A Love Restored

by Goshorn, Kelly;

  “All right. Here’s a friendly suggestion for you, Hamilton. Stay away from Ruth Ann, or you’ll answer to me.”

  Elias exited the parlor. “Let’s go, Rose.”

  Ruth Ann’s fist pressed against her chest. What had just happened? How had an evening of singing and games transformed into a shouting match? Her eyes traveled the silent circle of friends. Tears threatened to spring down her cheeks. Charlotte had gone to such effort to make the evening enjoyable for all of them.

  The crackling of embers shifted her attention to the hearth. Nate and Edward conversed in hushed tones. Were they upset with her, too?

  She let out a breath. “Charlotte, I-I don’t know what to say. I-I’m so sorry for ruining—”

  “You did no such thing, Ruth Ann.”

  Nate laid the poker against the hearth. “My brother has always had a short fuse. Lately, it’s shorter than ever.”

  Warmth drew her focus downward. Safe and secure, her hand rested in Benjamin’s strength and confidence. What would she do without him? He’d proven himself her advocate and protector time and time again. Did he know he held her heart in the palm of his hand as well?

  Edward slipped his arm around Maggie’s waist. “Go on, Nate. You be the one to tell her.”

  Eyes wide, she chewed on her bottom lip. Was she destined to alienate all her friends?

  “Edward and I want to join the safety patrols to protect the Freedmen’s school.”

  She studied him for any sign of hesitation. “Nate, you don’t need to prove anything to me.”

  “I know, but I do need to prove something to myself. There comes a time in a man’s life when he needs to stand up for what he believes in no matter the cost.”

  Knowing how Nate’s family felt about her position at the Freedmen’s School, she knew exactly what it might cost Nate—what it might cost all of them.

  ~*~

  Ruth Ann climbed the stairs to the schoolhouse, stomping excess snow off her boots before entering the building. As she grabbed the latch to insert the key, the door creaked open. She pushed it again, this time with her foot, and peered inside.

  “Captain Reynolds?” Perhaps he had come early to light the stove.

  The room was empty.

  Brrrr. She rubbed her gloved hands together before cupping her mouth and nose to warm them as she made her way to the stove in the center of the classroom. Frigid air blew the tendrils at the base of her neck, drawing her attention to a broken window. What on earth? A shiver ran down her spine as she examined the broken windowpane and the rock that lay beneath it. Where was Captain Reynolds?

  Stepping around the glass, she made her way to the stove then started a fire. She retrieved the broom and dustpan from the closet and swept the floor. Footsteps pounded in the entryway. She swallowed a lump in her throat. Please, Lord, let that be the captain. She glanced around. Nothing but a broom to protect herself. Ruth Ann took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and raised the makeshift weapon high above her shoulder, all the while asking God to give her courage.

  A familiar voice hung in the brisk air. “This brings back memories of our first meeting. You’re not planning to pummel me with that are you?”

  She lowered the stick, pressed her hand to her stomach, and slumped against the wall. “Certainly not.”

  “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t tease.” Benjamin held his arms wide. “Come here. You all right? You look a bit frightened.”

  She flung herself into his open arms. “I am now. Seeing this broken glass and with Captain Reynolds nowhere in sight, when I heard your boots on the steps I—”

  “Shhh. It’s all right, Ruthie. I’m here now.”

  He tightened his embrace, thawing not only her cold bones but her fear as well. “Captain Reynolds came by earlier to light the stove and found the broken window. He noticed some tracks in the snow he wanted to trail. He came back to the Petersons’ and asked me to stay with you and the children until he returns.”

  “Thank you,” she whispered.

  Benjamin kissed her forehead and released her from his hold. “It’s colder than a dead man’s nose in here.” Tiny white clouds trailed his words as he spoke. “Neil is going to the hardware store to have a piece of glass cut for the window. With any luck, we’ll have it fixed today.”

  She swept the broken glass into a pile. “Mr. Martin isn’t likely to sell him glass if he knows it’s for the Freedmen’s School.”

  Benjamin lifted a skeptical brow. “I doubt a businessman would refuse a sale.” He held the dustpan for her then dumped its contents into the bin by her desk.

