Carried Forward By Hope (70 page)

Thomas stooped down to look her in the eye. “I feel exactly the same way, Amber. I have all the people I love best right here around me.”

Carrie’s eyes filled with tears as she exchanged a long look with Rose. She knew both of them were feeling the warm love pulsating through the room, wrapping around them like a warm cocoon and transforming them from the inside out — preparing them for whatever was ahead.

Thomas stood and cleared his voice. “I believe it’s almost time for the dance down in the barn.”

Carrie looked at Rose and then back at her father. “Are you going?” Her father had never gone near one of the Christmas dances.

“Yes,” he said simply. “I won’t stay long because I don’t want to hamper anyone’s fun, but I do have an announcement I want to make.”

Carrie shook her head when Rose looked to her. She had no idea what her father was going to do, but one glance at the excited gleam in Abby’s eyes told her his wife certainly did. She was certain of it when Abby refused to look at either one of them.

“You folks go on down,” Sam said as he slipped into the room quietly. “I’ll put out all the candles on this very beautiful tree,” he said. “You did real good,” he told Amber proudly.

Amber beamed and skipped over to take Sam’s hand. “I’ll stay here and then go down to the dance with you, Sam.”

Sam shook his head. “Not this time, Amber,” he said lightly. “I believe I’ll be staying up here. I’m just going to look at this purty tree and rest a little while.”

Rose looked at him sharply. “You’ve never missed a Christmas dance, Sam!” she protested.

Sam smiled. “Why, that ain’t true, Miss Rose. This be the first Christmas dance in four years. These old bones just don’t want to go out in the cold tonight.” He kissed Rose on the cheek. “You go down and dance with that fine husband of yours. I’ll keep an eye on the boys in case they wake up.” He looked down at them. “If I don’t miss my guess, they’ll be asleep in the shake of a lamb’s tail.”

Rose tried to push down the uneasy feeling in her heart. He had spent more Christmas Eves dancing than she had living. She just didn’t want to admit how old he was getting. Sam had been her rock for her whole life.

Carrie pressed up against her side. “We’ll come back and check on him after my father makes his announcement.”

Rose nodded reluctantly. “And you really don’t know what your father is going to say?”

“No idea.” She looked up at Robert as he brought her coat. “Do you know what father is going to announce?”

“I haven’t a clue.”

Moses overheard the last of the conversation as he walked up. “I don’t know either,” he confessed, “but I sure am curious. Let’s get down there!”

Music was already swirling through the barn when they arrived. Banjos, fiddles, and harmonicas were beating out the spirituals that had sustained black people during their long years of bondage, and would continue to sustain them in the years ahead. The barn was bulging with families from the plantation and with friends they had invited to share the festivities. Matthew and Jeremy had already arrived and were deep in conversation.

Thomas stared around the barn when they walked in. “I had forgotten others would be here,” he said.

“Is that a problem?” Moses asked.

“Of course not! This is their home. They are free to invite others to join us. It’s just…”

“That you wanted to tell them in private,” Moses guessed. He could tell by the light in Thomas’s eyes that whatever he had to say was important.

“Yes.”

“Will it take long?”

“No more than a few minutes,” Thomas assured him. “Abby and I would like to tell them together.” He glanced at Carrie and Rose. “I would like both of you to join us.”

“I’ll gather them in Simon and June’s cabin,” Moses said promptly. “Just the men?”

“Yes. They can tell their families afterwards.”

Carrie and Rose were as curious as the men who had all gathered by the time Thomas and Abby opened the door and walked in. No one said a word while they walked to the front of the cabin next to the fireplace and gazed at everyone in the room.

Thomas cleared his throat. “I want to begin by saying thank you. If all of you in this room had not been willing to work for so little in the spring, I doubt Cromwell Plantation would have had a crop at all. Because you
were
willing, we have had a surprisingly good year — certainly better than other plantations in the area.”

Carrie watched as proud smiles lit the men’s faces. She knew how much their share of the profits had meant to them. She knew they all hoped to own their own land someday and were glad for a chance to earn the money for it.

“I’m aware our government made promises to the black population they are not going to keep,” Thomas continued. “Families that thought they would have land and a home of their own have discovered that is not true and will not
be
true.”

The men nodded somberly.

Thomas smiled. “I spent years in politics. I could make this long-winded, but I won’t.” His silver hair shone in the firelight as everyone chuckled. “There are ten families here on the plantation. Mrs. Cromwell and I have set aside four hundred acres on the north edge of the plantation. It will be divided into ten equal portions. Each of you will receive forty acres and enough lumber to build a house and a barn.” His gaze swept the room. “Though I sincerely hope all of you will continue to work for me for years to come, I want to make it clear this land is yours. You’ve worked hard and you’ve earned it.”

Shocked silence met his announcement. The only sound in the room was the crackle of the fire.

Thomas’s gaze swung to Moses. “I suggest you allot a number to each forty-acre plot and write them down on a strip of paper. Each man can pull a slip out of the bag in order to keep it completely fair.”

Moses’s eyes were as wide as everyone else’s as he nodded. Suddenly he found his voice and walked forward to grip Thomas’s hand firmly. “Thank you.” He paused. “I know I’ll think of more to say when the shock wears off, but thank you is enough for now.”

One by one, the men — some with tears in their eyes, and all with joy exploding on their faces — came up to shake his hand.

“Thank you, Mr. Cromwell.”

“Merry Christmas, sir.

“This means the world to me, Mr. Cromwell.”

