Looking To The Future (#11 in the Bregdan Chronicles Historical Fiction Romance Series)

by Ginny Dye

  She closed her eyes as a vivid memory of Robert sprang to life in her heart and mind. It had been two years ago in this very clearing. He had promised to stay with her for the whole night, blowing gently into her ear as he promised to keep her warm. They had danced and cheered as the meteors rained from the sky, and then cuddled under their blankets until dawn had come. Pain stole her breath as she looked around at the clusters of families. She had seldom felt so alone. It took no effort to imagine her and Robert huddled under blankets, snuggling Bridget close as their daughter peered up at the sky.

  “I saw the Leonid Meteor Shower two years ago.”

  Carrie almost gasped with relief when a voice broke into her memories. She took a slow breath and turned to look at Chooli. Even in the darkness, she could feel the Navajo woman’s excitement radiating through her. She could easily envision her black eyes snapping with the enthusiasm that seemed to infuse everything she did. Ajei, now almost thirteen months old, lay snug against her chest, the little girl’s eyes turned toward the sky solemnly.

  “At Bosque Redondo,” Carrie said gently.

  “Yes,” Chooli agreed. “My people were so miserable, and so many were dying, but for that one night, it seemed anything was possible. Watching the meteors streak across the sky like rain from heaven was a sign to us.” She paused as her mind obviously traveled back to the painful time in the history of her people. “At least, we hoped it was.”

  “And now your people are home again,” Carrie said softly as she thought of the beautiful Navajo homeland that had stolen her heart. It gave her such joy to think of Chooli’s family rebuilding their homes in the sacred land of their people. She felt, more than saw, the wistfulness suffuse Chooli’s body. “You’ll be with them soon,” she whispered. “Spring is not that far away, and then you will be on your way home.”

  “It will take us until the end of next summer to make it home,” Chooli reminded her sadly.

  “Yes,” Carrie agreed, “but when you arrived here, you thought you would never be able to go home again.”

  There was a brief pause, and then Chooli laughed joyfully. “You are right, Carrie. I’m so excited to go home that I forget that sometimes. Will you keep reminding me?”

  “I will,” Carrie promised.

  “There’s one!” someone cried.

  “And another one!”

  Carrie quickly ran over and laid down on the pile of blankets she had prepared next to Susan and Lillian. She lost herself in the splendor of the heavens as they erupted in a show of fiery brilliance.

  *****

  “Mama!” Felicia cried as the first meteors streaked across the sky. “It’s happening! Do you think everyone at home on the plantation is watching the meteor shower tonight?”

  Rose smiled as she looked around at the large group of students and families gathered in a field just outside of the Oberlin campus. “I do,” she assured her. “I’m proud of you for making sure everyone here on campus is watching it tonight.”

  “No one should miss this!” Felicia crowed as more and more white-tailed meteors lit up the sky.

  “Look!”

  “Here comes another one!”

  “I’ve never seen anything so beautiful!”

  Cries erupted from all over the field. Rose smiled as she envisioned the same scene on the plantation. When she looked at Moses, though, her smile faded into concern. There was a broad smile on his face as John and Hope danced around with glee, but the light from the bonfire illuminated the longing in his eyes. She knew he was thinking of the plantation and missing his life there. Her heart ached for him, but they had made a decision as a family to come here. The children were so happy, she loved being a student, and she savored the feeling of safety that she experienced every day.

  “Mama! Dance with me!” Felicia yelled.

  Rose shoved her thoughts down. Remembering Carrie dancing with Felicia two years earlier, she laughed, grabbed her daughter’s hands, and began to twirl around the clearing. She pushed aside any concerns or fears. This was a night to embrace life and joy. It was a night for dancing.

  “Me too, Mama! Me too!”

  Rose reached down to swoop up little Hope, her heart swelling with gladness that her youngest daughter had never experienced fear. She had been too young to remember the attacks on the plantation. All she knew now was playing with other Oberlin children in the tiny yards surrounding their homes. She found herself wishing fiercely that it would never change.

