“I thought the farm was named for the owner like Vandalia is named for the Vandals.”
“Your slave needs some help with his spelling,” Adelaide remarked.
“He didn’t want to be too obvious and reveal an Underground Railroad station.”
“Slaves can’t read or write.” Adelaide remained stone-faced. “You could have written the message.”
“Mrs. Yoder schooled Noah secretly.” He grinned at Cory. “He can read and write as good as any Northerner.”
Tyler’s charm wasn’t working on Adelaide. She stabbed a crooked finger at him. “He’s still your slave.”
“By Virginia law, he’s my slave, but I’m here to help him.”
“Can’t you help him more by letting him reach freedom?” Cory asked.
“I don’t plan on stopping him,” Tyler confessed. “I want to help him find Tess if he hasn’t already and reach Canada.”
“You’re an awfully good con man, Tyler Montgomery,” Adelaide said. “You sweet talk this young woman, and now you think you can convince me to tell you something that even threat of death won’t pry from my lips.”
Tyler reached into his trouser pocket and showed them a small metal horse. “When I was cleaning Nell’s stall I found this. Noah made it for his son. He left it in the stall for me to find. He knows I’m here. Cory spoke my name in the barn last night, and I think he heard.”
“If he knew it was you, why didn’t he show himself?”
Tyler hesitated.
Cory recalled the series of events. She had spoken Tyler’s name, followed by a noise in the stall, and the kiss.
“We didn’t stay long in the barn,” he excused. “This was the best way for him to contact me.”
“Are you saying you’re Noah’s friend?” Adelaide demanded.
“Is that too hard to believe?” Tyler retorted. “Can black men and white men be friends? The Northerners want to free the slaves, but do they want to live side by side with them in the same towns? Go to the same churches? The same schools? Even those who want to abolish slavery, don’t want to create an equal society.”
“They want to ship them off to Africa,” Adelaide agreed. “What do you think the slaves want?”
“What everyone wants in America,” he answered. “An opportunity for a better life.”
Adelaide nodded. “My grandfather was a tenant farmer in England without any hope of owning any land. He sent my father to America as an indentured servant when he was nine years old. He worked as an unpaid apprentice but eventually became skilled enough to work as a baker. He bought his own shop and sent for his father and mother to come to America. You can’t escape the life you’re born into over there. England abolished slavery, but they didn’t abolish inequality. I can’t predict what sort of life blacks will have if they’re free, but we’ll never know until they are free.”
“I think we believe in the same goals.”
“Time will tell,” Adelaide said. “Now what can you tell us about Edward Vandal?”
Tyler waved the flier at them. “He’s the sort of man who would lie and imprison a man to find a runaway girl and her babe.”
“He asked about you,” Cory recalled. “He didn’t seem to like you very much.”
“You remember the first girl I kissed?”
“Reggie Johnston.”
“She’s Edward’s wife.”
Reggie had been more than a young boy’s infatuation. Tyler had been in love with her and heartbroken when Reggie married Edward. “So this is more than a runaway slave. This is personal.”
“What do you mean?”
“You were both in love with the same woman.”
Tyler shook his head. “Reggie made her choice.”
She caressed his shoulder. “You must have been devastated.”
“Any romance was over a long time ago,” he said. “But Edward thinks otherwise, and Reggie never did anything to discourage his suspicions.”
“Why not?”
He shrugged. “I don’t even begin to understand the workings of a woman’s mind. Maybe you would know why she would want to make Edward jealous by smothering me with attention when her heart was already set on him.”
She understood and smiled. “She wanted him to notice her, and a man covets what belongs to someone else, especially if he’s a rival.”
“Edward was the prize catch as far as husbands go in Vandalia and didn’t even notice Reggie until she made a big fuss over me.”
“Like making you a vest,” Cory guessed. “One like the vest Edward was wearing.”
“I only wear it to irk him.”
“But you didn’t know he would come here.”
“I knew I’d meet him at some point. We’re both searching for the same people.”
Cory studied Tyler. “But you’re a lawyer. Why didn’t Reggie marry you?”
