“No, David! Don’t go!”
“I have to, Elizabeth. I have to find out what is happening. It’s my duty.”
“But we are partners,” she reminded him. “Your duty is mine. I’m coming with you.”
He clearly did not like her plan, but he realized leaving her alone was no more safe than taking her with him. “All right,” he said, “come on.” Taking her hand, they made their way to the street. People were running in all sorts of directions, some with wild looks in their eyes. David grabbed a paperboy as he sped past. “What happened?” he asked.
The young boy’s mouth ran fast. “That man over yonder tried to pull down an American Flag. A Yankee up and shot him!”
“What Yankee? A soldier?”
The boy shook his head. “No. The owner of the house!”
Elizabeth gasped. “Citizens shooting each other?”
“Yes, miss. I’m afraid so...”
David let the boy go, and the two of them hurried over to where a group of locals had apprehended the alleged gunman. With his hands now helpless behind his back, two derringers lay at his feet. He was steadily cursing those who had subdued him and the scoundrel who’d dared to touch his flag.
“Do you recognize him?” David asked her.
Elizabeth gave the man a good long look, but she did not know him or any of the other men around him. She shook her head, then turned. Just a few feet from them was another crowd. A pair of legs peeked out. The cobblestones around them were stained with blood.
“David, look!”
He turned, as well, then immediately flew to the wounded man.
Elizabeth’s hands were shaking, but the instinct to assist outweighed her fear. She tried to press her way through the crowd. One of the men stopped her. “You don’t wanna be seein’ this, miss. This ain’t no place for a lady.”
“Let me go!” she demanded. “I was a nurse—perhaps I can help.”
Reluctantly the man released her. Elizabeth wiggled in to where the victim lay. David was already bent over him. Still alive, the man was writhing in pain, yet those about him had done nothing to assist. Kneeling alongside David, Elizabeth realized she recognized the wounded man.
Mr. Wallace!
“Call for a surgeon!” David quickly commanded the crowd.
“Already did,” someone said, “but it ain’t no use—not with a chest wound like that.”
“That might indeed be the case, but we can’t just let him die.” David quickly drew back Wallace’s saturated shirt. The wound was worse than Elizabeth had expected.
Oh, dear Lord, please... “W-what sh-should we do?” she asked.
“Let him alone,” one man from the crowd said. “He’s a traitor. He deserved what he got.”
David ignored him. “We’ve got to slow down the flow of blood.”
He’d already pressed his handkerchief to Wallace’s chest, but the blood was soaking through. David’s hands were turning crimson. Elizabeth promptly tore the bottom portion of her outer petticoat into strips, then placed her hands alongside David’s. Though pale and growing weaker by the moment, Elijah and Elisha’s former master recognized both of them.
“You...” he said to David, “you write this. You tell ’um what happens when Unconditionals have their way...tell ’um they’ll pay...they’ll pay...”
“That may be, old man,” one of the onlookers said, “but I’d rather this land be laid to waste than give it over to the likes of traitors like you.”
Elizabeth chilled at such a statement. David responded in exasperation.
“Enough!” he shouted. “Get back!”
Mr. Wallace’s eyes remained fixed on his, a defiant look filling them. “You tell ’um. They’ll be sorry. They’ll pay...”
“Wallace,” David said, “listen to me. You don’t have much time. God—”
“You tell ’um...”
“Wallace...”
Elizabeth’s heart was pounding. She knew David was trying to speak of eternity, yet the wounded man’s only interest was in condemning all those around him.
David continued to try. “Wallace, can you hear me? Listen to me—”
“They’ll...pay... They’ll all...”
The physician had arrived, and upon his orders, she and David backed away, allowing him room to work. He was too late, however. With a curse and a final threat, the dry goods merchant breathed his last.
“He’s the one paying now,” the agitated shooter sneered. A few others around him laughed.
In the wake of such callousness, such hatred, Elizabeth was about to give into tears. One glance at David, however, kept her from doing so. That lost look was in his eyes, the same one she had seen the night Jeremiah died. She desperately wanted to comfort him.
Very quietly she took his hands in hers, then wiped them clean with what remained of her makeshift bandages.
“I should have done more,” he said.
“You did your best. Even the doctor—”
“No. Before that. I should have done more. I was so focused on Elijah and Elisha that I lost my focus here. Wallace is dead. I did nothing to tell him about Christ. He said those boys were ‘cursed by God.’ I treated him just the same.”
Elizabeth didn’t know what to say to that. The sad truth was they could do nothing about Mr. Wallace now.
Elizabeth felt as if they were trapped in a nightmare, one from which they could not escape. The odor of gunpowder, sweat and blood permeated the air. Neither of them said anything for the longest time.
When David finally did speak, his thoughts were of her. “We are closer to the paper than your home. I’ll take you there, then I will see to your family.”
As scared and as sickened as she was by what had just happened, she did not want to separate, especially now. “Let me come with you.”
