by Jerri Hines
“Before or after he married Clarissa,” Jo shot back quite out of temper. “He chose Magnolia Bluff over me then as now.”
“And what did ya do when ya agreed to marry Master Andrew? I wonder how that was different. You left your Yankee.”
Stunned, Jo noted the disapproval in Miss Hazel’s face. Instinctively, she distanced herself from her mammy. “I don’t know what you believe I should have done differently. I tried…tried to please Papa. I…”
“Hush, Hon, don’t rile yourself up. Ya no more wanted to marry that man than him you. It’s what I’m trying to say. Ya and Master Wade are cut from the same cloth.”
“Don’t you do this to me…not you! I feel like I have been a pawn in a game of chess being moved back and forth in one strategic move after another. No more! I’m going back to Philadelphia with Cullen.”
“Ya think it’s as easy as that. It always seems that way, but it ain’t. Never is. Look at my Heyward. He thought all he needed was to be free,” Miss Hazel said in a rather brittle tone.
Jo had no need to ask if Miss Hazel had been informed about the attempting kidnapping of Gillie. It was apparent Heyward had been in correspondence.
“Shouldn’t it have been? All, they wanted, was a chance to live their lives the way they wanted…it wasn’t fair for them to have had to leave everything they dreamed about. The law didn’t protect them even though they had papers,” Jo rambled, shaking her head in confusion. “I didn’t understand. Heyward was so angry when he saw me in Philadelphia…so angry.”
“It ain’t you, it’s the world. He got no control. He feels he’s still in chains.”
She studied her mammy with the sudden realization that perhaps Miss Hazel too felt the chains. Oh, good lord, what if Miss Hazel didn’t truly return her love? She gazed down at her hands with a sudden sickening feeling.
“Now don’t ya go questioning me, little lady,” Miss Hazel gently reproved her. “I know ya better than ya know yourself. I ain’t going nowhere. This is my home. It’s in my blood as much as any white man. Home calls to ya no matter where ya at.”
“This whole thing has gotten out of hand, Miss Hazel. I want you to come with me when I leave. Maybe not when Cullen sneaks me out of South Carolina. But I will send for you. I’ll find Gillie and Heyward and…”
“Child, you are living in a dream world like Heyward. Ain’t going to happen. I know ya not going to go against your papa’s wishes. It was always Master Wade he wanted you to marry.”
“Papa told you this?”
“Yas’um, he did, Hon,” she said bluntly. “And I listened while others talked him. I heard Master Wade promise your papa he would look after you despite losing this place.”
Jo stared at Miss Hazel in astonishment. “Wade said that? He would take me as his wife even losing everything?”
“He did. Heard him myself trying to calm Mr. Brantley after reading that letter. Never thought he would survive the night, but Master Wade sat by his bedside until Mr. Whitney arrived.”
“Letter?”
“The letter that woman sent…the one that Master Andrew married,” Miss Hazel said in a harsh voice. “She devil, she is if there was ever one. She wanted your Papa to know that ya would never marry a Montgomery and she was going to see that all of Philadelphia knew what kind of hussy ya were and Charleston as well.”
“No…no, she couldn’t have,” Jo uttered in disbelief. Why ever would Kathleen have done so? Why would she have been so malicious? It made no sense. Jo didn’t even know the lady.
“Ask Master Wade,” Miss Hazel said, slightly miffed that Jo would question her. “I heard, too, Mr. Brantley telling Master Wade there was no stipulation in his will that kept you from inheriting his whole estate. Where would have Master Wade have gotten that idea?”
Kathleen forgotten for a moment, Jo, herself a trifle insulted at Miss Hazel’s insinuation, said, “This conversation is going nowhere. None of it matters. I’m marrying Cullen. We have already done so if not for what we thought was Papa’s telegram…it was a trick, a mean bitter trick. But it won’t stop me, not this time not after…”
Miss Hazel stared at her. She saw. She knew. She cried, “Oh, Lordy child what have you gone and done?”
Horrified she had been so foolish as to let down her guard, Jo heaved a long sigh, “I love him, Miss Hazel.”
