Storm Clouds Rolling In Page 23

  “How difficult has the Fugitive Slave Act made your work, Mr. Jamison?”

  Jamison stared at Rose. “How do you know about that, Rose?”

  Rose shrugged. “I have my sources. I do a lot of reading.” She looked around the fire at her friends. “I think it’s something you should know about before you make your decision. The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 makes any Federal Marshall or other official who does not arrest a runaway slave liable to a fine of $1,000. If you’re caught you won’t have a trial by jury and you won’t be able to testify on your behalf. Anybody caught helping a runaway slave by providing food or shelter is subject to six months' imprisonment and a $1,000 fine. Officers who capture a fugitive slave are entitled to a bonus or promotion for their work.”

  Jamison smiled in admiration but hastened to calm the fresh fear he saw on the faces around him. “The Fugitive Slave Act has made our job more difficult in some ways,” he admitted. “But in other ways it has also made it easier. So many people were angered by the government’s attempts to haul the poor slaves back into slavery even after they had escaped to freedom, that scores of volunteers have been added to the network. You will find many people who, angered by the injustice of the laws, simply ignore them.”

  Rose nodded, obviously relieved. “What will be the destination of those who decide to escape?”

  “Canada,” Jamison responded immediately. “It is the safest for now. There are no laws in Canada to return slaves.

  “Where is Canada?” Jasmine asked eagerly. “Be it more than a day from here?”

  Jamison smiled kindly. Slaves had no idea of geography. How could they? They had lived a life of enforced ignorance. Their masters knew ignorance bred fear and that fear bred obedience.

  “Yes, Jasmine. It is more than a day from here. In fact, it could take weeks and perhaps months to reach Canada. We never know how long a trip will take. They’re all different.”

  The whole group gasped in surprise. All but Rose; she just watched, and listened.

  “How we gonna get there, Mr. Jamison?” Sadie’s voice, sharp and clear, rang out in the clearing. She had obviously made her decision.

  “I can’t tell you that for sure. The plan now is to take you overland. You’ll be walking some, riding some, being hidden in wagons....... whatever it takes to move you from one station to the other. All along the way you will find wonderful people who want nothing more than to help you escape to freedom.” He smiled at the looks of stunned amazement surrounding him.

  “People really do things like that for ole’ slaves?” Jasmine asked incredulously.

  “You’re not ‘ole slaves,” Jamison said firmly. “You are people. Just as human as I am - with dreams, hopes and a future meant to be lived in freedom.”

  The entire group sat up a little straighter as his words pierced the walls they had built around their hearts and minds for survival.

  “How many of you will I be carrying to freedom?” Jamison asked.

  Rose stepped forward. “When do you plan on the escape happening?”

  Jamison shrugged. “That’s pretty much up to you. I will take you when you’re ready. Once I know a date I will arrange everything.”

  Rose nodded. “I need time to talk with my school. Do you mind if I take you back into the woods for a little ways while we discuss this?”

  Jamison smiled. “Whatever you say, Rose.” Then he allowed sternness to settle over his features as he looked at the group. “Another thing you have to know. If you decide to go there is no turning back. You can’t decide you’re too afraid to make it to freedom and try to return. It is too dangerous for those with you, and would jeopardize the safety of all other Underground Railroad passengers.”

  Sadie voiced the question all of them were silently asking. “What happens if someone tries to come back?”

  Jamison smiled sadly. “Let’s just say it doesn’t happen.” Then he turned to Rose. “I’ll return when you’re ready. Let’s go.”

  Much murmuring could be heard when Rose stepped back into the clearing.

  “Is he a good man, Miss Rose?” Jasmine asked eagerly as soon as she saw her.

  Rose sat down quietly. “What do you think, Jasmine?”

  The girl didn’t hesitate. “I think he be a good man. He has eyes I can trust.”

