True Freedom

by Carol Ashby

  She slapped the reins, and the mules started walking. Another two slaps, and they picked up the pace to a trot.

  “Is Leander fine?”

  “Yes, just worried about getting Calantha away before they find her. I had some harness that needs mending, and he’s going to take care of that while I help you here. So, put me to work.”

  “Come inside. The breakfast porridge Marcella left for me is enough for two hungry men. The least I can do is feed you before they come.”

  As Sextus limped toward the house at his side, Gaius scanned the hill flanking the road. The men hunting his friends were coming soon. Were their eyes upon him even now?

  Petronia’s farm

  When Marcella reined in her trotting mules by Petronia’s house, Quintus came from the vineyard.

  His welcoming smile dimmed when he saw her face. “What’s wrong?”

  Marcella looped the reins around a stick beside the seat and climbed down. “I need to talk to Calantha right away.”

  He pointed at the house. “In there, feeding the children.”

  When he gripped one mule’s halter, she patted his arm. “They might like water, but I won’t be long.”

  Calantha’s eyes widened when Marcella entered the room. “What’s happened?”

  “Last night, Publius rode out to warn us. Your brother and two friends were at his taberna, and he overheard them saying they saw Leander and were coming today to find you.”

  Calantha’s hand flew to her mouth. “Where’s Leander? They’ll do something horrible to him if they find him.”

  “Don’t worry. He’s over at Sextus’s house, and Sextus is pretending to be the limping man they saw last night. After they visit, they should think they were mistaken about what they thought they saw and leave.”

  “How long do you think that will take?”

  Marcella shrugged. “Gaius thinks one visit will do it. Leander thinks they won’t leave until they find you, so he’s planning to take you back to your father tomorrow. He said your father was supposed to be back then. He and Gaius will come with the wagon a couple of hours before dusk. You’ll ride back to Rome when Gaius takes the produce and chickens in.”

  “But what if Father’s not back yet?”

  “Leander said you two could ask Servilia to let you stay with her until he does return.”

  Calantha cradled her face in her hands. “Oh, Marcella. I want to go back, but I also don’t want to.”

  Marcella rested her hand on Calantha’s arm. “Because of Leander?”

  “Partly. I wish we could stay here and marry. Just forget about the laws of Rome. But I know that’s not possible. Leander tells me God gives him strength to be content with whatever must be. He says that gets easier with time. And I guess he knows. He’s lost so much and come through it so strong. I love being with him, but I know we have no future together.

  “Father’s the only reason to go back. I love him, and I want to see him. He’s probably been worried sick, thinking I must be dead or worse. And I plan to ask him to free Leander as soon as he can, which I’m sure he’ll do after everything Leander did to save me. I’d love to be with my lion forever, but I still can’t see how. But once he’s free, he can come back to you.”

  She rubbed her forehead. “But now that I follow Jesus, I can’t do what Father expects of me. I’m supposed to make a brilliant political marriage to a man who will someday become consul of Rome. But I’d have to worship the gods of Rome and the genius of the Emperor. I’d have to entertain men who want to do things God condemns and act like that was perfectly fine. I can’t do that anymore. Father’s going to be so upset when I tell him. He’ll think I’ve betrayed everything he taught me, everything he values.” She squeezed her lips tight, but tears swam in her eyes. “Betrayed him.”

  “So, what are you going to do?” The pain in Calantha’s eyes brought tears to Marcella’s.

  Calantha squared her shoulders even as her jaw quivered. “I’ll go back. After I get Leander freed, I’ll ask God to show me how to free myself.”

  “My dear child, I am so sorry.” With her thumb, Marcella stroked Calantha’s cheek. “I’ll join you in that prayer every day until you return.” She took a deep breath, then released it. “But right now, I need to get back. I want to be there when your brother comes.”

  She hugged Calantha and left the cottage. Outside the door, she looked back. Calantha sat at the table, face in her hands, shoulders shaking.

  And after Marcella climbed into the wagon and slapped the reins, tears washed her face, too.

