Asa struggled at this. “I hope that they didn’t hurt anyone there. They didn’t deserve that.”
“Hmm. Hard to know what’s happening when you are hiding out in the woods, isn’t it?” He got back into the back of his car. “I want you gone today.”
“No worries there, Mr. Winslow. I’ll be sure to let your son know all about how well you are doing when I get back home.”
Paul Winslow’s eyes glazed over. “I have no son.”
“Yes. Of course.”
“Gone.”
“I can’t wait to see the backside of this backwater,” Asa said to himself and folded the money into his pocket. Then, as fast as he could, he took up his cane and the few things he needed and moved quickly in the direction of the Bledsoe farm, hoping that it wasn’t too late to help the Bledsoes or Mags.
If something happened to Mags, his most precious Pearl…
He could not afford to lose out a second time.
Chapter Sixteen
The scene in front of her was the stuff of Bledsoe nightmares. For years they had feared this happening, and it never had, until now.
Mags covered her own mouth for the fear of making too much noise and attracting their attention. She ducked back into the woods as she saw her family and the Carvers clustered together on the opposite end of the big wraparound porch.
What the nightriders had done was horrifying, but her family was safe. She took another path through the woods to the back of the farm and went toward the barn. She went up into the loft and crouched down low and she prayed.
Thank you God, thank you. Keep my family safe. Keep Asa safe. Keep everyone safe God please. She still did not come out because she didn’t want to compromise her family’s safety by letting them know where she was. There would be time enough for that in the morning. She laid on the small hayloft floor and, amidst the hay, she cried herself to sleep.
The squeak of the barn door woke her. It was her father as he came in to do his morning chores. “Daddy,” she whispered. “I’m up here. Don’t be scared.”
“Oh praise Jesus,” John Bledsoe cried. “Come on down from there, Margaret Ruth.”
Mags alighted from the loft as quickly as she could and went into her father’s arms. He embraced her tightly. She felt tears starting in her eyes again. How wonderful to know, before she left them potentially forever, that her family loved her, even as they weren’t much for affection. “It’s good to see you too, Daddy.”
He held her out at arm’s length and in the drawn skin on his neck, Mags could see evidence of the advancing years. What a difficult night this had been for him. “Your mama has been up all night, crying and praying for you.”
“I’ve been out here most of the night, ever since the riders left. I didn’t want to let you know I was out here in case they came back. You could honestly say that you didn’t know where I was.”
“Because that would lead to Asa. Always the sensible girl. I’m proud of you. Do you know where he is?”
“I took him to the old parsonage. I don’t know where he is now.” Despite herself, she got tears in her eyes again.
“You love him, don’t you, girl?”
She could only nod, unable to move because she was so filled up with worry, concern, and love for Asa. “I’m happy to see that you found love, Mags, and that you finally realized that what you had with Travis was just a young thing. Puppy love.”
“Yes, Daddy. I know that now. But I don’t know where he is. He might be dead for all I know.”
He put his arm around her. “Judging by the way he handled things last night, I would say he can handle himself. I feel at peace about it. I’m not worried about Asa and you shouldn’t be either. Come on and help me with the chores so we can get you in to your mother.”
“I’m going to get my things and say goodbye. It’s best for me to go to Pittsburgh early. I’m going with him. It’s not safe here for me anymore.”
He put a hand on her elbow and patted her. “You’re probably right. You need to go on up north to see your sister. I know that your mama will be upset that you won’t be properly escorted, but you the daughter with the most sense. You’ll be alright.”
“Thank you, Daddy,” Mags said with an air of sadness. It was hard, trying to slow down and not be efficient for once, knowing that this would be the last time in a long time that she could help her father with the chores.
When they were done, they took the milk pans into the kitchen in companionable silence, and Mags put them on the shelf. She used the kitchen sink to clean herself up as best as she could. When she was done and had put on a fresh apron, she turned and saw her mother watching her with tears in her eyes. They embraced tightly.
“I know that you have to do as you must, daughter. I’m proud of you. You don’t know where Asa is?” Mags shook her head. Her mother continued, “Where ever he is, he is fine. Believe God will take care of him.”
She nodded, trying not to cry. “I’ve started the biscuits, Mama.”
“As I expected you would, once your daddy said you was here.”
Basking in the glow of one last breakfast with her family, she tried to be cheery as she ate. Her sisters seemed especially long-faced and sad. It was better for her to go into her room and pack her bags. She had decided she would go into town and wait at Katie’s family’s house until the evening train came. Her father offered to take her into town, but Mags thought it was best that he did not come with her.
“Someone could grab you out there on the road, daughter.” Brother Carver looked concerned.
“Then they would just get me, and not Daddy too,” Mags said with more confidence than what she felt. Brother Carver was right. Would anyone want to grab her as she left? Did she matter than much?
“I can ride in the wagon up front and put you in the back and cover you as goods for the train,” John said reasonably. “Like you say, I’ll take you to Katie’s family so that you can give them your condolences.”
