The Long Road Home Romance Collection

by Judi Ann Ehresman

  The two women left the bedroom together. Deidre turned back at Jeddy’s doorway. “You boys should get your clothes on and get washed. Breakfast will be ready before you know it.”

  “We will, Momma.” Jeddy was quick to obey.

  “We will, Momma.”

  Deidre stuck her head in the doorway in time to see the two boys giggling at Daniel’s imitation of his friend. She grinned as she walked to the kitchen. “That Daniel is getting to be quite a tease.”

  “Is he mimicking Jeddy again?”

  Deidre smiled. “It really is so precious.”

  “Hmmm, I’m just worried he will carry it too far.” Mandy’s brows were drawn together.

  “I will talk to Jeddy about teaching him respect. It might be much easier learnin’ it from his friend.”

  “That’s good, but I’ll have a talk with Daniel also. Or perhaps Ethan should.”

  Deidre hung the dish towels on the peg beside the cupboard while Mandy finished wiping the table and spread the cloth on it. Deidre brought the jar of flowers for the center of it and was picking out the dying flowers as Mandy threw the dishpan of water on the flowers outside the back door.

  “Guess they don’t need the water so much today, but the lye soap will help keep the bugs off the leaves.” Mandy wiped the dishpan and hung it on its peg on the side of the cupboard.

  Deidre started for the back door, scooping Christy into her arms as she went. “We’ll go to the shed and bring the garden tools if you and Callie want to go ahead and head for the garden.”

  She walked down the path to the shed that Ethan had built near the gardens, breathing in the freshly washed air. The ground was soft enough to be easy to work today, but not pure mud. Deidre couldn’t help humming as she walked, and soon Christy was humming, too, albeit a different tune altogether. Deidre grinned and kissed the baby’s tender neck, making her giggle. She felt as light as a feather today. Deidre couldn’t help thinking that perhaps Delaney would receive a letter today.

  Chapter 27

  Delaney had stepped outside the front door to shake the breakfast crumbs out of the tablecloth when she heard what sounded like a horse and carriage. She stood still and listened carefully, and soon she was certain it was coming their way. However, she knew it was not coming from the direction of the Evanstons’ home but from the direction of the town.

  Indoors the Browning family was chattering and scurrying around cleaning up from breakfast and making preparations for their day of chores. Delaney knew there was too much commotion for them to hear the visitors coming. She never knew why she stood there watching instead of telling the family, but something held her to the spot until the carriage came into view.

  A large black man was driving the carriage and the couple inside looked amazingly like her dear friends, the Traehdniks. How many couples had that color of hair? She was frozen to the spot until she was sure. It really was!

  Throwing the tablecloth over her arm, she ran to meet the carriage. As soon as it stopped, Miss Sue Ellen jumped down as though she was still a teenager, and the two women hugged and cried. Mr. Wally stood slightly behind his wife, leaning on his cane and grinning as though he had conquered the world.

  Delaney greeted Mr. Wally warmly too, just as the Negro came around the back corner of the carriage. “Jeremiah! Oh, you came! Oh, Jeremiah, I didn’t know you all were coming. I am so glad to see you.” She was jumping up and down and clapping her hands.

  Soon the Brownings became aware that someone had come and they all came outside to greet the visitors. Breathlessly Delaney explained and introduced them all, while Edna invited them all in for coffee.

  As they sat around the table, they told the story of their trip in response to Delaney’s letter. Sue Ellen explained about their rush to get ready for the journey and forgetting to let them know they were coming.

  Finally Ned said what Jeremiah had been longing to hear. “Let’s not waste these people’s time. Let’s take them over to the Evanstons’ so they can see Deidre and Jedediah. We’d all like to be there to witness this, but I really think these young people need to meet without a crowd. Why don’t Mother and I stay home with the children while the rest of you go?” Edna looked at her husband for his opinion.

  Ned turned to Delaney. “You know the way by now, don’t you? Why don’t you go with them and the rest of us will stay here? You can tell us all about it later.”