  Gaius’s farm

  Aulus’s heart rate ramped up as he crested the hill by the wagon man’s farm. He could see two men working in the vineyard. One was the gray-haired man they’d followed. The other’s hair was dark. As the dark-haired one walked from the end of one row of vines to the middle of the next, he limped.

  Africanus rode up beside him. “The one we saw last night had lighter hair.”

  Marcus reined in on the other side. “Maybe that was because it was moonlight.”

  “The mules and wagon are gone.” Africanus glanced at Marcus. “Maybe the one we saw left and took Julia with him.”

  “There’s only one way to find out.” Aulus nudged his horse and started down the hill.

  Marcus moved up beside him before Africanus’s voice came from behind. “Keep your eyes open. They might be hiding in the house.”

  As they rode closer, Aulus scanned the large vegetable garden and the small house. No sign of anyone except the two men, who kept working as they approached.

  “That’s odd.” Suspicion tinged Africanus’s voice. “Usually people react to the arrival of strangers.”

  When they reached the corral, Aulus stopped with Marcus on one side, Africanus on the other. The gray-haired man looked up, and Aulus waved. He started toward them, but the other only glanced at them and kept inspecting plants.

  The gray-haired man greeted them with a smile. “Can I help you?”

  “Maybe.” Aulus waved his hand toward the dark-haired man. “Are you the only people here?”

  The older man looked around and made a sweeping motion with his hand. “As you can see.”

  “Fresh wagon tracks.” Africanus pointed at the ground. “Where did it go?”

  The man peered at the ground and swept his foot over the track. “It hasn’t rained for several days.”

  Africanus tipped his head toward the garden. “You have a very large garden. How do you get it to market?”

  A broad smile curved the man’s lips as he nodded. “We do, and it’s producing a good crop this year. Did you want to buy something?”

  Aulus looked at Africanus’s impassive face, then at the garden. “What do you have?”

  “Peas, carrots.” The man pointed toward some beehives at the edge of the olive grove. “Our honey is good, too.”

  Africanus raised an eyebrow. “The missing wagon. Is it yours?”

  “Missing?” The gray-haired man’s eye twitched.

  The jingle of harness behind them caused Aulus to turn. A woman about the age of the gray-haired man snapped the reins, and the mules quickened their trot.

  She reined in beside them. “Gaius, you should have seen Cominia’s new baby. He is the most precious thing with his father’s eyes and his mother’s mouth. And little Lucius is so proud of his new brother. He kept telling me all the things he would be teaching him.”

  She turned her eyes on Marcus, then Aulus, then Africanus. “We have company? Did you offer a drink to refresh them?”

  Gaius blinked before his smile broadened. “No. I was just telling them what we have for sale today.”

  The woman wrapped the reins around the stick by the seat and clambered down. “That’s good, dear. Did they want anything?” She beamed at Aulus as she stared into his eyes until he squirmed.

  “Maybe some honey?”

  “Come inside. I’ll get you some.”

/>   He glanced at Africanus, who nodded once. “That would be good.”

  He slipped off his horse and followed her into the house.

  “Come into the storeroom, and you can pick the jar you’d like.”

  With a flick of her fingers to bring him closer, she led him into a short hall, talking the whole time about beehives and bees and the flowers they loved. On one side was a small bedchamber with the sheets rolled into a bundle at the end of the rope bed. At the end, he could see the bed she and her husband would use.

  She pointed to a shelf that held a dozen small clay jars sealed with wooden plugs. “This is the finest honey in all Rome. Pick.”

  He pointed at the third from the end.

  “That will be one sestertius.” She held out her hand.

  Aulus reached into his purse and withdrew the coin. After he dropped it in her palm, she flicked her fingers to urge him from the room and led him outside.

  “Anything else you’d like to buy?”

  “No.” He shook his head before shrugging.

  “Now that you have the finest honey in all Rome, I hope you have a lovely ride home.” She waved her hand toward the garden. “Seeing the new baby made me late. I need to get to work now.”

