The Pattern of Her Heart (31 page)

J
ASMINE STARED
into the carriage, where the girls were still sleeping soundly. Thankfully, Spencer had remained a silent observer. No telling what her cousin might have said or done had her son attempted to enter into the quarrel, especially in light of his final threat toward their children. Jasmine shivered as she recalled Rupert’s parting words.

“I’ve failed miserably,” she said as Nolan wrapped her in a comforting embrace. “Nothing has gone as we hoped. Because of me, every one of our former slaves has been forced back into slavery. And likely into the hands of owners and overseers who will abuse them for no other reason than the fact that they come from The Willows.”

“I must go and check on Martha. Once we know her condition, we’re going to need to formulate a plan. Stay here with the children, and I’ll return as quickly as possible. If I attempt to take the horses any closer to the fire, they’ll only become skittish. I don’t want a runaway carriage—especially since it’s our only means of transportation.”

“Hurry, Nolan—and take Prissy with you, just in case Rupert didn’t actually leave. Should he return and you weren’t here, there’s no way I could protect her.”

Jasmine climbed into the carriage and settled in beside Henrietta. They sat watching the roadway, both of them praying Nolan would return before they spied any sign of a rider coming in their direction. Jasmine tried to calculate what should be done next, but her mind refused to work. These past months had been the hardest of her life, losing first her father and brothers and now The Willows and all the people she had hoped to free.

“Can we hope to find the others?” Henrietta asked softly.

Jasmine saw Spencer watch her as if intent for the answer. “I don’t think so. The law won’t be any help to us, and other plantation owners will simply hide our people away until we give up. To push them for answers might even result in the death or removal of them all together.” She shook her head. “I just wanted to do a good thing here.” Spencer reached out and touched her hand, and Jasmine clung to it gratefully.

“I sure hope they won’t take long to find Martha,” Henrietta suddenly declared. “I don’t know what might happen if they don’t come right back.”

“Don’t be afraid, Henrietta. The Lord is with us. He is watching over all of us.”

“Was He watching earlier when those men came?” Spencer asked seriously.

“Yes, I suppose He was,” she said. “I believe He sees everything.”

“Then why didn’t He stop them?”

“I don’t know, Spencer. I wish God would have stopped them, but apparently He has something else in mind.”

“Maybe He just wants us to go home. There’s nothing to stop us from going now.”

Jasmine nodded. Her son was right on that account. In fact, if they didn’t go now, they might very well risk their lives.

They didn’t have to wait long, for a short time later, Prissy and Nolan hurried toward them. Martha was very evidently absent.

“I’m sorry, dear, but Martha . . . was obviously overcome by the smoke.” Nolan met Jasmine’s gaze hesitantly. She felt sorry for her husband. He no doubt feared she might be unable to withstand yet another blow. She nodded at him, hoping it might ease his concern.

“If it helps at all,” he continued, “she appeared peaceful, as if she’d merely fallen asleep. I would like to remain here and bury her, but I fear Rupert’s threats were real. If so, he may return later tonight or at daybreak. We must leave, Jasmine. I can possibly return tomorrow and bury Martha, but right now we must get the children to safety.”

“I agree,” Jasmine managed to say, though she felt as if she were in a daze. How could things have appeared so peaceful, so good, only hours ago? “If Rupert returned, we would be defenseless against him and his treacherous friends.”

“Think, my dear. Do you know
anybody
who would help us? Even if only for a short time, we need a place to hide until we can make arrangements to leave. If Rupert is determined to have Prissy, I’m convinced he’ll follow us.”

Jasmine realized there was no time to mourn any of the losses she’d sustained. There never really had been a time— had there? She squared her shoulders and pushed aside her grief. There had to be someone who might help.

Prissy began to weep. “I don’t want yo’ babies getting hurt, Miz Jasmine. You leave me here. I ain’t gonna put them in harm’s way. Massa Rupert will have to find me first, and I know some good hiding places ’round these parts.”

“He’ll put the hounds on you, Prissy. I’ll not have that! You’re coming with us,” Jasmine insisted.

“What about the preacher in Lorman?” Nolan asked. “Any chance he might help?”