“Hush your mouth and never mention say it again,” Miss Hazel shook her head ominously. “Poor child, I tell you it will make matters worse.”
Jo scowled, started to speak again and then caught herself. It would do no good. Miss Hazel didn’t understand. She wasn’t going to marry Wade. She couldn’t. She had done her due with her responsibility to Papa.
Andrew had been the one to betray her. Wade had let her leave Charleston. Cullen, who she had rejected because of her duty, had saved her—loved her. She would not forsake him again.
Chapter Thirteen
The sun had burnt away the mist as another day had dawned. With all the tension and quarreling that had taken place, they were no closer to a remedy. Cullen was at wit’s end trying to come to some rational conclusion to this horrendous state of affairs.
Last night, Clayton Montgomery arrived with the reverend at his side. It enflamed Cullen with rage. In his arrogance, his grandfather assumed that Jo would simply accept the fate he had laid out for her. Clayton cared nothing about her, only what she could give him—Magnolia Bluff.
Cullen sensed that Clayton Montgomery felt he had regained full control of his precious estate, no matter the cost to Cullen, his own grandson he had sorely used. Clayton’s confidence lay with the comprehension of Josephine’s character and the supposition that Josephine would never allow others to suffer for a selfish need on her part, being with Cullen.
Moreover, Cullen realized that Clayton thought he knew his grandson, that Cullen would back off for the good of the family. If he married Jo and smuggled her up North, they would leave his family to deal with the perplexity of the consequences. It would not only be Jo that would be unable to live with that decision.
His grandfather did not know him as well as he thought. Cullen would have no issue taking Jo away from this madness! He had no intention of leaving her behind.
But there was one thing that kept from him from taking Jo immediately away from here. Cullen realized his grandfather had not exaggerated that there was no court in South Carolina that would rule in a favor of a Yankee, not in this atmosphere of secession. And he would never allow Jo to go back to the Groves, to Harry Lee, no matter the personal cost to himself.
There had to be another way. Perhaps if he got a court in Philadelphia to rule on her guardianship? He needed to talk to his father…he needed time.
There had to be another way…
Walking out the back door, Cullen caught sight of Wade coming up the path that led to the riverbank. It did not take much to surmise his cousin had come from the pier. Cullen concluded aid was coming in from Charleston by the waterway.
Frowning, his grave look betrayed his frustration. Other arrangements he had not been party too since his grandfather had made his appearance.
The morning had found the plantation crawling with activity. Neighbors and friends had rallied on the call from Clayton to protect his home. Sides had been drawn. Men, Cullen had not seen for years, had come armed and prepared to fight.
His cousin headed toward the stables where the men had gathered. Crossing through the dormant garden, Cullen gestured for him to stop.
“Wade, a moment.”
Wade paused and looked back at Cullen, obviously on edge. “I’m not sure we have anything to talk about.”
“I believe we have everything to talk about,” Cullen stepped in front of him and blocked his path. “I want to sneak Jo away. I need your help.”
“Help take Jo away?” Wade scoffed. “Into the hands of Harry Lee? I think not. Look around you. You see everyone that has gathered to help us. The Buchanans have done the same.”
&nbs
p; Wade pointed to a tall man, wearing a long, broad coat and cocked hat, leading a cavalry unit. Cullen recognized him from his youth, Ambrose Reynolds.
“You have called in the militia?”
“Had no choice. The Buchanans have McCoy in their back pocket. Grandfather petitioned Governor Gist. We have sent word to Whitney to return to take his place as Jo’s guardian, but it won’t solve the issue at hand, not with old man Buchanan challenging guardianship. It would go to the courts, and there is a chance that the courts would overrule the will with Buchanan being her grandfather.
“Grandfather presented our case. The governor agreed and has sided with us. He sent the unit to uphold the law, but they won’t act until it is deemed legal.”
“What does that mean?” Cullen snapped.
“It means that Jo has to marry me,” Wade said sharply. “It is the only clear cut way to halt any legal proceedings from the Buchanans.”
Cullen glowered at Wade, stunned by his animosity toward him. “How can you ask her to do so after all you have put her through? What Andrew has put her through? Let me take her. What kind of life can you offer her after tricking her to come down here to begin with? You placed her endanger. She…we trusted you.”