  *****

  Carrie was shivering, even under her layer of blankets, but she could not bring herself to leave the display of meteors that had ignited the sky all night long. Just when she thought perhaps she would go inside where it was warm, another spectacular display of brilliant shooting stars, their tails stretching across the night sky, would make her huddle back down, or get up to dance with some of the children in an attempt to warm up.

  Many wagonloads of people had disappeared into the darkness, but the knowledge that she could be in her warm bed in minutes kept her where she was.

  “I bet my family is watching this,” Chooli murmured. Franklin had long ago taken Ajei back to their snug home on the plantation, but she had remained, joining Carrie, Susan, and Lillian beneath the blankets.

  “I can imagine how beautiful it is over your homeland,” Carrie replied. She thought about the singing and dancing that had erupted from the Navajo when they finally reached home after four years of exile in the Bosque Redondo Internment Camp. It was easy to think of them celebrating the wonder of nature tonight.

  “Carrie…”

  Carrie leaned closer to Chooli, alerted by something in her voice. “What is it?” she asked.

  Chooli glanced around before she spoke, making sure there were no children to overhear her. Susan and Lillian were still in the clearing, but both of them had fallen asleep a short while before. “Do you feel anything?” Chooli finally whispered.

  Carrie sighed. “I was hoping it was just my imagination,” she whispered back. “What do you feel?” Spending so many months with the Navajo had taught her they had a connection with things that most people did not. She didn’t know how to explain it; she just knew it was real.

  Chooli looked sad. “Something bad is happening tonight. I can feel a darkness that I haven’t felt in a long time.”

  Carrie shuddered, and then admitted, “I’ve felt the same thing.” She peered around, wondering if it was time to go into the house. In spite of the men on guard, she knew there could still be danger.

  “I don’t believe it is here,” Chooli said quietly, “but there is danger for people we love.” Her voice grew firmer. “We must be ready to help them.”

  Suddenly, danger or no danger, Carrie longed for the warmth and safety of her home. “Let’s go get something to eat at the house,” she said, urgency tightening her voice. “I believe you when you say we’re safe, but I’m ready to be warm, and the sun is not far from rising.” When she looked toward the horizon, she saw the black beginning to turn a dark blue, heralding the beginning of a new day. “Please come with me.”

  Chooli nodded quickly. “Yes. I will come. It is good for people to be together when there is trouble. Franklin and Ajei will still be sleeping.”

  Carrie reached over to shake Susan and Lillian awake. Determined not to alarm them, she kept her voice light. “Since you can’t see meteors with your eyes closed, I suggest we all go inside where it’s warm for coffee and biscuits. Annie promised she would be up early to feed those of us who stayed up all night.”

  Susan and Lillian yawned and stretched their arms, then stood to roll up their blankets.

  “Hot coffee and Annie’s biscuits slathered with butter are an improvement over cold, hard ground,” Susan said in a sleep-fogged voice. “The meteors were amazing, but I’m definitely ready for something to eat.”

  Lantern light glowing from the kitchen, along with smoke pouring from the kitchen chimney, told Carrie that Annie had kept her promise. Yet, she couldn’t h
elp scouring the woods for movement as the four women walked quickly up the road toward the house.

  “What’s wrong?” Susan asked sharply.

  Carrie’s eyes widened. “What are you talking about?”

  “Oh, don’t even try to pretend,” Susan scolded. “You’re as nervous as a pig in a bacon factory.” She stared toward the woods. “What’s going on?”

  Carrie shook her head. “I don’t know,” she replied honestly. “I have a feeling there has been trouble somewhere tonight. I’m just being careful.”

  Susan stared at her, and then swung her gaze toward Chooli. “Do you feel it, too?”

  Chooli nodded silently.

  No one said anything else, but all four of them walked faster. They were climbing the stairs to the house when the sound of pounding hooves froze them in place. They turned toward the drive, waiting to discover what the night had brought to their door.

