“As far as I know, Natalie is only aware that Missy and I will leave tonight. If she has suspicions of anything else, she didn’t mention them to Adella.”
“May jest be we’s on edge, what with all the sneakin’ an’ secrets.”
“And the key?” he asked.
With a cautious glance toward the door, she took a small item out of her apron pocket and handed it to him. “Weren’t no problem gettin’ it while I dustin’ an’ straightenin’ things. Don’t ’spect Massa even miss it, ’cuz I put an ol’ key from the cellar lock in the drawer where this un be. Look ’bout the same to me.”
Seth grinned. “You are a genius, Aunt Lu.”
She smiled. “If that word means I smart, then I reckon I is a gen’us.”
“We’ll leave as soon as everyone settles in for the night. Meet in the barn, in the tack room. If you get there before me, hide somewhere until I call for you.” As he’d done with Jeptha, he wanted to be sure the woman understood the danger of what they were about to do. “You don’t have to do this, you know. If we get caught, I won’t be able to protect you or Zina. Master Luther will be furious when he discovers you’re missing. I have no doubt the patrollers will be on our trail all the way to Mexico.”
A grave look shadowed her eyes. “Massa Luther tells Missy he sell me if she don’t marry up with Mistah Brevard. I ’spect he’d keep his word after you’uns leave, he be so mad. I seen that man’s hatefulness when he angry. Reckon he make sure I sold to some worthless white man to work them fields.” She shook her head. “I too old for that, Mistah Brantley, suh. Seems best to take a chance on bein’ free an’ live out my days in ol’ Mexico if that where the Good Lawd wants me.”
Seth couldn’t argue with her logic. “I will do my best to get you there safely.”
A peaceful smile rested on her face. “That’s what I prayin’ fo’.”
After leaving the kitchen, Seth took the path around to the front of the main house. Windows were open to let in the evening breeze, and he heard rumbles of voices from within. Quietly, he gained the porch, hoping to steal a peek into the parlor, where he supposed the group would be gathered for the night.
Keeping hidden behind a large potted plant, Seth saw the backs of George and Marshall seated on the sofa nearest the window. Adella and her father were out of sight, but Luther’s laughter at something Marshall said made his presence known. Natalie sat facing the window. When Seth edged closer to try to glimpse Adella, Natalie’s brow furrowed, and she leaned forward as though she’d seen him in the darkness.
Jerking back behind the plant, he decided it wouldn’t be good to be found on the porch. Luther had already made his dislike of Seth clear. They didn’t need an altercation hours before the escape.
Just as he reached the bottom step in his quest to get away, the front door opened. Thinking Adella must have somehow known he was there, he turned.
“Natalie.” He was surprised to find the petite blonde coming toward him. A quick glance into the lighted foyer told him she was alone.
“I would like a word with you, Mr. Brantley.” Her accentuation of his name served as a reminder to address her more formally. She was, after all, married to the son of the plantation owner. Carefully, she descended the stairs, with the muted light from the windows offering the only aid in the otherwise dark night.
“Of course, Mrs. Ellis.” He remained where he stood. The farther away from those windows, the better. Especially since he had an idea of what she wanted to discuss.
“I hope you know what you are doing, Mr. Brantley.” Her voice was low but her tone hard. “Adella Rose is not thinking with her head, so I have come here to ask you to please reconsider this foolishness. Let her do her duty to her family and marry Marshall.”
He’d expected this, but it still rankled. “With all due respect, Mrs. Ellis, Adella has made her choice. If it helps, I want you to know I will do everything in my power to make her happy. Our life won’t be easy in the beginning, but I will work hard to provide everything she could ever need or want.”
The frown on her dainty brow indicated what she thought of his promises. “So you won’t even consider riding away alone tonight? Even if I offered you a substantial payment?”
Seth’s eyes widened. “Are you offering me a bribe?”
“Call it what you will. I am simply looking out for the interests of my husband and the future of Rose Hill.”
The voices from inside grew louder, followed by laughter.