  Aulus stared at her back as the force of nature marched away.

  Gaius smiled at her retreating form before turning back to Aulus. “Enjoy your honey. I need to get back to work, too.” He turned and strode into his vineyard, not stopping until he was ten rows away.

  Aulus looked at the jar in his hand, then at Africanus. The gladiator’s lips were squeezed tight as he fought the laugh.

  Aulus handed him the honey and mounted. “I’ve seen what I need. Let’s go.”

  As he nudged his horse forward, the woman’s singing floated through the air. It was loud, but not in tune. He kicked his horse into a trot.

  As they climbed the hill, Africanus moved alongside and offered him the clay jar.

  He waved it away. “Take it for your children.”

  Africanus grinned. “Stop at the grove. The next step is clear.”

  When they reached the trees, Africanus dismounted. “What did you see in the house?”

  “Almost everything, and she never stopped talking the whole time. That one’s a force of nature. She took me into the store room to pick my own honey. There were two other rooms off the hall: their bedroom and another one with a bed no one was using.”

  “Anything unusual?”

  “No, except maybe the rope bed frame in the main room. But there was nothing on it.”

  Africanus rubbed his lip. “They’re hiding something. She made sure you saw the whole house to make you think they weren’t. And the man with the limp…he wasn’t the one we saw last night. You can go back to Marcus’s house, but I’m going to stay here and watch for a while to see if the red-haired one comes back or a young woman shows up.”

  Marcus shook his head. “We should stay, too. You don’t know what Julia or her slave look like.”

  “They’ve hidden here for a month. If they think we’ve gone, they’ll return. When they do, I’ll come for you. One man can see without being seen. One horse can blend into some trees. Three…that’s much harder.”

  “You’re probably right, as always. Let’s go, Marcus.” Aulus nudged his horse toward the road, then stopped. “Can we bring you some food before we leave?”

  A smile tugged at the corner of Africanus’s mouth. “No.” He lifted the clay jar. “I have the finest honey in all Rome.”

  Chapter 59: Escaping the Watchers

  Day 49

  Leander was oiling the harness he’d repaired the day before when a familiar voice came from behind him. He turned to see Gaius approaching from the opposite direction of his farm.

  “Good morning, Sextus. You’re looking young and strong today. I thought I’d take the long way around to come see you, just in case we were being watched.” Gaius’s voice contained a chuckle as he switched his two friends’ names. “Leander did a fine job helping me yesterday, despite his limp.”

  “It’s good to hear I’m so easy to replace.” Leander forced a smile. “Did Marcella tell Calantha we need to leave right away?”

  “Yes, and she got back just in time to meet Calantha’s brother and his friends. Dark-haired young man in purple stripes and a large Nubian built like a gladiator.”

  “That was Marcus Drusus, the one who came up with the kidnapping plan. The other…maybe a bodyguard?”

  “The bodyguard asked most of the questions.” Gaius’s eyebrows dipped. “He was suspicious. Her brother…” He chuckled. “Marcella got back just as we started talking, and Calantha’s brother was soft clay in her hands. I think he left convinced you’d never been with us, and she even sold him a jar of honey worth a dupondius for a sestertius.”

  “But it’s still time to take Calantha home. Her father should be back, but even if he isn’t, she’ll be safer in Rome with Servilia with me guarding until he does return.”

  Gaius’s face sobered. “Yes, it is time for you to leave. It’s my regular night to take produce into Rome. I'll swing by here to get Sextus’s chickens and you, and then we’ll pick up Calantha. It’s only a few blocks from the forum to Servilia’s shop.”

  He pulled a small purse from inside his tunic. “There’s a decent inn on her street. In case her shop’s closed and she’s not there, here’s enough for one night.”

  Leander bounced the small sack in his hand. “I wish I could repay you. Maybe I can get some from Calantha, I mean Mistress Julia, after she resumes her place.”