“It was not I!” Wade replied furiously. “I did not even know she was returning. I was preparing to go North myself. I would never do her harm. I know what she faces, but this is the only way.”
“The same as becoming engaged to Andrew was the only way. The same as lying to her while he married another.”
“Do you not know I see my brother’s failings? That I suspected, something was amiss. I let her go because of proprieties, because I understood what was driving her. Duty and loyalty. I would not have ever phantom such a deception from Andrew. If I had, I would have never let her go. Now, I will have to live with that decision. What could have happened…”
His words faded; his anger dissipated. But not Cullen’s.
“Wade, do you not remember the day you asked me for help with your dilemma concerning Jo? You choose Clarissa. I gave you that help. I ask you now to help me in mine. You say you are not responsible for calling her home…prove it.
“Help me get her back to North. I will fix this. I will take care of the legality. I will not see the ruin of my family…we are family…you and I…you are my brother!”
Wade stared at him. Cullen saw the conflict in his eyes, the sadness, the pain. The tie, that bound them together, was strained; stretched to a breaking point.
Nothing was said for an endless moment. At last, Wade spoke, his voice low and deep with emotion. “I love Josephine, Cullen. You may feel I have no right, but I do. I won’t allow harm to come to her. If Harry Lee gets hold of her…”
“He won’t,” Cullen swore, grasping onto the resignation he heard in his cousin’s voice. “We will take care of the legality of the will. I will not allow anything to happen to Magnolia Bluff. I will ensure Jo's happiness.”
Wade stood in the stillness that developed. He drew in a deep breath. “It won’t be easy.”
Relief flooded Cullen. He clasped Wade’s shoulder tightly in exhilaration, but Wade was staring past him. He saw his cousin’s expression alter; he turned.
Stunned, he watched a black man burst out of the tree line. Stumbling forward, he scrambled to his feet and ran. He fell as he reached the lawn. Cullen rushed forward with Wade by his side. The scruffy faced Negro pushed on his arms and tried to stand.
Cullen reached down to help the man up. He had a swollen right eye; his lips puffy, and he had burnt welts up and down his extremities. Staring at him, recognition suffused through Cullen. Good Lord! It was Heyward.
“Mr. Cullen,” Heyward gulped for air. “Save her…save her.”
“Who?” Cullen asked, exchanging unbelieving looks with Wade. “Who?”
“Gillie. Harry Lee…he has Gillie. He’s going to kill her.”
* * * *
Cullen bent down and took Heyward’s arm over his shoulder. Allowing the injured man to lean against him, Heyward sucked in deep breaths. His eyes blazed with fire. He pushed against Cullen with shaking hands and stood weakly on his own.
Tears welled in the proud man as words seemed to choke in his throat. “I have a message for you,” he looked at Cullen. “And Master Wade. He knew…he knew.”
“Knew what?” Cullen asked. Confusion weighed upon him while he stared at the tortured man. A million thoughts ran rampant through his head. “Harry Lee knew what?”
Heyward swallowed hard. “He had us hunt’d down. That monster, Earl Mann, the slave catcher kidnaped us. He sprung a trap when we got to Elmira. Must have discovered we were to travel through the town and bribed neighbors to betray our guides. We spent the night in an old barn. They came while we slept. Hadn’t a chance.”
Wade had signaled to his man Saul. The black man came running with a ladle filled with water. Heyward rapidly gulped down the offered relief.
Looking up over the dipper, Heyward went on, “He took me and Gillie back to Philadelphia…to the docks…Harry Lee and Buck met us…they beat the shit out of me and took Gillie from me…”
His voice faded off. There was no need for more words. Heyward rubbed his forehead, pained in his thoughts.
“He tole me..to go to Ma’s. Wanted Ma to get Miss Jo to…come to him,” Heyward said in a broken voice. “She wasn’t there.”
“No, Miss Hazel is here with Miss Jo,” Wade answered him solemnly. “You understand we aren’t going to let Miss Jo go anywhere.”