“I appreciate your loyalty to your family, Mrs. Ellis, but I must decline. I love Adella. You can’t put a price on that.”
A long moment ticked by before her face softened. “You really do love her, don’t you?”
“Yes, I do.” He smiled despite the seriousness of the situation. “I don’t know why she loves me, but I am going to do my best to deserve it.”
She gave a slight nod. “I imagine you will.” She cast a glance at the house, and Seth wondered at the longing he read in her eyes. When she looked at him again, she blinked away a sheen of tears. “God go with you, Mr. Brantley. Take care of my Adella Rose.”
She turned and hurried up the steps and into the house.
Seth made his way back to his cabin, thankful Natalie was no longer a concern. Her silence was granted, it seemed, as well as her blessing. Though it didn’t matter to Seth, he knew Adella would appreciate her sister-in-law’s kind words.
If everything else fell into place, they would leave Rose Hill in a matter of hours.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
The clock on the parlor mantel chimed midnight, echoing in the stillness of the house. Adella stood on the upstairs landing, still as a statue, making certain no one stirred below. Earlier, when Papa brought out the liquor decanter, she’d retired to her room. Despite Marshall’s pleas for her to stay, she’d declared her need to rest before the morrow, which was true. Her undoing nearly came, however, when she gave Natalie a goodnight hug. The other woman held her tightly, bringing Adella to tears. It was several hours later when the drunken voices finally quieted.
After the timepiece grew silent and all was quiet again, she tiptoed forward, the two valises she carried heavy weights in her hands. Beads of perspiration broke out on her face, both from nerves and from the cloak she wore. Though summer heat currently greeted them each day, she would need the warm garment later; yet she had no room in either case to pack it and was forced to wear it.
Gaining the bottom of the stairs, she moved soundlessly down the hall leading away from the foyer. It seemed wiser to exit the back of the house than go through the front door. Though everyone was asleep, she couldn’t help feeling the whole plantation knew of their plans and was prepared to stop them.
Passing by the kitchen wing, Adella peeked through the window, wondering if Aunt Lu and Zina had already made their way to the barn. The three had decided earlier not to meet here but would regroup in the barn with Seth and Jeptha.
And Lucy and Mara.
Adella’s stomach fluttered with nervousness. She hadn’t yet told Seth the mother and baby were joining them. What if he refused to take them? But her conversation with Lucy repeated in her mind, and she knew she’d made the right decision.
“Oh, Missy,” Lucy cried, tears streaming down her face when Adella whispered the invitation to her. “I prayed to the Lawd for a way to get this lil’ angel away from here, but ain’t no way fo’ me ta leave on my own. Yo’ brother come down here the night he gets back from his trip. Says he don’t want Miss Natalie to ever find out ’bout Mara, so’s he gonna have to get rid o’ her. I cryin’ an’ beggin’, but he say she cain’t stay. Soon as she old ’nough, he gonna take her to the market.”
A chill swept Adella at the memory. The callousness of her own brother astonished her, but she also knew he would do exactly what he said. He would sell his own child to cover his sin.
The warm night air nearly suffocated her as she hurried across the yard toward the barn. Seth had warned her to use th
e smaller back door instead of the larger one, whose hinges groaned fiercely when opened. Stealing into the dark building, she was tempted to light a lantern, but gradually her eyes adjusted to the darkness. Carefully, she made her way to the tack room where they were to meet. Horses stirred in their stalls when she passed. One whinnied. Finally, she arrived at the door and slowly opened it.
Three women crouched together in the shadow of feeble lantern light. A wide sling wrapped around Lucy’s shoulder held the baby sleeping peacefully against her chest.
“Missy,” Aunt Lu said, sagging with relief. “We uns thought fo’ sho’ we done got catched befo’ we even gets started.”
Adella set her bags down and gave each woman a hug. “Have you seen Seth?”
They shook their heads.
“He is probably getting Jeptha. We will wait here for him like he instructed.”
But as the minutes ticked by and he didn’t arrive, fear started to wear her nerves raw. Finally, unable to bear it a moment longer, she stood. “He should have been here by now. I must find out what’s taking so long.”
