Two Wings to Fly Away

by Penny Mickelbury

  “Not at all. We don’t go forward if he is at home. The logistics will be finalized tonight, and we go in the next couple of days.”

  Genie nodded agreement and took her leave. She did want to visit quickly with Maggie before going toward home, and happy as she was to have the Junipers in her former home, she felt a pang of loss as she knocked on the door.

  “Oh Genie!” Maggie exclaimed when she opened the door. She pulled Genie inside and embraced her tightly and at length. “It feels an age since I’ve seen you and it’s been less than two days!”

  “You are very much missed as well, especially by Eli.”

  “Auntie Genie! Auntie Genie! Papa look—it’s Auntie Genie! Come see!”

  “I don’t know what I’m going to do with her,” Maggie whispered. “She seems incapable of being calm. Or quiet.”

  “Miss Oliver,” Genie heard in a deep voice from the bedroom door as Jack Juniper emerged. He was a big man and indeed a very handsome one—Adelaide was right about that, and she’d seen him at his worst. He walked very slowly toward her.

  “Mr. Juniper. I’m so sorry to have disturbed your rest, but I am most pleased to meet you.”

  He extended both his hands to her, and it was clear that the effort cost him as he winced in pain. Arthur had indeed wrapped his ribs very tightly. “I am so grateful to you for so much. To you and Mr. William and Mr. Arthur and the two other gentlemen whom I hope to meet again soon. Now that I am more alive than dead, I am able to properly thank them.”

  “We were all very pleased to be able to do something to help Maggie.”

  “That you could care so much for my family—” He was overcome with emotion.

  “Your family has become like my own, and I hope that I may include you in that feeling.”

  “I will be injured if you do not!”

  Genie squeezed his hands then took her leave. Maggie tried to say that she would return to Abby’s in a day or two but it was clear that Jack was in no condition to be left alone. “Yes, we miss you, but we can manage. We feed Eli rice and bread at every meal, and I’ve promised to attempt chicken fricassee for Ezra. I just hope the bleedin’ Scotsman won’t want to marry me!”

  Maggie, stifling the kind of laugh that surely would incite her husband’s curiosity, pushed Genie outside and followed her. She let herself laugh then and said again how much she missed the residents of the Abby Read household, including “the bleedin’ Scotsman.” Then she grew quite serious, which concerned Genie, until she learned the reason for it.

  “I sent some of your things with Eli—”

  “Yes! You did and I forgot to thank you—”

  “Then you didn’t find it . . . rude?”

  Now Genie was puzzled. “Rude, Maggie?”

  “What I thought to be your most personal and most special belongings—I removed them from your home, Genie! It felt like I was taking over your home, moving you out of your own home!” Maggie was upsetting herself, and she was shivering. The shawl she had thrown around her shoulders was no real protection against the frigid air.

  “You were wise enough to recognize and gather the things I care most about, Maggie, and kind enough to send them to me in my new home. I never thought ill of you.”

  Maggie gave her a speculative look. “You think of Abby’s as home now?”

  An exasperated Genie told Maggie she sounded like Adelaide. Maggie grasped the meaning immediately. “She thinks that not only have you abandoned your home but maybe you left your people behind as well.”

  “Home for me, Maggie, is where I can live without fear, surrounded by people who care for me. I was happy that I could give that to you and your family. Now I must go.” The snow had abated but Genie still wrapped herself tightly and warmly anyway and drove away with a wave. Maggie remained on the porch waving back at her. The tears in her eyes froze there.

