by Ginny Dye
“The same reason those men came,” Robert said firmly. “They’ll come because they know you can help them.”
“Bobby died,” Carrie reminded him. Tears filled her eyes even though she knew he was finally free of the unrelenting pain.
“Yes, but only because he didn’t get help in time,” Robert responded. “And Joe and Abner are going to make it. The word will spread.”
“I don’t have medicines or equipment,” Carrie argued, though her mind was exploding with ideas.
Rose smiled. “And you’re already thinking of ways to deal with those problems,” she said. “I can see your mind working right now.”
Carrie grinned. “You sound just like your mama.”
“So you know my mama would tell you the same thing,” Rose replied, her eyes twinkling.
Carrie turned to Robert. “I’ll need to go into Richmond for supplies.” Her mind was working rapidly. “I need to talk with Dr. Wild if he’s still in Richmond.”
Robert nodded. “We’ll ride in next week,” he promised. “I’m sure your father and Abby will be thrilled to have us for a visit.”
Carrie nodded thoughtfully. “Joe and Abner should be okay with me being gone by then. I believe Annie can take care of whatever they need.” Then she turned to Moses. “How long will it take to build the clinic?” she asked breathlessly.
“The school will be done in three days. We’ll have the clinic finished in two weeks.”
Carrie turned to look at Janie, who was watching her with a huge smile on her face.
Janie held up her hand. “You don’t even have to ask. Of course I’ll help.” Her face broke into a joyful smile. “It will be like old times,” she said.
“Except that we’ll be running it,” Carrie whispered. Her earlier anger had dissolved into exciting plans and possibilities.
******
Carrie settled down at the dresser, her mind whirling as she stared into the mirror that had challenged her so many times throughout her life. Even though she knew the secret behind its gilded edges, it had no less power to draw her in and make her want to be all she could possibly be.
Robert came up behind her and put his hands on her shoulders. “What do you see in there?” he asked quietly.
Carrie smiled, joy cascading through her that she truly had her husband back. “I see a happy woman with a husband who believes she can do big things like run a medical clinic.”
Robert reached down, picked up her brush, and began to stroke it through her hair, his eyes holding hers in the mirror. “Want to know what I see?”
Carrie nodded, her skin tingling.
“I see a beautiful woman who can do absolutely anything she sets her mind to. I see a woman who has incredible compassion and caring in her heart.” Robert leaned down and kissed the top of her head. “I see a woman who is going to be a doctor,” he finished firmly.
Carrie stiffened and opened her mouth, but Robert held his finger to his lips to keep her silent. “I see a woman,” he continued, “who is going to have the chance to go to medical school because her husband wants it for her almost as badly as she wants it for herself.”
“You do?” Carrie whispered. Robert nodded, still holding her gaze as the lanterns flickered, casting glowing light on the mirror and making it shoot sparks back at her as they reflected in his eyes. “How?” She wanted so much to believe her dream could come true, but she truly couldn’t see how it could happen.
“We’ll figure it out, Carrie,” Robert assured her. “I know you’ve been studying ever since Abby brought you all the books. I saw your calm proficiency when you were treating the men today. The world is changing. It needs you. It needs women doctors.”
Carrie stared into his dark eyes. “You really mean that, don’t you?”
“With every fiber of my being,” Robert replied. “I’m well. Whether I go to Philadelphia with you for medical school, or whether I stay here on the plantation until you graduate, we’ll figure it out.” He held up his hand as Carrie opened her mouth again. “I know you’ll argue that we’ve already had too much time apart, and I couldn’t agree with you more, but I also know you have given up so much of who you are. First, it was because of your mother’s illness. Then the war stole four years of your life.” He took a deep breath. “Then you put aside all of your desires again to take care of me.”
“But—”
“No buts,” Robert said firmly. “I already know you did it because you love me and because you’re my wife. But now it’s my time to give back. Yes, I’ll miss you every second if we decide it’s best to be apart, but you waited for me during four years of war. I’ll wait for you to get your medical degree, and then we’ll live the rest of our life. We’ll figure out every step of the way how to blend our lives and our passions, because our love is strong enough to support both of them.”
Carrie stared at the reflection of his strong face in the mirror and had a sudden impulse. She jumped up from the chair. “Care to join me on an adventure, Mr. Borden?
Robert raised an eyebrow. “What do you have in mind, Mrs. Borden?”
Carrie grabbed two blankets, lifted a lantern from the wall, and reached forward to open the door to the tunnel. “It’s a beautiful night on the river,” she murmured softly, reaching up to kiss Robert’s lips.
Robert grinned. “Lead the way, Mrs. Borden.”
Minutes later they were pushing through the door that led out onto the banks of the James River. Twinkling stars reflected on the almost still surface of the water. A crescent moon hung suspended as fluffy clouds drifted across its surface. Crickets and frogs, silent when they had pushed out onto the beach, tuned up their orchestra again. A coyote howled to its mate in the distance.
Carrie and Robert carefully laid the blankets down on the shore and then Robert lowered Carrie, settling down beside her.
