Olivia turned to Matthew and grinned at him. He pulled his horse even with hers. “That’s a cat-in-the-cream grin. Why?”
“Oh, Matthew, you know. Mother stifles us when she comes along to Natchez. You know she doesn’t like these parties with the cousins, so it’s really a relief to have her decide to stay at home.”
“What you are really saying is that you’ve every intention of riding bareback with Lem, which she specifically forbade. But sister dear, Mother took the old dungarees out of your valise, didn’t you know?”
For a moment dismay pulled Olivia’s face down. Then with a grin, she said, “Lem can supply me; we’re nearly the same size.”
He shook his head sadly, “Tut, you’ll never land a promising husband until you reform. Olivia, who knows? This might be the party Prince Charming will waltz into your life. And where is my esteemed sister? Riding horses in the pasture with her rascal of a cousin.”
The road narrowed, Olivia pulled her mount ahead and rescued her riding habit from the clutches of the bramble bush. “Nevertheless,” she called over her shoulder, “I intend to have a good time. And if you don’t behave yourself, I’ll tell Mother.”
“Tit for tat,” he called with a laugh.
The Newton Thomas mansion perched atop a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River. To the east stretched broad pasture land and beyond that, the wild and heavily forested acres that had given the home the name Tall Timbers. To the west the house looked down its own garden path to an inlet with dock and beach. The seclusion of the inlet and the forest made it easy to forget that the narrow winding road leading up the far side of the hill passed the notorious Natchez-under-the-Hill, which had gained its unsavory reputation during the days of the heavy flatboat traffic on the River. From the front door and garden of the house the shacks and brothels of the area were not visible, and not many people knew the Natchez Trace cut through a corner of Tall Timbers.
It was late afternoon when Matthew and Olivia broke onto the Trace and rode up the hill into the setting sun. Matthew halted his mare and pointed to the River. “It’s higher this year than last. Look! The little island has disappeared.”
“Oh, I hope we’ll have a boat ride,” Olivia murmured, shielding her eyes as she studied the broad expanse of water, silvered by the setting sun. She added, “It looks as if someone’s taken out all the trees on the bank upriver.”
“Flack’s land,” Matthew murmured. “Can’t imagine him farming that close to the River. Probably sold the trees to Jenson.”
“That fellow who sells firewood to the steamboats?”
Matthew nodded and turned to point down the road. “There’s our wagon.”
“I’m grateful we didn’t have to ride with the baggage,” Olivia exclaimed as she watched the wagon roll slowly up the hill. “Auntie’s request for help came just in time. Our people are taking up every inch that the trunks don’t.”
“Let’s get out of here before we have to eat their dust.”
When they arrived, Alberta and Lynda were there to greet them, with Alberta standing in the doorway and Lynda racing down the steps. She kissed Matthew and Olivia. “My favorite cousins. Oh, Matthew, you are so elegant!” She reached for his arm as she tousled his light curls. “Too bad you are my first cousin, and that I know what an unbearable tease you are. Did you bring a guest?”
“No, cousin dear, but from the look in your eye, methinks I’ll run down under the hill and see what I can find.”
“Beast!” Lynda tucked her arm through Olivia’s. Her blue eyes sparkled with excitement as she tossed brown curls out of her eyes and said, “Lem has nearly driven us wild with his plans for you. One would think it is his birthday. Come, Mother is waiting to greet you.”
****
Voices awakened Olivia early in the morning. Slipping from the bed she went to the window. Matthew, Uncle Newton, and Lem were talking in loud, excited voices as they strode down the path to the dock. “Oh no!” Olivia moaned, “They’re heading for the boat.”
There was a tap on her door and Alberta peeked through the crack. “Mother needs to pick up a sunbonnet today. Hurry and we can go with her.”
Olivia gave a longing glance at the window. “I’ll be down in minutes.” She quickly got ready and rushed downstairs.
Alberta came to meet Olivia in the breakfast room. “That is a lovely frock,” she murmured, fingering the voile and touching the ribbons. “How fortunate you are to have such skin! I look ill in yellow.”