  “Believe that if you will, Ben, but neither Mr. Martin nor Rose has spoken a civil word to me since I started teaching here. She barely acknowledged me at Charlotte’s party. Rose’s older brother, Patrick, fought and died for the Confederacy at Antietam. She told Maggie that the renewal of my contract here was the last straw.”

  Benjamin lifted the rock from its resting place.

  “Look, Ben. There’s black paint on the side of it.”

  Their eyes met briefly before returning to the foreboding message. February 1.

  She breathed deeply in a vain attempt to quell her anxious heart. February first is only three weeks away.

  The door opened. Chatter and laughter filled the classroom.

  Benjamin shoved the crude deterrent into Ruth Ann’s satchel. “No need to worry the children with the message. The broken window is enough to explain.” He gave her a quick peck on the cheek. “It’s a normal school day.” He tilted his head toward the rear of the classroom. “I’ll be right over there.”

  She nodded.

  “Please be seated boys and girls. Leave your coats on. A prankster decided to break one of our windows, so it’s a bit chilly in here today.”

  The students gawked at the tall white man, adding kindling to the stove. “Class, this is Mr. Coulter. He helps me teach arithmetic to many of your parents and older siblings in the evenings. He is…uh…observing this morning.”

  Ruth Ann called the class to order, took attendance, and then had the children recite the Lord’s Prayer. Finding a sense of normalcy in the daily schedule, her pulse no longer raced out of control. The routine brought a measure of comfort, but not as much as the presence of the man in the back of the room. When her gaze lingered, the snickers of the older children brought Ruth Ann from her thoughts.

  “We will begin our recitations now. Primary students, you may rise and walk to the recitation bench, please.” The students filed from their row of desks to the bench perpendicular to her own in the front of the room.

  Ruth Ann stooped and drew a chalk line on the floor about one foot in front of the bench where the children stood. “There. That shall do nicely.” She brushed the white dust from her hands as she continued. “Remember, this assignment is not only about memorization but also elocution. Pronouncing words clearly and correctly is the mark of an educated person.”

  The children responded in unison, “Yes, Miss Sutton.”

  “Flossy, please recite the first stanza. Toe the mark when you are ready. Remember, Flossy, loud and clear.”

  The young girl stood, her booted foot aligned to the chalk streak on the floor. Chin down, her dark eyes concentrated on her hands, busily picking a string from her pocket.

  “Flossy?”

  The girl’s head remained low, but her eyes met her teacher’s.

  “You can do this. I know you can.”

  “Yes’m.” She lifted her head.

  Ruth Ann straightened in her seat, squaring her shoulders.

  Flossy mimicked her teacher and straightened her posture. “Doing right—”

  Neil Peterson cleared his throat. “Sorry to interrupt, Miss Sutton, I need to speak with Benjamin for a moment.”

  ~*~

  Benjamin’s boots crunched against the icy remnants clinging to the schoolhouse steps.

  Captain Reynolds sat astride his bay mare in front of the building. “The tracks led to a farm a few miles
north of town—the Hamilton family farm.”

  Doubt etched Neil’s expression. “The Hamiltons?”

  Benjamin thought it admirable that Neil tended to give everyone the benefit of the doubt, but now was not the time. Not with February first only weeks away. “You are probably correct where Nate Hamilton is concerned, but his older brother, Elias, can be a bit of a hot head. I’ve witnessed his anger firsthand.”

  Neil rubbed a gloved hand along the back of his neck. “I’ll be the first one to acknowledge that Levi has strong opinions about Negroes that he’s imposed upon his family. He was in favor of secession. That’s public knowledge. But Nate, Elias, and Levi attended the community support meeting to organize safety patrols for the school.”

  Captain Reynolds reached inside his coat and pulled a piece of paper from his pocket. He scanned it quickly. “That may be, but so far none of the Hamiltons have volunteered for patrols.”

  “Nate told Ruth Ann and myself that he planned to volunteer. Edward Simms as well.” Benjamin shook his head. This was ripening into a real mess. How would he tell Ruth Ann that her friend and his father may be involved?

  The captain patted his mount. “We’ll need to talk with the Hamiltons.”