“I figured as much…I wouldn’t let Miss Jo go myself…He’s the devil…he is, but I need help, Master Wade. Help to go get my Gillie.” Heyward searched both men’s eyes. “I heard ‘em talking…Mr. Wright he is dead?”
“Yes, he passed away while Miss Jo was in Philadelphia,” Wade concurred.
“But…the wedding with Dr. Montgomery did not happen…he was already married?”
“Yes, Heyward. It is why Miss Jo returned.”
Heyward reached across and gripped Wade’s hand. “The one…Buck laughed about it. Said it worked…to make Wright so mad…so angry…that it he would go ove’ the edge an’ die. That’s what they said…”
“Go on,” Cullen encouraged. “What of his plans?”
“Harry Lee hear’ there is a reverend here. The man’s gone plum crazy,” Heyward uttered in a low cry. “He sent me here with a warning. He wants Miss Jo in his hands before night fall or…or he will kill Gillie. Dear Lord, he said he was going to stake her head for everyone to see.”
* * * *
“You can’t go. It’s what he wants.”
Cullen rubbed his palm over his mouth and took a deep breath. Both had listened to the horrid tale Heyward had recited of how Harry Lee had hunted down the couple like animals, kidnaped and brought them back to Charleston as criminals.
“I’m going to kill him,” Cullen struggled to maintain his composure. “It is the only way to truly end this. He is not going to stop until he is dead. You can come with me or not, Wade. I’m not debating the issue. There is no time. I need men…”
“Who, Cullen, are you planning on recruiting? Who out there is going to save a black woman, who most will say is his slave, from a white man?”
“It is not the only thing that bothers me. He planned this, Wade. Don’t you understand? He knew of the letter, which means he had a hand in sending it.”
“Perhaps,” Wade acknowledged. “But it was addressed from your house.”
“But sent by Andrew’s wife, Kathleen.”
“Hellfire, who has Andrew married?” Wade exploded. “Do not tell me that she is mixed up with Harry Lee?”
All eyes fell on Heyward, who shook his head. “I hear’ nothing about a woman.”
“True, I could not see how she could be,” Cullen acknowledged. “How would she know of Harry Lee? But the woman is not to my liking. I do not trust her and fear what she is capable of. I have no doubt she manipulated Andrew and that she meant Jo harm by
humiliating her at the farce of a wedding.”
“To write such a letter as to try to provoke Wright’s death would imply she had knowledge of his health, which could have easily come from Andrew lamenting on the mess he had gotten himself into,” Wade deduced. “But to what end?”
“Kathleen is a vindictive woman, but she is also ambitious. What would she gain by Wright’s death? It makes no sense,”
“Then possibly she had nothing directly to do with it. Harry Lee could have bribed a servant to tell the actions of those within the house, and he used the information for his benefit,” Wade thought out loud. “Harry Lee may have intercepted the letter or sent his own. I would not put anything above Harry Lee at the moment. I remember how he fueled Clarissa against Jo.”
“It is nothing we can prove. Besides, we have more immediate concerns. It doesn’t matter at the moment what he has done, but what he has planned,” Cullen snapped with a sudden impatience. “Hell, Wade, you know why he’s doing this! He wants to flush Jo out…he’s not going to stop by only sending Heyward to us. He is sending us a clear message. If he can’t have Jo, no one will.”
“Don’t you think I know that he is desperate?” Wade’s expression hardened. “I see only one recourse—for you to let go of Jo. Give me the power to end this for good.”
Cullen fought back his rage. Never would he would tell Jo to marry another…She was his…his life. Neither would he sit idly by and let Gillie die.
“I’m going with or without you,” Cullen declared. “I will make Harry Lee rue this day.”
“If you leave now, it will be without me,” Wade said firmly. “I refuse to ride into an ambush. You must be aware he will be prepared. We must be also.”
“We haven’t time,” Cullen asserted, ignoring Wade’s assertion. His instincts told him to react swiftly.
Heyward straightened himself and winced with his pain. “Take me, Mr. Cullen. Not going leave without me.” Gripping for Cullen’s shoulder for balance, he continued, “I know others that will help if we got nobody else. Iggy and Woody.”