“Thank you,” Carrie whispered. “Thank you for coming back to me. Thank you for loving me, and thank you for believing in me.” She stroked his face, gazing into his warm eyes that reflected the moon, and then she claimed his lips in a long kiss. When she finally pulled away, she smiled. “I’ve always dreamed of loving you right here on the James River.”
Robert’s eyes darkened with desire as he pulled her close.
******
Rose stared at the simple, gleaming white schoolhouse tucked back into a grove of trees. An overhang protected the entrance, and a white picket fence outlined the front yard. The shining windows reflected back the early morning sun and glistened off the bell that had been hung to announce classes and recess. A small field off to one side had been designated as a play area for the children. The other side, the home of the medical clinic, was framed and roofed. One of the walls was completed.
“Moses…” Rose whispered. “It’s perfect!” He had insisted she stay away for the last two weeks because he wanted to surprise her. Tears filled her eyes. “It’s what I always dreamed of.”
Moses grinned. “You think I wasn’t listening when you told me your dreams? I had the men build it as close to the picture you painted for me as I could.”
“It’s so perfect…” she repeated in a whisper. She saw a sign over the door and moved close enough to read it. “Oh…Oh…” She couldn’t force any more out of her mouth. All she could do was focus on breathing as her heart pounded in her chest. She stared at the sign.
The New Beginnings School.
“Moses,” she finally managed. She turned to him, finding her voice. “That’s exactly what this is. It’s a new beginning for us. It’s a new beginning for all the children and adults who will learn what they need to know in order to live in a brand new country and a brand new reality.” She reached up and stroked his face. “Thank you is so inadequate, but just know it springs from the deepest core of my being.”
Moses smiled, cupped her chin, and stared into her eyes. “I know it is perfect for now, Rose, but I also want you to know this is just a season.”
Rose looked at him with conf
usion. “What do you mean?”
“You’re going to be the most amazing teacher the New Beginnings School ever had,” Moses said firmly, “but I know you’re bigger than a little school in the country.”
Rose shook her head. “I’m soon to be the mother of two children.”
“Who need to see their mama become all she was meant to be so that they have the courage to do the same thing.”
Rose stared at him and shook her head. “I don’t see a way, Moses. I won’t deny I would love to go to college and become a true educator, because you would know I was lying, but I’m learning to be content with not having that. I told Carrie she needed to bloom where she is planted — that’s what I’m doing,” she said bravely. “I know I can make a huge difference in the lives of the people who come to this school.”
“You’re right,” Moses agreed. “But—”
Rose interrupted him. “What about you and the plantation? How can you run a plantation if I’m in school? Running Cromwell is your dream. I can’t ask you to give that up.”
Moses shrugged. “I love what I’m doing here, and I love being half-owner, but I can’t say it’s totally my dream. My dream has always been to own my very own farm,” Moses replied. He stared out over the woodland surrounding the schoolhouse. “Look, I don’t have the answers. I know we’re to be here for now,” he said confidently. “I know our second baby is going to be born on Cromwell Plantation, and I know you’re going to found the New Beginnings School. I know I’m going to bring Cromwell Plantation back, and I know we’re going to create a model for how plantation owners and the freed slaves can work together.” He shook his head. “What I don’t know is what is going to happen one year from now…or two…or three. I just want you to know I’m determined not to have things just one way. Your dreams are as important as mine. We’ll figure out a way to make both our dreams come true,” he said firmly. “I believe our love is strong enough to support both of them.”
Rose smiled softly. “That’s what Robert told Carrie,” she murmured, brushing her tears away.
Moses smiled. “Who would have thought the two of us would be friends,” he mused. “If nothing else, it should make you know that anything is possible.”
“Oh, it does,” Rose answered. “It definitely does.” She turned to the schoolhouse and stared at the framework of her current life. Then she turned away to the road and stared down the dirt surface until it disappeared into a bend, somehow knowing it represented her future.
A call coming from down the road told Rose they wouldn’t be alone for long. She turned to Moses and pulled his head down to meet her lips. “Thank you for everything,” she whispered. “Thank you for my school, but mostly thank you for loving me so much.”
“With all my heart,” Moses said as he deepened their kiss.
Rose pulled back, laughing. “I have a school to run, Mr. Samuels.”
Moses frowned, his eyes dancing. “Do you think you can show your appreciation later, Mrs. Samuels?”
Rose stroked his cheek. “Oh, you can count on it. You most certainly can count on it.”
******
“Are we interrupting?” Carrie asked coyly as she walked up with Janie and June.
“Yes,” Moses said with a sigh, “but since there are forty children showing up in an hour, I guess it has to happen.”
Rose laughed and stepped up to the entrance. “Ladies?” She took a deep breath as the four of them linked hands and stepped up onto the porch of the New Beginnings School for the first time. June would be teaching with her; Carrie and Janie had come to celebrate opening day and finalize any preparations.
As soon as they stepped through the door, Carrie turned and grabbed Rose in a tight embrace. “You’ve come a long way since teaching in the woods around a campfire in the middle of the night,” she said as she stared around in delight. “This is wonderful!”