  “And the Martins,” Benjamin added.

  Neil’s eyes narrowed. “What do the Martins have to do with anything?”

  “Isn’t Elias paying calls on Rose Martin?”

  Neil nodded.

  “Ruth Ann didn’t think Mr. Martin would sell you the glass for repairs if he knew it was for the Freedmen’s School.” Benjamin took a quick glance around. “Where is it, Neil?”

  “Martin said he was too busy to cut glass today.”

  Benjamin cocked his head, brows raised.

  Neil rubbed the back of his neck. “So, you believe the Martins could be involved in this as well?”

  “I think what Benjamin is saying is that since the tracks led to the Hamiltons, they need to be questioned. It only makes sense that their friends, who share similar views, should also be questioned.” Captain Reynolds shifted on his horse as the mare foraged through the snow with her nose for anything green she could find. “I’d like one of you to go with me. I can do the questioning, but a witness is good, and there’s safety in numbers.”

  Benjamin put his hand on Neil’s shoulder. “I’ll go. I’m not as friendly with the Hamiltons as you are.”

  “I appreciate that, Benjamin. Thank you.”

  “Can you repair the window and stay with Ruth Ann and her students while we’re gone?”

  Neil nodded.

  “Good. When I go to the livery, I’ll ask Joseph if he has some wood you can use to board up that window. I’ll be back shortly.” He paused. “Oh, I nearly forgot. The rock used to break the window had a message painted on it—February first.”

  Neil furrowed his brow. “What is that supposed to mean?”

  Captain Reynolds straightened in his saddle. “It means we’d better root out this brood of vipers—the sooner, the better.”

  16

  Ruth Ann shifted nervously. Her arrival in the railroad camp with Maggie and Charlotte had garnered more attention than desired. Several men, reeking of whisky and sweat, stood nearby, ogling them from head to toe. She should have known a rainy day such as this would keep the men in camp. Her gaze drifted over the sea of canvas tents stretched across the soggy meadow. How would she find Benjamin? She glanced at the ragtag bunch assembled nearby. Letting them know they were lost was not an option.

  The door jingled behind them. A tall clean-shaven man emerged from the company store and telegraph office. He touched the brim of his hat. “Ladies.”

  He was there best hope. Who was she kidding? He was their best hope. “Good afternoon. Might you direct us to Benjamin Coulter’s office?”

  “My pleasure. Name’s Sam Denning.”

  They dismounted the wagon, lifted their skirts from the mud caked road, and followed Mr. Denning to a large tent bearing the sign Surveyor and Engineer’s Office.

  “Boss, some ladies here to see you.”

  Benjamin stood behind a small wooden table, books and papers strewn about in haphazard fashion covered its surface. “Ruthie—” his attention flitted to Maggie and Charlotte. “What are you ladies doing here unescorted?”

  Tugging her bottom lip between her teeth, Ruth Ann handed him a tin filled with cookies. “I brought you these.”

  He cocked his head, eyebrows raised.

  “I know I could have given them to you tonight, but I was curious about where you work so I convinced Maggie and Charlotte to stop. We can’t stay long. We’re headed to Charlotte’s.”

  “You didn’t have any trouble from the men when you arrived?”

  “Mr. Denning ushered us to you safe and sound as you can see.”

  Sam cleared his throat. “A few of the men were taking in the scenery, but they kept their distance.”

  “Thank you, Sam.”

  Sam nodded. “I sent the telegraph to Williams. I’ll let you know the minute I get an answer from him.” Sam disappeared between the folds of the tent.

  Ruth Ann walked to the rear of Benjamin’s makeshift office, passing several desks and bookshelves. Various types of equipment lined its canvas sides. She paused and examined an instrument with a miniaturized telescope mounted on a tripod, several knobs and gears of various sizes fastened to its sides. “I think I’ve seen a picture of this in father’s Encyclopedia Britannica. Is it a theodolite?”

  “You own a cloth-bound edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica?”

  “Yes. No. I’m not sure what difference it makes, but its leather bound. Papa was a judge and a scholar. His library is filled with books.” She tilted her head. “Haven’t I shown you his study?”

  Benjamin shook his head.

