On to Richmond (76 page)

Moses stared down at the prostrate body and took deep breaths to regain control.  Every part of him screamed to finish off the man.  He knew the world would be better off without him.  If he had a gun...  He shook his head even as the idea rose appealingly.  The sound of a gun would alert the rest of his unit.  He couldn’t take that chance.  He couldn’t believe they hadn’t returned to find him yet.  They might not even be aware he was missing. 

             
Moses leaned over the still body.  A few powerful blows to the head would accomplish the same thing.  Finally, he stood up and stepped back.  Reason was slowly returning.  He had meant it when he said he didn’t want to stoop to the same level as Adams.  He simply couldn’t bring himself to kill a man in cold blood. 

             
Reality returned with reason.  He had to figure out a way to get to Carrie.  He had known all day how close they were to the plantation.  He had nurtured a futile hope that the men would march right past, not turning off the main road.  But 100,000 men were a lot to feed.  Scouts were raiding every plantation and farm in the area.  When it became obvious that all the residents of the area had fled, he had comforted himself with the knowledge that while Cromwell Plantation might suffer damage, Carrie would be fine. 

             
Adams had revealed the truth.  His betrayal of Carrie’s would-be rescuer had alerted Moses to the truth.  But what to do with Adams?  Moses made up his mind and sprang into action. 

             
He quickly undressed Adams then reached inside his saddle bag for a length of rope.  His hands flashed as he bound Adams tightly.  If someone found him, fine.  If not, well, the man would have gotten what was coming to him.  One thing for sure, he would not have a chance to interfere with Moses’ plans.  He picked up Adams’ limp form and carried it several yards back into the woods.  Then, as an afterthought, he ripped the shirttail off Adams’ shirt and stuffed it in his mouth. 

             
Moses looked around and noticed, with deep satisfaction, that a thick fog was rolling into the area.  At least it would slow the rest of the men down.  As fast as he could, he tied Adams’ clothes behind his saddle and leapt onto the horse. 

Now if he could just make it in time.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

             
Carrie stood on the porch and watched as a heavy fog crept in to blanket the plantation.  Right now it was low to the ground; soon it would thicken and make travel impossible.  Would it slow down the Union troops?  Did an army travel at night?  Frustration welled up in her as she struggled to know what to do.  There had been no letters from her father - not since the one telling her of McClellan’s arrival at Fort Monroe.  She had stayed so busy it had been easy to convince herself all was well.   The Confederate Army must have indeed been able to push them back.  As she watched the fields explode with new growth, she worked harder to plant even more.  It had been enough to keep her mind occupied.   She had decided to stagger the planting times.  That way crops would mature all the way through to the end of fall.  She had felt good about her decision to stay on the plantation. 

             
Now she wasn’t so sure.  The pounding sounds of guns and artillery from the direction of Williamsburg two days ago had both startled and frightened her.  The slaves were absolutely terrified.  She was doing everything she could to keep them calm.  She carried a weight of responsibility for them now that often threatened to overwhelm her.

             
The roar of guns had erupted early that first morning and continued long into the afternoon.  A steady rain and gray skies had done nothing but increase the sense of foreboding that had crept over her as she listened.  When the day ended and the guns were silent, she was left with nothing but questions.  Who had won?  Were there Union soldiers on their way to Richmond?  What about Cromwell Plantation? 

             
Somehow she had made it through the long day that followed.  Now, another had come and almost gone, and she was no closer to knowing what to do.  Her mind screamed at her to leave immediately.  In spite of the fact she hadn’t heard from her father, she knew he must be worried sick.  She had no idea whether she was in actual danger or not, but every nerve in her screamed she was. 

             
Her heart told her to stay.  She had a job to do.  But this time it was much more important than just raising food.  The slaves on Cromwell looked to her for care and protection.  Sam had been right.  The ones who had chosen to stay rather than to escape were those in need of the security and safety the plantation offered.  The battle sounds had sent them into a state of panic.  How could she go away and leave them?

             
“You out here, Miss Carrie?”

             
Carrie turned and smiled weakly at Opal.  “Yes, I’m here.  Come on out and join me.”  Opal and the children had moved into the house a few weeks ago.  They had been fine down in the quarters, but Carrie had finally admitted she was lonely and asked Opal to join her.  Having the children around was indeed a blessing.  They were gradually emerging from the shock of losing both their parents and were beginning to take an interest in life again. 

             
Susie, especially, was a joy.  The sixteen year old reminded her so much of Rose.  When she wasn’t taking care of household chores, Carrie could find her in the library.   She devoured everything she could get her hands on. 

             
“What you thinking about, Miss Carrie?”

             
Carrie shrugged.  “I just don’t know what to do,” she said helplessly. 

