by Ginny Dye
“Matthew,” Abby whispered, tears filling her eyes.
Matthew folded the sheet of paper and placed it on the table. “There’s more, but I think that gives you the scope of it,” he said angrily.
“These are laws?” Jeremy asked with disbelief. “That President Johnson has approved?” He shook his head.
“Our president has lost any semblance of control over Southern politics. The sad thing is that I think he realizes it, but he has no idea how to reclaim it. He’s become little more than a puppet of the new Southern leadership.”
“Congress will reclaim it,” Abby retorted.
“I believe so,” Matthew agreed, “but so much damage has already been done. Congress reconvened a week ago. It remains to be seen what action they take, but it is for certain that untold numbers of black people are suffering terribly right now.”
“Eight months,” Abby said quietly, her voice trembling. “It was eight months ago today that President Lincoln was killed. I knew the results of his assassination would be terrible, but I didn’t envision this.” She looked at Miles and May. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered. “I’m so terribly sorry that your people are suffering this way.”
May reached over and squeezed her hands. “Don’t you be sorry, Miss Abby. It’s cause of folks like you that we be free at all. It ain’t gonna be easy, but we’re going to keep fighting.”
“And we’ll fight with you,” Abby said firmly. “I believe President Johnson has seriously underestimated the determination of Northerners to ensure the war was not fought for nothing. The North believes it is important that the South acknowledge its defeat, that slavery be ended, and that the lives of the former slaves be much improved.”
“What about voting, Miss Abby?” Miles asked. “If things gonna really change, the blacks got to have the vote.”
Abby sighed. “I believe that, Miles, just like I believe women should have the right to vote, but I don’t know what it will take to make either of those two things happen. Very few states in the North, even though they abolished slavery years ago, have also given blacks the right to vote. I believe that our right to vote, just like the abolition of slavery, will happen in time, but I also believe it will be another long fought battle.”
Abby decided to change the subject. “You’ll be going to the plantation with us, won’t you Matthew? I know our country is in chaos, but I understand Christmas on Cromwell is something very special.”
Matthew smiled, realizing she was trying to lighten the mood. In truth, there was nothing that could be done, and there was going to be no real movement on anything until after the beginning of the new year. “It is indeed special,” he agreed. “I have wonderful memories of the Christmas I spent there. I would be honored to join you.”
“Wonderful!” Abby said enthusiastically. “Carrie arrives in Richmond on Monday afternoon. We leave the next day for the plantation.”
Chapter Thirty-Six
Sam and Annie stood in the doorway of the house and took deep breaths, their eyes shining with pleasure.
“It smells just like the woods in this house!” Annie exclaimed. She walked over slowly to gaze up at the towering cedar tree Moses had hauled into the house earlier. Then she looked around at the garlands of greenery draped over every doorway and window, and the vases of holly and greenery decorating every mantle and table. “I think this be the prettiest thing I ever seen!” she exclaimed.
“You ain’t never seen a Christmas tree before?” Sam asked.
Annie shook her head. “Ain’t never been inside a big house at Christmastime,” she admitted, “but I don’t remember seeing a tree ever go inside one.”
Sam grinned. “Wait until you see it decorated. Then it really be something.” He took another deep breath. “Christmas always be Miss Carrie’s favorite time of the year. I didn’t guess I would live to see me another one with all the family home, but I sho ‘nuff be glad I’m here.”
“They should be here any minute,” Annie said excitedly. She lifted her face to take another breath. “My nose tells me them pies about ready to come out of the oven. We got a whole table of bread and corncakes already baked up.” She shook her head. “Me and Polly been cooking for days, but I reckon it will disappear right fast.”
“There will be a lot of people here,” Sam agreed happily. He glanced in the direction of the cabins. “The men and their families already have the barn ready for the dance on Christmas Eve.”
Annie shook her head. “That be another tradition?”
“You ain’t never been to a Christmas dance?” Sam asked with disbelief.
“I heard about ‘em, but I ain’t never been on a plantation that let ‘em happen,” Annie replied. “How long you been on Cromwell Plantation, Sam?”
Sam creased his brow as he thought. “I reckon it be about fifty years now,” he said slowly. “I came here with my mama when we be bought by Mr. Cromwell’s daddy.”
“Rose and Jeremy’s daddy?”
Sam frowned and nodded. “I guess that be right, sho ‘nuff. I forget about that part sometimes.”
“You been here a long time. You don’t know what it’s like other places,” Annie said with a scowl.
Sam smiled. “Oh, I know all about it,” he said firmly. “I know exactly how bad some folks been treated during slavery.” His eyes twinkled. “Rose told you about how so many of the folks from here escaped on the Underground Railroad?”
“Course she did,” Annie replied. “She never did figure out how that conductor knew to come here.” She looked more closely into Sam’s eyes, her own eyes widening. “You?”
Sam nodded. “I done helped with the Underground Railroad for a long time. I made a lot of trips into Richmond for Mr. Cromwell.” He paused, laughter dancing in his eyes. “Let’s just say I made more stops than I was told to.” He shook his head. “I never told my Rose girl about any of that. I figured she couldn’t get into trouble for somethin’ she didn’t know nothin’ about.” His eyes misted over with memories. “Our people got a long way to go, but we sure have come a long way.”