  “I’ll show you first thing tonight.” She ran her fingers over the apparatus. “So, am I correct?”

  “Yes, but we refer to it as a transit.”

  “What’s a transit?” Maggie covered her mouth to hide a yawn.

  “It measures the horizontal and vertical angles of the earth. We use it to determine the best route to lay the track for the railroad.”

  Ruth Ann bent forward, aligning her eye with the telescope. “Fascinating.”

  Charlotte snickered. “That is the last thing I would call fascinating.”

  “Ruthie, would you like to take the equipment out when the weather warms up and learn how it works?”

  She jerked upright. “Yes, I would.”

  Maggie rolled her eyes. “I’d rather pluck feathers from a chicken.”

  ~*~

  Benjamin laughed at Maggie’s saucy remark. “All right, we’ll do it one day this spring.” He kissed Ruth Ann’s cheek. “I’ll see you ladies safely to your buggy and then I have some things to finish up here before a two o’clock meeting.”

  Benjamin pushed open the flap to his tent and let the women exit before him. He spied a herd of ruffians gathered around their carriage.

  “What’s going on here?”

  “Nothin’,” said one. “Jest bein’ social is all.”

  “Back up. Make room for the ladies.” Benjamin glanced past the men, hoping for a glimpse of Sam. “None of you louts should be within fifty feet of their buggy. And I don’t want to hear any indignities either.”

  “Yes, sir, Mr. Coulter. We’ll be on our best behavior.”

  Benjamin perused the rag-tag assembly, doubting their sincerity. He assisted each of the girls into the buggy and thanked Ruth Ann again for the cookies. “I’ll see you later tonight for supper at half past six.” Benjamin untied the reins and handed them to Charlotte. He put his fingers to his hat and nodded as the ladies departed.

  The buggy was barely out of sight before the men started whooping and hollering.

  A skinny fellow, not more than seventeen or eighteen, kicked a rock into the muddy path. “How’d you git them there ladies to come visit ya?”

  John Tatem, a man from Benjamin�
��s crew, pushed to the front of the crowd. “Which one are ya sparkin’?”

  A tall blonde fellow Benjamin didn’t know nudged the man beside him with his elbow. “I bet he’s sweet on the one drivin’. She’s the prettiest.”

  Giddy with excitement, the skinny lad piped in. “They’re all pretty, even the plumper one.”

  The blonde man snickered. “But did you see the eyes the plump one gave him? She’s after you, Mr. Coulter. Better watch out!”

  Tatem slapped Benjamin on the back. “Boss, here, can do much better than her.”

  The skinny youngster smiled shyly. “I don’t think she’s all that bad. She’s purty ’nough.”

  Benjamin waved his hat toward the muddy road, his voice gravelly. “That’s enough fellas. Move it along. Those ladies deserve better than the likes of you drooling over them.”

  He returned to his tented office, took off his hat, and threw it on the table before flopping in his chair. Opening the ledger, he reviewed his calculations for what seemed like the hundredth time. Heavier now, the water pelted against the canvas exterior. It had been raining on and off for days getting him way off schedule. Would it ever let up?

  “I think we hit the nail on the head. The boss must like ’em mighty round in the hips and bosom.”

  “Nothin’ wrong with that. Jest a little more to love!”

  “Yeah and with those broad hips, she’ll drop his babies like they were peanuts.”

  Benjamin slammed the ledger shut before shoving it toward the rear of the table. Even the rain showers couldn’t drown out their merriment at his expense. Why did their buffoonery bother him? He’d been asking God to bring a wonderful woman into his life. One he could share his future with. God had answered his prayer in Ruth Ann. So why couldn’t he shake the nagging hesitation regarding her figure? An even better question was what was he going to do about it?

  ~*~

  Ruth Ann moved to the full-length mirror and gave her appearance one last check. She slid her hands over the slight bulge in her stomach. Her mother’s words came from nowhere to invade her thoughts. Gentlemen do not court and marry a woman who is plump and opinionated. They desire a woman who is a reflection of themselves and the image they want to convey to their contemporaries. Ruth Ann sighed. “I hope it’s good enough, Benjamin Coulter, because this is the best I can do.”