An unexpected jab of envy straightened Amelia’s spine. She’d always wanted to be part of a close-knit family like the one she was watching. Her parents had not bothered to accompany their only daughter to Nashville. Where had she gone wrong? Must she compromise her beliefs to be loved by her parents? Or was she destined to always fight alone for what she believed was right? Another thought struck her. Why was she so certain she was right? Perhaps the young man she was watching was more humble than she. Or was he simply the type who blindly embraced the beliefs of his elders?
Amelia sniffed and picked up the skirt of her gown with her free hand. The bespectacled young man was probably devoid of principles and incapable of independent thought. She was cut from different cloth. Amelia had been brought up on the Bible, and she knew right from wrong. She would not bow to her parents or anyone else who tried to convince her to abandon her principles. So what if she had to go live with strangers for a year? She was determined to make the best of the situation. All she had to do was keep herself from getting involved in political matters and concentrate on enjoying the round of parties and social events her relatives would no doubt be invited to. Then she could return home older, wiser, and more able to persuade her parents that times were changing.
After leading her to a seat in one of the passenger cars, Luke bent over Amelia. “I’m going to take Tabitha with me to make sure your luggage has been loaded. Are you comfortable?”
“Don’t worry about me.” Amelia put a bright smile on her face even though she didn’t much like the idea of being left completely alone. Tabitha knew all of their trunks, but she could not be sent by herself lest she be picked up by a bounty hunter mistaking her for an escaping slave. “I have Mr. Dickens’s book to read. I’ll be fine until you return.”
❧
Jared leaned out of the doorway and waved until the train turned a bend and he could no longer see his family. He stepped into the narrow space between cars and pulled off his spectacles which had unaccountably become blurry. The problem couldn’t be connected to the burning sensation in his eyes. That would mean he was crying. Grown men didn’t cry. Surreptitiously, he wiped the lenses clean and replaced the spectacles, looking around to see if he’d been noticed.
He opened the door in front of him just as the train lurched. Allowing the movement to push him forward, Jared passed several benches and chose one that was unoccupied. That’s when he noticed the lovely young lady sitting on the other side of the aisle from him.
She glanced in his direction before modestly returning her attention to the book in her lap. She was the most beautiful girl in the world. The quick glance she sent his direction showed eyes as blue as a summer sky. He also noticed her delicate complexion and generous, bow-shaped mouth. Although her hair was pulled up and mostly hidden under her bonnet, he could see shimmering strands around her face that reminded him of sun-drenched corn silk. She could be the subject of poetry, perhaps the fabled Helen of Troy.
The train began to pick up speed as they moved farther away from the station, seeming to race as quickly as his mind. Where was the young lady’s maid? Was she traveling alone? Chivalry filled his chest and squared his shoulders. Like a knight of old he could watch over her and make sure she reached Chattanooga safely.
His imagination soared. Over the next couple of hours, Jared would gradually win her confidence and offer her his protection. If she was traveling beyond Chattanooga on this train, he would speak to the conductor about her and make certain a suitable replacement would help her reach her final destination. If by some miraculous chance she was journeying to Knoxville, he would guard her from all the dangers they might encounter. It was the least he could do. If one of his sisters found herself traveling alone in these dangerous times, he would hope some man might do the same.
He tilted his head to see what she might be reading. Perhaps that would be a good place to start a conversation. It was a fairly thick volume, so not a book of poetry. Jared craned his neck farther but could not see the title. He thought he saw her gaze slide in his direction, so Jared sat back and straightened his cravat. He didn’t want to make her nervous.
After a moment, she returned her attention to her book and turned a page. From the corner of his vision he saw a red ribbon she must be using as a bookmark flutter to the floor between their seats. Jared reached down for it at the same time as the young woman, narrowly avoiding a head collision.
He plucked the ribbon from the floor and put it in her hand, noticing her dainty wrist and long fingers. “You dropped your ribbon.” He nearly groaned as he heard the words. He sounded like a simpleton. Why couldn’t he think of something besides the obvious to say?
“Thank you.” Her smile was perfect, friendly but shy. Her fingers closed over the ribbon, and she settled back in her seat.
Say something! His mind screamed the words, but nothing came to him. His gaze lit on her book. She had partially closed it when she reached for the ribbon. He saw the title and inspiration struck. “You’re reading A Tale of Two Cities. What do you think of it? Dickens is one of my favorite authors. I was hoping to procure a copy of that novel before leaving Nashville, but with this and that, I never quite found the time to visit the bookseller. I hope to purchase it once I reach Knoxville. If I can find someone to tell me where the bookseller is located, of course.” He cringed as he realized he was babbling.
She opened her mouth to answer him but was stopped by the arrival of a broad-shouldered man who looked a year or two older, and much more debonair than Jared could ever hope to be. A brother?
“Is this man bothering you, Amelia?” The newcomer’s ferocious frown raked Jared from head to foot, and Jared’s hope of protecting the pretty traveler withered.
“Oh no, Luke.” She reached up and put a hand on the man’s arm. “I was clumsy enough to drop my bookmark, and he most kindly returned it to me.”