             
A stern voice sounded behind her.  “You need to be gettin’ yo’self to Richmond, Miss Carrie.  I don’t reckon it be too safe for you ‘round here right now.”  Sam moved toward them from the yard. 

             
“You scared me to death, Sam,” Carrie gasped.  “What in the world are you doing sneaking around in the yard?”

             
“I ain’t sneakin’,” he protested.  “I’m watchin’.   Ain’t no soldiers gonna get past me iffen I got somethin’ to do ‘bout it!”

             
Carrie smiled in spite of herself.  She could not imagine her elderly friend being able to do much to stop determined soldiers.  Then she frowned.  “You really think they’ll come here, Sam?”

             
Sam shrugged.  “I don’t reckon I be knowin’ much more than you, Miss Carrie.  Ain’t no way of knowin’ who won that battle yesterday.  But I figure if the North done won, they’s gonna be headed this way.”

             
“Are you scared?”  Carrie asked.

             
Sam shook his head.  “Not for me I’m not.  It’s you I be scared for.”  He paused. “Them Union soldiers ain’t got a fight with me.  It’s you they got a fight with.  I heard enough to figure them soldiers ain’t gonna do nothing to us slaves.  But to you...?”  His voice trailed off grimly.

             
Carrie’s heart beat faster.  Suddenly, every fog shrouded tree became a Union soldier.  She peered around, wondering if she was being watched even now.   “What do you think I should do, Sam?”

             
“You know what you should do, Miss Carrie.  You ought to let me take you into Richmond as fast as I can.”

             
“But what about the plantation?” Carrie protested.

             
Sam snorted.  “You ain’t goin’ to be runnin’ no plantation if the Yankees take it over, no how.  And what you think we’s gonna do?  I ain’t plannin’ on goin’ nowhere.  I reckon I can help take care of this place.  Once I get you to Richmond I’ll turn ‘round and come straight back. ”

             
Carrie shook her head.  “But what about all the crops?” she cried desperately.  “I can’t just leave them.”  She tried to stuff down the bile of fear rising in her throat.

             
Sam stepped forward and took her by the shoulders.  “Now you listen to me, Carrie girl,” he said sternly.  “There be some thin’s in life you can’t be controllin’.  No matter how used you be to doin’ that.  I reckon this be one o’ them times.  You done worked harder than any one person I ever seen.  You done poured all yo’self into this plantation and growin’ food.  But sometimes there be thin’s you just can’t control.  This be one o’ them times,” he repeated. “And besides,” he continued sternly.  “You already done come up with the worst end to this here story.  Who’s to say you won’t be comin’ back?  Maybe it was the South who won that battle we heard.  You might get yo’self to Richmond and find out you get to come right back.”

             
Carrie latched onto his last words.  “Maybe it
was
the South who won the battle!  Maybe I should wait a little longer to see what happens.”

             
Sam shook his head in frustration.  “You ain’t seein’ thin’s clear, girl.  Even if was the South who won that battle, it still means there be a lot of Northern soldiers not too far from here.  What’s to stop them from sneakin’ up here?  By land or by water.  The river ain’t too far, and it sure would be hard to watch all of it.”

             
Carrie’s heart sank.  She knew Sam was right.  She nodded slowly.  “I promised my father I would leave the plantation if things became too dangerous.  I guess that time has come.”

             
“Now you finally talkin’ some sense, girl!”

             
Carrie turned and stared out at the fog shrouded fields.  “We’ll leave at first light.  It’s too dangerous to try it in this fog.” 

             
“That be the best,” Sam agreed.  “You got work to do around here, anyhow.”

             
Carrie stared at him.  “What kind of work, Sam?”

             
“Ain’t there some thin’s here you would hate to never have again?” he asked gently.

             
Carrie’s eyes suddenly filled with tears.  She had never allowed herself to think that Cromwell Plantation might actually be lost.  Sam’s quiet question brought the reality blasting home.  She took a deep breath and willed herself to stay calm.  “You’re right,” she said bravely.

             
Sam nodded.  “I’ll get you a bag you can take with you.  Fit whatever you can in that bag.  Me and Opal will hide whatever else you find.  I reckon that’s the best we be able to do.”

             
Carrie stared at him again, before she swung around once more to probe the woods with her eyes.  Then she turned and disappeared into the house.

“Gol’darn, Captain!” one of the soldier’s yelled.  “How we gonna find Cromwell Plantation?  I can’t even find my hand in front of my face.”

              “My horse doesn’t even want to move,” another complained.  “There’s no way we’re going to find the fork in the road Adams told us about!”

             
There was a brief silence, and then the captain barked, “Halt!  You’re right.  We’ll stay here for the night.  When the sun comes up and we can see our way, we’ll continue on.”