The others nodded, but the faint moonlight coming through the small window reflected their own worry.
Leaving off the cloak, she was again thankful she’d chosen a simple dark blue dress that would blend in with the night shadows. When she arrived at Seth’s cabin, Adella called his name with a loud whisper. Her heart pounded as she waited, but there was no response. Fearing something might be wrong, she reached for the latch on the door. Again, she called for him, but the small cabin was empty, save for a few furniture silhouettes.
Uncertain if she should go back to the barn or keep searching, her gaze settled on the dark area behind the quarter. Perhaps Seth was having difficulties getting Jeptha free from the shed. She knew Aunt Lu had given him the key, but maybe the lock wouldn’t budge, or some other problem arose. Hurrying in that direction, under the shadow of the great oaks that dotted the property, Adella had almost reached the edge of the quarter when a dark figure leaped out from behind a tree trunk. A scream began in her throat, but a strong hand clamped down on her mouth.
Her heart thundered in her ears. Had Monroe recovered and now lurked in the darkness? Would he do to her what he’d attempted with Zina?
Her knees gave way and blackness claimed her.
“Adella Rose!”
The urgent whisper, accompanied by a none-too-gentle shake, brought her eyes open. Seth’s face loomed above her, and above him loomed starlit sky amid tree branches.
“Thank goodness.” He cradled her in his arms. Her cheek rested against his chest, and she felt his rapid heartbeat through the material.
“What—” she began, only to have him put his hand over her mouth again, this time, more gently.
“Shhh,” he whispered.
With his help, she sat up and sent him a questioning gaze. He nodded toward the quarter. Looking in that direction, Adella saw light came from one of the cabin windows. Someone was awake.
“We can’t release Jeptha until whoever is awake goes to bed.” He spoke against her ear, his warm breath sending tingles down her neck. “I have been watching for the past hour. No one should have a light on. They know it’s against the rules. I am tempted to find out who it is, but I would rather not let anyone see me.”
“No,” Adella agreed. “We can wait. Surely whoever it is will turn in soon.”
Seth heaved a sigh. “I hope so. We should have been on the road by now. Are Aunt Lu and Zina in the barn?”
She nodded. “Yes.” Knowing now was the time to confess, she took a deep breath. “And Lucy and the baby.”
Shock registered on Seth’s face. “Adella, I told you we couldn’t take them.”
“I know.” Torn between the need to obey his wishes and the sureness that taking the mother and child was the right thing to do, she’d gone with her gut instincts. “George told Lucy he planned to sell Mara as soon as she was old enough. He doesn’t want Natalie to know of his indiscretions.”
“That doesn’t surprise me.” Seth’s brow pulled into a frown. “But taking them along puts us all in jeopardy. I don’t have enough provisions for her.”
“I told Aunt Lu to pack some extra things.”
After a moment, he blew out a breath. “We will need a miracle to get to Mexico without being caught.”
Grasping his hand, she kissed his knuckles. “Then that is what we will pray for.”
They sat in the dark for several minutes before the light in the cabin finally extinguished. Giving whoever had been awake time to settle in before releasing Jeptha, Seth was surprised when the cabin door opened a short time later, and someone exited. A tall form walked past the other cabins, heading in the direction of the main house, directly in front of where Seth and Adella crouched.
He felt her grip his arm. Practically holding his breath, Seth wondered if George was up to his old shenanigans again. But with Lucy hiding in the barn with Aunt Lu and Zina, whose cabin had he been visiting?
The man passed through the shadows beneath the tree, and when pale moonlight touched his face, Adella gasped.
Marshall Brevard slowed and glanced behind him. “Celia?” he hissed. “Is that you following me, girl?” He cursed, moving his head side to side as though trying to see into the darkness.
When no answer came, he waited a few moments longer before continuing on to the house.
Sickened, Seth turned to find Adella’s hand over her mouth. He gathered her in his arms and felt her shake with silent sobs. With more gratitude than he could ever express, he thanked God for keeping her from marrying that man. There was not a doubt in his mind Brevard would continue his sordid behavior even with a wife as beautiful as Adella.