“I’m a lawyer now. I was a poor boy with ambitions three years ago, and Edward was the owner of the Silver Pheasant.”
“What’s the Silver Pheasant?”
“The largest farm in Vandalia,” he replied. “It grows tobacco, corn, and slaves.”
Cory frowned. “You can’t grow slaves.”
“You can if you breed them. Old man Cyrus Vandal was proficient at it.”
Cory didn’t understand the implications of his statement. Did he only encourage procreation or did he actively participate in it. “He forced himself on them?”
“Some as young as fourteen.”
Cory gasped, and her hand covered her mouth. Did Edward follow his father’s example? “Edward said Tess’ baby wasn’t his.”
“No master admits he’s fathered a child from a slave, but for once, Edward was telling the truth. Noah is Adam’s father.”
“Noah must be out of his mind with worry.” Cory looked to Adelaide for confirmation. Adelaide gave her a warning look. “What happens if Edward finds them first?”
Tyler’s voice was firm. “That’s not going to happen.”
“You’d help Tess escape to get back at Edward?” Adelaide asked.
Tyler grinned. “That wasn’t the original plan, but I’d be happy with it.”
“What about Noah?” Adelaide asked. “Won’t it hurt you to lose him as a slave?”
“Noah isn’t a slave.”
“Edward said he was.”
“Edward is wrong.”
Cory wanted to believe him. She didn’t want Tyler to be a slave owner, but Edward had known him all his life. Edward would know if he owned a slave, wouldn’t he? Something deeper existed between the two men. A secret he wasn’t willing to share.
“Why is Edward here in person?” Adelaide asked. “Why not leave the work to his chasers?”
“The Cassell brothers are big and strong, but they can’t read or write. Besides, Tess is a valuable slave,” Tyler explained. “She’s a young woman who has proven she can bear children. She’s worth at least a thousand dollars. More to a breeder.”
Cory’s jaw dropped. “One slave is worth so much? A person would have to earn twenty dollars a week to make the same amount in a year.”
“In the last few years, the value of a slave increased along with the price of cotton and talk of emancipation. Why do you think the South would rather go to war than free the slaves? What man wants to give away thousands of dollars?” Tyler looked out the window. “That’s the reason slavery still exists. It’s become a way to finance crops, obtain a loan, and hold status in the South. A man with one slave is richer than ten men without slaves.”
“Then all the talk about state rights is a lie?” Cory asked.
Tyler turned and looked her in the eye. “War is always about money, whether it’s in the form of land, minerals, or human lives, but no common man would risk life and limb for a soldier’s pay. They need a cause, an outrage, and the rhetoric of politicians to promote a war.”
“Doesn’t Edward have enough money? Why does he need to take Tess and her baby back to the Silver Pheasant?”
“Edward
can’t let Tess run away. Besides the monetary loss, it makes him look weak. The other slaves might try to run away if he doesn’t take her back and punish her. He’ll have to make an example of her. He’ll hurt her to teach all the slaves a lesson.” His voice was hard and cold. “It won’t be pretty if he finds her first. She won’t have it easy like she did.”
“Easy?” Cory scoffed. “What do you mean?”
“Tess worked in the house instead of the fields. She was Reggie’s personal maid and wet nurse to her son, Eddie.”
“Reggie has a baby?”
Tyler shook his head. “Not anymore. Eddie died a few months ago.” Tyler smacked his fist against the palm of his other hand. “Edward should be comforting Reggie instead of chasing after Tess and making trouble for Noah.”
Cory searched his face. “What are you going to do?”
“Edward said he was staying at the Darrow Falls Inn.” Tyler ran his fingers through his hair. “I need to return to my room for my belongings. I have some papers. If he gets his hands on them, it would cause trouble for Noah and me. Something Edward would love to do.”
“Well, you can’t retrieve them,” Adelaide concluded. “Cory will have to go.”
Tyler shook his head. “It could be dangerous.”