A harrumph from Luke indicated his skepticism. “You ought not speak to strangers, Amelia, no matter the circumstances.” He turned to the black woman standing quietly in the aisle. “Sit down next to your mistress, Tabitha. Perhaps between us, we can keep her out of trouble.”
Jared stared straight ahead, but he could see the two women settling next to each other. The hair prickled on the back of his neck, and he looked up to see the belligerent Luke standing over him and frowning.
“Would you move over?” The man’s voice was filled with exasperation.
“Oh.” Jared could feel his cheeks heating up. “Of course.” He grabbed the tails of his coat and scooted toward the window.
Luke’s frown never disappeared, even as he sat down and pulled out his watch to check the time. If this man was Amelia’s brother, he must take after another side of the family. While she was fair and delicate, he was dark, with ebony hair and eyes. His mustache and side whiskers made him appear more sophisticated than his companions. Jared stroked his own face, wishing he could grow a respectable mustache or maybe even a beard. His smooth chin, coupled with his spectacles, had caused many a new acquaintance to think he was still a boy.
“I beg your pardon, sir.” Jared fingered his cravat once more. “I meant no disrespect to the lady.” He wanted to explain his motives but decided to leave well enough alone when he encountered another glare from the man. Instead, he settled back against the wooden seat and gazed out the window at the passing scenery. Eventually, the rhythmic clacking of the train’s wheels eased his embarrassment and lulled him into a state of somnolence.
A feminine giggle roused him, and Jared looked past the broad chest of his seatmate toward Amelia and her maid. What was the latter’s name? It was something biblical. His mind searched. Tabitha! That was it. Both women had removed their bonnets during the trip, and now they sat whispering together, their heads nearly touching. It was a charming sight, straight blond tresses mixing with ebony curls. He was glad to see they were enjoying thei
r journey. He would have liked to join their conversation, but he knew the man sitting next to him would never abide such a thing.
Jared told himself it didn’t matter. She was a stranger, and he would probably never see her again once he disembarked at Chattanooga, where he would have to spend the night before catching the train to Knoxville. But he still felt drawn to her, wanting to know where she lived, where she was going, what her dreams and aspirations were. Was his inclination a nudge from God? Or did it come from his own, more shallow desire?
❧
The shrill blow of the locomotive’s whistle pulled Amelia’s attention away from the trials of Lucie Manette and Charles Darnay in the compelling novel she was reading.
Tabitha had fallen asleep next to her, but now she awakened with a start. “Is something wrong?”
Amelia glanced out of the window and realized the day was drawing to a close. The sun had fallen below the western ridge of tree-covered hills, casting the valley they were traveling through into darkness. Smoky gray fog rose up and blurred the trees on the upward slopes of the hills surrounding them. She craned her neck but could find no evidence of a threat. “Everything seems fine.”
The train whistle blew once more, and Luke leaned toward them. “We’re about to reach the end of this leg of our journey. As soon as we climb out of this valley, you’ll be able to see Chattanooga.”
“And we’ll spend the night there?”
Luke nodded. “We’ll be staying at a boardinghouse where I’ve overnighted several times before. I think you’ll find it to your liking.”
“Look at that.” Tabitha pointed out the window.
While they had been talking, the train had chugged its way up to the peak, and the valley was spread out below them. Amelia caught her breath. The river at the bottom of the valley looked like an ebony ribbon, its surface gleaming as it caught the light of the rising moon. The curve of the river reminded her of a bird’s nest with the town of Chattanooga serving as its hatchling. “It’s beautiful. So different from Nashville.” She watched spellbound as the train made its descent into the valley, slowing as it reached the station.
When the car stopped, she was glad to lean on Luke’s arm once more. It was so nice to have a knowledgeable guide. Over the years, her parents had encouraged her to consider him as an eligible candidate for marriage, but somehow she’d never been able to think of him that way. She supposed it was all the time they’d spent together growing up. Luke had always acted more like a brother than a suitor.
But now she was having second thoughts. Luke was capable, handsome, and smart. Perhaps she should take her parents’ advice. It might even help restore her to their good graces.
❧
Jared pulled on his boots and slipped out of the room just as the sun was beginning to make its presence known in the east. He left the boardinghouse and wandered through his former hometown. Chattanooga had grown in the past four years. New businesses had sprung up, and he spotted several new houses dotting the area in the curve of the Tennessee River.
He returned to his room as the town began to come to life. Seizing the opportunity for quiet reflection, he grabbed his Bible and escaped to the small garden behind the boardinghouse. The train would not depart for Knoxville for at least two hours, which left him plenty of time for prayer before he joined the other travelers for breakfast.
A feeling of peace settled on his shoulders. These were the times he’d missed while living in Nashville with Great-Aunt Dolly. He looked up at the limbs of a tree, noticing that its leaves were beginning to turn brown with the approach of winter. Although Jared knew God was everywhere, the silence and peace of these surroundings made him feel closer to his Lord than anywhere else.