  Rose nodded. “What you believe is what’s important. But for the record, I agree with you. My instincts say he can be trusted.” Then she looked around, making eye contact with each student and friend. “This is the chance many of you have been waiting for. Now each of you has to decide what you really want. Escape isn’t going to be easy. You heard Mr. Jamison. It could take weeks, maybe months, of being a fugitive until you reach Canada. Once you get there things might be hard.” She softened her stern tone and smiled. “But you’ll be free! Free...” She allowed the word to flow caressingly into the night air. The very sound of it beckoned and called to those who had spent their whole lives being used as objects for someone else’s gain.

  Jasmine spoke up eagerly. “I be going to get on that Underground Railroad for sho! Ain’t nothing goin’ to keep me from being free!”

  Sadie, sitting next to her, spoke quietly. “I aim to be on board, too. I’m determined that sometime during my time here on earth, I gonna be free.”

  Silence fell on the clearing for several minutes. Then a soft voice broke into the stillness. “I reckon I’m going to pass up my ride this time.”

  Rose said nothing, just waited for Coral to finish speaking. She wasn’t surprised. Coral was twenty-three and had spent all of her living years on Cromwell Plantation. As far as Rose knew she had never been beyond the perimeters of the property.

  Jasmine couldn’t stand it. “But why, Coral?” she burst out. “Don’t you know this is our big chance? There may never be another conductor come our way!”

  Coral shrugged her ample shoulders. “Being a slave ain’t so bad. I got me a warm place to sleep and plenty ‘nuff to eat.” She paused and looked to Rose for support. “This be my home...”

  Rose smiled gently. “It’s alright, Coral. Everybody has to make their own decision.” In truth, she was incapable of understanding the way Coral felt. Rose had lived, dreamed, and hoped for freedom for so long. She couldn’t imagine having the chance and giving it up because the old way of life was more comfortable. But her Mama had taught her to accept people where they were. Her Mama’s words rang in her ears just as if she were standing there. “You can’t do peoples thinkin’ and feelin’ for dem, Rose. Some folks you ain’t neber gonna figure out - you just got to accept them where they be. Dere ain’t no way to get inside a person’s head and figure out what makes them be the way they be. You just got to accept them.”

  Jamison was beginning to worry. It was too dark to see his watch face, but he was sure he had been leaning against his tree for almost an hour. He was not an outdoorsman. The myriad of night noises did nothing but intensify the sweat beading on his brow. Should he walk back to the clearing? Would he find anyone there? He laughed at himself for his doubts. Rose could be trusted. She would not leave him here. He could not explain why he was so confident - he just was. He wiped the sweat from his brow and tried once more to relax.

  Earlier, as he had waiting out on the inky road for Rose, he had imagined many things. His greatest fear was that someone would betray his activities as an Underground Railroad Conductor. He had heard plenty of stories to justify his fear – conductors being run out of their houses, paying high fines to the court, being ostracized by the community. Some conductors had even given their lives to help slaves escape. He knew the risks. He had made the decision to help no matter what, but it didn’t stop the cold sweat from running down his back.

  Jamison thought through the careful escape plans. He would find out tonight how many of the Cromwell slaves were ready to lay their lives on the line for freedom. He tried to breathe normally as he waited. Tense business situations he could handle. This… this was totally different. He felt as i
f he were cast adrift from everything comfortable and thrown into the vast unknown.

  His thoughts turned to Rose. She was beautiful, as well as intelligent. Her letter to him was articulate and clear. He sincerely hoped she would be part of this group. Instinctively, he knew she would be a good leader.

  “You can come back now.” Rose emerged from the shadows as she spoke. “I’m sorry you had to wait so long.”

  Jamison struggled to his feet. “That’s quite all right. How many of the slaves will you be bringing with you, Rose?”

  Rose closed her eyes briefly, trying to shut out the pain his question had caused. “I won’t be one of your passengers, Mr. Jamison.”

