The pattern of her heart, p.33
The Pattern of Her Heart, page 33
“I believe she’s correct, McKinley, and we truly must have more details regarding the transfer. Has Rupert forwarded additional details to you?”
“Yes. I had planned to surprise you by having them arrive shortly before Christmas—as a special gift to you. Obviously, that isn’t going to be possible now. Rupert sent me a missive outlining their travel plans, though there’s no way of determining if he was truthful.”
“Where were you to take possession?” Jasmine asked.
McKinley pulled the letter from his desk drawer and handed it to his sister. “He agreed to bring them up the Mississippi on a riverboat. They’ll disembark at St. Louis and travel by foot the short distance to Alton, Illinois. I want the exchange to take place in a free state. And I know he’s made the arrangements. I received verification only yesterday of their paid passage from the riverboat company. I doubt even Rupert would expend such a large sum if he didn’t intend to bring them.”
Jasmine nodded. “He also knows you will expect corroboration from those who would see them traveling that particular route, so he’ll surely choose someplace that is heavily populated. Obviously, he won’t wait until he crosses the border into Illinois, for he’ll want his reprehensible deed to occur in a slave state. However, I fear it’s a guessing game as to exactly where he’s decided upon.”
McKinley rubbed his forehead and glanced toward Nolan. “Any suggestions?”
“I believe we should telegraph Levi and request his assistance. He may be able to discover more details that will aid us.” Nolan shifted to the edge of his chair. “I’ll specifically ask if he can learn the location where Rupert plans to have this spurious attack take place. If they haven’t yet departed Mississippi, we may still have a little time to develop a strategy.”
“Very little,” McKinley commented.
“Jasmine and I will go directly to the telegraph office. Why don’t you come out to the farm tomorrow and we’ll talk further. In the meantime, we can all attempt to formulate some plan of attack.”
McKinley agreed and escorted them to the street. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have been so trusting,” he apologized as Jasmine stepped up into the buggy. “I suppose everything you told me about him was true.”
“There is no need for an apology,” Jasmine said. “Had he been dealing with me, he would have done the same thing.”
“Yet you would have questioned him and been more cautious.”
“It matters little what I would have done. At this juncture, our energies need to be directed toward dismantling his plans.” Jasmine leaned from the buggy and kissed her brother’s cheek. “Don’t be so hard on yourself, McKinley. If we remain steadfast in our prayers, I’m going to trust that God will see us through to victory. After all, He has overcome circumstances much greater than these.”
“I suppose you’re right,” he said tentatively. “If God could deliver the Hebrew children from the pharaoh, He can certainly deliver our former slaves from Rupert Hesston.”
Jasmine turned slowly while Prissy marked the edge of her ocean blue merino dress. “Dis black velvet is gonna look mighty fine along da hemline. I should have it done afore Christmas. You can wear it for Christmas Eve church services.”
“I believe I’d enjoy that very much,” Jasmine said as she turned a few more inches.
“Jes’ can’t believe Massa Nolan having to leave on business at dis time of year. He shoulda sent Paddy or one of them other men what works for him. The chillens gonna be disappointed if he don’ make it home afore Christmas.”
“I’m trusting that he’ll return soon. If not, we’ll celebrate upon his return. The children and I can still attend services at the church. Christ’s birth is what we’re celebrating, after all, and Nolan knows we’ll be thinking of him no matter where he might be.”
“I sho’ know how that be. I spend lots of my time still thinking ’bout Toby. Sometimes I wonder if he still thinks about me.”
“I’m confident he does. And I believe the two of you will be together again,” she said as she patted Prissy’s shoulder. How she longed to tell Prissy of Nolan’s whereabouts. But if he should meet with failure and return home without Toby, Prissy would be devastated. Better to remain silent and pray for the safe return of Toby and the rest of the slaves.
“I done give up on that idea a long time ago,” Prissy said dryly.
“Mama! Mama! Come quick!” Spencer yelled as he tore through the house. “Papa’s arrived and there’s lots of people with him!”