  His gaze swept the low hill that rose between the two farms. He inhaled the sweet country scent…the scent of freedom. His eyes returned to Gaius. The scent of friendship and love.

  “Before you go back, I have something for you.” He stepped into Sextus’s house and returned with the cloak Calantha had made him.

  He held it out. “For you. If I take it with me, the overseer will just take it for himself. I’d much rather you keep it. It’s my thank you for everything you’ve done for me. It will be good to know my best friend and second father has the most precious thing I’ve ever owned.”

  Gaius took it and stared at it. Then he turned sad eyes on Leander. “It will be here waiting for you when you come back to us. Somehow God will bring good out of this.”

  He stroked the soft wool. “Maybe I could buy you and free you…to become my son.”

  Leander shook his head. “I trained champion racers, and Gallio paid 3000 denarii for me.”

  Gaius’s face fell, then brightened. “Maybe Publius can help me find that much. Or maybe Calantha’s father will free you for saving her. We’ll all be praying for that.”

  Leander summoned a smile he didn’t feel. “Maybe he will. Apostle Paul said all things work together for good for those who love God. Nothing could be better than to come back to live with my brothers and sisters in Christ.”

  Nothing except bringing Calantha with me as my wife.

  Gaius sniffed and clutched the cloak to his chest. “I need to get back in case her brother and his friends come again. Marcella would know what to say, but Sextus…maybe not. I’ll be back late afternoon for you and the chickens.”

  As Gaius headed back into the olive grove to make his secret way home, Leander clenched his jaw. It had only been a month, but he’d grown to love Gaius like a father.

  And as he watched Gaius walk away, a sword as sharp as the one that spilled his own father’s blood in Dacia pierced his heart once more.

  The sun hadn’t yet risen when Africanus left his horse in the grove and climbed to the crest of the hill. He found some low shrubs a few hundred feet off the road and settled in. From there, he’d have a good view of vineyard, garden, olive grove, and house.

  Shortly after dawn, Gaius entered his olive grove. He was gone a long time, and when he returned, he carried something folded. Something the size of a blanket or cloak. He took
it inside and stayed for a while, probably listening to chatter of the woman he was married to.

  Then for several hours that crawled by like caterpillars, Gaius and the dark-haired limping man worked their way along the rows of grape vines.

  After the three disappeared into the house, probably for lunch, limping man returned to the vineyard while Gaius and the Force of Nature loaded boxes of vegetables into the wagon. Midafternoon, they put some chickens into crates, then loaded those plus a few more without chickens. It was late afternoon when he hitched up the mules. After the Force gave Gaius a hug, he climbed aboard and flicked the reins.

  As the mules pulled the wagon up the road, the Force stood by the doorway, watching until the wagon disappeared over the crest of the hill. Then she went inside.

  A quarter hour or maybe a half passed with limping man working in the vineyard. Then the Force reappeared.

  The limping man started toward the house…without his limp. Just before he reached her, he started limping again.

  Africanus’s gaze flipped between the pair in the farmyard and where the road disappeared over the hill. As the pair entered the house, he sucked air between his teeth. He’d made a strategic error. The wagon had been packed to leave enough room for a person in the back. He should be following Gaius.

  He slipped back from the crest before he stood. He broke into a trot, but it was more than a quarter mile back to where he’d tied his horse. When he reached it, he hurled himself into the saddle and nudged it into a trot. There were several side tracks that turned off the road. He slowed as he passed each one, but there had been enough wagon traffic on all of them that he couldn’t tell if Gaius had gone down any one in particular.

  He reached the main road into Rome without finding a clear sign that Gaius’s wagon turned off the road to his farm as it crossed several small hills and valleys. Turning his horse toward Rome, he cantered far enough toward the city to catch up with a trotting mule team.

  His jaw clenched. No Gaius. He must have turned off on one of the side tracks, but which? He spun his horse and cantered back. When he entered the road to Gaius’s farm, he slowed to a trot between side tracks and a walk as he passed each, watching for the freshest wagon tracks. He narrowed it to two, and took the first to the right.