Charity’s hoarse whisper ended the silence. “Mama cried and cried when they took Papa away.” She took Nat’s hand and peered across him to look at Thor. Her brown eyes watered and marked her sadness at the memory.
Clay closed in on Nat and looked up at Thor. Unshed tears glistened in his eyes, but none fell. In low, husky tones, he added the rest. “Massa Henry didn’t like how Mama was carryin’ on so he told her to hush up. When she didn’t, the overseer took her to the whuppin’ tree. Overseer Charlie whipped her ’til he got tired, and then they cut her down from the tree. She didn’t make it through the night.”
Thor shuddered at the torture their mother had endured. Looking down at the child who walked beside him, he admired Clay’s ability to recount the events of his mother’s death without shedding tears. If the circumstances were reversed, he doubted if he could have done the same. Hell, he could barely recall a memory of her now without choking up.
Anguish lodged in his throat. No one had the right to treat another with such cruel indifference. Unable to stop himself, his hand pulled free from his pocket and closed warmly over Clay’s thin shoulder. “I am terribly sorry for what happened to your mother. I wish there was something I could do.”
“You are, sir,” Clay said, craning his neck to gaze at Thor. A thin-lipped smile made the boy looked far older than his twelve years, and then it disappeared altogether. He lowered his eyes and directed his attention away from Thor.
Before he looked away, Thor read the confusion and the grief etched in Clay’s eyes, and it pained him. Guiding them to Reverend Brown’s station wasn’t enough. The knowledge that slavery would end did little to quell his growing outrage. Abraham Lincoln wouldn’t pass the Emancipation Proclamation freeing slaves in the seceded states for another three years, making no mention of the slaves in the border states. Slavery wouldn’t officially come to an end for at least another five years.
Bile lodged in his throat at the thought of the number of people who’d suffer the same as these children’s mother, if not worse, during that time. The need to do more pulsed wildly in his veins, but he was at a loss. What could he do? Could he slip onto plantations and lead more slaves to freedom? Was it feasible? Reverend Brown said he’d find answers at his place, and now he was leading these children there. Had the reverend known he’d feel this way? Maybe he traveled back in time to lead these children to freedom and maybe others, too.
The sudden snap of a twig jerked Thor and his charges to attention. Stark fear glittered in the three pairs of eyes that cut to Thor. His stomach clenched, and he forced himself to focus. They needed him to keep a clear head. Animal or man could have made that noise. Either way, Thor would handle it. The reverend’s place couldn’t be more than a mile away. There was no way he’d get them that close to the refuge to be led astray. Dammit! I’ll see them all the way.
* * *
Leaving the lantern on the porch was a grievous mistake, Willow thought. Her frantic pacing wore a path in front of the fireplace. I should have been more careful! A lantern on the porch was a clear signal to runaway slaves that the building was a safe haven for them. If Mr. Anders had been at the cabin instead of Thor, she would have been in a world of trouble.
My distractions put those children at risk! She must not lose sight of what’s important. She had to keep her mind clear of diversions.
“Really, Willow, it was a simple mistake!” Eva said. “No harm was done. Mind you, I still cannot understand why you didn’t invite them here. We have plenty.”
“Mr. Anders wouldn’t have been pleased, and I couldn’t ask you—”
“You should have asked me!” Eva clutched the arms of the rocking chair and pushed herself into a standing position. She crossed the room until she stood in front of Willow. Reaching out, she took Willow’s hands and squeezed. “You fret far too much. Anders isn’t here, and he would never have known those children were fed in this cabin. He’s not a heartless man, Willow. He’s just cautious. He wouldn’t have minded those children having a plate of greens.”
Willow looked at their joined hands. Their friendship was special, but there were things that Eva just didn’t understand. Anders wanted no part of the Underground Railroad. Nor would he willingly participate in the abolition movement. He had told the reverend in no uncertain terms neither he nor Eva would become involved. Reverend Brown had forwarded the information along to her.