Shock still hung in the air when Thomas smiled broadly, took Abby by the hand, and walked from the cabin. Everyone stared around the room until the reality of what had happened truly sank in.

Carrie laughed when the joy finally erupted. She didn’t know what was happening in the barn, but there was surely a lot of dancing happening in the cabin. She was so glad she was here to see it. The pride and love she felt for her father expanded her heart until she was afraid it might explode.

Moses grabbed Rose and swirled her around the room gently, his face almost splitting from his grin. “He couldn’t have given them a better Christmas present,” he said hoarsely, leaning down to speak into her ear.

“Indeed he couldn’t have,” Rose agreed happily, thrilled beyond measure that these men who had led such hard lives, and paid such a difficult price for freedom finally had something they could call their own.

Simon bowed to Carrie and spun her into a wild dance of celebration. Suddenly he broke away. “I have to go tell June!”

Within seconds all the men were heading toward the door. “We have to tell our wives,” they called back.

Moses, Rose, and Carrie followed them more slowly. They were almost at the dance barn when Abby appeared out of the shadows.

“Carrie!”

Carrie tensed, somehow knowing what she was going to say before she said it. “Sam?”

Abby nodded. “He was collapsed in the parlor when we got back.”

Carrie and Rose were running toward the house even before she finished her sentence. They knew Moses would make sure Abby got back safely.

Thomas had carried Sam into the downstairs bedroom when they arrived.

One look told Carrie he didn’t have long. She took his hand tenderly. “Hello, Sam.”

“Hello, Carrie girl,” Sam gasped, his breath labored. “I ain’t feelin’ so good.” He peered into her eyes. “You done always told me the truth, Carrie girl. I ain’t got long do I?”

“No,” Carrie said gently, grief making it difficult to talk. This gentle man had been part of her family for her whole life. He had protected her and kept her out of trouble. He had covered for her when she was doing something he knew her mother wouldn’t want her to do. His great heart had finally given out. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered.

Sam shook his head with difficulty. “Don’t you be sorry, Carrie girl. I done led me a good life. I done know I couldn’t live forever, but I sure am glad I gots to have one more Christmas in the big house.”

Rose groaned and dropped down on her knees beside him, tears streaming down her face. “Sam…”

Sam laid his hand on her head and smiled. “It be okay, Rose girl. I’m gonna go see your mama,” he gasped, his face twisted with pain but his eyes peaceful. “I’m gonna tell her all about how you be living free with Moses and all about that fine baby boy named after her man. John gonna dance in heaven when he finds out,” he said. “And you’s about to have another fine baby.”

“But, Sam…” Rose cried brokenly.

“Shh… Rose girl, you don’t need me no more. You was just like a daughter to me, but my days of takin’ care of you be over. You’s all grown with a fine family.” He looked up with a trembling smile as Moses and Abby entered the room.

“I’m going to miss you so much,” Rose murmured, taking his hand as she leaned forward to kiss his leathery, wrinkled skin.

“You cry all the tears you need to, Rose girl, but don’t cry them for me,” Sam said slowly. “I reckon I been here as long as I needed to be, but now I’m ready to go on home.” A burning light appeared in his eyes as he gazed slowly around the room, imprinting all the people he loved in his mind and heart, and sending them a blessing with his loving eyes.

Then he closed his eyes and gave his last breath. Peace settled over his face like a veil.

Carrie sagged against her father but found there was too much peace in the room to shed tears.

Rose leaned forward and gathered Sam into her arms, holding him tenderly.

Silently, everyone filed from the room, leaving them alone.

Only Moses remained, standing quietly with his hand resting on Rose’s shoulder. He knew what Sam had meant to her. He knew losing Sam was almost as hard as losing her mama.

“He lived a full life,” Rose said quietly, finally breaking the silence. “He told me a long time ago that he was ready to go whenever God was ready to call him home.” A smile trembled on her lips. “I remember him telling me that death might end a life, but the memories of that life will never end.”

She reached up a hand. “Will you help me up?” she asked.

Moses grabbed her hand and pulled her up easily, surprised when she gasped. “Rose?”

Rose stared at him, stunned surprise in her eyes. “You should go get Carrie,” she said slowly, looking down as a puddle appeared on the floor. “I believe we’re going to have another baby.”

Moses froze. “Isn’t it too soon?

“Evidently not.” Rose smiled. She pushed at him. “Go get Carrie and then come back and help me upstairs.”

“Can you make it upstairs?” Moses asked, fear filling his eyes.

Rose laughed this time. “I’m an old hand at this now,” she said calmly. “We have plenty of time — that is, if you can quit staring at me and go get my midwife.”

“A baby!” Moses kissed her firmly and then turned and strode from the room.

Moments later Carrie rushed into the room, Abby on her heels. “It’s time?”

“It’s time,” Rose agreed, a strange look on her face as she looked down at Sam. “It’s so odd to have a new life right on the heels of death,” she murmured. “It’s almost as if God is giving me a new baby to fill the emptiness.” Suddenly her face twisted with pain.

“The first contraction?” Carrie asked.

Rose nodded, smiling reassurance as Moses rushed in with Thomas. “If you two fine gentlemen would help me upstairs, I would greatly appreciate it.”

When Rose was comfortable in her bed, Carrie turned to Moses and began to bark orders. “I want several basins of hot water and the pile of sheeting Annie has already cut up.” She turned to her father next. “Please bring me the extra blankets out of my and Robert’s room.”