“I should go to the mill and get my back pay. He owes me money.”
Lona looked afraid. “No, don’t do that. Mr. Paul will know that he owes you and he will get it to us.” Her mother turned to her father. “Tell her no, John.” Lona’s screaming made her father encircle his arms around her mother. “She be walking right into the devil’s parlor.”
“I make sure she get to the train, Lona. Calm down now.”
Mags left the kitchen where her parents were carrying on and went to the car. She felt around inside where Asa told her to go and she found the notebook. When she drew it out, it was almost warm as if it were a live pulsating thing. To some extent it was. She took it and put it into a pocket in her skirt. She wanted to keep it close to her body.
The notebook felt like protection for her and so many others. The words it held were the reason was why Asa was risking his life. The mules were hitched to the wagon. Her sisters stood in a little clutch together on the porch, crying.
“These is terrible times,” Em said.
“They are, my little pretties,” Mags said to them. “I’ll be back.”
“No,” Nettie said. “You’re going to marry Asa and leave us behind in old Winslow.”
She lifted her arms to embrace her sisters squeezing tight. She focused on Nettie, the sister closest in age to her. Did Nettie know something she didn’t? Everyone had always joked about Nettie’s “knowing things.” She was the most pious one of them. She had God’s ear, and he heard her prayers.
“Net.” She grasped her sister’s hands. “I don’t even know if Asa is alive. They might have found him in the parsonage and lynched him. I’m going up there, not even knowing if he will come.”
“Sister. Have faith in the Lord. He’ll see you through. His goodness shines like a light in all of this. He knows what is right and what is not right. It’s right and good that Asa be your husband. And w
hen he is, try not to boss him too much like you boss us.” Nettie smiled at her and they embraced.
“I love you all,” Mags told them as she got into the back of the wagon. Despite the hot July morning, her father covered her up with quilts and blankets.
Bracing herself, she laid down and tried not to look up at all. She had to trust what was coming and not question the road ahead.
The sun rose up, and he was not exactly sure where he was going, but he just kept walking, relying on faith to let him know he was headed in the right direction. Sweat poured down him in the July morning. He had walked so far on his leg, farther than he had ever done, and he would have to stop and rest. The distance had seemed much shorter when he took it with Mags last night. Was being with her that made the journey less arduous and more bearable?
Please, God, help me find my way. Please stay by my side.
He followed the small creek stream, knowing it would lead him to the Bledsoe farm eventually. Occasionally he would stop, have a drink and soothe the ache in his stump leg. Would it take him the twenty-four hours he had been given to get out of this terribly forsaken place?
He remembered how much pride his mother took in letting people know that the Masons, her people, had been in Pittsburgh since the Civil War. As OPs, Old Pittsburghers, they were not recent transplants to Pittsburgh people she felt were overrunning the city. They had been there already, and certainly had not been foolish enough to stay in the South where Negroes had continued to be treated poorly.
However, making his way, step by step through the thick woods, he knew that these people were no fools. They were survivors and brave and deserved better than the persecution they got in wanting better lives for their children.
He thought of his slave ancestors, and instead of the shame that he usually felt about having had them, he understood the strength it took for them to survive. And because they had survived, he was determined to as well. With his survival, he was compelled to pass the story on to his own children and family. Children. With Mags.
He couldn’t help but smile to himself when he thought of Mags. However, when he thought of introducing her to his mother, his smile disappeared. He did not care. Elodie Mason Caldwell would just have to deal with his choice of a wife, and he didn’t care anymore in choosing someone who she would approve of just because of skin color. If he were being honest with himself, and there was no better time than now to be honest, that was the appeal in his relationship with Aline. His mother would have approved of her whiteness. Now he could see just how wrong that all was. Aline was dead and part of him still missed her, but his marriage to her would have been an unjust use of her.
He thought again of Mags standing firm over him and his heart warmed. He had to make his way to her. He could see better light through the trees and he cautiously broke through, trying to see where he was. Foolishly, he had gone further than what he needed and he was on a road between the Bledsoe farm and the Winslow spread. Now, there was no more cover of woods between here and the farm, so he would just have to make way to the Bledsoes in the open space. Now he cared. Because he wanted a life with Mags.
Please, do not let me be discovered. Please. Hide me.
He had almost made it to the open back area where the Bledsoe barn was when he heard the clip clop of hooves. His heart raced and his palms felt clammy, but he had to turn around to meet his destiny. John Bledsoe. Their eyes met at the exact same time and John gave a cry of surprise.
“I know that you almost to the yard, but get in the back. I take you on to the house. I just dropped Margaret off in town.”
His heart swelled to hear it. “How is she?”
“She’s fine. She getting ready to take the Express in the morning. How about you?”
Asa breathed out. “I’ll be more than ready. Take me to her.”
John shook his head. “No offense, but you look a mess. Best go on back into the house and Lona will get you straightened out. I got to take Brother and Sister in on the same train and it’ll be a few hours. You need a hot meal. You can’t go to my daughter just looking like anything. ”
“No, sir, I can’t.” Asa got into the back of the wagon and rested, glad to be discovered by the right person at last.