Jasmine grabbed Prissy’s hand. “Come on! Let’s go see.”
Prissy yanked on Jasmine’s hand. “You cain’t go outside in dat dress. I ain’t finished taking up the seams an’ marking the hem.”
“This is more important, Prissy. Come along and don’t worry over the dress.”
Jasmine pulled Prissy along, hope filling her heart, as they followed Spencer out onto the porch. An irresistible joy besieged Jasmine as she gazed into the sea of dark faces. Men with their feet wrapped in rags to help ward off the cold walked alongside the wagon; others followed behind and formed a snaking procession that continued to inch its way toward the house. The women and children were piled in the wagon behind Nolan, most of them wearing the coats she’d forced Nolan and McKinley to take with them. They were a cold and bedraggled appearing lot, yet even from the porch she could see the hope that shown in their eyes.
Jasmine spotted Toby sitting directly beside Nolan atop the wagon seat as the wagon moved slowly down the driveway. She grasped Prissy by the shoulders and pulled her forward. “Look, Prissy! Look who’s in that wagon!”
Prissy’s face registered disbelief as Toby waved and called out her name. She looked at Jasmine and then back at Toby. “Am I dreaming, Miz Jasmine?”
“No, Prissy. Your husband has finally come home. Go and greet him,” she said as Nolan pulled back on the reins and the wagon came to a stop in front of the porch.
The young couple ran toward each other with sheer abandon and united in a warm embrace. The onlookers all began to applaud as Toby leaned down to kiss his wife.
“Where’s your coat? You’re going to catch your death of cold,” Nolan said as he hurried up the steps and pulled Jasmine close, rubbing her arms.
“How could I possibly be cold with such a sight before me?” she asked, her face aglow.
“And with your husband to keep you warm,” he said, pulling her close and kissing her soundly. “It is so good to be home!”
“And it is so good to have you back again. I can see you were victorious is reclaiming freedom for the slaves, but I must admit I’m anxious to hear all of what occurred during your journey.”
“McKinley is following with another wagonload of folks. Let’s wait until he arrives, and then I’ll give you all the details. But first you go back in the house while I fetch Simon and Paddy. They have the list of families who agreed to provide temporary homes when we arrived.”
Prissy turned to Jasmine. “Did everyone know ’bout this ’cept me?”
“There may have been a few others. Please don’t be angry with me. We didn’t know if our plans would succeed, and I didn’t want you to be disappointed if Toby wasn’t rescued.”
A lopsided grin curved Prissy’s lips. “You done the right thing,” she said and gave her husband another squeeze. “You best get out of that dress, Miz Jasmine, ’cause I don’ think I’m gonna be doing any more alterations this evening. I’s gonna be introducing Toby to our little Emily and showing him his new house.”
“I believe the dress can wait as long as necessary!” she assured her.
Nolan leaned down and placed a kiss on Jasmine’s cheek. “Go inside. I’ll soon be back and give you my full report. It is better than even you could have hoped for.”
Jasmine fidgeted with the fine lace that edged her handkerchief as she awaited Nolan and McKinley’s arrival. Eager to hear Nolan’s report, Jasmine patted the settee cushion the moment the two men entered the room.
“Do sit down and tell me everything,” she said, giving the men her complete attention.
Nolan rubbed his hands together. “The entire process could not have gone any better. We could truly feel your prayers throughout the journey, and we knew God was in control. How else could we possibly have found lawmen in a pro-slavery state willing to assist us?”
McKinley nodded and laughed. “In fact, when Nolan and I located those lawmen, we told them they were an answer to prayer.”
“I told you that prayer was the solution!” Jasmine exclaimed.
“Of course we had no choice but to rely on Levi’s information that the subterfuge would occur in St. Louis,” Nolan said. “Upon our arrival, I found a lawman who, after listening to our story and reviewing the ledger listing the names of our freed slaves, agreed to help us. He recruited a number of men, and we stationed ourselves on the wharf and then waited for the boat to dock.”
