Chapter Eleven

Tyler’s valise rested on a storage chest at the foot of the bed. “TGM” were imprinted in gold letters on the brown leather. The case had hinges like her father’s medical bag and opened wide to expose the contents. Several ties and socks were on top of a white shirt. A brown packet was stuck along one side. She reached in, hesitated, and retrieved it. Inside were legal documents. Tess’ name was on the top one. The legal language was confusing, but the paper appeared to grant her freedom.

Several signatures were on the bottom of the document. One was Tyler’s. Another was Regina Vandal’s. She folded the documents but hesitated to return them to the valise. She unbuttoned her dress and forced the packet beneath her corset cover.

She gathered a brush, razor, soap, and toothbrush near the washstand and added them to Tyler’s bag. The dresser drawers were empty. She left Tyler’s note and payment on top of the dresser with the key.

Cory cautiously opened the door, saw no one around, and headed for her buggy. She put Tyler’s bag on the floor and spread her skirt over it. “Giddy-up.” She slapped the reins against Nell’s hindquarters and directed her down the drive.

Edward and his two companions nearly collided with her when they turned onto the curved path toward the inn. Their horses startled Nell. Cory struggled to calm her. “Easy, girl.”

Edward grabbed Nell’s harness until she quieted. “I’m so sorry we startled your horse, Miss Beecher.” He tipped his hat.

“We usually don’t have this much traffic on the road.” She hoped her voice didn’t sound as nervous to Edward as it did to her.

“Out for a ride?”

“I was returning some dishes,” Cory explained. “So many people provided meals for Mrs. Thomas after her husband died. This was my last stop. Mrs. Stone is an excellent cook. You must know that since you’re staying here.” She was rambling.

“She is a good cook, but not as good as my wife.”

The pride in his voice startled her. “Is she traveling with you?” She knew the answer but was curious about Reggie.

“No, my wife is home in Vandalia,” he said. “We recently lost our child.”

“I’m sorry. That can be a difficult time for a couple.”

“How would you know? Have you ever lost a child?”

His angry outburst frightened her, but she quickly defended her words. “My father is a doctor. I’ve helped with patients, especially during childbirth.” She recalled a birth last spring. “In April I delivered a stillbirth. We tried everything, but the baby never took a breath. It’s the last thing a couple expects after nine months of happy expectations.”

Edward studied her. “I’m sorry for my rudeness. Our son died from a fever. Regina was inconsolable after Eddie’s death. How do you comfort someone who only wants to mourn?”

Cory hesitated to answer, but the pain in his voice evoked her empathy. He was Tyler’s enemy, but she offered some advice. “Everyone mourns differently, but don’t let Reggie shut you out. Whatever her feelings, she needs to share them with someone. It’s the only way she’ll be able to deal with her grief. And someday, you’ll have more children.”

Edward had a strange expression on his face. Was he surprised by her sage advice? Or had she said something wrong? She’d called Regina, Reggie, the name Tyler used for her. She looked at Edward, met his gaze, and knew she had betrayed Tyler.

Edward nodded toward Buck, who circled the buggy. He stopped behind Cory. “Mr. Vandal, there’s a bag under the seat.”

“Grab it.”

Buck dismounted. He was a bulky man with thick hairy hands and stubby fingers. He climbed on the carriage step and tugged at Cory’s skirts.

“What are you doing?” She kicked at him, but he grabbed her foot and jerked her body aside. He reached for the valise beneath her seat.

Cory looked around for something to defend herself and grabbed the buggy whip from its holder. She smacked Buck with the long wooden handle. “Get off!”

“Clyde!” Edward called the man with a white scar on the side of his face.

Clyde reached from his saddle and wrenched the whip from Cory’s hands, nearly unseating her. He handed the whip to Edward. He broke it in two and tossed it on the ground.

Cory caught her breath as she clung to the side of the buggy. No wonder Tyler disliked Edward. All his polite manners hid a nasty stray dog. She glanced around for help but saw no one.

“Got it?”

Buck pulled out the leather bag and jumped to the ground. He handed it to Edward, who searched through the contents. He tossed the clothes and personal articles on the ground until the valise was empty. He shook it at her. “Where did you get this?”

Cory trembled at the violence of their actions. Why did men have to use brute force to take what they wanted? No wonder men were eager for war. Cory calmed her nerves and thought of a lie for her possession of Tyler’s personal belongings. “Mrs. Stone gave me the bag to donate to the Community Congregational Church.” Her words were rushed. “She said the tenant left without it.” She climbed down and began gathering the discarded clothing and items. “No one is going to want to wear them if they’re all dirty.”

Edward dismounted and held the empty valise open. She hastily folded the suit and shirt and dropped the remaining items on top. He snapped the brass clasp and shoved the bag under the seat. He held out his hand. She ignored it and turned to board the carriage.

“Your purse.” He pointed to the handbag dangling from her wrist.

“I hardly think there’s anything of interest in my handbag.”

Edward snatched the purse and opened it. Cory grabbed for it, but he turned his back and rifled through the contents. He faced her and returned her bag.

Her fingers trembled, but she counted the coins inside. It was a small gesture to show him how she felt about his behavior.

“I’m not a thief.” He offered his hand to assist her into the carriage, but she refused again.

Cory’s bonnet had fallen back during the confrontation. She rearranged it and tied the ribbons. The men still surrounded her buggy. “May I leave now?”

Edward rested his hand on Nell’s harness. “What was the name of the tenant who left behind his valise?”