  Jeremy and Annie, both alerted by the noise, had joined them on the stairs when the lone rider galloped into view. Carrie knew Jeremy, fully-clothed and wide awake, must have been expecting trouble.

  “We need help at Blackwell Plantation!”

  Carrie started down the stairs toward the man who slid to a stop in front of the house. She recognized him as one of the workers at Blackwell who had been in the clearing tonight with his family. Despite the frigid temperatures, his horse was sweating and blowing hard. They must have run the entire distance.

  Jeremy beat her to him. “What’s happened, Abel?”

  “The vigilantes,” Abel growled. “They attacked Blackwell while we was all over here. There was too many of them for the guards to hold off.” He sucked in his breath before he continued, his narrow face grim with anger and frustration. “They shot three of our men, and set fire to the plantation house. That was after they set fire to the barns. We got all the horses out, but we couldn’t save the barns.”

  “No!” Carrie gasped, her thoughts flying to Louisa and Perry. “Are the men alive?”

  “They be alive,” Abel replied in a thick voice, “but they ain’t doing real good. Mr. Appleton done sent me to get you, Mrs. Borden.”

  “Are Perry and Louisa all right?” Carrie asked anxiously. “And Nathan?”

  “They all be fine,” Abel assured her. “Them coward vigilantes done come and gone before any of us got back to the plantation. They done know we was gonna be gone.”

  “And the house?” Jeremy snapped.

  “There be damage,” Abel reported, “but there was enough men to put the fire out before it destroyed too much. The barns burned because they be saving the house. They shot a few of them vigilantes, but they all got away.”

  Annie had disappeared into the house while they were talking. Now she reappeared with Carrie’s medical bag, a pile of fresh blankets, a large sack, and a tray full of coffee. “You’s got to drink some of this here coffee, Miss Carrie. After being up all night, you’s gonna need it.”

  Jeremy took control. “Susan, take Abel’s horse to the barn to cool it off and give it feed.” He turned to Abel. “You can ride a Cromwell horse back.” He looked at Carrie. “I’m assuming you’ll ride Granite.” He waited for her confirmation, and then continued. “A group of Cromwell men will ride back with you. I’ll be behind you with a wagon. If we need to bring any of the men back to the clinic, we’ll be ready.”

  Carrie barely listened to him finish before she raced toward the barn.

  Miles, alerted to the danger by all the noise, walked out with Granite, along with another gelding. Both were tacked and ready to go, saddlebags attached to both saddles.

  Carrie gave Miles a brief thanks, and then dashed into the office to change into her warmest breeches and add a thick sweater beneath her coat. There would be no blankets to huddle under to cut the chill of the frosty morning, and it would be best if anyone spotting them on the road thought she was a man. She pulled on a thicker pair of leather gloves and crammed a warmer hat down on her head.

  When she ran back outside, Miles handed her a pistol and slid a rifle into her saddle scabbard. Carrie shuddered, but accepted them. She couldn’t help the three men who had been shot if she couldn’t reach them. She slid the pistol in her waistband and sighed with relief when a contingent of ten Cromwell men emerged from the woods and rode up beside her, their faces set and angry.

  Carrie turned to Susan. “Please make sure there are dozens of blankets and pillows in the wagon that Jeremy brings. I suspect I’ll be bringing all three men back to the clinic. I want them to be as comfortable as possible.” Her mind raced as she thought about what she would find on Blackwell. She took comfort from the fact June would be there, but she found herself longing for Polly, and praying the men would live long enough for her to help them.

  Jeremy, as if summoned by her thoughts, appeared at her side. “I’ve sent one of the men for Polly. I’ll bring her in the wagon.”

  “Thank you!” Carrie replied fervently.

  Annie stepped up to her, handing her an additional sack. “I’ll have another one for Polly, but here be the onions and honey I know you’s gonna be wantin’.”

  Carrie kissed her warmly on the cheek. “Thank you, Annie.” She stuffed her saddlebags full, gulping down the hot coffee as she watched Abel polish off several of Annie’s ham biscuits. The man must be exhausted, but his eyes were bright with determination. She knew the men who had been shot, and possibly killed, were his friends.