She knew what Eva said was true. Anders had a good heart. He doted on Eva as if she hung the sun, the moon, and the stars. Nobody grieved more when their first child was stillborn. His heart was full when it came to his family, but not when it came to outsiders. For them, he was as emotionless as stone.
Willow gave Eve a faint smile as she squeezed the other woman’s hands before releasing them. “I reckon I should have asked you, but in my heart, I know I did the right thing. I’m not sure about the other though. What if he and the children get lost before they reach the reverend? For all we know patrollers are after them.”
“If Thor said he’ll find it, he will. Magnusen men are excellent trackers.”
“I know that Mr. Anders is familiar with these woods, but Thor may not be.”
“Thor?” Eve’s brows drew together to form a slight frown. Resting her hands on her distended abdomen, her head shook in disapproval. “You seem rather familiar. I didn’t want to comment on it before, but Willow, you mustn’t be fooled by his charming smile and attentive manners.”
“And I must remember my place,” Willow added with a knowing nod. “I understand, Miss Eva.”
“Now don’t be that way. You are my dearest friend! You know as well as I do, some liberties just aren’t allowed. At least not here in Georgia,” Eva stressed. “I wouldn’t want to see you heartbroken over something that could have been avoided. Thor is a handsome, delightful man, but he’s white and you’re not.”
Eva’s words did not surprise Willow. Just below the surface, she harbored similar thoughts. Anders’s relative, with his warm, inviting eyes and charming behavior, tempted her in ways she never imagined.
Willow endured a restless night because thoughts of him haunted her mind. His secret about being from the future created a bond between them. She couldn’t help but be concerned for his safety and curious about his experiences.
When he looked at her, tingling sensations rippled throughout her body. Nothing had ever sent her in such a tailspin. Most definitely if he was not there last night, she wouldn’t have been distracted. The lantern would not have been left on the porch all night, and the runaways wouldn’t have seen it.
Willow swallowed hard, digesting Eva’s comments as well as her racing thoughts. Her friend spoke the honest truth! Pining over Thor would only lead to heartache and more mistakes. She’d best keep her thoughts free of him and her mind focused on her goal of freedom for her people.
* * *
“Relax,” Thor instructed the children under his breath.
The word was just barely out of his mouth when a dirty, grizzled white man stepped from behind one of the dogwoods. A rifle rested idly in his hands, but his body language was on alert. A tattered brown hat rode low on his forehead, and the man pushed it back with his large paw of a hand. He chewed steadily. He spat tobacco juice from the corner of his mouth. “Well, looky here.”
“Hello,” Thor replied as his hand tightened its grip on the branch. “Whereabouts you headed? There’s some good fishing down by the river.”
“Ain’t out here for no fishin’.” He spat again, wiping his mouth and dark beard with the back of his hand. “I’m huntin’.”
Thor shrugged even though he understood the stranger’s double meaning. The man’s beady eyes glazed over as he stared at the children, especially when he looked at young Charity. Thor crossed over until he was a buffer between them and the bounty hunter.
Deliberately misunderstanding the man, he said, “No good game been in these parts in a long while. Wolf packs tryin’ to take over and run off the deer an
d such. If I were you, I’d head back toward the Etowah. The river might lead you to better prospects. You’ll find none here, friend. You can believe that.”
“Better prospects down by the river, you say?” The man grunted. He tried to look past Thor, but each time he moved, Thor blocked his view.
The stranger spat more juice onto the ground and glared at Thor. Moving the rifle to his other hand, he cocked his head to the side. “I ain’t huntin’ for no game, friend. Runaways bring a good price per head. Word’s out that they hide up in these foothills, and I mean to find me some.”
Thor worked hard to maintain an even temper. A muscle quivered angrily at his jaw, but other than that, his control didn’t waver. Returning the bounty hunter’s stare, his lips twisted into a cold smile. “Well, the day’s passin’, and I have things to do. Good day.”