Olivia gave Alberta a squeeze. “I’ll surrender my skin if you can teach me to sit still long enough to learn petit point.” She waved to the sampler on the wall, “Those roses are exquisite.”
“Is it a fair trade, Mother?”
Olivia’s aunt smiled, “Yes, but knowing that Olivia can’t sit still very long, you’d never get the chance—you’d still be waiting when her skin is as wrinkled as mine! Olivia, I’m surprised you weren’t down here with the menfolk this morning.”
“I think they were avoiding me,” she said ruefully. “I saw them heading for the dock while I was still in my nightgown. Are we going to have an excursion?”
Alberta’s mother nodded. “Yes. They are going to check out the boat this morning.”
“I tried to get Papa to rent a small steamboat. The Larkinsons had one last year, and it was so much fun. He says we can’t afford one this year. Mother, is it a bad year for crops?”
“No, it’s just that birthday parties for an eighteen-year-old are expensive when they last all week.”
Lynda came into the room and stood next to her mother. “Aren’t you glad you don’t have five daughters like the Morgans?”
Mrs. Thomas rolled her eyes, fanned herself briskly, and said, “Now, hurry with breakfast. We’ve lots to do today.”
****
Matthew glanced at his uncle, Newton Thomas, as the three walked down the garden path. Newton explained, “Thought we might as well check out the caulking job on the boat this morning. Give you fellows a chance to limber up your rowing arms, too.”
Lem said, “I wanted Father to rent a steamboat. The Allens have a neat little job. They use it for excursions on the river with the family.”
“I checked it out. Peter is going to replace the boiler before he uses it again.”
After they reached the boat, Matthew hopped in first followed by Newton, who turned to look at Lem. “I trust you brought enough to eat, because I plan on rowing upriver to Timber Isle. You two are expected to have a few sore muscles by evening; don’t disappoint me!”
Lem groaned as he stood by, waiting to cast off. He untied the rope, gave the boat a shove, and jumped in. “If we’d waited, betcha Olivia would have been willing to do her share of rowing.”
“The women have their day planned,” Newton replied as he leaned into the oars and the current caught the boat. Matthew grunted as the current tugged at his oar. While the men concentrated on the rhythm of the dipping oars, Lem rummaged in the picnic basket.
He was on his third tart when he exclaimed, “Hey, heave to. Is that Allen’s boat? It’s a steamer, and he’s not going anywhere.”
Matthew lifted his head and wiped perspiration out of his eyes. “Neat little rig. Uncle Newt, shall we check it out?”
“Well it isn’t on a sandbar. Might be engine trouble. Better see to it. Lem, stay out of the lunch and come spell me.”
Lem shoved a cake into his mouth, pointed at the boat and said, “A man on board the steamer is hailing us!”
They paddled near the stalled boat and then pitched a rope to the dark, bearded man leaning over the rail who then pulled them close. “Hey, thanks fellows. We’ve split a paddle. I don’t know enough about this rig to trust limping into dock in this condition. We do know what we need for repair.”
Matthew pulled off his cap and mopped his face. The stranger reached for him. “Matthew Thomas! Well, if this isn’t luck.”
Slowly Matthew began to grin. “Alexander Duncan? That beard! Who are you hiding from?” He grasped the extended hand and swung aboard the steamer. “Bet this is the little rig you told me about. Friend, where’ve you been for the past year?”
He turned to help the other two aboard. “Sorry. Alex, I want to introduce my uncle, Newton Thomas and his son, Lem. Newt, Lem, this is Alexander Duncan. We were at Harvard together.” Matthew watched Alex shake hands with Lem as he surveyed the beard and the gold hoop in Alex’s ear. “Old buddy, I think we have a lot of catching up to do.”
Alex nodded and reached for the arm of the Negro standing behind him. “And Caleb is my first mate.”
