Spring Will Come (71 page)

             
Thomas nodded grimly.  “I don’t believe a government has ever existed that could stop trade dripping money like that.  Especially when allowing it to continue yields certain benefits.”

             
“How does the military feel about it?”  Dr. Wild asked astutely. 

             
“I’m sure the Confederate generals are a little confused.  On one hand, they are told to destroy all cotton they believe is being exported to the enemy.  On the other hand, they also receive memos advising discretion because it might be to their benefit to exchange produce for arms and ammunition.”  He snorted.  “Secretary of War Randolph has stated the Confederacy can violate its policy of keeping cotton out of Yankee hands or it can risk the starvation of its armed forces.” 

             
“Is he right?”  Matron Pember pressed.

             
“I’m afraid he is,” Thomas said.  “I’m afraid the reality is much the same here in Richmond.  Our capital appears to be infested with Baltimore merchants importing huge quantities of goods from the North and selling them at fabulous prices.”

             
“Right here in Richmond?”  Carrie gasped.  “The people are suffering so much.  How can the government allow that to happen?  Most people can simply not afford the prices!”

             
“It’s not that simple,” her father replied.  “There seem to be only two choices.  People can either pay exorbitant prices, or they can simply not have access to the goods.  The blockade of the coast has affected Richmond severely.  Combined with our exploding population, we simply cannot take care of the citizens without the Northern goods these men bring in.” 

             
“Is there any end in sight to this madness?” Janie asked then held up her hand.  “I don’t expect anyone to be able to answer that question.”

             
Carrie was thinking hard.  “It would seem to me that the South’s providing cotton to the North will ultimately lead to its own downfall even if it
is
getting goods.”

             
Thomas smiled slightly.  “As usual, you are able to see things much more clearly than others.  I’m afraid I agree with you.  I believe that cotton, instead of contributing to our strength, may prove to be the greatest element of our weakness.  I fear Yankee gold will accomplish what Yankee military strength might never - the subjugation of our people.”

             
“People are only willing to suffer for so long,” Pastor Anthony observed.  “Especially when they don’t really understand what they’re suffering for anyway.”

             
Thomas smiled halfheartedly then picked up a piece of cornbread.  “Do you think it might be possible to find a more pleasant topic of conversation?” 

             
“Why don’t we talk about the opening of the new theater?”  Janie asked brightly.  “I’m so glad they were able to rebuild after that disastrous fire.  I understand the next show is going to be wonderful.”

             
Carrie looked at her friend gratefully.  She had so looked forward to the dinner party, but their conversation had left her deeply saddened.  Now all she wanted was for her guests to leave so she could be alone.  She vaguely registered the flow of conversation around her, but her insides were spinning and churning. 

             
Suddenly, more than anything she had wanted in a long time, she wanted to go back to Cromwell Plantation.  Not to stay - just to visit.  She loved what she was doing, but the rampant overcrowding in the city made her feel like a trapped animal. She was never alone - never had privacy.  She longed for wide open spaces where she could breathe, where she could feel free. 

Carrie smiled warmly at each of her guests as they moved back into the bitter cold.  “Thank you so much for coming.  Please be careful on the way home.” 

              “What a nice evening,” Janie said, closing the door.

             
“Yes.”  Carrie was thankful she had recovered from her dark mood enough to join in the chatter that had surrounded the table for the remainder of the evening. 

             
Thomas walked up and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.  “Carrie, I’m so sorry I started the evening out on such a sour note.  I realize we are surrounded by trouble everywhere we turn.  I should have been considerate enough to leave it out of the house for one night.”  He paused.  “I like your friends very much.  We may not share the same beliefs, but they are wonderful people.”

             
“And I’m sure they feel the same way about you.” Carrie smiled graciously, slipping her arm through his.  “They’ve heard me brag about you so often they came with a very positive outlook.  Besides, I don’t think they minded talking about it.  It’s just your daughter that sometimes wants to pretend the world isn’t falling apart.”

             
“I still feel bad about my heated conversation,” Thomas insisted.  “I wish there was some way to make it up to you.”