The three stood in the parlor staring at each other. It was Adelaide who broke the silence. “Cory will run my errands. I have several dishes that need to be returned to Paula. She can retrieve your bag,” she suggested. “If Cory keeps the visit sociable and lighthearted, Edward won’t suspect anything.”
Cory felt as if Adelaide was giving her instructions on how to deceive the enemy. Adelaide was not only a supporter of the Underground Railroad, she was an active participant. She felt a new admiration for her and realized she had never backed any of her ideals with action. “I’ll do it.”
“This isn’t a game,” Tyler warned her.
Cory put her hands on her hips. “I’m a Beecher.”
“Which you proudly proclaimed to Edward. You might as well have painted a target on your chest.”
Cory caught him staring at her breast and crossed her arms.
“Men always underestimate women,” Adelaide excused. “I’m sure Edward will underestimate Cory. How much money do you owe for your room?”
“About half a dollar.”
“Give Cory the money and write a note to go along with it.”
“For what?”
“Don’t question your elders, young man.” She pointed at the desk. “There’s paper in the drawer.”
Tyler removed a sheet of plain paper and sat at the desk. He dipped the quill in the glass ink well in the corner and looked at Adelaide. “What should I write?”
“Mrs. Stone,” she began. “Thank you for your hospitality. I have been called away to Cleveland on urgent business. Enclosed is payment in full for my bill. Sincerely, Mr. Tyler Montgomery.”
“Cleveland?”
“Isn’t that where a slave would head?” Adelaide asked. “Don’t you want to throw Edward off the trail?”
“But what if Noah is headed for Cleveland? I could be helping Edward.”
“Trust me.”
“Trust works both ways.” Tyler finished the note. He blew on the ink to dry it and folded the paper with the payment inside. He lit a candle and added a drop of wax to seal it. He pressed the ring he wore on his pinkie finger to leave a mark.
Cory studied the impression. “What is that?”
“When I graduated from law school last July I had the ring made. It’s the scales of justice. Edward will recognize it as mine.”
“Go hitch Nell to the buggy, and we’ll gather the dishes,” Adelaide ordered.
Chapter Ten
The dishes had been accumulating on the shelves in the pantry since the funeral. They were washed with notes of gratitude handwritten by Adelaide for each contributor.
“You can leave most of them at the church,” Adelaide instructed. “And make sure to invite the Reverend and Mrs. Davis to supper tonight.”
“Why?” Cory asked. “The last thing we need are more visitors.”
“Tell him I need some spiritual guidance.”
“Are you all right?” Cory examined Adelaide for signs of illness. “Maybe I shouldn’t leave you.”
She patted her hand. “I’m fine, but I need to talk with him.”
Cory gathered an armload of dishes and headed outside. Tyler led Nell close to the house. The buggy wasn’t much more than a two-by-four-foot box on top of wheels, but the fold-back roof provided protection from the sun. She stored the dishes on the floor in back of the two-person seat.
Adelaide carried Cory’s bonnet and its contents along with a few more dishes. “These are for Paula.”
Tyler put the bowls and tins under the seat. “You have a lot of dishes.”
Adelaide handed the bonnet to Cory. “The people of Darrow Falls like to help.”
“You’re fond of this town,” Tyler said.
“It’s been my home for a long time.” Adelaide looked around. “Hiram and I came here right after we were married. He was a surveyor and skilled carpenter. We built this place from nothing. I’m going to miss my farm.”
“You’re selling the place?”
“I’m moving in with my daughter at the end of next month.”
Cory put on her bonnet. “You can visit.”
“I can’t visit if strangers buy the farm,” she said. “Too bad I don’t know a young couple starting out on life’s journey.”
“Maybe Douglas will buy it,” she suggested.
“Mr. and Mrs. Raymond will have to live on the college campus.”
Cory hadn’t thought about that.
“The morning is half spent,” Adelaide said. “You better head out.”
“How long will you be gone?” Tyler asked.
Cory smiled. “Are you going to miss me?”
“I should leave as soon as you retrieve my valise.”
His words wiped the smile from her face. Why was she conflicted about wanting him to stay or go? If he was leaving to help Noah, didn’t that mean they believed in the same thing?