Annie grinned. “Well ain’t you a source of surprises, Sam!” She frowned. “How you feelin’ lately? You was moving pretty slow when I got here, but you seems to be movin’ even slower now.”
Sam shrugged. “I’m gettin’ older every day,” he said calmly. “Don’t reckon I know how many more days I got to get older.” He looked around the room again. “I sure be glad I get me another Christmas though.” His eyes brightened. “I reckon it’s gonna be the best one ever. Hard to believe we’ll all be in the big house together with the Cromwells, Rose, Moses, little John, all the folks down in the cabins…” He shook his head with disbelief. “The slaves always be brung up to receive their gifts every year, but they never were treated like nothin’ but slaves. We livin’ in a new world, Annie.”
“Only some of us are, Sam,” Annie said heavily. “I know most of our people ain’t havin’ a Christmas like this.”
“I reckon you be right,” Sam agreed sadly. He grabbed her hand. “But there ain’t no reason for us not to enjoy every minute of it,” he said. He started toward the kitchen. “You figure one of them pies be ready for me to test it? I sure don’t want the family to eat somethin’ that ain’t passed the Sam Test. Opal made that my official job when she be here,” he said gravely.
Annie chuckled and pushed through the kitchen door, smiling broadly when the fragrant heat blasted her face. Sam was right. This was going to be the best Christmas of her life. She’d dreamed for so long about being with Moses again. Now she had him, Rose, and a handsome grandson, with another baby on the way. It only made sense to enjoy it.
******
The porch was full of people when Jeremy pulled the carriage to a standstill. “Merry Christmas!” he called.
Carrie, Thomas, Abby, and Matthew emerged from the mound of blankets they had burrowed under for the ride. Their noses were red from the cold, but all of them were grinning with excitement. “Merry
Christmas!” they yelled as everyone on the porch echoed back their greetings.
Carrie ran laughing into Robert’s arms, reaching up to touch his face as she gazed into his eyes. “Robert!”
“Welcome home, my love,” Robert murmured huskily. “I missed you.”
Minutes later they were all huddled in front of the fire with cups of hot cider and coffee warming their hands as they all talked over each other to share the news.
Annie and Polly bustled back and forth from the kitchen, putting out platters of cookies.
“Dinner will be served in one hour,” Annie called. “Don’t nobody be spoiling their appetite,” she said sternly, her eyes dancing as she stared at everyone.
Thomas was laughing as he stepped away from the fire and went to stand next to the tree.
Abby joined him there. “We’ve only been here a few minutes, and I already know this is going to be the best Christmas of my life,” she said softly.
Thomas nodded. “I’d almost forgotten how wonderful Christmas was here,” he agreed. “My first wife always knew how to make it special, but when she died…”
“The magic died with her,” Abby replied, putting her hand in his.
“Yes. Carrie tried to make it up to me the year before the war started, but I couldn’t feel anything. All I wanted to do was escape back to Richmond and forget I ever lived here.”
“And now?”
“And now I am quite happy to create wonderful new memories with you, dearest Abby.” Thomas squeezed her hand warmly and looked around. “I also find it quite amazing that this colorful group of people is actually all my family. I think back to who I was just a few years ago…I can hardly believe the changes.”
Abby smiled. “It gives me hope for the rest of the country,” she replied. “I’m going to hold to our decision not to talk about all the horrible things happening, but it doesn’t stop me from thinking about it and then determining to feel hope for the future.”
Thomas smiled. “Carrie told me what you said when you all learned President Lincoln had been assassinated. It helped her so much.” He looked thoughtful. “You told her all of you would survive that darkness just as you survived the darkness of the war. You would be carried forward by hope. I believe that statement is just as appropriate now.”
Abby leaned into his solid warmth, still amazed this man was her husband. “You’re right,” she agreed, her own words sinking into her heart and giving her comfort. “We will be carried forward by hope.”
******
Once Carrie had been warmed by the cider and blazing fire, she looked up at Robert. “Care to go visit Granite with me?”
Robert held out his hand. “Only if I get to kiss my wife in the barn.”
Carrie chuckled. “I’m quite sure that can be arranged,” she murmured, batting her eyes at him playfully. She was grateful for her thick coat as they walked across the yard toward the barn. “We left snow in Philadelphia. I think it has followed me here.”
Robert grinned. “Amber is praying for a white Christmas. She’ll be a happy little girl if it happens.”
Carrie cast a practiced eye at the sky. “Oh, it is most definitely going to happen. I predict it will be falling by the time we’re done eating.” She tucked her hand in Robert’s, so grateful for connection after more than a month apart. “Where are the kids now?”
“Down in the cabins with the rest of the children, though Clint would be appalled if he heard you call him a kid. Amber appointed herself the Mistress of Tree Decorating. She and the other children have been collecting things for the last week. They are going to decorate the tree in the house, but they also have one in the barn for the dance. She is more demanding than any officer I ever served under,” he said ruefully.
