Carried Forward By Hope (47 page)

Janie was trembling with exhaustion and hunger when the train arrived in Richmond the next morning. She also felt a wild freedom when she stepped from the train, gloriously happy to see the crowded streets and the few burned buildings that had not yet been cleared away.
Richmond!
Everything she saw reminded her she was no longer with Clifford. She was free! Deep breathing helped her feel stronger.

She looked around for a carriage to take her to Carrie’s house but realized she should save her money. She had no way of knowing if anyone was still there. If not, she was going to have to care for herself until she could decide what to do. Ten dollars would not last long.

Her stomach grumbled as the smells of food wafted from the houses she passed, but she simply straightened her shoulders and continued to walk. The presence of Union soldiers made her feel safe on the crowded streets. Surely she would come to no harm in broad daylight. She relaxed as she strolled along, amazed with how far Richmond had come in clearing away the burned buildings. There was no new construction yet, but she was sure it would follow quickly.

Janie forced her mind off her fatigue and hunger as the sun climbed higher in the sky. She was aware her clothing was rumpled and stained from the long train trip, but there was nothing she could do about that now. Strange looks from fellow pedestrians told her Clifford’s slap had probably resulted in colorful marks on her face, but no one stopped her or questioned her. She exulted in the anonymity after being a prisoner in her own home for so long.

Sweat was rolling off her face as she climbed the hill to Carrie’s house. She thought longingly of Spencer’s carriage but firmed her lips and grasped her bag more tightly. She and Carrie had fought through much more fatigue and pain than this during the long years of the war.

Janie took a deep breath as she crested the hill and turned down the final road. For the first time, she allowed herself to seriously consider that the house may be empty. Surely everyone would be back on the plantation by now, but perhaps Miles and May were still there and could help her get word to Carrie. She knew it was a weak plan, but it was the only one she had been able to devise with her limited options.

Janie walked more slowly as she neared the brick house, suddenly terrified she had come all this way for nothing. She was trembling again as she climbed the porch stairs and knocked on the door.

Tears of relief filled her eyes when Miles appeared.

“Miss Janie!” Miles exclaimed. “Miss Janie, what you be doing here?”

“Hello, Miles,” Janie said softly.

Miles’s eyes narrowed as he reached out a hand and pulled her into the house. “I know a woman in trouble when I sees one,” he growled. “May!” he called. “Get on out here!”

May bustled out of the kitchen, her face softening with compassion as soon as she saw Janie. She hurried over and wrapped her arms around the quivering woman. “Miss Janie. You be all right, honey?”

“No,” Janie managed to whisper. “Except I think I may be all right now that I’m here.”

“That be the truth, sure ‘nuff,” Miles said gruffly. “Mr. Clifford ain’t with you, is he?”

“No,” was all Janie could manage to say.

May tilted Janie’s chin up so their eyes could meet. “You be safe here, Miss Janie. I’s glad you came home.”

Janie smiled — a quivering smile that made her lips tremble. “
Home.
That sounds nice.”

May looked at her more closely. “How long it been since you done ate something, Miss Janie?”

Janie frowned, trying to remember. “I’m not sure…”

“You take Miss Janie into the parlor,” May snapped. “I’ll bring you out somethin’ in a few minutes.”

Janie gratefully allowed Miles to lead her into the parlor. She sank down in the chair by the window. “Is anyone else here?” she asked hopefully.

“No, ma’am,” Miles replied softly. “Ever’body done be out on the plantation.”

Janie nodded, her throat clogging with tears again. “I can’t stay here,” she whispered. “This is the first place Clifford will look for me.”

“He know you here right now?” Miles asked sharply.

“No,” Janie admitted, “but he’ll figure this is where I came.”

“Ain’t your folks live in Raleigh?” Miles asked. “Why ain’t they helping you?”

Janie just shook her head, too humiliated to admit her parents were under Clifford’s control.