Thor gestured with a quick jerk of his head for the children to move ahead of him. They complied while he stood still, keeping his eyes trained on the other man. “There’s some Cherokee who still live up this way. I’ve heard some tales about them and the hunts they’ve been on. Unlucky white men out here alone have disappeared in these foothills. I keep those younguns close by for protection. Be careful some old chief don’t mark you as easy pickings.”
Color drained from the bounty hunter’s face. He pulled his gaze from Thor to dart suspiciously at the woods. His brows pulled together. “You ain’t funnin’, is you? I don’t cotton to Injuns, and I ain’t ever heard nothin’ about some still hidin’ up in these woods.”
“Then you’re not from around here, are you?” Thor asked quietly. “You can heed my words or ignore ’em. The choice is yours.”
“I’m quick enough with a rifle. I ain’t scared of no Injuns—”
“Hey.” Thor raised his hand in mock defense, silencing the other man. “Your rifle probably can take care of one of them. If there’s only one, you more than likely won’t have a thing to worry about. I heard some birdcalls that sounded a might suspicious a while back. Maybe it wasn’t the old chief and his braves. All I know is I’m gettin’ out of these woods as fast as I can. I came up here with my full head of hair, and I aim to keep it.”
“Which way was the calls?” The bounty hunter looked from side to side. His head jerked wildly as if he heard whistles zigzagging overhead.
Thor bit back a cynical grin. The bastard didn’t mind hunting scared, unarmed people, but when he could be marked as prey, he was ready to turn tail. Damn coward. “They sounded north of here, but that could have been a trick. You never can tell with Indians.”
“I didn’t hear nothin’ on my way up here. Y’suppose they’d circle ’round?”
“It’s not likely. I imagine if you hit the trail hard and go back toward Canton, you’d outrun ’em. They don’t pounce on the main road. They usually get their game off the beaten path, so to speak. Better hurry though. It’ll be nightfall before you know it.”
“Ain’t that the truth!” The man spat another mouthful of brown juice then tipped his hat to Thor. He turned and took off as if the hounds of hell were yapping at his heels. The echo of snapping twigs crackled in the woods.
Thor watched the man’s retreat. Only when the sounds of the other man’s departure grew quiet did Thor move. Wary of calling out to the children, he pushed quickly up the trail. His heart beat erratically in his chest as his worry increased with each step. When he didn’t spot them immediately, he feared that his trick backfired. If the bounty hunter had a partner, Thor would never forgive himself. I have to find those children!
Tossing the branch to the ground, he covered the mile with the fluid gracefulness he once used on the football field. His muscles soared at the unexpected use. Energy surged through his body.
His feet sidestepped rocks and leapt over fallen logs. He ignored all of it, concentrating only on the path. The children were within earshot when Willow gave him directions to the Brown place. He hoped when he silently told them to keep going, they headed for Brown’s spread and not for some obscure hiding place in the woods. Otherwise, it might take hours to find them.
The endless sea of maples, dogwoods, and oaks halted. At the clearing, he paused to catch his breath. A well-traveled road stretched and curved from the east, leading to a two-story farmhouse. The wagon he unloaded yesterday sat in front of a medium-sized barn.
Quickly, he scanned the house for the sign Willow said would mark Brown’s home. Sure enough, it was there! White bricks bordered the top section of the chimney as a signal to runaways that they could find temporary sanctuary there. He breathed a sigh of relief, but doubts lingered.
The homestead vibrated with an eerie silence. Nothing moved or stirred. Thor edged away from the woods, crossed the road and headed for the house. As he walked, he glanced around. Where were the horses, the chickens, and whatever else the Reverend kept on his place? Hell, where was Brown or his wife, Olivia? Why was it so quiet?
He started to go to the front door, changed his mind, and swerved to the right. He peered inside a window and nearly jumped a foot when a hand clamped over his shoulder.
“No, need to look any further. God’s lost sheep have been found, my boy. Like a good shepherd, you followed the right path. Now come with me. We have much to do.”
“Like what?” Thor allowed the reverend to pull him away from the window and lead him to the barn. “The wagon’s empty. What do you want from me now?”