After everyone had been introduced, they all spent some time examining the problem and then Newton Thomas addressed Alex, “We’ll take you into Natchez and bring you back to the steamer. Your biggest need is for the metal housing on the paddle. I think I know just the place to find it. Shall we get going?”
Alex hesitated and then turned to Caleb, “Think you can go after it?” The two exchanged a long glance and Caleb nodded. Alex faced Newton. “I’ll have Caleb go. He knows as much or more about this rig than I do. Sir, I really appreciate your helping us.”
Matthew touched his cap as he went over the side, “Man, it’s good to see you. Hope we get a chance to catch up on talk. See you later.”
****
Newton Thomas wiped the grease from his hands after replacing the paddle, and nodded at Alex. “I think that paddle will take you to forever and back. And now that that job is finished, I see you and Matthew have a lot of catching up to do. If you aren’t in a hurry, lay over at our place. The Mississippi sweeps through our inlet with just enough water to float you.”
Newton nodded at Matthew, “Stay aboard and show him the way.”
“Sir, that’s mighty nice of you,” Alex said. “I’ll at least spend the night. I don’t take the rig up the river in the dark. I’m a novice, and not inclined to take chances.”
By the time Newton and Lem had climbed back on their own boat and disappeared around the island, Caleb had the steam up. Matthew watched the roustabouts shoving wood into the fire. “This is a nice little outfit, just as you told me it was. Alex, my curiosity is about to get the best of me.”
“Come up to the pilothouse and I’ll bring you up to date.” For a moment Matthew studied the serious expression in Alex’s eyes. He shrugged and followed him up the stairs.
In the pilothouse he turned to Alex. “All right, give. What’s going on?”
“Why did you get the idea there’s anything—”
“Just your expression. You aren’t the old Alex. Man, you’ve got the weight of the world on your shoulders! I nearly didn’t recognize you. Certainly you aren’t the pub-hopping fella from Harvard!”
Alex grinned. “That’s right. Well, your uncle’s invitation demands an explanation. Let’s get this thing docked and I’ll tell you.”
“It better be good. Why didn’t you answer the letter?”
Alex glanced up. “I didn’t get one. I should have written on my own. I’d intended to look you up. But there’s a complication, and I’d decided to scrap the plan for this trip. Now show me the way into this inlet, and let’s find a place to tie up for the night.”
“How about cozying up under the trees just beyond the end of the wharf? You can tie on to the trees.”
Matthew watched Alex cut the speed and slowly flank the steamboat close to the bank. Alex turned from the wheel. “Caleb will handle the rest of it. Come sit down, and I’ll fill you in.”
“What happened to you in Boston?” Matthew asked.
“I honestly don’t know. I lost one whole day out of my life and woke up on Garrison’s doorstep.”
“The abolitionist?”
Alex nodded. “Also met John Greenleaf Whittier. Between the two of them, I left Boston feeling like my coattails were on fire.”
“I’ll bet. You’re lucky they didn’t give you a good dose of religion—their kind.”
“I think they did. It just took a while for it to sink in.”
“How come the beard and the earring?”
Alex wiped an embarrassed grin off his face. “Rag me, and I’ll push you overboard. Matt, I don’t know how to say this so that you’ll understand without getting offended.”
“Well, then just say it, and I’ll get offended.”
“Simply this. I got a good dose of religion—just like you said. Took all this time—from the time I pulled out of Boston until just six weeks ago, for me to understand the Lord was trying to get my attention. Matt, I know we’ve both had exposure to church and Bible teaching. But I came out of it with a smug assurance that God was pretty pleased to get me as a church member. It took all Whittier, Garrison, and Caleb had to say before the veneer was stripped off.”
“Caleb—that Negro?”
“Former slave, and now my dear friend and employee. Matt, listening to him talk left me with a pretty clear picture of myself and a big heartache for the kind of personal relationship with Jesus Christ that Caleb had. I discovered that true religion is something you know you have. A relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ makes Him Lord of all of me as well as my dearest Friend.”
“So now you’re reduced to being one of these blubbering evangelicals.”
