by Ginny Dye
Carrie shrugged. “I know who I hope will do it, but I haven’t spoken to her yet. I’ll be meeting with her later tonight.”
“Tell me about her,” Faith invited.
Carrie smiled. “Her name is Carolyn Blakely. She was the first person I met at the Homeopathic College, and she went with me to New Mexico last year.”
Faith’s interest was sincere. “All of those letters you sent when you returned home were fascinating. I remember you talking about Carolyn.”
Carrie envisioned the older woman with salt and pepper hair that topped lively, light blue eyes. “She was invaluable on the trip,” she confessed. “All of my team was wonderful, but Carolyn brought a maturity and steadiness that none of the rest of us had.”
“How old is she?” Faith queried.
“I don’t know for certain, but she is in her mid-fifties.”
“And just finishing school to be a doctor?”
Carrie nodded. “Her husband died a few years back. She had always wanted to be a doctor, so she decided to use this time in her life to do it. I believe the people here would find it easy to trust her.”
Faith nodded thoughtfully, and held Carrie with her direct eyes. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing.”
Carrie blinked innocently. “What do you mean?”
Faith rolled her eyes. “You think I don’t know that you’re trying to put someone in this big old house so I won’t be alone?”
Carrie considered denying it, but grinned instead. “Is it working?”
Faith glared at her for a moment, and then chuckled. “I suppose it is,” she finally said. “I wouldn’t want someone young, but this Carolyn seems interesting.”
Carrie held her breath, wondering if Faith would make the connection that there was about the same age difference as there had been between her and Biddy. She could tell by the soft expression on Faith’s face that she had.
Faith’s eyes darkened as the memories swelled through her. “And she won’t care that she will be living with a black woman?”
“I can assure you she will not,” Carrie said. “It will take her only moments to realize she will be living with a very special woman.” Faith took a sip of tea and turned to stare directly at Biddy’s chair. Carrie held her breath, knowing somehow that Faith was asking permission of her old friend.
Faith nodded her head slowly. “I’m not saying yes, but I’m willing to meet her.”
“That’s wonderful!” Carrie said enthusiastically. Now, she could only hope Carolyn would consider running the clinic here in Moyamensing. They hadn’t talked about Carolyn’s plans when she finished school in the spring. She could be planning on moving to a completely different part of the country.
Faith rolled her eyes. “You think I don’t know you’re trying to put someone in this big old house so I won’t be alone?”
Carrie considered denying it, but grinned instead. “Is it working?”
Faith glared at her for a moment, and then chuckled. “I suppose it is,” she finally said. “I wouldn’t want someone young, but this Carolyn seems interesting.”
Carrie held her breath, wondering if Faith would make the connection that there was about the same age difference as there had been between her and Biddy. She could tell by the soft expression on Faith’s face that she had.
Faith’s eyes darkened as the memories swelled through her. “And she won’t care that she will be living with a black woman?”
“I can assure you she will not,” Carrie said firmly. “It will take her only moments to realize she will be living with a very special woman.” Faith took a sip of tea, and then turned to stare directly at Biddy’s chair. Carrie held her breath, knowing somehow that Faith was asking permission of her old friend.
Faith nodded her head slowly. “I’m not saying yes, but I’m willing to meet her.”
“That’s wonderful!” Carrie said enthusiastically. Now, she could only hope Carolyn would consider running the clinic here in Moyamensing. They had not talked about Carolyn’s plans when she finished school in the spring. She could be planning on moving to a completely different part of the country.
*****
Sarge was right on time, and Carrie was waiting for him. The snow had stopped, just as Carrie predicted, but there was a fresh bank of clouds on the horizon that had her concerned. Combined with the shift in the wind, which was now blowing in from the west, she was fairly certain they were in for a large snowstorm. The flakes this morning had been nothing but a harbinger of what was coming.
Sarge was staring at the sky, too. “What do you think, plantation lady?”