Jasmine wrung a handkerchief through her fingers. “I doubt he’d be willing to chance losing his biggest contributors. Besides, he’s pro-slavery and doesn’t understand us or our beliefs. He thinks we’re fools and he’s told me so.”

“Isn’t there a soul you can think of?”

“Wait! When Mr. Forbes came to Lowell and talked to us, he mentioned my cousin Levi had survived. Now that winter is upon us, I’m guessing he should have returned home.”

Nolan drew closer and took her hands in his own. “Can we trust him? Once he discovers our beliefs, will he betray us?”

“Levi has always been a free spirit—never one to conform to others’ beliefs. Yet I haven’t seen him in years and can’t speak with authority on whether he’d be willing to lend aid. However, I don’t see that we have any alternative other than to throw ourselves at his mercy.”

Nolan nodded. “I’ll approach him with the option of turning us away if he doesn’t want to become embroiled in this matter. Of course, I’ll seek his promise not to tell anyone we requested his assistance. However, if he agrees to help us, we’ll have to trust that he is willing to embrace the cause. We have no other choice. How far is it to his home?”

“At least ten miles,” Jasmine replied. “He doesn’t live in Lorman.”

“Although I dislike having to travel ten miles at this time of night and under these conditions, it’s to our advantage Levi lives in a secluded area. Someone would surely see us if we were attempting to hide in town. We must leave and get as far from here as possible before daybreak.”

Nolan and Prissy climbed into the carriage, and they were soon on their way. Jasmine stared at The Willows until it was gone from her sight. She then focused on the road before her, attempting to remember the proper turns and directions that would best deliver them to Levi’s door. She prayed he would be home. What if he was visiting relatives, or what if he turned them away?
Quit borrowing trouble,
she silently chastised herself, though it was difficult to push the disturbing thoughts from her mind.

“I believe we need to take the path that veers off to the right just up ahead,” she told Nolan.

“You
believe
?” he asked, slowing the horses.

“I haven’t been to Levi’s home in years, and it’s dark, Nolan. I’m doing the best I can,” she replied while attempting to hide her own concern.

“I know you are, my dear. I’m sorry; the stress is beginning to wear on me. Forgive me?”

“Of course,” she said as they turned down the road. They’d traveled only a short distance when Jasmine said, “Yes, this is right. I do remember. We’ll take another right turn, and then it’s only three or four miles.”

“Good. It’s soon going to be daybreak, and I’d like to have the carriage safely hidden and the family inside Levi’s house before the sun rises.”

“I do hope he remembers me,” she said quietly.

“Of course he’ll remember you.”

“I haven’t seen him for years. Since my marriage to Bradley—he attended the wedding.”

Nolan gave her a lopsided grin. “At least your name remains Houston. Surely your father has visited with Levi throughout the years and informed him of the many happenings in your life.”

She shrugged. “Who knows? Father would have willingly offered the information, but I don’t know that Levi would have been interested. As I said, he’s nothing like the rest of the family.”

“Hopefully, that will be to our advantage.”

“But being different doesn’t ensure his help.”

“Well, we will soon find out.” Nolan pulled back on the reins and the team came to a halt near the front entrance of the hulking, poorly maintained frame house sitting a distance from the road. The house was surrounded by leafless oaks, and a substantial barn was located to the distant rear of the house.

“The rest of you remain in the carriage while we go up and speak with Cousin Levi,” Jasmine said with a cheery smile. “We shan’t be long.”

The girls remained asleep and the others appeared quite content to remain in the carriage while someone else secured provision for their safety. Truth be told, Jasmine longed to remain in the buggy with them. She disliked having the group reliant upon her to find the proper accommodations; there was much at stake.

She tapped upon the door—lightly at first and then more forcefully. “I forgot that he’s a bit hard of hearing,” she said to Nolan as they stood on the wraparound front porch.

A frazzled-appearing servant finally answered the door after peering out from behind the lace curtains at the front windows. “May I help you?” she asked, opening the door only wide enough to extend her beak of a nose through the crack.

Jasmine nearly giggled at the sight. “Good morning. My name is Jasmine Wainwright Houston—I’m Levi’s second cousin. Is he in?”

“You’ve come calling at this time of the day? He’s not even had his breakfast.”