“No. You’ll be safer at the office.”
A squad of federal soldiers had arrived. They quickly took the gunman into custody and saw to Wallace’s body. David led her back to the office. Mr. Carpenter was standing in the middle of the newsroom when they arrived. He took one look at their soiled, tattered clothing, and his eyes flew open wide.
“What happened?” he asked. “Are you all right? We heard the shots. I sent Russell and Detwiler to investigate.”
Elizabeth’s stomach rolled at the thought of what she’d just witnessed, but she was determined to keep her composure. If I give in to tears, David will worry about me, and he doesn’t need anything else to trouble him now.
Dutifully, he helped her to her desk. Then the two men headed into Mr. Carpenter’s office and shut the door behind them. Only then did Elizabeth realize how badly she was still trembling.
Her coworkers noticed it, as well. Mr. Keedy brought her a glass of water. Even Mr. Collins showed concern. “Shall we call for a doctor, Miss Martin?”
“No. That’s not necessary, but thank you.”
The staff let her be as Elizabeth picked up her pencil. With quick lines, she sketched, hoping the task would settle her nerves and help her process all that she and David had just witnessed.
She was so grateful that her closest friends were not in town. Sam and Julia were still in Philadelphia. Julia’s parents had gone only this week to visit them. A letter from Emily had come yesterday. Evan had been granted a few days liberty, and they and the Davises had gone to the seashore. Sally Hastings and her father had left for several days’ respite from the summer heat on their family farm north of the city. Rebekah was in Annapolis.
But what of my own family? Elizabeth couldn’t help but wonder. What of David? What will become of us all if the Confederate army invades Baltimore?
Three years ago she would have rejoiced to learn they were advancing upon her city. Now she shuddered. Those men will not bring libe
rty to Maryland. They will bring about its destruction.
“I will never leave thee nor forsake thee...”
Even as the verse passed through her mind, Elizabeth could not shake the feeling of impending doom that was surely about to fall upon them all.
* * *
David apologized to Peter for being so befuddled.
“There is no shame, man. You aren’t the first former soldier whose hands shake at the sight of blood. Although I daresay, it may have been Miss Martin’s close proximity to the danger which troubles you more.”
Wallace’s murder disturbed him deeply, but just as terrible was the thought that Elizabeth could have met that very same bullet had the gunman’s aim gone awry.
If the local citizens insist upon turning on one another, what will happen if the rebel army arrives?
He’d been determined to defend her should it come to such, but he realized now what little he could actually do to protect her. He wanted Elizabeth and her family out of this city, immediately. He told Peter the situation. “Miss Martin was once engaged to my brother. It is my duty to make certain she and her family—her mother and sister—are safe. They have no other living male relatives in town.”
Great concern flashed through his editor’s eyes. “Go,” he said immediately. “See to their safety at once.”
“Thank you. If you don’t object, then I’ll bring the ladies here for now,” David said, “until I can determine a better place for them.”
“My mother and father have a home on the York Road, just north of the city. The ladies could lodge there. I was planning on riding out there myself to make certain they have all they need in case travel in and out of the city becomes restricted. I could escort Miss Martin and her family there personally.”
David would rather put them on the train for Boston, but he knew the women would never be willing to go that far. So he agreed with Peter’s suggestion. The home would at least be away from the most volatile neighborhoods and out of range of Fort McHenry’s guns.
The moment he stepped out of the office, Elizabeth caught his eye. She looked as pale and as troubled as she had when he’d first returned to Baltimore. “I’m going to get your family,” he promised.
The look she gave him made him dare to believe for just a moment that her feelings were more than concern. “Please, be careful,” she whispered.
“I will.”
David hurried off to the Martin home. The shutters were closed up tight. When Mrs. Martin peeled back the door, worry lined her face. Trudy was close to her side. “Where is Elizabeth?” they both asked.
“She’s at the paper, finishing her sketches.”
Her mother shut the door behind him and locked it once again. “People have been roaming the streets for hours,” she said. “Some look to be up to no good. Is the situation as dire as it seems?”
“I’m afraid it is.”
Trudy noticed the stains on his coat. Her jaw dropped. “Is that blood?”
“Yes.” He told them what had happened, giving as little detail as possible. He then told them of Peter’s offer. Trudy seemed most eager to accept. Her mother, however, hesitated.
“I don’t know. Please, tell your Mr. Carpenter I am grateful for his offer, but for now I think perhaps we should remain in our own home.”
David suspected he knew the reason why. “Ma’am, respectfully, I do not believe that wise. It’s not safe here. If George does come, there will be no joy-filled family reunion.”
“The guns, Mama,” Trudy added, sounding like a frightened little girl. “Remember what the commander at Fort McHenry once said? If there was any trouble in this city, they would fire upon our neighborhood.”
At that, Mrs. Martin was persuaded. She told Trudy to gather her things and Elizabeth’s, as well.