  Jeremiah looked at Mr. Wally, who spoke slowly. “Well, then, we’d best be on our way. I know that Jeremiah has waited a long time for this day, and I trust he will not be disappointed.”

  There were several mutterings of affirmation while the Traehdniks rose to their feet. Sue Ellen tilted her head toward Mrs. Norman. “Before we leave the area, we must have some time to visit together, too.”

  Mrs. Norman grinned. “Yes, my friend, I look forward to visiting with you as well.” She gestured toward the doorway, where Jeremiah stood with his hat in his hands. “But now is not the time.”

  Everyone laughed merrily, while Jeremiah ducked his head. Ned went over and patted Jeremiah’s large shoulder. “You’ve waited a long time for this day, son. I’d be in a hurry myself. And I do pray it will be a day of success for you.”

  The carriage they had rented was light, and the horse was a lively young filly that loved to trot. Jeremiah wanted to make the horse run but tried to be thankful for the lively trot. The same prayer went over and over in his mind: Please, God…Please, God…Please, God!

  Delaney and the Traehdniks were busily talking and listening as they each shared what had happened in their lives since they had seen each other. Jeremiah tried to listen. He really was very happy for Delaney to have this opportunity. He knew she loved the Traehdniks and longed to help all the Negroes at Rose Hill to become educated so they could have a good life if they should ever leave Rose Hill Plantation.

  Jeremiah also was pleased that Delaney was learning so much so that Jedediah could have a good education when he brought his wife and son home with him. He smiled as he thought of his nice little home at Rose Hill. And he thought of the community of dear friends with whom he worked and lived. He was eager to show his Deidre and Jedediah to them all and eager to have them where he could care for them.

  “It’s not far now!” Delaney seemed almost as excited as he was.

  He turned to smile at her and saw the eagerness on Mr. Wally’s and Miss Sue Ellen’s faces. Thank You, God, he prayed in his heart. So much of his life he had been alone or afraid. It was more wonderful than he could express to know he was loved and safe. And then he also prayed, Thank You, God, for healing Mr. Wally. It is good to see him almost back to normal once again.

  “Can you see it?” Delaney sounded like a small child in her eagerness. “Can you see the clearing? Their house is just around that bend. They’ve probably heard us already.”

  Mandy heard the carriage soon after she started working in the flower garden. Jeddy and Daniel were playing on the front porch. Callie wandered around the clearing, but soon heard the commotion and began running for her mother. Mandy scooped up the baby and stood watching while she rubbed her hands on her apron. Deidre and Christy had not yet returned from the garden shed.

  It didn’t sound like the Brownings’ horses and wagons. And it couldn’t be the Brownings, because no one was singing. While Mandy was thinking this, Ethan came around the house and walked over to where she was standing. She eyed him questioningly, but he looked puzzled too.

  “I can’t think who it would be, Mandy, but I guess we’ll find out soon enough.”

  Mandy was thankful for his presence and remembered with a shudder how she had felt when the stranger had come through the woods years ago to tell her that Ethan was dead. She gazed at his thoughtful face again and smiled at him. He gave her waist a slight squeeze as the horse and carriage came into view.

  Mandy was disappointed when she didn’t recognize the carriage or the people inside, but she was still happy to have visitors. When she lo
oked again more carefully, she recognized Delaney. But who were the others? Before she had much time to think about it, they had stopped and were climbing out of the carriage. Ethan had taken the horse’s bridle to tie it to the fence.

  Delaney quickly spoke. “Mandy, Ethan, this is Mr. and Mrs. Traehdnik from Rose Hill Plantation where I live, and this is Jeremiah!”

  Since Jeremiah was standing politely behind the others, Ethan and Mandy reached to shake the Traehdniks’ hands first. But almost simultaneously they looked up at the tall black man. When he smiled at them, they both gasped. He was obviously an older, much larger version of Jedediah. Mandy’s hands flew to her face as tears began to stream down her cheeks.

  The Traehdniks quickly stepped aside as Mandy reached for Jeremiah’s hand. “Oh, my…you must be Jeremiah!”