After a proper farewell, her father had dropped her off into the yard of Katie’s house. Katie’s mother had come out onto the porch to wrap her arms around her, weeping. “I had been wondering where she get all that fancy stuff. I just can’t believe that she would go and be with Mr. Paul like that. I raise her better than that. Mags, I loved my girl, but knowing this now, what I didn’t know before? It’s mighty hard.”
“I know, ma’am.” She knew how to comfort. She got to work, boiling a tea drink and forced it on Mrs. Marshall, trying to calm her down.
“And now you are going too? Ain’t no one going to be left in Winslow no more.”
“I’m going to help Ruby, ma’am, and then I’ll be back.”
Katie’s mother shook her head. “No. No. You won’t be back. You see how much better the treatment is up there. I got a brother, he live in Cleveland and he telling me all the time to leave here. Now that my girl is gone, I just might do that. I’m sorry that you can’t stay for the funeral.”
“I’m sorry too,” Mags said. “I would have liked to say goodbye to Katie. I’m sorry.”
Katie’s mother wiped her wet face with a handkerchief. “What you got to apologize about child?”
“If I had stood up sooner to stop her, I might have led her away and avoided all of that trouble. But I was angry at her and I didn’t help as soon as I could.”
Crumbling up a handkerchief, Mrs. Marshall looked her square in the face. “Listen. Everything that Katie did, she decided to do. She decided to lay down with that dog, Mr. Paul. She decided to tell him everything you was doing. She made up her mind to get all them little trinkets and things from him in exchange for what she does. She the one who was in a shameful way. That all her, not you. Not a thing you can do about it. Let go, child. Go on and live your life.”
When some other women friends came and started visiting with Katie’s mother, she took it as an opportunity to let them know she was going into town to get her money for the trip together. Katie’s mother looked concerned, but she was so full of her own grief, she said nothing to Mags.
So, she decided to take her walk to the mill, knowing how her mother would not have been pleased by her decision. Still, Paul Winslow was going to pay for her trip.
When she got to the mill, things looked in disarray. That’s not how she would have had it, but still, she knocked on Paul Winslow’s office door, an unusual thing for her. Usually, she would have left him a note requesting a chance to meet with him, or asked someone else to let him know.
He didn’t answer. She knew he had to be here, so she sat down to wait.
After about fifteen minutes of waiting, Paul Winslow came to his office door and saw her dressed in her second best and not in her mill clothes. His appearance was rumpled, but he was not the least bit disturbed to see her. “You late, Mags? It ain’t no matter. I fired that uppity Negro and told him to get his black butt out of my town. You need to get back on the floor and start your being in charge again. You back on to five dollars a day as of now, but I’m going to have to dock your pay for these hours that you missed this morning.”
“I want to talk to you.” She started to shake, but stilled herself, trying to remain calm about what she had heard. Was Asa still alive? Is that what he meant?
“What, girl?” He acted as if she were a fly, a little nothing that was bothering him. “You got your job back. Go on and get on your machine.”
She stepped closer to him and this forced him into his office. “I said, I wanted to talk to you.”
“Margaret, what is wrong with you? Get in here.”
She knew that he was really shaken because he called her Margar
et instead of girl. She followed him into his office and closed the door against the noise of the mill. “I’m going up to Pittsburgh today. I need money for my train ticket.”
“What? Train tickets cost plenty of money, girl, I might not have it. What are you talking about?”
“Fifteen dollars.”
Paul Winslow whistled. “I don’t know if I got all of that. Sounds to me like if you don’t have the money, you better stay here at home.”
“I’m supposed to go up North and help Ruby with her baby.”
“Oh, I’m sure that Dr. Morson has that all taken care of. They don’t need you. You aren’t a nurse. You’re a mill hand. There ain’t no helping with a baby when you are a mill hand.”
Mags cleared her throat. “I’m not sure you understand, sir. I’m quitting. I want my money so I can leave.”
Paul Winslow sat up. “You can’t quit on me, girl.”
“Yes, I’m doing that, sir. Yesterday was my last day.”
“I don’t owe you anywhere near no fifteen dollars. If that is what you need to leave, then you can’t go.”
“I know that you don’t owe me that in my pay. You owe me $3.25. But I feel that you know that you should give me the fifteen dollars that I’m asking you for.”
“Why should I do that?”
“Ruby. Adam. Solomon. The new baby. Katie. And you owe it to me. I’ve made you richer over this past year than you ever have been. So, I feel that you’ll give it to me, sir, because you know you owe it to me.”
“I ought to fire you for speaking to me like this.”
“I’m quitting, sir. You cannot fire me.”
Paul Winslow fixed her with a strong stare. She stared back at him. She would not back down. He reached for his wallet and a small thrill of victory traced through her. He laid a twenty-dollar bill on his desk. “Go on and take it. I don’t have any change.”
A Most Precious Pearl Page 17