The women wasted no time. David was glad, for the streets were growing rowdier by the moment. When they reached the paper, Elizabeth met them and immediately embraced her mother and sister. When Peter came to speak of the arrangements, David pulled Elizabeth into the editor’s office. He wanted to tell her himself what was going on.
“I want you to go with Peter. You and your family will be safe at his parents’ home.”
She shook her head. “No. I want to stay here. You’ll need the sketches to—”
“We’ve already enough sketches to run the rest of the week.”
“But I want to stay with you.”
His heart stirred, but he would not be swayed by sentiment. David would do what was best for her safety. “Elizabeth, you remember what happened here with the riot.”
“Yes.”
“Such things could very well happen again—and much worse. We’ve seen the beginning of it just now. I want you to go with your family.”
“Where will you go?” she asked.
“To the civilian defense force. More than likely I shall be working all night.”
Her eyes grew wide with fear. “Working how?” she asked. “With a pen or a musket?”
“Excuse me?”
“Will you take up arms to participate in the defense of the city?”
She looked literally sick. He felt very close to it, as well. “God forbid it come to that, Elizabeth, but if this city is invaded, I will defend it. I will defend you.”
Her green eyes flooded with tears. As she broke down completely, David pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her tightly.
“Ah, my girl, don’t cry. Pray. Pray for this city—pray for your brother’s army, as well.”
“It isn’t George I’m thinking of,” she said. “It’s you.”
His heart was pounding, his ears thudding. When Elizabeth looked up at him, searching for hope, for comfort, David did not respond with words. Instead he did what he had longed to do from the moment he first met her. He pulled her into a kiss.
Chapter Fourteen
All thoughts of what had just happened to Wallace and the impending attack vanished from David’s mind the moment his lips met hers. There was only him. There was only her, and they were together. When they finally parted, Elizabeth was breathless and blushing like a bride.
My bride. David could not hold back any longer. The words he had vowed to keep to himself came spilling out. “Elizabeth, I love you. I have loved you from the moment I first laid eyes upon you.”
The flush on her cheeks faded. A look of confusion took its place. “The moment you first laid eyes upon me? You mean...at the hospital?”
He realized what he’d just done. He swallowed hard. It was too late to turn back now. “Yes,” he admitted. “At the hospital.”
“Before Jeremiah?”
“Yes.”
The joy she’d shown vanished completely. Stunned wasn’t word enough to describe her expression. As he knew she would, she quickly put the details together. “You told Jeremiah you feared he’d be sent to the battlefield—”
“That was true.”
“But that wasn’t the whole story, was it?”
For a moment he was tempted to lie, but he knew that would only make things worse. The damage had been done. “No,” he said. “You’re right. It wasn’t the whole story.”
“My engagement ring...”
He blinked. How do you know about that?
“Our partnership—”
“Elizabeth, you are a talented artist—”
“And you encouraged me on that basis alone?”
He didn’t answer. He didn’t have to. The truth had revealed itself with his kiss and now in her response.
It was not me she was so eagerly embracing.
For the longest time, Elizabeth just stood there, her eyes swirling with emotion. David wished she’d say something, anything, even if it was to rail at him in anger. Her silence was killing h
im. He felt lower than a worm.
I have betrayed my brother. I have dishonored her. I had no right to touch her. Forgive me, God. Please, forgive me for everything.
Before David could apologize, the door flew open. In stepped Peter. Realizing he’d just intruded upon a very awkward moment, he froze. Elizabeth immediately flushed crimson and looked down at the floor.
“Rail service will be suspended shortly, Miss Martin,” Peter then said in that matter-of-fact tone of his. “We must be on our way.”
She raised her eyes, looked at David for one brief second, then turned to Peter. “Y-yes. Of c-course. Thank you.” And with that she went to join her family.
David stood for what seemed like an eternity alone in that empty office. What did he do now? What should he do?
Before David could decide anything, Collins stuck his head in the door. Apparently Peter had appointed him as acting editor during his absence.
“There you are,” he said. “I’ve been looking for you. Detwiler and Ross are still out investigating your slain dry goods merchant. Russell is headed out to find out what he can about the approaching rebel cavalry. I want you on the barricades.”
Forcing himself to focus on his present assignment, David grabbed his journal and left. The crowd from earlier had either taken shelter indoors or had gone to volunteer their services to the civilian defense force. The streets were deserted, yet at every barricade David came upon men standing shoulder to shoulder, prepared for whatever may come. Commanding officers forbade him from taking down any detail on location or strength of the fortifications, lest the information become known to the enemy. He was, however, able to confirm that guns had indeed been issued to all loyal men, regardless of the color of their skin.
David hoped they would not have to use them.
As evening fell, all travel in and out of the city was suspended. Trains were grouped together in a secure location within the city and guarded by soldiers in hopes of keeping them out of the hands of the rebel army. Alarm bells continued to ring, and all of Baltimore waited anxiously to see which flag would be flying over the city come morning.
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