After several minutes, Seth moved so he could see her face. He cupped her cheeks with his hands. “You are safe from him,” he whispered. “You never have to see him again.”
“I know.” Tears flooded her eyes.
With one last embrace, Seth helped Adella stand. His leg cramped and ached from crouching so long, and he dreaded how much it would hurt during the long journey ahead. The small bottle of Mammy’s ointment he’d packed would have to last him until they reached the border.
“We need to get out of here. I’ll get Jeptha. Go back to the barn, and I will meet you and the others there. Chester, Freedom, and another horse are already saddled.”
“All right,” she said, her voice trembling.
Seth kissed her softly. “It will be over soon.”
Nodding, she turned back toward the barn and disappeared into the dark night. On silent feet, Seth made his way to the shed.
“Jeptha?”
Movement sounded right away. “Whoo-wee, Mistah Brantley,” he whispered. “I done figured you’s gone wit’out me.”
Removing the key from his pocket, Seth quickly had the door open. “We had a bit of delay, so we will have to make up time by riding hard.” He looked at the slave in the moonlight. “You’re sure you’re up for this?”
“Yassuh.” Jeptha smiled. “I can almost taste freedom.”
Seth closed the door and replaced the lock. He noticed Jeptha had the fresh clothes on. “The others are waiting for us in the barn.”
Jeptha fell into step beside Seth. “I cleaned up best I could with the water you brung, but I’d like to wash my feet in the trough if that be all right.”
Though their voices were barely above a whisper, each word seemed to echo in the still night. Seth put his finger to his lips then pointed to the trough near the barn door, to which Jeptha nodded. Leaving Jeptha to his bath, Seth went inside to prepare the women.
Adella hurried to him when he opened the tack room door. “Is everyone ready?” He glanced at the slave women, taking note the baby slept in some sort of holder Lucy wore around her torso. They could only hope the infant stayed asleep and quiet until they were far away from the plantation. A crying baby would alert the world to their presence.
“We’re ready.” Adella offered
a tremulous smile.
Jeptha entered the small room then. With a little cry, Adella went to him and made to hug him, but he put his hand out to stop her. “I a mess, Missy. Don’t want you gettin’ my stench on you.”
“Nonsense.” She ignored his warning and hugged him anyway. When she pulled away, Seth noticed a slight smile on Jeptha’s face. “I have something for you.” Adella reached into the deep pocket of her skirt, pulled out a folded paper and handed it to him.
“What’s this?”
“It is a letter stating you are a free man.”
Seth was as surprised as Jeptha appeared. He hadn’t known she planned to forge freedom papers, but he had to admit it was a wise move.
Jeptha stared at Adella, wide-eyed. “It be real?”
Adella shook her head. “I wish it were. I wrote it and signed Papa’s name.” She motioned to the women. “They each have one too. In case we get separated, or something happens, it might fool someone long enough for you to get to the border.”
Jeptha stared at the document in his hands for a long moment, then looked at Adella. “Thank you, Missy. Just havin’ this piece of paper, though it isn’t real, means freedom is real. And it will be mine—ours,” he looked at the women, “very soon.”
The change in Jeptha’s speech was amazing. Listening, Seth would never have believed he wasn’t an educated man if he hadn’t known better.
Aunt Lu’s mouth fell open. “How you learn ta talk like that?”
Jeptha smiled at Adella, who grinned. “I had a good teacher.”
“We need to saddle up,” Seth said, anxious to be on the road. “Jeptha, you and Zina ride Freedom. Aunt Lu and Lucy will take the mare.”
The group sprang into motion. Bags were gathered and tied to saddles, though each slave had only a small bundle. They quietly led the horses out of the barn. When Seth lifted Adella onto Chester’s back, she turned to look at him, her eyes wide and luminous.
“No regrets?” he asked softly, knowing this had to be extremely difficult for her. To leave her family home with the possibility of never returning would give anyone doubts.
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