Rhe sound of an entourage of carriages and the clip-clopping of horses traveled up the drive. A flutter of excitement spiraled through Ruth as she placed the last gingerbread cookie on a plate piled high for their guests.
“They’re here!” Caleb called from the living room.
“I hardly can recall what Cousin Dolley even looks like,” Naomi said as she bobbed up on her tiptoes and leaned out the kitchen window in anticipation.
“I daresay,” Mother said, straightening her cap and adjusting her collar, “she won’t recognize any of my children. Everyone is so grown up.” She gestured to Ruth and Naomi. “Come, let’s meet our cousins.”
Ruth untied her apron, hung it on a peg, and followed them outside, where they joined her father and brothers. A black coach hitched to six proud horses, along with a brown buggy, rolled to a stop. Several horsemen surrounded the carriages like guardsmen.
“Whoa!” The coach driver pulled the reins and set the brake. The door opened and out stepped James Madison, Dolley’s husband. His hair, which hung straight down his neck, was whiter than Ruth remembered. Although she knew him to be considerably older than Dolley, she hadn’t expected him to have aged so much. Even from a distance of ten feet, James wore wrinkles around his eyes and mouth when he smiled. He turned to assist his wife.
A gloved hand slipped into his, and Dolley stepped out wearing a bright smile, a silver turban headpiece, and a royal- blue cloak. She rushed to Ruth’s father, gripped his hands, and kissed his cheek.
“Dear cousin, it’s so wonderful to see you again, and in such good health, I see,” Dolly said. Ruth smiled as her father’s face and neck darkened to match his nose, reddened by the biting cold.
“And thee, Dolley Madison.” Father nodded, and his eyes lifted to her husband, who stood tall behind her. Dolley moved on to Mother while the two men greeted each other with a handshake.
She threw her arms around Mother, tears warming her dark eyes. Though Dolley and Father were first cousins by blood, it was Mother she wrote and confided to in her monthly letters.
“Elizabeth Payne, it has been too long.” She squeezed Mother’s hands and sighed. “Oh, we’ve much catching up to do.”
“Indeed.” Mother’s white cap bobbed with her nod. “But first let’s get thee into the house where it’s warm. I know thee must be tired from traveling. Elijah and Caleb will see to the servants and thy luggage.”
“But first let me greet them.” Dolley clapped her hands once as she made her way down the line greeting Elijah, Caleb, Naomi, and then Ruth. She grabbed Ruth’s hands in hers. “My, how you’ve grown. You were just a little girl the last time I saw you.” She stepped back and looked Ruth up and down. “Now you’re a young woman about to be married.”
Ruth looked down at her feet, unable to hide the despondency that filled her. They hadn’t had time to write Dolley with the news of her broken engagement. Now she wished they had.
“Ruth, what is it?” A very perceptive Dolley lifted her chin.
Ruth met Dolley’s deep brown eyes, knowing she’d find wisdom and compassion, but now wasn’t the time to unload her burdens. “We’ll talk more once thee is settled in,” she said.
“She’s not marrying Josiah anymore,” Caleb said. “But Solomon Mendenhall came to call the other day.”
“Caleb, hush!” Ruth glared at her brother. “Dolley, I made some gingerbread cookies from an old family recipe I found in the attic. I’m sure they’ll taste great with a warm cup of coffee.”
James stepped beside Dolley and bowed to Ruth. “Good to see you again, young lady.” He winked at Dolley. “You’ve grown into a stunning beauty.”
Ruth’s cheeks grew warm in spite of the freezing weather. A beauty she was not, nor did Quakers bow and curtsy to others, so she wasn’t sure how to respond. She didn’t want to offend him, so she glanced at Dolley for help.
Dolley grinned and looped her arm through her husband’s. “I do believe some warm coffee and fresh gingerbread cookies would suffice.”
The boys helped the servants unload the luggage while the rest of them strolled into the house. Dolley unbuttoned her cloak and slid it off, revealing a long-sleeved and high-waisted, silver muslin gown with royal-blue floral prints. Next she pulled off her turban cap. Her brown hair was crowned in a bun, loose curls lining her oval face. She looked quite elegant but simple, compared to some fancy women Ruth had witnessed in Greensborough.