Carrie chuckled as she climbed into the carriage, and then turned to give Faith a final wave. She hated the forlorn look that had already settled in her friend’s eyes, but if all went well, that would be changing soon. “I think we have just enough time to get back to my house,” she said cheerfully. “But,” she added, “tonight is going to bring us some real snow.”
Sarge pulled his hat down further on his head, picked up the reins, and urged the horse forward. “Let’s go, girl. We’ll all be warm soon if you get us back quickly.” The mare pricked her ears as if she understood, and took off at a brisk trot.
Carrie snuggled down into the blankets. She’d had enough talk for one day. All she wanted to do now was think about her conversation with Faith, and finalize the plans they had discussed.
Chapter Ten
Marietta hummed contentedly as she carried warm water to the water closet to give the twins their bath. She missed Richmond, but she loved Abby’s house, especially the coal furnace in the basement that kept the house cozy. After living her whole life hauling wood and building fires to keep a house warm, this was sheer luxury. Micah took care of keeping the fires burning in Thomas’ Richmond house, but she had never gotten over feeling guilty about it. Even though Micah was no longer a slave, and was paid well for his job at the Cromwell home, it was still hard for her. She had loved Richmond with all her heart, and missed it, but there was a large part of her that was glad to be back in the North. After fighting so hard for equal rights, and after spending the last four years as a teacher in the war-torn South, her heart was evidently ready for a break.
She poured the water into the basin, and then went into her and Jeremy’s bedroom to fetch the twins. She could hardly believe Marcus and Sarah Rose were already two months old. They were still small, but growing fast. Their little personalities were also becoming quite obvious. She chuckled when Sarah Rose waved her fists in the air as soon as she walked into the room. Her daughter’s dark eyes followed her progress, a toothless grin almost splitting her face. Sounds of delight burst forth.
Marcus, on the other hand, was completely content to lay quietly and watch her. His blue eyes regarded her steadily, but he didn’t make a sound. She might have worried, except for the complete contentment that suffused his face. She couldn’t help but think about how Jeremy and Rose would have compared to each other if they hadn’t been separated at birth.
“Come here, my darling,” she crooned as she swept Sarah Rose into her arms, laughing when the cries of delight from her daughter’s lips grew louder. “It’s time for your bath, little one.”
Marietta frowned as she glanced out the window and saw dusk was falling. Her concern grew as she saw the thick clouds hovering over the city, pressing down lower with each gust of wind that rattled the windowpanes. She hoped Carrie and Jeremy would be home soon. It was obvious the snow would not hold off much longer. All the signs said it would be a big storm; she wanted all her family where they would be safe and warm.
She turned away from the window, undressed Sarah Rose, and lowered her into the bath water. Her daughter waved her arms and her eyes grew wide. Sarah Rose loved her baths. Marcus merely tolerated them with the same calm that seemed to encompass his entire little being.
As Marietta bathed her little girl, she thought about how drastically her life had changed since having the twins. She hoped to go back
to teaching someday, but for now, she was content to be a mother. She was also willing to admit that as much as she missed Richmond, she was happy to not have to constantly worry about what would happen to her children. She wasn’t naïve, however. She knew Sarah Rose, and Marcus by association, would still face bigotry and racism in the North, but she prayed violence wouldn’t accompany it here in Philadelphia.
*****
Carrie drew a deep sigh of relief when Sarge pulled the carriage to a stop in front of the house. “Thank you!” she called. “Now, get back to the stable as fast as you can,” she urged. “I want you and Nellie out of this cold.”
“No more than we do,” Sarge answered with a brief smile. Then he paused. “You be a fine woman, Mrs. Carrie Cromwell Borden. I enjoyed taking you to Moyamensing today.”
Carrie reached up and laid a hand on his arm. “And you are a fine man, Sarge. I’ll be in touch. Before long, I’ll be going to Moyamensing every day. I would love it if you would be my regular driver.”
Sarge nodded, his eyes bright with pleasure. “I would be my honor, ma’am.”