  When he nodded, Mandy quickly looked toward the porch, where the two boys were watching the visitors from behind the railing. Mandy turned back to Jeremiah and laid her finger across her lips. She wanted him to see Deidre first, but he had already seen the boys. He looked back at Mandy, then at his son again as tears trickled down his dark cheeks.

  “Come.” Mandy took his hand. “Come, and I will take you to her.”

  The others stood back silently smiling as Mandy led Jeremiah around the house and down the path to the garden shed. Just before they reached it, they heard Deidre humming. Turning the corner in the path, Jeremiah stopped dead in his tracks as he stood face-to-face with his wife.

  Mandy scooped Christy out of Deidre’s arms as the couple continued to stare at one another. Swiftly turning, Mandy hurried back to the house to welcome their other guests.

  Chapter 28

  Deidre did not move, staring at the big man who stood in the path in front of her. Her heart leaped as she realized it was not her imagination. It truly was Jeremiah, and he looked just as she remembered. She reached one hand to touch his cheek. The tears brimming in his eyes overflowed.

  With trembling hands, Jeremiah gently cupped her face and gazed deeply into her eyes. “Deidre. Is it really you? I was afraid to hope.” His voice was no more than a whisper.

  She didn’t speak. She couldn’t speak, for her heart was overflowing. At last she whispered back, “Jeremiah, my Jeremiah. God has brought you to me.” And with all the longing she had stored up all these years, she embraced him.

  Deidre had no idea how long they stood there, together, wrapped in each other’s arms. She only knew, once again, the contentment she’d always felt as she nestled close to Jeremiah and felt his heart beating joyously for her.

  At last she drew back and touched his lips with her finger. “Come with me. Let’s sit by the stream and talk a bit before I take you to meet Jedediah.”

  He followed her as she walked down the well-worn path to the gurgling stream. They sat under the spreading boughs of a large maple tree and told of their experiences as briefly as they could.

  Jeremiah explained to Deidre about Mr. Wally buying him at the auction and taking the chains off right away. He told of the kind Traehdnik family and the way they bought slaves regularly at the auction so they could free them. Deidre marveled that there were truly some good people who bought slaves at that auction. Jeremiah explained to her about the way the Traehdniks allowed each slave to purchase their freedom and to earn a wage if they wanted to work at the plantation. And that their work in turn enabled the family to purchase more slaves and that they could then earn their freedom and so on. He told how they worked to educate the Negroes so they could earn a wage and live independently when they left the plantation.

  Deidre shared her experiences at Devil’s Bend and why she had felt the urgency to leave with their son. She told of the long, long walk they had taken to finally arrive here on that snowy May day, and of Mandy finding her and offering her a home. She told about her life here with the Evanstons and how happy they were together.

  Together they marveled at how God had worked in both of their lives in the past six years to bring them to this point.

  Deidre sighed. “It makes me think of the verse in Romans that says God works all things together for our good if we love Him. Even the bad things we went through in the past served to bring us to this place. God is always faithful to keep His promises—even when it seems impossible!” Again Deidre snuggled tightly against Jeremiah’s chest, and he had to lower his head to hear all that she said.

  In a little while Deidre jumped to her feet and grabbed his hands. “Come, Jeremiah. You must meet your son. He looks just like you. And his heart is just like yours, too.”

  They hurried up to the cabin and entered through the back door to find the others all drinking coffee and eating cookies around the table. Jedediah was sitting silently beside Daniel on a bench at the back of the table. Both heads swiveled to stare at Jeremiah soberly; then Daniel looked at his friend.

  Deidre greeted everyone and then turned to Jedediah. “Jeddy, come and meet your daddy.”

  Jedediah stood obediently and started toward his mother. Daniel stood with his friend and stayed by his side until Mandy lifted Daniel suddenly into her arms. While she was standing, she looked at the others and said, “Why don’t we move out to the front porch where there is a breeze and continue our visit out there?”

  Everyone was quick to agree. Chairs scooted noisily on the wooden floor as they hurried to give Jeremiah and Deidre and Jeddy time alone.

  The door stood open to allow for a breeze, but the little family finally reunited didn’t even notice.