“I truly believed Levi was incorrect about St. Louis,” Jasmine said. “In fact, I’m still surprised Rupert decided the incursion should occur in such a busy place. I thought he would choose some outlying town along the river.”
“I think he worried something might go amiss in a small town,” McKinley said. “Perhaps he feared passersby might overhear or actually see what was occurring or possibly even believe the slaves if they spoke out. However, the docks in St. Louis are teeming with people and activity. He brought the slaves off the boat in shackles in order to contain them for his men and also give the appearance that he was delivering slaves. Fortunately for us, he had only three men appear to claim the slaves. You should have seen his face when he spotted us.”
“Did he attempt to fabricate a lie in order to cover up his deeds?” she asked as she moved to the edge of her seat.
Nolan nodded. “He said he knew the men, but he had no idea they had plans to capture the slaves. However, his story soon crumbled. The other men were unwilling to take the blame for the part Rupert played in the scheme. We showed our proof that the slaves were ours, and because of Rupert’s deception, it was decided that the entire arrangement was null and void.”
“What does that mean?” Jasmine questioned.
“It means that Rupert gets nothing,” her husband replied. “He’s lucky he wasn’t arrested. Had we been willing to press charges, it could have gone very bad for him. But he denied everything right up until we left for home. In fact, he was still blaming the others.”
“You mean he actually denied knowledge of his own nefarious plot and pointed a finger at his fellow cohorts in crime?” Jasmine asked indignantly.
“Absolutely!” McKinley said. “I fear I completely misjudged Rupert and his intentions from the very beginning.”
“Did you not bring any charges against the men?” she inquired.
“No. I didn’t want to remain and attempt to bring legal action against them,” McKinley explained, “and the sheriff said since they had not yet committed a crime, it would be a difficult battle—especially in Missouri. The court would not look favorably upon our claim.”
Jasmine smiled at her husband. “It’s better this way. The men he so quickly accused will likely spread word of his cowardly actions throughout the region. His neighbors will have little use for a man who is unwilling to take the blame for his own deeds. I have little doubt that Rupert will be treated with disdain.”
“As well he should be,” McKinley said. “How can I possibly thank the two of you for all you have done—for the slaves and for me? I pray that one day I’ll be able to repay you.”
“I think that may soon be possible,” Nolan replied with a quirk of his eyebrow.
McKinley’s gaze was filled with puzzlement. “How so?”
“The Willows still belongs to you and Jasmine. And Cousin Levi’s telegram stated he knows someone who may be interested in purchasing the land. He said he would send the information to the land agent, depending upon the final outcome in St. Louis.”
McKinley shook his head back and forth, his eyes growing moist. “This is wonderful news.”
“You see? God has blessed us beyond our highest expectations. His grace makes it difficult to question the abiding love He has for each of his children, don’t you agree?”
“I do agree,” McKinley said. “However, during difficult times, I fear I, too, quickly forget God’s faithfulness.”
Jasmine moved close and embraced her brother. “Then in the future, I shall take full responsibility for reminding you.”
CHAPTER • 24
December 25, 1858
JASMINE LOOKED out the bedroom window and smiled. Nolan had predicted the children would enjoy a sleigh ride on Christmas morning, and now a heavy blanket of snow covered the ground. She squinted against the blinding intensity of the sun’s rays as they reflected off the pristine layer of white.
“Did you see? Did you see?” Alice Ann squealed delightedly as she ran into her parents’ bedroom. She dove onto the bed and landed on her father with a vigor that caused him to groan. “It’s snowing, Poppa, just like you promised. How soon can we go on our sleigh ride?”
He struggled to a sitting position as he lifted Alice Ann off of his chest. “Not until after breakfast, remember? I believe I hear Henrietta calling your name. You had best hurry to your room and get dressed.”
The child slipped off the bed and gave Jasmine a fleeting hug before scurrying out of the room and down the hall.