“Guess that’s as good a way of putting it as any I can think of right now,” Alex said with a twisted grin.
Matthew got to his feet, shaking his head, “And there goes my pub-hopping buddy.”
“One other thing, Matt, and then I’ll let you go. I suppose one of my problems in Boston was that I had an inkling this was in store if I really wanted to be a follower of Jesus Christ. Ever hear of the Underground Railroad?”
Matthew’s head snapped back. For a moment he compressed his lips and then slowly grinned. “I should have guessed that would be the next step. Seems it’s inevitable, looking back on it all. I must admit I’m curious. Mind telling me a little about it?”
“Be glad to.” Alex paused. “If you’re so inclined, I’d be happy to introduce you to the bunch hiding in the cabin.”
Matthew turned slowly. “You mean this boat is loaded with runaway slaves?” Alex nodded. His heart was thumping with excitement as Matt whispered, “Alex, I think we do need to talk.”
****
When Olivia and the cousins returned from shopping, Lem was glooming around the house. Peering over her parcels, Olivia said, “What! You’re alone? We could have taken you shopping with us.”
He tossed a pillow at her and retorted, “And I would have taken you fishing if you’d stayed home. We made a rescue this morning. A steamboat had stalled. Father had to run into town to buy material to repair a paddle. It split.”
“For a stranger?” Olivia’s aunt asked as Olivia stepped out of the room.
“Yes, Mama. Matthew knows him from school, but I can’t remember his name. Matthew stayed with him and is going to direct him back here. He’ll be spending the night.” He turned to ogle Alberta. “You would like him just fine. He has two ears, eyes, I think and—”
“He’ll do, he’ll do,” Alberta murmured. “And just for that I’ll lock you in the closet for the whole week.”
Lem caught up with Olivia in the hallway. “Are we going riding this evening?”
“I need to talk to you about that,” she whispered. Glancing around, she led him into the kitchen and said, “You’ll have a problem unless you can arrange to lend me some dungarees. You won’t want to be seen with me if I have to wear my own riding habit.”
“One with ribbons and ostrich feathers, I bet. Sure, I’ll give you the clothes off my back.”
“Shh, you needn’t advertise it. Mothers—”
“Don’t understand.”
****
Olivia waited in the late evening shadows of her room, but Lem didn’t appear. In the morning she wore her riding habit to breakfast. Matthew’s eyes were amused. Lem said, “Where’s the feathers? Trying to work up sympathy, huh?”
Matthew chuckled and Lem hissed, “I get you, but it’ll be just this one time. And right now!” She tried to ignore their comments and concentrated on her meal.
“You and your friend must’ve had some talk last night, Matthew. I didn’t see either of you all night, although I did see your friend’s boat so I know you made it back safe. Did you two get all caught up?” Newton asked. Matthew simply nodded.
Olivia finished her muffin and wiped her lips. Lem asked, “Mother, will you excuse us? If we don’t get this ride early enough, some of the fellas may see me.” Both of them left the table and headed for the door.
“Son,” his father warned, “remember, Olivia is a lady. Don’t take any fences.”
“No sir. In that outfit, I’d never get her off them.”
They were outside and halfway across the pasture when Lem said, “Angry, huh?”
“You were the one who didn’t show up with the clothes.”
“That’s why I wanted to ride out early. Boy, do I have a mystery!”
“Give,” Olivia encouraged.
“Matthew has been acting strange lately. I didn’t see him at all yesterday after leaving him with his friend, but I finally saw him late last night sneaking out of the house about the time I headed for your room with the clothes. He looked so guilty I just had to follow. Headed down to the dock. Halfway there, Livie, this fellow off in the bushes calls, ‘Matt!’ and Matthew hunkered down like they were buddies. I was curious, but I didn’t think too much about it.”
He paused to catch his breath and then said, “Livie, there’s something strange going on. Now, wouldn’t you think a couple of fellows would just sit out there and talk casual like? Well, they were whispering. I bellied up through the grass to hear what they were saying—”
“Lem! That is terrible of you.”