  “What?” Jamison stopped and looked at her in astonishment. “Why not?” Rose started to shrug nonchalantly and then stopped herself. This was a man who understood the value of freedom. She turned and faced him. Just enough light filtered through the limbs from the waning moon to illuminate them. “There is nothing I would love more than to be free, but I can’t be one of your passengers, Mr. Jamison.”

  “This is your chance, Rose!”

  Rose nodded. “I know. And I know I may never get another one. But I made a vow a long time ago that I would never leave my Mama. Her first children and husband were killed in Africa when they captured her to make her a slave. My Daddy was sold when I was less than a month old. I love my Mama. She has had too many losses. I won’t be another one.”

  “Bring her with you,” Jamison urged.

  Rose shook her head sadly. “She is too old. She would never make it. No,” she said firmly. “I will stay here with her. Someday I may get another chance at freedom.”

  Her effort to conceal her grief and regret brought tears to Jamison’s eyes. He reached out and laid a hand gently on her arm. “You’re a brave girl, Rose. I’m sure another chance will come.”

  Rose shrugged and forced a smile. “In the meantime, you have a group waiting for you. There are eight of them. Miles may make nine, but I won’t know until he returns.”

  “The big man... Is he coming?” Jamison hoped so. “His size and strength could come in handy.”

  Rose frowned as she shook her head. “No.” She was sure she had not hidden her surprise very well when Moses had simply stated that he “wouldn’t be takin’ the train right now...” She knew his dream to be free. Knew how much he wanted to come back and find his Mama and sisters. Why was he not going? She didn’t understand what was holding him here. Didn’t he know he should get away from Adams while he had the chance?

  “But...”

  “I don’t know why, Mr. Jamison. He just said he wouldn’t be catching the train right now.” Her tone didn’t invite questions. “Time is short. We need to go back now.”

  “Lead the way, Rose,” Jamison said, his voice suddenly heavy. “One more question, Rose. Do the others know you’re not going to be with them?”

  “No!” she said fiercely as she whirled to look up at him. “And I don’t want them to know. It will only make them more scared. This is their chance! I don’t want them to lose it. They’ll find out the night I bring them to meet you. Not before.”

  It didn’t take long to firm up the tiny details of the plan that the slaves were allowed to know. Jamison would meet them at the same bend in the road he had met Rose, two months from today.

  Jamison looked surprised. “Two months?”

  Rose nodded firmly. “The ones coming with you need more help with their reading and writing. We’ll work extra hard the next two months.” She hesitated. “Is that okay? You did say we could set the time didn’t you?” Suddenly she was scared her group might miss their chance.

  “It’s fine, Rose,” Jamison assured her.

  As usual, Rose and Moses were the last to leave the clearing. The others had waited, talking excitedly while she took him back to his horse. Then they had dispersed to their cabins. Moses was comfortable in the woods now and didn’t need her to lead him back. He just was always still there when the clearing emptied.

  “Did you tell Jamison you weren’t going with the rest?”

  Rose looked up at Moses sharply. “What makes you think I’m not going?”

  Moses looked at her steadily. “You’re not are you?”

  Rose’s eyes fell before his discerning gaze. Mutely she shook her head.

  “Be it because of your Mama?”

  “I can’t leave her, Moses. I’m all she has. I know she would tell me to go. She would never want me to pass up a chance for freedom.” She caught her breath. “I can’t leave her. I love her too much. She has lost too much already.” Rose couldn’t stop the trail of tears running down her face.

  Moses took one of her hands gently. “I knew you wouldn’t leave your Mama, Rose.”

  Rose gazed into his compassionate face. “I can’t,” she whispered. She made no protest when Moses wrapped his strong arms gently around her quivering body - gratefully leaning into his strength. She was amazed at how good it felt. She was used to being the strong one. Suddenly she looked up into his face. “What about you, Moses. Why aren’t you going? What about your dream to be free and come back for your family. Why are you giving it up?” She suspected she knew the answer.

  Moses tipped her head up so that he could look down into her tear-filled eyes. “I got me some dreams to make come true here, first,” he said gently. He took her hand and led her from the clearing.