“Matthew, I’ll need to practice my speech tonight, right after dinner. I hope you don’t mind,” James said, settling in a chair near the hearth.
Ruth took Dolley’s cloak and hat, while Mother directed her to a wingback chair by the fire, across from her husband.
“Of course not. Let us know if there’s anything we can help thee with,” Father said.
“You’re already doing plenty. You’ve opened your home and offered to feed us. We couldn’t ask for more,” Dolley said.
“I believe I remembered to make it the way thee likes it.” Mother handed Dolley a steaming cup.
“Thank you.” She smiled, accepting the brew. Dolley closed her eyes, sniffed, and then sipped.
“And so tomorrow is the big celebration? New Garden will finally have its very own town—Greensborough.” James rubbed his hands together over the fire. “I’m honored to be speaking to the fine, upstanding citizens here. It has been a long campaign. I never imagined I’d run for president.”
“Friend James, I feel I ought to at least warn thee. Not all Greensborough citizens feel the same way as we do, regarding our political allegiance,” Father said.
Realizing the discussion would now turn to boring politics, Ruth stood and offered Dolley a plate of cookies. Dolley took one, and Ruth moved to James, grateful to have something to do.
“That’s to be expected, Matthew. I find pockets of resistance all over my travels around the country.” James bit into his cookie.
“Yes but we’ve our very own Federalist movement in favor of Charles Pinckney.” Matthew leaned against the mantel and crossed his booted feet. “Ruth’s ex-fiancé is one of the local leaders.”
Ruth’s hand shook as she laid the plate on the table. She’d known Josiah was part of a political group, but he never liked to talk about it since he knew how she hated politics. Now she wished she’d paid closer attention. The reminder that Josiah’s loyalties went against her own family brought a fresh sting of betrayal to her scarred heart.
“Oh Ruth, I hope that isn’t why you broke your engagement.” Dolley lowered her coffee and sought Ruth’s gaze. All eyes turned toward her, some questioning, others in sympathy.
What could she say? That she hadn’t believed Josiah’s political aspirations were that important? That she’d been a fool? That she was still a fool?
She opened her mouth to respond, but words of denial clogged her throat. Crossing her arms and rubbing them, Ruth felt her knees weaken. What had Josiah been planning all those times he’d left early to attend a meeting? No doubt plotting a way for her cousin to lose the presidential race. Everyone in her family knew it, but they’d said naught about it—willing to accept Josiah into their humble family—regardless of where his political loyalties lay.
Her throat stung. She swallowed with difficulty. “Please—” Ruth cleared her throat in an attempt to speak above a whisper. “Excuse me.” Tears blinded her as she rushed into the foyer and up the stairs. She needed privacy. She needed to disappear.
Josiah stood in the crowd beside his brothers and George, listening to Isaac Mendenhall, the new mayor of Greensborough. He hovered in his black overcoat, adjusting his top hat. If only it covered his exposed ears, perhaps his head wouldn’t feel so numb.
White ribbon stretched between two trees where the new courthouse would be erected. The speakers stood on a wooden platform built for the occasion. George nudged Josiah’s arm and tilted his head toward the front.
Mayor Mendenhall waved to a white-headed man, motioning him forward. He introduced him as James Madison, the 1808 presidential candidate, in their midst.
George moved with smooth caution, careful to blend in with the crowd. Josiah followed.
James Madison rose from his chair and shook Isaac’s hand. He turned to address the crowd. George and Josiah slipped into the front row.
“Repeal the Embargo Act!” George called.
“The Embargo Act hurts American businesses and will cause unwanted war with Britain!” Josiah yelled above the startled and grumbling voices around them.
“No embargo!” Federalist men chanted, strategically scattered throughout the crowd, so they couldn’t be assembled easily and silenced. The chants grew louder and more succinct.
James Madison smiled and raised his hands, motioning people to calm. When they didn’t cease, a gun exploded. A man climbed the wooden steps to the platform with a smoking pistol in his hand. He gazed at the crowd.