“You’re brash. I like that.” Chuckling, Brown gave Thor a hard pat on his back. “True, the wagon’s empty, but I could use some help in here. There’s a meeting tonight, and this place could use a good cleaning.”
“You’ve got to be kidding!” Thor exclaimed as they stepped inside.
The barn was much larger inside than its outside appearance. For the most part, the space was clean. However, a few piles of horse dung littered the walkway. Thor’s stomach turned at the smell. He wasn’t sure which smelled worse, horse droppings or squealing pigs?
Frowning, he gave Brown a hard look. “I suppose you expect me to do something with that.”
Brown laughed again. “I take care of my own mess, son. I want you to check the kerosene in the lanterns and make sure there’s enough. I also want you to listen because what I have for you isn’t meant for the rest of the flock that will be gathering here tonight.”
“Wait a minute before you keep going on with the code words, there’s something I need to know.”
The older man folded his hands across his chest. “I’m listening. What’s on your mind?”
“I just want to make sure for my own peace of mind that the kids got here safely. Nat, Clay and Charity are here, right?” His eyes met Brown’s green-eyed gaze head on. The stubborn set of his jaw demanded a straight answer.
Brown dipped his head in compliance. “They made it here. Olivia is tending to them now, feeding them, and giving them proper clothing.”
“Good.” Another sigh of relief passed from Thor’s lips. “I sent them ahead without me. I wasn’t sure if they made it. Will they be safe during the meeting?”
“No one allowed on my ground would harm a hair on their heads,” Reverend Brown vowed. “Now are you ready to hear my message for you?”
Thor nodded. “I’m ready, but I think I know what it is. You want me to help on the Underground Railroad, and if that’s it, consider me enlisted. Just tell me what you want me to do.”
* * *
“You won’t rest until he returns, will you?”
Willow let the curtain fall and turned from the window. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she shrugged. “I suppose not. He should have come back by now. I don’t know what could be keeping him.”
“Maybe you should go to the reverend’s to see if Thor and the children made it there safely.”
“I can’t leave you alone. Your baby could arrive at any moment, and you shouldn’t be alone when the pains start.” She went to the stove. The warming stew claimed her attention. As she stirred the flavorful dinner, sh
e added, “I’ll stay with you until Mr. Anders returns and then I’ll leave.”
Eva nodded and went back to mending her husband’s shirts. Willow watched her friend for a moment. Creating a home and raising a family consumed Eva’s world. The worry over whether or not the child growing inside her would arrive safely was the only negative thought to enter Eva’s mind. She never lived in fear with Anders by her side.
Willow didn’t begrudge Eva for her content life. If the world were a simpler place, perhaps her focus could be on the joys of taking care of a family. Since the world wasn’t simple for her, she mustn’t fill her mind with idle thoughts of what ifs. She must reconcile herself to the present.
Willow returned to the stew. The meal didn’t require further attention from her. In another hour or so, it would be ready. She covered the pot with its lid and joined Eva at the table. Sifting through the pile of clothing, she found another shirt of Anders in need of repair.
Neither woman spoke. A companionable silence filled the one-room cabin. Mending was a mindless task for Willow. Her fingers looped the needle in and out of the material. When one hole was patched, she searched for the next piece to sew. This repetitious movement gave Willow the freedom to expand on her earlier thoughts of liberation for her people.
For weeks, her spirit felt restless, as if some monumental occurrence was on the verge of overpowering her. Reverend Brown often said when the good Lord had a mission for a body, He’d give a warning with a strong stirring in the person’s bones. In her youth, Willow did not understand. Now her stomach fluttered, her flesh tingled, and her mind burned. If the good Lord didn’t have something special in store, she didn’t know what was wrong with her. Something extraordinary was on the horizon, and if she searched her mind hard enough, she’d figure it out.
A fleeting glimpse in her mind of dark blue eyes and a ruggedly handsome face mingled with a rich, deep voice invaded her ruminating.
Thor.
“Blessed be!” she muttered under her breath.
Love Lasts Forever Page 7