  Rose followed him, her sorrow mixing with a tingly feeling coursing through her body. She was too tired to figure it out. The feel of her small hand engulfed with his giant one was a sensation she wanted to simply enjoy.

  SEVENTEEN

  “Make me a promise, Carrie.”

  Carrie looked up at Robert curiously. “And what promise would that be?”

  “Promise me we don’t have to say one word about politics tonight!”

  Carrie laughed merrily. “You will get no argument from me on that one, kind sir! I am sick to death of it.”

  Robert smiled down at her. “I’m glad to hear it. At this moment I am walking in Richmond with the most beautiful girl I know. I’d simply like to be able to enjoy it.”

  Carrie, blushing wildly, kept her eyes glued to the ground in front of her. She simply didn’t know what to say. She had always kept boys at arm’s length. There had been too many other things that interested her more. Now, this situation seemed over her head. Desperately, she tried to regain the easy confidence that had come with the decision they would be simply friends. Why would her heart not cooperate with her head? The silence stretched between them.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

  The genuine remorse in Robert’s voice gave her courage. She looked up quickly and tried to smile naturally. “It’s quite alright. I’m sorry - I just didn’t know what to say.”

  Robert smiled gently. “Thank you is appropriate.”

  Carrie blushed again, but her gaze was steady. “Thank you, Robert.”

  “Good. Now that we have established that I am with the most beautiful woman I know in the city I love most, we can get on with the night!” Robert laughed loudly as Carrie blushed brighter. “I’m sorry. That was mean.” This time his voice held no remorse.

  Carrie, gaining confidence, said, “So tell me how the Convention went.”

  Robert pulled back in protest. “You promised.”

  “And your behavior seems to make promises invalid!” she retorted.

  “You win,” Robert sighed. “I have been properly put in place.”

  Carrie laughed at the impudent look on his face. She doubted Robert would ever be “put in his place.” She was quite sure he didn’t know the meaning of the words. Suddenly, she was enormously glad to be strolling the streets of Richmond with him. “Where are we going?”

  “Are you up for a long walk?”

  “Why, yes,” she responded, her interest immediately piqued.

  “I thought we would walk up to Church Hill and see the lights of the city. If
we hurry we might even catch the sunset.”

  Carrie quickened her pace. “I hope you can keep up with me.”

  Robert said nothing as he lengthened his strides to match her own.

  Carrie gave a sigh of happiness as the late afternoon air caressed her. Fragrant flowers lent a perfume that mixed pleasantly with the smell of tobacco permeating the city. The sky was crystal clear, with the exception of a low band of clouds on the horizon that promised a glorious sunset. It seemed as if the whole city was out to celebrate this gorgeous spring day. Activity surrounded the pair as they walked rapidly down Broad Street. Women dressed in every color of the rainbow strolled with their servants close by. Carriages jockeyed for position in the afternoon parade. Horses pranced proudly along, completely ignoring the clanking and clanging of trains at the Depot. Elegantly dressed gentlemen ambled along, either deep in conversation or trying to pretend they weren’t gawking at the surrounding ladies.

  “It’s wonderful, isn’t it?”

  “The city?” Robert asked.

  Carrie nodded.

  “It is wonderful,” he agreed enthusiastically, “but there is nothing like Oak Meadows. I can stand, and even enjoy, all this busyness for a few days but I’m always ready to get back home to the beautiful peace and quiet of my home. After all the time I spent in Charleston, I will admit I’ve had my fill.”

  Carrie nodded thoughtfully. “I’ve never gotten to stay in the city long enough to know if I would grow tired of it.” She grinned up at him suddenly. “I’d love the opportunity to find out, however!” She stopped abruptly in the middle of the sidewalk and turned to Robert. “I almost forgot! I’m going to have my opportunity soon!”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Why, I’m going to Philadelphia. For a whole month!”

  “A month?” Robert echoed, staring at her.