  “Jeddy,” Deidre said softly, “this is your daddy that I said you’d meet someday.”

  Jeddy put his hand into the large hand of his father and regarded him solemnly. “I am pleased to meet you, sir. I have done my best to take care of Momma for you.”

  Jeremiah grinned. “Looks like you’ve done a mighty fine job of it, too, young man. I’m glad I could trust you to care for her so.”

  There was a slight pause while Jeddy looked first at his daddy and then at his momma. Then, addressing his daddy, he said, “Are you goin’ to live here with us now?”

  Jeremiah glanced quickly at Deidre. “Well,” he spoke slowly, “we will for sure live together somewhere—either here or back at Rose Hill Plantation.” He looked again at Deidre. “Your momma and I have to discuss where we’ll live.”

  “But if we move away, how will I take care of Daniel? He’s my friend, and I must take care of him and teach him right and wrong.”

  “Ya know, Son, we’ll pray about it, and God will show us what is the right thing to do. God loves Daniel, too, and will want what is best for him as well as what is best for us.”

  “Yes, Daddy,” Jeddy said confidently. “That’s what Momma and I always do. We will pray about it.”

  Ethan had built a large home, and now with the extra wing for Deidre it was quite spacious. He and Mandy had invited the Traehdniks and Delaney to stay with them a few days until Jeremiah and Deidre knew what they would do.

  The next morning Jeremiah awakened early. The sun had not yet risen, and the birds were silent still. He slipped out of the bed while Deidre slept soundly and went to the back porch to sit on the steps alone.

  He hadn’t slept well at all. He had been so certain that he should return to finish his commitment at Rose Hill and perhaps to stay there and continue working to free more Negroes from their bondage. And yet, how could he take his son away from the only home he could remember and from his dear friend? How could he pull Deidre away from Mandy? They were obviously closer than sisters. What was the right thing to do?

  He sat with his elbows on his knees, his head in his hands, cradled in the darkness of the predawn. The world was silent around him, and he could smell the rich earth and the growing things that surrounded this home. In the hush his heart sought the heart of God.

  He felt a hand on his shoulder. Lifting his head, he realized that the sun was rising, and Mr. Wally had slipped out of the cabin to stand behind him.

  “May I join you, son?”


  “Of course. You’re always welcome. Perhaps you can help me know what is best to do.”

  “Well, Sue Ellen and I have been praying for wisdom for you and for all of us. And she said I should come tell you some things we’ve been discussing.” Jeremiah waited silently while Mr. Wally sat on the step beside him. “Jeremiah, you know that we love you like our own son. We will always consider you to be part of our family. But we think you should stay here with your family instead of taking them back South with us.

  “They are obviously at home here. Mandy and Deidre truly live as sisters as much as Jeddy and Daniel believe they are brothers. We think it would be devastating to pull them away from this home. And you know that Ethan and Mandy are sincere in their invitation to have you live here also.

  “We also believe troubled times are coming soon in the South—especially for the Negroes living there. We have been hearing rumblings, and I believe the treatment you received at the store the other day is only a mild sample of what is to come. I think it could be devastating to take your family into all that when you can live here in Indiana together as a family should. Sue Ellen and I brought all your papers with us, so you and Deidre and Jedediah can truly live here as free people with no fear.”

  Jeremiah was silent while he thought it all over. Finally he spoke. “Mr. Wally, thank you. Thank you for all you’ve taught me. And for trustin’ in some of my ideas and givin’ me the freedom to try them. I thank you for lovin’ us all and for treatin’ us with respect, for believin’ in us and carin’ that our lives are good and fulfillin’ and profitable for us and for others. I’ve never met a man like you before and doubt I ever will again. I thank God regularly that He allowed me to be one of the Negroes you purchased and freed. I will always be indebted to you.

  “As I prayed this morning, I felt I needed to stay here instead of pullin’ my family away from the only real home they’ve ever known. But I didn’t want to break a commitment that I made to you and to all the people livin’ at Rose Hill. And now you come out here and release me. It truly is amazin’ to see the way God works.”