He thumbed through his Bible and finally settled on the 53rd chapter of Isaiah where he read about the slaughtered lamb. Had Isaiah felt the horror of his prophecies? It must have been terrible to foresee the undeserved death of Christ. Or had Isaiah been comforted by the prophecy that ended that chapter? Jared read the words again, his finger tracing the lines. “And he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for transgressors.” For a moment, guilt threatened to crush him. He was one of the transgressors for whom Christ had gone silently to the cross. But then he allowed the Spirit to comfort him with the knowledge that he was forgiven and that his sins had been removed and miraculously forgotten.
Jared sank to his knees, thanking God for forgiveness for the sins that had separated him from his Maker. The peace he had felt earlier flowed more strongly. He could sense the risen Christ holding out His arms for an embrace. He basked in the love and wonder of that image.
Jared had no idea how much time passed before he heard someone walking toward him. The newcomer stepped into his line of vision, and Jared’s breath caught in his throat. It was her! The beauty from the train, the girl who read Dickens. “Miss Amelia!” He scrambled to his feet and brushed at the leaves that clung to his trousers. “Good morning.”
She stopped as soon as she saw him, standing in a shaft of sunlight that made her hair glow. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize anyone would be out here. I came to explore the garden. From my window it appeared too inviting to ignore. I didn’t mean to disturb your privacy.”
“It is beautiful, isn’t it?” Jared couldn’t imagine any setting more breathtaking than the girl who stood facing him. He cleared his throat, his mind scurrying to find the words to tell her his thoughts.
She turned slightly away from him. “I should be getting back to my room.”
“Please don’t leave on my account. I was just reading from my Bible. I love coming outside and talking to God.”
She turned back to him, her expression showing interest. “What scripture are you reading?”
“Isaiah, the 53rd chapter.”
Her brow wrinkled. “That’s a hard book for me to understand. I prefer reading the New Testament. Especially Paul’s letters. They are full of so much hope.”
“That’s the way I feel about Isaiah.” He beckoned her toward a wooden bench, pulling out his handkerchief and dusting its surface to protect her clothing. “Come look at this passage.”
Amelia sat on the rough-hewn bench, and Jared settled next to her. She smelled so nice, a mixture of roses and spring flowers that made him want to breathe deeply.
He put the thought from his mind and opened his Bible and read the scripture aloud. Then he turned a few pages and read his favorite verse, Isaiah 40:31. “ ‘But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.’ ”
“Those verses are certainly full of hope,” Amelia conceded. “But what about all of the admonitions directed at the people of Israel? Didn’t he spend a lot of time trying to warn them about following the path to destruction?”
Jared stared into Amelia’s blue eyes. They reminded him of a clear mountain stream. He almost forgot what they were discussing as he gazed at her beautiful face. “Ummm. . .yes, you’re right.” He shook his head to clear it. “But Isaiah tempers his warnings with these words of hope. Words that can bring us peace in the midst of our darkest days.”
“I never thought about it like that.” She smiled at him.
Jared lost his train of thought once more. He closed his Bible and stood up. “I better get back inside. I’ll be leaving soon. I’m going on to Knoxville.”
“Me, too.” She clapped her hands. “Maybe we’ll see each other in Knoxville.”
Was she flirting with him? What could such a lovely young woman see in a bookish fellow like him? Jared couldn’t even figure out how to answer her. A large part of him wished it was likely that they’d run into each other again, but he doubted it. She would be attending parties and dances while he would spend all of his time studying.
Amelia stood and too
k his handkerchief from the bench. “Thank you for being so gallant.”
He shook his head. “Keep it.” He winced inwardly at the abrupt words. Why hadn’t he paid more attention to the art of conversing with young women? He felt gauche and rude, but he didn’t know how to soften his words. He was much better at writing than speaking. Finally, he settled on practicality. “It’s probably time for breakfast.”
After a brief silence, she let her hand fall to her side and moved to exit the garden. He followed her to the dining room, berating himself for not being more of a gentleman. He should have offered his arm to her. Why couldn’t he be more self-assured? Why couldn’t he find the right words for the occasion? Why did his tongue have to twist itself up into knots? Even if he did see Amelia after this trip, he was sure she would avoid him like the plague. And why shouldn’t she?
Jared made quick work of his breakfast before seeking a seat on the ET&G, the train that would take him to Knoxville. Although he looked for Amelia and her traveling companions, he didn’t see them again, even when the train stopped for lunch. He told himself it was for the best. Her guardian, Luke, would never allow him to speak to her. And even if he did, Jared still had no idea what to say to her.
Four
Jared couldn’t stop smiling. Two weeks at college, and everything was working out splendidly—well almost everything. He had a great roommate, Benjamin Montgomery, the youngest son of a local businessman. He and Benjamin had much in common, including older sisters and a love of the natural world. Of course, Benjamin was more interested in playing around than studying, but Jared was sure his attitude would change once they got into the full swing of the semester.
The only fly in Jared’s ointment was a certain senior, Luke Talbot. He was the snobby fellow who’d escorted the beauteous Amelia on the train. And he’d made it clear that he had no time for underclassmen. But it would not be hard to avoid Mr. Talbot since they shared only chapel together. The seniors went to different classrooms, practiced their military exercises in a different area than the freshmen, and ate at different times.
Mockingbird's Call Page 3