The chants faded as people murmured and whispered among themselves. Silently the man stepped aside, allowing Mayor Mendenhall to face the crowd.
“I’m ashamed of you all,” the mayor said. “Regardless of our political differences, we’ve always been a community that welcomed our visitors. This isn’t a political rally. We’re here to celebrate the incorporation of our new town as Greensborough. James and Dolley Madison are here visiting family. They agreed to speak today to share in this momentous occasion with us. Some of you may not know this, but Dolley was born here. Is this how you will treat her?”
Heads bowed, and smiles faded into frowns. Conversation buzzed again as people looked at each other, and several glared at George and Josiah.
Feeling properly reprimanded, Josiah cleared his throat. “We meant no disrespect, only to exercise our rights as a democracy. How else will James Madison know our concerns if he wins? We may never get another chance to meet him again.”
The mayor opened his mouth to respond but paused when James Madison lifted his hand. “I would answer, please.” He met Josiah’s gaze. “You’re right. We’re blessed to operate under a democracy, and I’ll do my best to honor the integrity of it. I’ll always listen to the people, but we must recognize we’ll have a difference of opinions, and the majority will rule.”
Several people clapped. A baby began crying from the back. Josiah could feel his toes going numb from the cold in spite of his black boots.
“Therefore if the majority elects me, I’ve a responsibility to them in carrying out the promises I pledged during my campaign—to support the Embargo Act that President Thomas Jefferson put into action a year ago, so we can ensure peace.”
“It’s causing conflict with Britain, not peace!” George blurted. A series of conversations erupted all at once. In the midst of the chaos, a shiver passed through Josiah that had naught to do with the biting temperature. With a feeling of foreboding, he glanced around, tuning out the rising voices. A pair of solid-brown eyes glared at Josiah beneath a crisp, white bonnet.
Ruth.
His heart skidded to a halt, momentarily stealing his breath. Politics forgotten, Josiah slipped around George, determined to close the distance between himself and Ruth.
Her lips thinned in obvious anger. How long would she stay angry with him? He’d never known Ruth to be a grudge holder. This wasn’t like her. The image of Solomon Mendenhall escorting her from church on Sunday came to mind. Could Solomon be the reason Ruth continued to find fault with him?
Josiah braced himself to confront her. He needed to know the truth behind her behavior these last few weeks. Until he understood what motivated her, he had no idea how to defend himself and convince her to think differently.
Ruth clutched her cloak at the neck and whirled in an attempt to disappear in the crowd. He edged closer, maneuvering between people, careful to keep Ruth within sight. He wasn’t about to let her go so easily—at least not without speaking to her.
She slipped by a burly man and a woman carrying a child. Another man stepped in Josiah’s way, paying him no heed. Josiah pressed on around him, determined to keep Ruth in sight. Where was she going? Surely she wouldn’t leave her family here and try to walk home by herself. The distance was several miles.
Josiah increased his pace. He would run if he had to and not care who witnessed his pathetic plight. Reconciling with Ruth was all that mattered.
She broke free of the crowd, lifted the hem of her dress, and ran toward a black carriage waiting by a weeping willow tree. Josiah pursued her, pumping his arms and legs.
“Ruth!” Josiah grabbed her elbow in an effort to slow her. “Please—I only want to talk.”
“How could thee do it?” She turned to face him, her high-pitched voice and gasping breath surprising him. “How?” she demanded.
“How could I do what?” Josiah blinked, no longer cold. His blood flowed through him like hot lightning. “Thee will not even speak to me, so how in the world could I have done something new to upset thee?”
“Thee humiliated our family in front of everyone. Dolley and James Madison are our cousins. They’re staying with us, and we’re glad to have them.” She looked back at the crowd. “Although now I’m not so sure they’re glad to be here.”
Remorse shot through Josiah as his skin crawled with prickles. Nausea swirled in the top of his stomach. “I’m sorry, Ruth. I didn’t know.”
“Josiah, I’ve never been more disappointed in thee than I am right now.” She turned and left him standing in the cold wind, haunted by her words, and wrestling with self-loathing.