

******

Aunt Abby found Rose in the backyard staring off into the woods. “Rose?” she asked quietly.

Rose turned to smile at her, but her eyes were far away. She said nothing as she slipped an arm around Aunt Abby’s waist.

They stood that way for a long time, simply breathing in the soft air of a late spring afternoon. Pink and white dogwoods bloomed profusely, while purple lilacs perfumed the air. Happy chatter wafted out through the open windows of the house that seemed to glow with joy now that its family had returned.

Aunt Abby smiled as Granite played and cavorted in the pasture, his head and tail lifted high. “That is one happy horse,” she said, her eyes shining with pleasure.

Rose nodded. “It’s been years since he’s been free of a stall or corral.”

“Or not being shot at,” Aunt Abby said reflectively. She took a deep breath. “It’s hard to believe there was a war when you’re out here.”

Rose nodded. “It’s a miracle it survived.” She frowned. “Edmund Ruffin wasn’t so fortunate.”

Aunt Abby strained to remember where she had heard that name. “He was rather a rabid secessionist, wasn’t he?”

Rose nodded. “Yes. He was also a brilliant agriculturalist. His discovery of marl as a fertilizer saved the tobacco farms in this region.” She frowned. “His plantation was completely destroyed. They even salted his fields so he couldn’t farm again.”

“Oh my,” Aunt Abby murmured. “How could it possibly do any good to destroy someone? No matter what he has done…”

“I’m sure the Union soldiers would call it justice,” Rose said ruefully. “The only thing I’m sure of is that it has guaranteed his enmity.”

Aunt Abby nodded and continued to gaze around. “Could I meet your mama?” she said suddenly.

Rose smiled softly, took her hand, and led her into the woods to the very same spot she had been staring at. It took them just a few minutes of meandering down a barely visible path to reach a small clearing in the woods ringed by dogwoods. Rose dropped to her knees in front of the simple stones that marked the graves for both her mama and daddy.

“I’m back, Mama,” she said softly, tears gleaming in her eyes as she reached out to touch the stone. “I’m free — just like we dreamed about. I’m a teacher now and I have a little boy. His name is John.” Her voice thickened. “There is never a day that passes that I don’t think about you.”

Rose reached up and took Aunt Abby’s hand. “I want you to meet Aunt Abby, Mama. She’s the second most amazing woman I have ever known. Y’all would have loved each other.”

“Thank you,” Aunt Abby whispered. She walked over to pick a bouquet of wild bluets and glowing pink trillium. She returned and laid them on the ground in front of the stone and then knelt with Rose.

“You would be so proud of your daughter, Sarah. She means the world to me — both her and Moses. And John? He’s the spitting image of Moses. Rose is a fine teacher, Sarah. Just like you knew she would be. More importantly, she’s one of the most beautiful human beings I’ve ever had the pleasure to know.” Aunt Abby paused. “I so wish I could have known you, but I almost feel I do because I know Rose. I suspect she is becoming more like you with every day that passes.”

A solemn silence fell over the clearing. A gentle breeze ruffled the tender, young leaves. The setting sun cast a golden glow over everything as birds chirped and sang, an occasional owl hooting its announcement of the coming night.