As Carrie waved a hand, turned and ran up the stairs, the first flakes began to fall, swirling in the dim light of the streetlamps that were just beginning to glow.
“You’re home!” Marietta called. “I’m in the kitchen.”
Carrie hung up her hat, coat, and gloves on the coat tree in the foyer, held her hands over the furnace for a few moments, and then dashed to the kitchen. She took a deep breath as she pushed open the door. “Chicken soup,” she said happily. “There is no better food for a cold, snowy night.” She looked around. “Is Jeremy home yet?”
Marietta nodded. “He arrived a few minutes ago. He went up to kiss the twins. I’ve already put them down for the night.”
“Will they sleep through the night?” Carrie asked curiously.
Marietta stared at her with disbelief. “You can’t be serious. I haven’t had a full night of sleep since those two little angels were born. One wakes up crying to be fed. As soon as that one is satisfied, the other one wakes up demanding food. It’s as if they have an inner signal that tells them it’s their turn.” She paused. “I’m not sure I’ll ever know what it means to sleep through the night again.”
Carrie eyed her. “It must not be that bad,” she said unsympathetically. “You look happy.”
Marietta grinned. “I’ve never been happier,” she agreed. “I’m learning how to sleep during nap time.”
Carrie walked over to smell the soup, and then opened the woodstove to peer in at the golden biscuits. “You’re definitely conquering the cooking,” she said. “I’m as spoiled here as I was on the plantation.”
“Better than the food you had on the Santa Fe Trail last year?” Marietta teased.
Carrie made a face. “Hard biscuits and hot mush got old quickly,” she admitted. Then she grinned. “I’m so excited to see everyone tonight. It’s hard to believe it’s been three months since I last saw my team.”
Marietta nodded as she dished up bowls of soup. “Do they know the reason you’re here?” She slid the pan of biscuits out of the oven, smiling her approval at their fluffy perfection.
Carrie shook her head. “I don’t think so. But for tonight, I’m just thrilled to be with all of them again.” She looked out the window at the swirling snow. “If they can make it here,” she said in a worried voice. “I think we’re in for a big storm.”
Marietta raised a brow. “Aren’t these the same people who survived a blizzard on a wagon train?”
Carrie laughed. “Yes, but that wasn’t exactly a choice.”
“Really?” Marietta drawled. “I didn’t see anyone holding a gun to your head to make you decide to travel the Santa Fe Trail in the dead of winter.”
Carrie laughed again. “That’s true, but I’m not sure I would be willing to go out on a night like tonight if I had the choice to stay warm and dry.”
Jeremy pushed into the kitchen. He reached to grab a biscuit, but ducked away when Marietta swatted at him. “How can you deny a starving man?” he protested.
Marietta eyed him. “I’m sure you’ll survive until I get it on the plate,” she retorted.
“Perhaps,” Jeremy conceded. “What can I do to help?”
“Tell me the twins are still asleep, and that I’ll be able to eat a meal in peace.” Marietta placed the bowls of soup on the table as she spoke, and then dumped the biscuits in a basket.
“They were sound asleep when I went in,” Jeremy assured her. “I left the door open so we’ll hear them if they cry.”
Marietta sighed with relief. “You have just earned the right to eat,” she announced happily.
Carrie moaned with pleasure as the first spoonful of soup slid down her throat. “I will forever be grateful that you made Annie teach you how to cook. This is delicious!”
Jeremy stopped spooning soup into his mouth long enough to cut open a hot, steaming biscuit and slather it with butter. “I am a blessed man,” he murmured. “There were times I thought I might starve to death before I reached old age, but you have come around nicely, my dear.”
Marietta scowled at him, but chuckled. “I know my cooking wasn’t the best.”
Jeremy opened his mouth to respond, then shut it again. He merely nodded, a sly grin on his face.
Carrie turned to Jeremy. “I found out something interesting today.” She told them about Sarge, and about Octavius Catto.