“Well, nor have we, and we would be most happy to join him if you’d tell him we’ve arrived. Actually, there are seven of us. Our three children, two servants, and the two of us,” she added with what she hoped was a pleasant smile.

“I’ll go and tell Mister Levi you’re here. You may wait on the porch.”

“Perhaps we could at least enter the foyer,” Jasmine said. “I assure you we’re harmless.” If they were already in the house, it would be much more difficult for Levi to send them on their way—or so she hoped.

The servant opened the door a bit farther and peered at the wagon with a frown on her face. “I suppose it wouldn’t hurt,” she conceded begrudgingly.

“Thank you. I’ll go and fetch the others while my husband moves our carriage and horses into the barn,” Jasmine said as she and Nolan turned and stepped from the porch.

“I’m not certain . . .”

“Not to worry—I’ll explain to Cousin Levi,” Jasmine said without giving the woman any further opportunity to protest.

“Handled quite nicely,” Nolan complimented as they hurried to the carriage.

“Thank you. I hope the meeting with Levi goes as well. As I recall, he’s fond of children—at least he always treated me well as a child. Let’s hope he still looks kindly upon youngsters. Some older people don’t, you know,” she added in a hushed voice.

Nolan laughed. “Yes, I do know, my dear. My own father was one of them. I’ll be in as soon as I’ve cared for the horses. Don’t let him pitch you out on your ear before I return.”

“I’ll do my best. He may not be down for breakfast until after you join us,” she hastily added as she helped the women, each one carrying a drowsy child, out of the carriage.

Although the notion gave her comfort, her hope was dashed when the small group entered the front door. Cousin Levi stood at the bottom of the stairway with his hand resting upon the oak balustrade, looking as though he expected royalty to enter his presence.

The old man adjusted his spectacles and peered at the group, his eyes traveling from head to toe as he examined each one. “A bit overdressed for a morning call, aren’t you?” he inquired as his gaze finally settled upon Jasmine, who was still attired in her ball gown.

Jasmine glanced at her mauve satin gown with its puffed trim across the bodice and hem. The silk roses and fichu adornment further served to make the gown appear completely inappropriate for morning wear. “Yes, we are. However, my family attended a gala at Rosewood Plantation last night, and we now find ourselves in quite a quandary. I’m hopeful you’ll be willing to help. If I might have a few moments of your time, I can explain.”

“Since the children are still in their party wear, may I assume they’ve not eaten breakfast, either?” he inquired.

“No, they haven’t,” Jasmine replied.

“Maude!”

The beak-nosed servant rushed into the foyer with her cap askew. “Yes, sir?”

“Take the children and servants and feed them breakfast.”

“At the dining table?” she asked, her gaze clearly fixed upon Prissy.

“Yes, at the dining table, and quit staring. I’m certain the colored girl knows how to use a fork as well as you and I. Off with you now, and take them along.”

“I’s willin’ to eat in da kitchen or even help prepare da food,” Prissy offered.

“Nonsense. Go and eat,” Levi ordered.

“You’re very kind,” Jasmine said.

“I’m a grumpy old man. Now come into the parlor and let me hear your tale of woe.” He slowly edged himself into one of the overstuffed chairs. “My rheumatism kicks up from time to time. Probably a storm moving in,” he explained as he scratched his thinning white hair. “I’m trying to remember what it was your father told me about you. Ah, yes. Your first husband died and you married his brother, isn’t that it?”

“Yes. And I live in Massachusetts,” she added.

“Right . . . an abolitionist. Your father mentioned that too. I was surprised he’d come to accept the fact that you and McKinley had turned against the South.”

Jasmine cringed at his characterization of her beliefs. “We didn’t turn against the South, cousin. We are abolitionists, but we continue to love the South and many of the people who live here. However, we find it impossible to embrace slavery—which is what brings me here.”

A startled look crossed his face. “I don’t own any slaves, so you have no argument with me.”

Jasmine smiled and leaned over to pat his hand. “This has nothing to do with whether you own slaves, Cousin Levi.” Clearly and concisely, she explained their dilemma, leaving few details to the imagination. Levi gave her his full attention without once interrupting her explanation. She had nearly completed reciting the facts when Nolan entered the front door.