  Dinner was ready when Genie arrived home but they were waiting for her. Donald and Eli rushed outside to take the cart into the stable, unhitch the horse and brush and feed her, and to clean and dry the cart, then rushed back inside as if they feared all the food would be eaten in their absence. Genie told them of meeting Jack Juniper and told Ezra and Donald of his expression of gratitude to them. She described his movement and his appearance and assured them that he seemed out of danger and well on the road to recovery. No, she told them, Elizabeth still had not calmed down and probably would not for a while. Eli wanted to know when she would return so his lessons could resume, and Abby told him that she and Genie would resume his instruction the following day. They both studiously ignored his all but swollen-shut left eye, and Genie realized that she’d forgotten to tell Maggie about it. Abby was scheduled to attend a meeting with Florence Mallory the next day, and Ezra had a meeting with the Cortlandts at their home: He had questions for young Arthur and he knew the boy wouldn’t answer truthfully, if at all, unless his parents were present, especially his mother. Donald had been to the telegraph office at the docks to learn of the weather report and the news was not good: Another blizzard was headed their way. Not good news for any but the slave family—Robert, Josephine and Mary—in Dr. Montague Wright’s house, Genie thought.

  Ezra surprised them by volunteering to help clean up the kitchen while Eli tended to the grates and lamps. His motivation soon was apparent when he asked if Genie would join him in his sitting room for a few moments when the fire was lit.

  “Of course,” she replied matter-of-factly. Abby’s heart sank. He had something for her to do, some work that would endanger her, and if he asked for her help she would willingly give it.

  “I need your thoughts,” Ezra said when they were seated before the fire in his sitting room. The wind rattled the windowpanes, a sure sign that the bad weather was approaching. He told her that Donald had overheard snatches of conversations when he was prowling the docks searching for information about Jack Juniper, conversations that Ezra now believed were about the aborted attempt to take control of Arthur Cortlandt’s railroad. “Young Cortlandt repeated bits of conversation that he recalled from his captivity when he was too drunk or drugged to think properly and which made no sense at the time.”

  “But now you think differently,” Genie said.

  Ezra nodded. “Based on what Donald overheard, it is likely that servants in someone’s employ supplied the information about the location of that train car, where to move it, and why it was parked where it was.”

  “The servents who knew that Cortlandt owned the train and that . . . someone . . . was expected to take refuge there,” Genie said.

  “More than one someone,” Ezra emphasized.

  “But both working where they could overhear information—”

  “And both giving that overheard information to the same person,” Ezra concluded.

  “I can find out who Job Mayes was working for but how do we find the other two people involved?” Genie asked.

  “That’s where the Cordlandts come in. If young Edward can remember exactly what he heard, his father likely can figure out who had such knowledge.”

  “And his mother,” Genie said slowly but wisely, “can learn who the servants are in that house.”

  “Information for which the Cortlandts will pay handsomely,” Ezra said, “since the betrayals almost cost him his railroad and her the son she worships.”

  They were quiet and reflective for a moment. Genie then told him of the rescue of the slaves from Montague Wright’s home, which probably would occur tomorrow or the next day, depending on the weather. “That means that I most probably will not be able to return here tomorrow night,” she said.

  “Then I will make certain that Donnie or I will be here.”

  Genie stood to leave. “What kind of fighter will Eli make?”

  “Donnie says a very good one—if he has a proper target for his anger.”

  “But first he must have two good eyes to find the proper target,” Genie said dryly as she left, though she heard Ezra’s chuckle before the door clo
sed completely. Abby was waiting for her in the kitchen, a pot of tea brewing and cake slices on a plate.

  “Eli and Donald took their cake with them,” Abby said.

  “What did you say to Donald about Eli’s eye?”

  Abby looked put upon. “What makes you think I’d say anything?”

  “The fact that you think young Eli is more noble than the Prince of Wales is what.”

  Abby sniffed. “It’s not sporting for a grown man to pummel a boy.”

  “Did you happen to notice that Donald didn’t have full and proper use of his left arm this evening?” Genie asked.

  Abby, pouring tea, halted with the pot midair. “I did notice that he seemed a bit stiff.” A smile lit her face as she continued with the tea, and Genie began to feel sorry for Donald.

  “Am I correct in thinking it’s possible that Mrs. Cortlandt would know if one of her equally wealthy friends was having difficulty with a servant?” Genie asked Abby.