“Oh, for a portion of that youthful energy first thing in the morning,” Nolan said as he grinned at his wife. “Did we have a good snow?” He threw back the covers and stretched.
“More than I want to see,” she replied with a shiver.
He laughed. “Any snow is more than you want to see, my dear, but it doesn’t seem like Christmas unless there’s at least a smattering.”
“This is much more than a smattering.” She peered out the window again. “I hope it won’t ruin our Christmas celebration. I’ll be disappointed if McKinley’s family is unable to join us.”
Nolan walked to the window and looked for himself. “From the way you talked, I thought we’d had a blizzard.” He rubbed his hands together. “This is perfect. Your party will go on as planned, my dear. McKinley will have no difficulty maneuvering a sleigh through these few inches of snow.”
Jasmine took up her brush and began to style her hair in front of the mirror. “The party is not as important as having our family together. There are so few of us that it suddenly seems almost critical to me. I suppose it’s the reality of losing so many family members in such a short period of time. I had always taken family for granted, but now I realize how precious those ties become as we grow older.”
“In some respects, Rupert did you and McKinley a service,” Nolan commented.
Jasmine swung around to face her husband. “Rupert? How is that?”
“You and McKinley have drawn much closer to one another. I don’t know if that would have occurred without the problems the two of you faced and resolved during this past year.”
Jasmine nodded thoughtfully. “I suppose I hadn’t thought of it in such a manner, but you’re correct. And I’m certain such a thought would cause Rupert severe displeasure.”
He laughed. “Indeed! Cousin Levi’s last missive is testimony to that fact. Rupert continues to blame everyone but himself for his current situation. I presume he isn’t enjoying his life as an outcast from Southern society. It seems a man so incapable of keeping his word is much scorned.” He pulled his shirt on and started securing the buttons. “As I understand it, many promises were made by Rupert to his neighbors, and when those promises proved false, well, most folks wanted nothing to do with him.”
“In time his friends will forget his misdeeds, but for now he is reminded daily of his despicable behavior. To my own astonishment, I’ve begun to pray for him—and Lydia also,” Jasmine said. “Lydia is surely suffering along with her husband, and it’s hardly her fault that Rupert’s deception and conniving have put them in this fix.”
“I’m proud of you. I shall attempt to follow your example, for there’s little else that will cause a change in Rupert.” He pulled on his trousers and tucked his shirt in.
“I’m also praying for the strength to forgive him, but I’ve not yet reached that lofty goal. Sadly, I don’t think Rupert feels a need for change, but perhaps in time he will come to that realization. And, perhaps in time, I will be able to forgive him for the wrongs he committed against so many,” she said, her voice trailing off as she stared into the mirror.
Nolan stepped behind his wife and wrapped her in a warm embrace. “This has been a monumental year. . . . Much sadness, yet much happiness also,” he said, gazing at their reflections.
She smiled warmly at her husband. “Yes, much happiness. For we have been able to share in giving a wondrous gift to many—the gift of freedom.”
Tracie Peterson is the author of more than eighty novels, including the bestselling HEIRS OF MONTANA and SONG OF ALASKA series. She teaches workshops at a variety of conferences on subjects such as inspirational romance and historical research. Tracie and her family make their home in Montana.
Visit Tracie’s Web site at: www.traciepeterson.com.
Visit Tracie and Judy’s blog at www.writespassage.blogspot.com.
Judith Miller is an award-winning author whose avid research and love for history are reflected in her novels, many of which have appeared on the CBA bestseller lists. Judy makes her home in Topeka, Kansas.
Visit Judy’s Web site at: www.judithmccoymiller.com.
Books by Tracie Peterson
www.traciepeterson.com
House of Secrets • A Slender Thread • Where My Heart Belongs
Bridal Veil Island
To Have and To Hold
Song of Alaska
Dawn’s Prelude • Morning’s Refrain • Twilight’s Serenade
Striking a Match
Embers of Love • Hearts Aglow • Hope Rekindled