“It don’t matter none,” Miles said quickly. “I’s just real glad you came here. It was the right thing to do. I know you can’t stay. We’ll figure out a way to get you out to the plantation,” he vowed.

May arrived with a tray full of ham biscuits and iced tea. “I’ll have something better for dinner,” she said. “This was all I had that was ready.”

“It’s wonderful,” Janie replied, pushing away her sadness that everyone was gone. She had to eat if she was going to think of what to do next.

While she ate, Miles and May told her everything they knew. Janie smiled happily when they told her of Moses coming through with his mama and sister. “He found them!”

“Yes, Miss Janie,” Miles said. “Mr. Matthew came through here about a week ago. He done headed out to the plantation too.”

Janie frowned when she saw the look on his face. “Is something wrong with Matthew?” she asked sharply.

Miles exchanged a look with May. “You done been reading the news, Miss Janie?”

Janie shook her head slowly, suddenly realizing she hadn’t seen a paper since she left Richmond. “No,” she said sadly. “What did I miss?”

“There be a real big explosion on a steamboat Mr. Matthew was on,” Miles said gravely.

“Was he hurt?” Janie gasped.

“No, Miss Janie,” May assured her. “Leastways, his body weren’t hurt none. I can’t say the same about his soul. He looked right lost when he got here.”

“It must have been terrible,” Janie said softly.

“Lost close to two thousand,” Miles said.

Janie stared at him. “Two thousand people?” she gasped. “On one boat? How is that possible?”

“We got some papers here you can read, Miss Janie,” May assured her, “but you’ll probably only get the real story from Mr. Matthew.”

“How can I get out to the plantation?” she murmured.

“How ‘bout we get Spencer up here to take you?” Miles asked.

Janie shook her head hesitantly. “I’m afraid I don’t have enough to pay him,” she said.

Miles snorted. “Mr. Cromwell done left me some money to take care of things around here. I reckon I would lose my job if I didn’t use it to get you out to the plantation,” he stated firmly.

A sudden rumble of carriage wheels in the distance made Janie gasp. She ran to the window and peered out from behind the curtains. “I think someone is coming,” she cried, too frightened to realize the carriage could be visiting
any
of the houses on the road.

Miles stepped up next to her. “I’ll take care of it, Miss Janie,” he said quietly. “You go on up to Miss Carrie’s old room. You’ll be safe up there.”

Janie could have kissed him for not suggesting she go to the room she had shared with Clifford. She hesitated, but May strode forward and took her arm.

“You’s going upstairs, Miss Janie,” she said firmly. “Ain’t nobody gonna know you be here,” she assured her.

Janie brushed away tears as May led her up the stairs. “I’m sorry I’m so frightened,” she whispered.

“From the looks of your face, I’d say you got reason to be scared,” May growled, her eyes sparkling with anger. “Mr. Clifford ain’t never gonna lay another hand on you if I got anythin’ to say about it.”

Janie bit back a groan, praying May would not have to face Clifford’s anger. She knew what he would do to her. She suddenly realized she had made a terrible mistake coming here. All she had done was put her friends in danger. What had she been thinking?

May pushed her down on Carrie’s bed. “You wait here,” she ordered. “Me and Miles will done take care of things.”

Janie fought the urge to cry out when May left the room. It would do nothing but increase the danger for them if Clifford heard her and knew she was in the house. She crawled onto Carrie’s bed and huddled up against the headboard, too terrified to think.

All she could do was tremble uncontrollably when she heard running footsteps on the stairs. Clifford had found her! She gazed wildly at the window, wondering if she would survive a jump — a part of her realizing she hoped she wouldn’t. The courage that had gotten her here had drained away.

“Janie!”

Janie gasped with relief and began to sob when Jeremy rushed through the door, his face white with concern. “Jeremy!” she cried.

Jeremy pulled her tight into his arms and held her while she sobbed. “You’re safe,” he murmured. “You’re safe.”