  Abby nodded slowly. “If the two women are good friends. A troublesome servant can wreak havoc on an entire household and a woman naturally would consult her friends for a solution.”

  “What about the men—” Genie started to ask, but a most unladylike snort by Abby stopped the question.

  “Men think servants, like wives, somehow appear via divine intervention to make their lives easier.”

  “So a man wouldn’t hire a servant?”

  “Not unless he’s a single man, and then his mother or sister or aunt would send servants from their households.”

  “Thank you,” Genie said. “That’s useful information. Will you tell it to Ezra in the morning?”

  “Why can’t you tell it to Ezra in the morning?”

  “Because I must leave at first light,” Genie answered, and explained why.

  “But you’re not . . . you can’t . . . you won’t confront Montague Wright!”

  “Oh no!” Genie exclaimed. “He’ll never see me and I’ll not see him.” And she explained how the rescue would work. “I’ll be hidden in a carriage within sight of Wright’s home. Several minutes after his carriage leaves and he’s well away I’ll run to the scullery door and tell Josephine and Mary this is their chance for freedom. They either will leave immediately with me or we will leave them, their chance at freedom likely gone forever. At the same time that I run for the scullery door, Reverend Richard runs into the stable to await Robert’s return where the same scenario will play out: He’ll be told that his wife and daughter already are gone and it’s his turn. This all is possible, by the way, because of the falling, blowing and drifting snow and because all we Black people will be wrapped in white sheets. Robert, Josephine and Mary will be hidden in a nearby house until it is safe to take them to their new home, and Richard and I will be taken back to William and Arthur.”

  Abby was silent for a long moment. “That is a very good plan. In whose home will Robert, Josephine and Mary be sheltered? And in whose carriage will you and Reverend Richard be hiding while waiting for Montague Wright to leave?”

  Genie shrugged. “I don’t know,” she said, and stopped Abby’s question before she could ask it. “If they were not trustworthy, they would not be a part of the plan. And each of us knows only what we need to know to execute our part. I need only to get Mary and Josephine to the carriage that will take them to safety, and then to get myself to the carriage or cart that will do the same for me.”

  “And what about Richard?”

  “Richard is responsible for himself,” Genie said.

  “And when will you return here?”

  “As soon as the weather permits, and I hope and pray that I won’t have to sleep in William’s barn for four days!”

  ✴ ✴ ✴

  Genie had to pound on the scullery door before it cracked open a sliver. “I’ve come to take you and Mary to freedom, Josephine, and a friend is waiting in the barn to take Robert when he returns!” Genie was shouting to be heard over the howling wind and through the tiny space in the door, which eased open a bit more. The face that peered at her was both terrified and hopeful. “You and Mary quickly grab a few belongings and let’s go. Now.”

  “We don’t have no belongings,” Josephine said.

  “Then let’s go,” Genie said. “Where’s Mary?”

  Another terrified face emerged from behind Josephine and peered at Genie. “Is you really come to get us?”

  “Yes! Let’s go! Here—wrap yourselves in these sheets, head to toe, so you’re white like the snow—” She looked down at twenty bare brown toes. “Where are your shoes?”

  “We ain’t got no shoes,” Josephine said. “Dr. Wright said we don’t need none.”

  “You can’t go out there barefoot!” Genie exclaimed as an unaccustomed curse rose in her throat.

  Josephine, wrapped head to bare toes in the sheet, pushed her aside. “I don’t need no shoes to run to freedom! My feets got wings! Come on, Mary, let’s go ’way from here!” And they were away, leaving the scullery door standing wide open now, and Genie delighted at the thought of Montague Wright returning to an ice-cold house.

  Genie led the way. Mary held the back of Genie’s sheet and Josephine held the back of Mary’s. Every few steps Genie shouted at them to confirm that they were still there. “We still here!” she heard yelled back, but weaker each time. Up ahead she saw what she hoped was their waiting carriage but covered as it was in snow it was hard to tell. Then the door opened and she saw William’s face.

  “We’re here,” Genie said. “Come on and get in the carriage.”