  “I’m ready,” Carrie announced, as she swung onto Granite’s back. Abel nodded, leapt into his saddle, and took off at a rapid canter on Rocky, his new mount. Granite surged forward, falling into place beside him as the Cromwell men took positions behind and beside them. It was going to be a long day for everyone.

  As they pounded down the road, flocks of quail exploded from the surrounding fields. Crows and ravens added their raucous calls, while sparrows tried to lend a song to the tense morning.

  Carrie tried to focus on the beautiful sunrise, but her thoughts would not settle. She knew the three men who had been shot were already at a distinct disadvantage for survival because of the amount of time they were waiting for care. She prayed June was prepared with a supply of shock remedy. She had taught everyone about it before she left for New Mexico, but trauma could cause even the most capable person to forget what they knew. She wondered who had been shot, but pushed it out of her mind. She would deal with whatever she found when she got there.

  No one talked as they rode. Carrie was aware every man was scanning the road and the woods for concealed danger. The vigilantes, certain help would be on the way to Blackwell Plantation, could well be lying in wait. Would they attack Cromwell Plantation while they were away? Franklin would have every man standing guard. Carrie tried to ease her worries by reminding herself the vigilantes were sure to know that. Abel had reported that some of the vigilantes had been shot, too. That would probably make the rest hole up for a while.

  Puffs of white from their breath hung in the frosty air behind them as they all rode hard. If it had been for another reason, Carrie would have enjoyed the ride. The rising sun glinted off the colorful remnants of leaves, and the thick layer of frost coated everything in sight. It didn’t seem possible that less than two hours ago, she had been watching meteors streak across an inky, peaceful sky. How swiftly life could change.

  Gradually, memories overcame Carrie’s best efforts to hold them at bay. It was impossible not to think about her last wild ride on Granite as she had rushed home, against all advice, to be with Robert as he lay dying. The pounding hooves formed a refrain in her mind. Death is waiting… Death is waiting…

  Carrie scowled and shook off her thoughts. She refused to believe she couldn’t help. She couldn’t, however, keep the images from swarming her mind. Robert’s white face…his anguished eyes as he told her good-bye…the ripping pain as she went into labor… the reality she had lost both Robert and Bridget. Most of the time she could keep the memories at bay, but the frantic dash to reach the inj
ured men triggered everything she had been able to control for the last few months. Tears blurred her eyes, but she blinked hard and swallowed them. She refused to let her emotions diminish her ability to help.

  Carrie was relieved when she saw Abel raise his hand and signal them to stop after an hour of riding. She dismounted quickly, glad to stretch her legs as she led Granite to the stream so he could drink. He stuck his muzzle into the bubbling stream gratefully. Carrie swallowed some of the icy cold water in her canteen, and then hurriedly ate a ham biscuit. Less than five minutes later, they were all back in the saddle, cantering down the road again.

  *****

  Simon was waiting just inside the gates to Blackwell Plantation when they arrived two hours later.

  Carrie took one look at his grim face and felt her heart sink, but she still needed to know. “How bad is it?” she asked, as Simon fell into place beside her.

  “All three of the men took a shot to their abdomen. June has been treating them for shock, but that’s all she knows how to do.”

  Carrie almost groaned with relief. “It was the very best thing she could do,” she assured Simon. “You and I both know soldiers survived for much longer on the battlefield with gunshot wounds if they were treated for shock.”

  Simon grunted. “All these men took bullets in the war, but that doesn’t make getting shot any easier.”

  “No,” Carrie agreed. She was calm now that she had arrived and had a task before her. “Where are they?”

  “Louisa insisted we bring them into the house.”

  Carrie glanced at him. “It’s not too damaged? Abel told us about the fire.”

  “Only a portion of the East Wing caught fire,” Simon informed her. “My men got it out before it went any further. The part we had rebuilt from the fire five years ago wasn’t touched.”