“Will you tell me where I can find Noah?” Tyler asked Adelaide.
“We’ll see. While you wait, you can do some chores. The wagon wheels need greased, and the garden needs weeding.” She looked at the two young people. “I have some tasks to do in the house.”
Tyler turned to Cory. “Are you sure you want to do this? I can take my chances with Edward.”
She wasn’t helpless. “I’m quite capable of retrieving some documents.”
“I’m sorry for involving you in this. I’ll be out of your life as soon as possible.”
“It’s not like you have any reason to stay.” Cory wished he would deny it.
“You’ll be glad I’m gone. You and Douglas can plan your future, and I can try to start a law practice somewhere in Canada.”
“Canada? You’re not going back to Vandalia?”
“When Noah left, I knew he couldn’t return. I sold everything. There’s nothing left in Vandalia for me now.”
“What’s in Canada?”
He looked around at the farm. “I bet nothing like this, but I’ve disrupted your well-ordered lives since I arrived.”
She didn’t want him to leave on unfriendly terms. “You haven’t been too much trouble.”
Tyler watched as she put on her gloves. “You’ve been a whole lot of trouble to me.”
“What do you mean?” she demanded. “I said I shot you accidentally. Besides, it was a flesh wound. You can’t hold that against me. If you hadn’t grabbed the gun, it wouldn’t have gone off. At least I took care of you and didn’t make you walk to the inn. You ought to be grateful instead of finding fault with me.”
“I’d silence you with a kiss, but Adelaide might be watching like before.” He nodded toward the kitchen window.
Cory saw a movement behind the curtain. Did he think he could kiss her any time he liked?
“What makes you think I’d let you kiss me?”
Tyler leaned in close. “The way you kissed me in the barn this morning.”
“You kissed me,” she excused. “I couldn’t get away.”
Tyler laughed. “Honey, you didn’t try very hard.”
He spoke the truth, and his overconfidence was insulting to her feminine mystique. Men needed to win a woman’s affection. She’d been an easy conquest, and now he had no reason to stay. Once she retrieved his belongings, he would be gone and out of her life. Cory held out her hand. “Where’s the letter?”
Tyler gave it to her along with a key. “Room three. It’s off the breezeway on the first floor.”
She secured the letter and key in her handbag dangling on her wrist. “Where should I look for your belongings?”
“I didn’t unpack except for a few personal items on the dresser. Don’t let Edward see my valise. He may recognize it. Gold-lettered initials,” he explained.
“What should I do if he does?”
“I don’t want you to take any chances,” Tyler said. “Let him have it. Tell him I left it behind.”
Cory was confused by his answer. She knew the papers were important. “Are you sure?”
He offered his hand to assist her into the carriage. “You’re risking enough, darling.”
She missed the metal step into the carriage as she registered the endearment he had spoken. Tyler caught her around the waist as she slipped. “I like your natural curves much better,” he whispered in her ear as his hand rested against the hard corset.
Cory realized the undergarment created a sturdy barrier between his hand and her flesh. So why was her heart beating so rapidly? She closed her eyes and wondered if he would kiss her.
“You better hurry.” He helped her into the carriage and handed her the reins. “Not too fast and yield to the big wagons.”
Cory frowned. “This isn’t my first buggy ride.”
He patted her knee. “Get going.”
Cory chewed on her bottom lip. Why hadn’t he kissed her? First Douglas and now Tyler. What was wrong with her?
****
Cory dropped off several empty dishes at neighboring farmhouses on her way into town. Everyone asked how Adelaide was doing. Cory made brief, pleasant talk and thanked the women for the meals. It was nearly noon before she arrived at the center of Darrow Falls where the road intersected with Church Street and River Road to form the town square. The Community Congregational Church was on the north side of Church Street. The cemetery was next to it, and the funeral parlor was beyond Mill Street, which formed the eastern side of the square. Town Hall was built facing north on River Road, the southern border of the town square. Sheep grazed on the large expanse of grass surrounded by businesses and homes.
Impending Love and War Page 8