Rose gazed around her, tears once more springing to her eyes. She looked at Carrie silently, unable to form words.
The room was simple, but it had everything that was needed. There were enough desks and benches for one hundred students. Every desk had chalk, a chalk slab to write on, and a book. There was a shelf along one wall that held hundreds of books, and the front wall was a giant chalkboard for the teacher to use. A small desk stood to one side. Fresh air streamed in through the large windows, along with ample sunshine.
Carrie understood what Rose was feeling. She wrapped an arm around her and scanned the room. “Your mama knows,” she said finally. “I just know she’s up there laughing and dancing around because her baby girl has done got her own school now.”
Rose laughed and wiped away her tears. “You’re right,” she said happily. “Mama knows.” She took a deep breath as she looked around. “There’s not really anything to do,” she said. “Moses and the rest of the men thought of everything.”
“Well, let’s say Abby sent detailed instructions,” June said with amusement. “I was here every night with Simon to make sure they followed them just as she wrote them. She wanted it to be perfect for you, Rose.”
Rose sighed. “Is this whole day nothing but a conspiracy to make me cry?” she demanded. “Abby said she was going to make sure we had everything we needed. I’d say we have all that and so much more.”
“I’d say there are a lot of teachers who would be very jealous if they could see inside your school,” Janie observed, “but the only important thing is how many kids you’re going to help.”
“Kids and adults,” June added. “Now that they’re free, I think there are going to be as many adults as children here — maybe more. I’ve talked to a lot of them passing by as the schoolhouse was built. They’re so excited to learn how to read.”
Rose smiled. “The classes start for adults next week. At first I thought I should wait until after the harvest, but Simon convinced me the adults want to start now.”
June nodded. “They’re willing to work all day, come to school at night, and go with little sleep,” she confirmed. “After being denied education their whole lives, they’re not about to pass up their opportunity now. You know, I love watching children learn how to read, but watching adults make sense out of letters for the first time in their lives is even better.” She stared around the room. “I remember when you taught me how to read after I got to the contraband camp. That first moment when all the letters came together to form words I could read was one of the best moments of my life. It opened up a whole new world to me.”
Rose walked over to stare out one of the windows. “Educations means everything to our people,” she said quietly. “Nothing will truly change until the freed slaves are able to control their own lives. They can’t do that without knowing how to read, and write, and do math.”
Janie turned from where she was standing by the door. “We’ve got some eager children,” she called over her shoulder.
The other three women walked over to join her. They all started laughing as they saw the line of children pressed against the wooden fence, their eyes wide with excitement as they stared at their new school.
“No reason to make them wait,” Rose said, walking out to meet them. “Hello, children,” she called.
“Hello, Miz Samuels!” they called back.
Rose shivered. After spending most of her life with no last name at all, it was still such a thrill for her to hear it. She stooped down to look into the face of the smallest child who couldn’t be more than five. “What’s your name?” she asked gently.
“I be Sarah,” the little girl said solemnly.
Rose smiled. “I believe that’s the best name I know, Sarah. My mama had the very same name.” Sarah stared back at her new teacher, her black eyes as solemn as her voice. “Are you glad to be at school, Sarah?”
“Oh, yessum, Miz Samuels!” Sarah’s eyes glowed. “My mama told me she got beat real bad when she was my age ‘cause she wanted to read. She done tole me I should be gladder about comin’ to school den I eber been ‘bout
anythin’ in my life. I reckon I am, sho ‘nuff!”
Rose smiled, her heart dancing with pure joy. She stood and held out her arms toward the children. “Welcome to the New Beginnings School. The first thing we’ll do is separate you by age and then I’ll assign desks.” She clapped her hands together sharply. “I’d like everyone in a straight line please.”
*****
Once Rose had everyone at their desks and had introduced all the children to June, Carrie, and Janie, she moved over to her desk and settled on the edge of it, wanting to be as close to the children’s eye level as possible. “I’m going to start school today by telling you a story,” she began. “In fact, I’m going to tell you a story every single day.”
Sarah raised her hand.”
“Yes, Sarah.”
“I sho do like stories, Miz Samuels!”
“I’m glad, Sarah. So do I. Some people think stories are just things you make up, but there are also true stories about people I want you to get to know. Those are the stories I’m going to tell you.”
Rose had thought for so many years about her own school. She had envisioned the first day. She had dreamed about what she would start with, knowing that just teaching the children to read and write wasn’t enough. She wanted to teach them to be proud of themselves and their heritage. She wanted to plant dreams in them and make sure they knew they could do anything they wanted to with their lives. She opened her mouth and began…
“Forty-three years ago there was a little girl born into slavery in Maryland.”
Rose was interrupted by a wildly waving hand. “Yes, Amber?”
“That’s where I was born, Ro… I mean, Miz Samuels!”
“That’s right, Amber,” she agreed.
Rose knew she had to take firm control of the class from the beginning. “I will want to hear all your experiences and answer your questions at the end of the story, but until I’m done I would like everyone to just listen.” She smiled. “Can you do that?” Forty heads nodded solemnly. “Good. Thank you.” She returned to her story, starting over again…