             
Carrie almost laughed.  She couldn’t believe it would be so easy.  “Well... if you feel that way...”

             
Thomas laughed loudly.  “Why do I feel that I just set myself up for something?”  He moved over and sat down in a chair by the fire.  “Okay, daughter.  What is it you have up your sleeve?”

             
“I want you not to be upset when I tell you I want to go home for a few days.  I want to go to the plantation.  I need it,” she added almost desperately. To her amazement, her father wasn’t looking distressed.  She knew how much he had worried about her before. 

             
“I don’t see any reason you shouldn’t go,” he said calmly.  “I think it would be good for you.  In fact, if I wasn’t so busy at the Capitol, I would go with you.  This city is about to suffocate me.”

             
“You understand!”  Carrie cried.

             
“You are my daughter, aren’t you?  I watched you roam around that plantation free as a bird from the time you were a child.” 

             
“I need to feel free again.”

             
“Yes.  And you need your special place,” Thomas said with a smile.

             
Carrie ran to him and threw her arms around him.  “Thank you.”

             
“You’re welcome.  Of course, I know you would go anyway, but I’m glad you don’t have to carry the burden of thinking your father is worried sick about you.”  He paused.  “I would ask one thing of you.  Take Janie with you.  It will do her good to get out of the city, too.  And I will feel much better if you have someone other than Spencer along.”

             
Carrie laughed again.  “You were reading my mind,” she accused playfully.  Then she turned to Janie.  “Will you go with me?”

             
Janie clapped her hands with delight.  “I’ve been dying to see the plantation,” she cried.  “When do we leave?”

             
“We’ll watch the weather.  As long as there is not a lot of snow, the roads should be frozen enough to be passable.”

             
“I can hardly wait,” Janie proclaimed. 

             
“I’m actually relieved you’re going,” Thomas said quietly.  “I have heard plenty of horror stories about what Union soldiers have done to the plantations.  I would like to know what condition my home is in.” 

“You’re going to freeze to death by that window if you don’t come to bed,” Janie chided from the protection of her own thick blankets.  “You can’t solve all the problems of the world tonight.”

              Carrie looked at her friend.  “I know.  It’s just that I seldom see the city so quiet.”  More snow had started falling right after they had come up to bed.  By the time they had chattered about their upcoming trip to the plantation, it was already several inches deep.  She loved to watch the snow drift in lazy spirals, slowly dancing its way to the earth. 

             
“What are you thinking about over there?”

             
“I’m hurting for my father,” Carrie said slowly.  “I’ve been thinking about the Emancipation Proclamation.  Dr. Wild was right.  The only way for it to have any real impact is for the South to be defeated.  I want the slaves to be free.   If the South has to lose the war for it to happen - well - it just has to happen.  But...”

             
“Your father will lose his way of life,” Janie finished.

             
“Yes.  Oh, I know he can rebuild the plantation.  I know some of his people will choose to stay and work for wages.  I know he can hire others.  But a whole way of life will become extinct.  He has worked so hard to preserve it.  It’s going to break his heart.”

The dark clouds that had settled down over America ceased their powerful advance.  They hovered near the surface, but the swirling and spinning
had stopped.  What had been a chaotic dance stilled into a careful watching.  The first step had been taken that would cause the eventual retreat.   In the broad scope of things, the step was but a tiny one - yet a step nonetheless.  It was up to each person to let the spark ignited by Lincoln become a flame in his or her own heart.  Only light would force the darkness away from the land.               

CHAPTER THIRTY

              Carrie was almost bouncing up and down on the seat when Spencer turned the carriage down the drive leading to the plantation.  “We’re here!” she crowed.  Nothing seemed to have changed.  The fields were snow covered.  Their pristine beauty stretched as far as the eye could see, ending in a dark bank of trees on the horizon.  Fluffy white clouds bounced through a vividly blue sky.  A gentle breeze knocked tufts of snow off branches with their scattering flakes catching the sun in a dizzying dance of light. Carrie took deep breaths and already felt renewed.