“Well, I didn’t find out much before they heard me. The stranger mentioned something about people. He kept saying they. Well, I sneezed, and the two of them took after me.” He paused. “One thing, besides what he said to Matthew, he made arrangements to meet Matthew again tonight. Matthew mentioned your name. The fellow seemed interested. Said something.”
“What did he say?”
“I can’t remember, and because he was talking so softly I couldn’t recognize his voice.”
“Could it be that he was that old friend you rescued yesterday? After all, he did spend the night here.”
“I thought about that, but that guy’s boat was gone this morning—so I doubt he’s the guy coming to meet Matthew again tonight.
“Oh, that brother of mine! He has something cooked up.” Olivia murmured. “They. Sounds to me like it’s someone he’s planning on bringing to the party Friday night.” Olivia leaned across and touched Lem’s arm, “You say they are going to meet tonight? I’d give anything to hear what they talk about!”
“I’d settle for your quirt.”
“Done. When do we leave? Where did you hide the clothes when you decided to follow after Matthew?”
“They are stashed in the linen closet.”
****
That evening, when Matthew excused himself from the game table, Lem caught Olivia’s eye and nodded. As soon as Matthew left, she got to her feet, shielding a delicate yawn behind her hand. “Please, I’m so tired. Alberta is winning, and I know it is because I’m sleepy.”
Quickly she changed into Lem’s dungarees and headed for the back stairs. The night was clear and the moon bright. As Olivia crept down the garden path, she breathed deeply of the heavy blossom-scented air. She also noticed how the crickets became silent at her approach. Suddenly a hand reached across her path and she gasped.
“Keep still!” Lem’s voice muttered in her ear. “They’re down on the dock. We’ll aim for the bushes and hope they come closer.”
Crouching, they slowly moved a step at a time. Heads down, they crawled carefully into the heavy undergrowth along the bank. When Olivia raised her head she could see the two dark figures on the dock. They were talking softly, and as they walked along they came near the bushes. Lem squeezed her arm. Olivia pushed her hand against her mouth and strained to hear.
“Friday night?” came Matthew’s voice.
Olivia leaned forward but as she did so a stick beneath her hand snapped. The two dark figures turned suddenly and ran toward the spot where the noise came from. “Oh no,” Lem moaned. “Let’s go!” With the shout Lem was off, and Olivia recognized Matthew in pursuit.
Olivia remained behind and tried to wiggle further into the bushes for cover—but instead her movement gave her away. Spotting the dungarees, the stranger snarled, “There, I knew another boy was with him.” When she knew she had been spotted, Olivia leaped to make a run for home, but two strong arms prevented her getaway. She gasped against the arm around her neck.
In an instant she found herself pitched over a knee. “Ouch!” The blow landed sharply on the seat of Lem’s dungarees. Outraged, she fought against the hard arm holding her. “Oh!” Another smack was delivered. The voice behind her warned her to stay away, and then the man relaxed his hold and she was off, running up the path after Lem.
She didn’t stop until she was through the door and up the stairs. Across her bed she gasped, panted, wiped perspiration from her face, and cried.
Standing in front of the mirror, she discovered that the mark of the hand was still there, stinging red. Now her outrage directed itself against Lem, and then she was laughing, smothering her hiccuping giggle in the pillow, as she recalled his flight.
****
When Olivia awoke the next morning, she was angry once again. After she got out of bed, she met a subdued Lem in the hallway. He wilted. “Ya got it too?”
“Was this planned?”
“Cross my heart. I didn’t hear a thing and I still don’t know who that other guy was.”
“You might redeem yourself by finding out.” Relief swept across his face, he opened his mouth and then nodded furiously as Matthew appeared, looking tired.
He threw a suspicious glance their direction as he went down the stairs. Lem look a deep breath, grinned, and asked, “Wanna go riding?”
She turned away. “Not hardly. I may not sit down for a week.”
“That fella must hit harder than Matt.”