  The two women hesitated briefly. They’d never ridden inside a carriage, but frozen feet, wings notwithstanding, and imminent freedom propelled them. As soon as they were in, the door closed and the carriage moved quickly away. Genie looked in the opposite direction, into the blowing snow, for the carriage that was to transport her, but seeing nothing, she began to walk. Because her head was down, she did not immediately see the carriage until it was upon her. She gratefully opened the door and climbed in. A pile of rugs and blankets on the seat meant that she could remove the now frozen sheets and soaked clothes and shoes beneath, but she knew it would be hours before she was warm again. Then she had an awful thought: She didn’t know where this driver was ordered to take her and she was practically naked. Not only that but she didn’t know where she was, not being familiar with Montague Wright’s neighborhood. But she soon got her bearings, and it became clear that she was destined for Arthur and the stable and she let herself relax. She awoke when the carriage pulled into the stable. She climbed down, careful to hold the blankets and rugs close, and Arthur retrieved the wet clothes and sheets. Then Adelaide appeared with clothes for her, and Arthur told the driver to wait just a moment for the blankets and rugs and have a cup of hot mead while he waited.

  Adelaide led her inside to a stool beside the stove and somehow managed to dress her even though she shivered uncontrollably. She folded the rugs and blankets and gave them to Arthur and then returned to give Genie a cup of hot mead. She sipped until her insides began to warm up and she stopped shaking. Adelaide’s face then relaxed though she still looked worried.

  “Thank you, Adelaide. I was never in danger, just cold.”

  “In danger of freezing to death,” Adelaide snapped.

  “Not if everyone did their jobs, and everyone did,” Genie said. And because she thought Adelaide deserved to know what they were doing since she was expected to help, she told her.

  “Slaves! In the middle of Philadelphia?” She was stunned. “I had no idea.”

  “Nor had I,” Genie said, and then told Adelaide about Wright’s apprentice who wanted to rent a room in Abby’s house and bring his slave with him.

  Adelaide grew very quiet. All the anger and worry left her and she just looked sad. “Will it ever be different for us?”

  Genie shook her head impatiently. She had stopped having that thought years ago. It did no good to wonder if or when things ever would be different for people born w
ith dark skin. She could fight only one battle at a time. Today that battle was against a known enemy and she had won. She would learn later whether Richard had won his battle. Now she wanted only to eat and sleep, and Arthur and Adelaide made those things possible. She awoke to Adelaide shaking her.

  “Ezra is here for you, Genie. He wants to take you . . . back to Abby’s.”

  Genie stood up quickly and was about to ask where Ezra was when she heard his voice. She ran out to the forge to see Arthur, Ezra, Donald and Reverend Richard Allen. “Ezra?”

  He walked over to her and explained that Donald had again checked the weather forecast, and the calm they now were experiencing literally was the calm before the storm. Unaware that the blizzard she’d traveled through earlier had abated, she went to the door and looked out on a calm, clear late afternoon. “But some time tonight a second storm is coming and bringing half a foot of snow, high wind and low temperatures, so if you want to be home for Christmas you should come with us now.”

  Christmas was tomorrow! Ignoring Adelaide’s accusatory look, she turned to Richard. “Did you get Robert out?”

  Richard gave a whoop. “What a sight that was! That doctor made him wear a top hat and tails to drive the carriage and first thing Robert does is throw that hat on the ground and stomp it flat! Then he does the same with the coat. I tried to tell him that coat could help keep him warm but he didn’t care and he wanted to leave the shoes but I wouldn’t let him. I wrapped him in the sheets, and we had opened the barn door when we heard the doctor screaming for Josephine! Then Mary! It sounded like he just stood in one place and screamed. Then he started screaming for Robert and we ran. He wanted to leave the barn door open but I closed it. Better to let the man think, at least for a few more minutes, that Robert was still there.” Richard shook his head. “That man’s voice . . . I never heard nothin’ like it . . . and them poor people had to listen to it all the time.”