Jeremy listened closely. “I’d like to meet him,” he agreed when she finished. “I’m, of course, interested in furthering equal rights, but…” His voice trailed off. “What I really want to do is play baseball!”
Carrie and Marietta laughed.
“Since when?” Marietta asked.
Jeremy shrugged. “For a long time,” he admitted. “Richmond has some amateur teams that started playing right after the war, but I was too busy at the factory to think about joining.”
Carrie cocked her head. “What team would you play for? I suspect you’re a little too white to play on Catto and Sarge’s team.”
Jeremy frowned. “Too white for some. Too black for others.” His face darkened, but he shrugged. “I suppose it’s time to make it known that I’m mulatto. One of the reasons for coming to Philadelphia was so that I wouldn’t have to hide—and so that I don’t have to hide the twins. I’ll talk to Catto. If they’ll have this white boy on their team, I’ll play.” He glanced at the window as a strong gust of wind pressed the snow flat against the glass. “Once the ground doesn’t have snow on it, that is.”
“Will you have time when summer comes?” Marietta asked. “I would love to bring the twins to the games,” she said eagerly.
“I think so,” Jeremy responded. “The factory’s old manager has done a fine job. Everything is running smoothly, and it’s so much like the Richmond factory there isn’t much to learn. I’m just focusing on meeting all the workers. They are a fine group of people.”
Carrie thought about her conversation with Sarge. “Do you think you will be expanding operations?”
Jeremy looked thoughtful. “Possibly. There is a building next door that can be purchased, but I’m not sure now is the time to do it. I’ve communicated with Thomas and Abby about it. We’ve decided to see how things go in the next year. Business is excellent, but…”
Carrie nodded. “But financial trouble could be coming because of things happening with the economy.”
Jeremy eyed her. “You’ve been talking to Abby.”
“I have,” Carrie agreed. “I understand you have to be careful, but I know how much it would mean if you could expand operations and hire more people.”
“I agree,” Jeremy replied. “But if we take too much risk and end up shutting down the existing factory, we’ll do nothing but hurt people.”
“You’re right,” Carrie murmured, then changed the subject. “How is George doing?” Carrie had not communicated with her old friend during the year she had been away.
�
�He’s great,” Jeremy said enthusiastically. “I appreciated our office manager in Richmond, but George has an innate business talent. He sees things our Richmond manager didn’t see, which definitely makes my job easier. I actually gave him a raise two days ago.”
Carrie grinned. “That’s great!” It was hard to remember George as a frightened young woman who had decided that going to war disguised as a man with her brother was better than being left alone on their farm. Georgia’s decision to continue living life as a man because of better opportunity, had obviously been a good one. Jeremy and Marietta didn’t know the truth about George, and there was no reason for them to know. Carrie couldn’t wait to see him.
*****
Three days passed before the roads were clear enough for carriages and wagons to resume travel. The snowstorm had indeed kept her Santa Fe team from coming to the house, but Carrie had enjoyed the three days holed up with Jeremy, Marietta, and the twins. They had played countless hours of chess and backgammon, and Marietta had kept them supplied with hot soups and Irish oatmeal cookies.
Carrie loved every minute with the twins, taking them from Marietta every chance she could. There was something both healing and haunting about their smooth, fresh skin and delicious smell when they came out of their baths, and she was content to rock them for hours in front of the fireplace. Somehow, it was easier to think about Bridget when she was holding the twins.
“Does being with the twins make it harder?” Marietta asked one day as she stood in the doorway and watched Carrie with Marcus and Sarah Rose.
Carrie understood immediately. “Actually, no. I thought it might,” she said softly, “but a part of me heals every time I hold one of your adorable children. I may not ever be a mother, but there are so many children in the world to love.”
“Never be a mother?” Marietta protested. “Surely you will be!”
Carrie lifted a brow. “No one knows what the future holds,” she said calmly. She was amazed how much she meant it.