“You’re so proud of her you can hardly stand it.”
“That’s the truth,” Robert said cheerfully. “When we have children, I hope our little girl will be just like Amber.”
When they walked into the relative warmth of the barn, Robert pulled her into his arms and claimed her lips. The only sound for many minutes was the snuffling of horses and an occasional stamp of an impatient hoof. Finally a shrill whinny broke the quiet.
Carrie pulled away laughing. “I do believe that’s Granite.”
Robert nodded. “He’s telling me I’ve kissed you quite long enough and that I’ll have another chance tonight. He’s demanding his turn now.”
Carrie ran to the stall, slipped inside, and threw her arms around Granite’s neck. “Hello, boy,” she said softly, sudden tears filling her eyes as she felt his solid warmth. He nickered gently and rubbed his massive head against her shoulder. She took a deep breath and tried to calm her heart. When she finally looked up, Robert was staring at her.
“You’re going back.”
Carrie blinked back her tears, walked over, and took his hands. “I have been accepted at the Female College of Medicine,” she said quietly. “I start in April.”
Robert blinked his eyes and then grinned. “Congratulations!”
Carrie continued to look at him. “Do you really feel that? Are you truly happy?”
“Did you think I would change my mind?”
“No, but I…” Carrie stopped, not able to find words. She glanced around the barn, knowing how much she would miss it. The idea of leaving Robert — of leaving Granite — tore at her heart.
“I will miss you every second,” Robert said firmly, “but I meant what I said before. Our love for each other is big enough for both our dreams.” He tilted her chin up until their eyes met. “You have three months before you have to leave. We will make memories every day. You will see Rose’s baby born. We will cram enough love into these months to carry us both through the separations. And then, when it is all over, you will be Dr. Carrie Borden,” he said proudly.
Carrie relaxed. He was right. She wasn’t saying goodbye. They would still have months together. She intended to make the most of them.
“What about Janie?”
Carrie grinned. “She was so happy when you wired the news that Clifford signed the divorce papers. It confirmed her decision.”
“What decision?”
“Janie and I are going to be in medical school together!” Carrie beamed as she told him the story, telling him how she had almost let her fears stop her from accepting a place in the next class.
Robert stroked her face. “You and Janie have always been able to be strong for the other when you need it. I’m glad you’ll be there together.”
“I’ll be able to come home on visits,” Carrie reminded him. “The course is only two years.” It sounded like forever when she said it, but she also knew how fast it would go by because she would be busy doing what she loved every single minute.
“And I know how to get on a train to come visit my wife in Philadelphia,” Robert said. “Don’t forget I went to college there. I have many places to show you when I come. And lots of stories to tell you that I should keep to myself…” he said with a laugh. “I’m quite sure Matthew was hoping you would never hear some of them!”
Carrie suddenly felt as light as a snowflake in a brisk breeze. She was acutely aware she wasn’t walking away from anything — she was walking right into a wonderful adventure. She pulled away and twirled in a circle, her arms spread wide. “I’m going to be a doctor!” she called, laughing as Granite hung his head over the stall door and snorted loudly.
******
Everyone was just finishing dinner when they heard a shrill voice outside. “Robert! Robert!”
Robert pushed away from the table. “I’m no prophet, but since Amber sounds extraordinarily excited, I have a feeling the snow Carrie predicted is falling.”
Carrie laughed. “Amber has been praying for snow,” she explained to everyone.
“Me too!” Rose exclaimed, leaping up to rush for the window. “It’s snowing!” she called.
Moments later all of them, wrapped tightly in their coats, were standing on the porch, admiring
the flakes swirling through the air. Amber twirled in circles on the lawn, her head back and mouth open wide to catch as many flakes as she could. “It’s snowing! It’s snowing!” she sang. She looked up at Robert, a radiant smile on her face. “I told you God would send snow,” she yelled. Then she resumed her twirling as they all laughed.
Moments later she stopped twirling and called up to them. “I’m going down to the cabins so I’ll have someone to play with. I already know all the rest of you are just going to look at the snow.” She whirled and began to run, disappearing around the curve moments later.
Thomas smiled over at Carrie. “So, daughter, how much snow do you predict we’ll have?”
Carrie grinned back at him. “According to everything I learned from my esteemed planter father, I predict we’ll have at least a foot.”
“A foot? So early in the season?” Abby asked, startled. “I would expect this in Philadelphia, but I thought the heavier snows came later in the winter here.”
“Normally they do,” Carrie agreed, “but this is going to be a hard winter.”
“And you know that how?” Abby asked with amusement.
Carrie winked at her father. “It’s not hard. You just need to watch the signs nature gives you. I knew back in August because the cornhusks were thicker than normal. I was certain in September when the acorn crop was more abundant than usual.” She smiled. “Then there was the early departure of geese and ducks this year.”
“Not to mention that caterpillars are even more fuzzy than usual this year,” Thomas added, “and I’ve been watching the squirrels in Richmond. They started gathering nuts early this year — just like they did last year.”
A moment’s silence fell on the group as memories of the past winter filled their mind.