Janie finally took a deep breath and pulled back to stare at him, understanding when his eyes sparkled with temper. A brief look in Carrie’s mirror had confirmed her face didn’t look good. “What are you doing here?”

“Obviously rescuing you,” Jeremy said firmly. He took a deep breath. “Did Clifford do this to you?”

Janie nodded, her face flaming with humiliation as she looked away.

Jeremy turned her face back to his. “I’m so sorry, but you have nothing to be ashamed of,” he said softly. “Does he know you’re here?”

“No, but he will suspect it.” Janie’s voice quavered. “I don’t want to make trouble for anyone,” she gasped. “I just didn’t know what else to do.”

“You did the exact right thing,” Jeremy assured her.

“I really must leave here,” Janie insisted. “It won’t be safe for Miles and May if he comes here and suspects they are hiding me.”

Jeremy frowned. “He knows Miles and May. Why would he want to hurt them?”

“He has changed,” Janie said bluntly, telling him of the conversation the night before in his office and, more hesitantly, about his hitting her. “That is the first time he has struck me,” she said, “but I had already decided to leave.”

“Because he has been verbally abusing you,” Jeremy said flatly. “Carrie told me how frightened she has been for you. She is worried sick. Why haven’t you written?”

“I have!” Janie exclaimed, explaining that the letters had never been allowed to leave Raleigh.

“So you’ve been a prisoner,” Jeremy said grimly.

Janie nodded her head in shame. “Yes,” she whispered.

“Don’t!” Jeremy said sharply.

Janie’s head jerked up. “Don’t what?”

“Don’t keep giving him power over you. You know what he did was wrong, don’t you?”

Janie nodded, her eyes still downcast. “Yes.”

“You know it took great courage to escape him, don’t you?” Jeremy continued, his voice more gentle.

Janie looked up at him, relaxing when she saw his warm smile. “I
was
rather clever,” she replied, a tentative smile flitting across her lips.

“How did you do it?”

Janie told him.

“Mrs. Edward Maxwell?” Jeremy hooted with laughter. “That was brilliant!”

Janie smiled but twisted her hands, anxiety still knotting her stomach. “He will come here, Jeremy,” she said again.

“Yes, but I highly doubt he will come today. We will leave for the plantation tomorrow.”

Hope burst forth in Janie’s heart. “Really? We’re going to the plantation tomorrow?” She knew Clifford might follow her there as well, but it wouldn’t be as easy.

Jeremy nodded. “I’m here to take care of some things for Abby. I was going to stay longer, but I agree with you that it will be best to leave Richmond.” He told her briefly of the plans to build the factory and also of the impending marriage between Abby and Thomas.

“How wonderful,” Janie exclaimed, forgetting her fear for a moment. “Carrie must be so happy!”

“And Robert? Is he better?”

Jeremy nodded but stood. “We’ll talk tomorrow on the way out to the plantation. If we’re to leave so quickly, there is much I must do.”

He walked to the top of the stairs and beckoned Miles to join them. “Janie and I will leave for the plantation in the morning.” He made no mention of Janie’s fear that Clifford might harm him and May. Clifford had no way of knowing who might still be in the house. In spite of the man’s growing anger, Jeremy didn’t think he would risk confronting Thomas, or Moses, or himself. Men who beat their wives were basically cowards who ruled by fear. Clifford knew he would have no power here, but Jeremy also knew that wouldn’t alleviate Janie’s fears.

Jeremy turned back to Janie. “I suspect you are hungry and tired,” he said kindly. “Miles will alert you if Clifford comes, but I truly believe you’re safe here today. Tomorrow is going to be a long day. I suggest you get some sleep and eat some of May’s cooking.” He stepped aside as May strode into the room with a pan of cool water.

“You two men get on out of here,” she ordered, her eyes softening when she settled down next to Janie. “I’s going to clean Miss Janie up some so she can get some rest.”

“Rest, Janie,” Jeremy said. “It may be after dinner when I return. We’ll leave right after breakfast in the morning.”