She’d betrayed Tyler with her overconfidence. She needed to be cautious, or she could put everyone in jeopardy. “Ask Mrs. Stone if the owner’s name is important to you.”

“I will, but I think you know his name.”

Cory looked straight ahead. Her voice trembled. “Why do you say that?”

Edward pointed at the bag. “Those initials belong to the man I asked about. He calls my wife, Reggie. The same as you did a minute ago.” He patted Nell’s shoulder. “I like you Miss Beecher, and I’m going to give you some advice. Stay away from Tyler Montgomery. He’s no good for you or any woman.”

Cory gripped the reins. “Are you an expert on character, Mr. Vandal?”

“Oh, I’m a very good judge of character when it comes to Tyler Montgomery,” he warned. “Don’t let him seduce you with his lies, Miss Beecher. Has he told you he’s a Harvard educated lawyer? Or has he regaled you with the story about being raised by Quakers? Tricks of deception, Miss Beecher. An education and peace-loving guardians have done nothing to make him a gentleman. No one knows about his father, but everyone in Vandalia knew about his mother.” Edward snorted. “Ask him about a woman called Miss Olivia. Ask him about the Dunking Witch. Tyler Montgomery is a bastard, a liar, and not fit for the company of decent folks. You should stay clear of him.”

Cory felt numb by his revelations. It couldn’t be true. “Those are harsh words, Mr. Vandal.”

“You better heed them, Miss Beecher.” He released Nell and moved aside.

Cory wasted no time urging Nell forward. She started to cry and swiped at her wet cheeks. Tyler had a past he hadn’t revealed. All his teasing and playfulness seemed tainted. Tyler had warned her no decent woman would marry him, but she hadn’t taken his words seriously. What sort of man was Tyler, and what did she truly know about him?

Anger replaced her tears. How could she be so stupid? He was a slave owner. That alone was reason enough not to become attached to him. How could she have kissed him? She was a fool. Douglas may be boring, but he was honest. He would never deceive a woman with hopes of love or pretend he was something he was not. Thank goodness she hadn’t fallen in love with Tyler. She would gladly hand over his belongings and send him on his way.

****

Cory reached Glen Knolls and saw Tyler in the garden, hoeing the rows to remove the weeds. It was something she hated doing and had neglected. He raised his head and smiled at her. It took her breath away. Why was he so handsome? Why did her heart jump for joy every time she looked at him? And why did Edward’s words make her so troubled?

Tyler strode toward the barn and slid open the wide door for her to drive Nell into the upper storage area. He grabbed Nell’s harness to halt her. “Any problems?”

Cory had calmed her nerves on the ride home but was glad it was dark in the barn. She had proven she was an incompetent liar with Edward and would have to tell Tyler the truth. She struggled to steady her voice. “Edward and his men stopped me as I was leaving the inn.”

Tyler jerked around. “Did he harm you?”

“No. His men scared me, and Edward broke the whip.” She pointed at the empty holder.

He unhitched Nell from the buggy. “Anything else?”

“They searched your bag and threw your clothes everywhere. I’ll clean them,” she promised.

“I never should have allowed you to go into town alone,” he shouted. “This isn’t your battle.”

“Allowed me?” Cory’s anger matched his. “I volunteered.”

“What happened to my bag?”

She lifted it from the floorboard and handed it to him.

He opened it and felt inside. “Does Edward have the papers?”

Cory turned to step down from the carriage. “No, they’re in a safe place.”

Tyler grabbed her around the waist before she could jump down. His hands caressed her corset as he lowered her to the ground. “I think I know where you hid them.”

She stepped away. “I almost put them back in the valise.”

“So you read them?”

“I’m not very good at Latin.”

“All those old phrases are for job security,” he explained. “I spent two years learning legal jargon to confuse clever school teachers like you.”

“You think I’m clever?”

“Clever enough to keep Edward from finding the documents. Now are you going to hand them over, or do I have to go on a treasure hunt?”

Cory should have been shocked by his suggestion, but after Edward’s revelations, she wondered if Tyler talked to all women the way he had been teasing and flirting with her. Tyler Montgomery was a rake. She toyed with the top button of her gown. “Turn around.”

Tyler obeyed. “You know I’ve seen you in your nightie.”

“It was dark.”

“Not that dark.”

She slapped the packet against his shoulder. “So what are the papers for?”

He pointed at her dress. “You missed a button.”

She fastened it. When she looked up, he was staring at her bodice. She directed his attention to something more important. “The papers?”

“This makes it clear Noah is a free man.”

“Why didn’t you give them to Noah in Vandalia when he left to look for Tess?”

“He was in a hurry. I didn’t have time to draw up legal documents like these. I wrote him a pass stating he was free, but as I said before, it doesn’t mean much if chasers knock him out and take him south where he can be sold for several thousand dollars.”

Cory wasn’t sure she had heard correctly. “How much?”

“Noah is a skilled blacksmith. He’s strong, smart, and could be sold for three thousand dollars or more in an open slave market. That’s why it’s so dangerous for him to be on his own. I should have come north with him to look for Tess, but I knew he’d need money. I stayed behind and sold off everything we owned.”

“We?”

Tyler smacked the packet against his thigh. “Noah had his own workbench and tools in Mr. Yoder’s blacksmith shop. I sold some and crated the rest. Once Noah is settled, I’ll have Mr. Yoder ship them to him.”

Cory looked at the document in Tyler’s hand. “And this proves he’s free.”

“This is a legal document the local authorities won’t question. I can’t say the same about the commissioners.”

“Why not?”

“Commissioners are paid ten dollars to say a black man is a slave. They’re paid five for saying he’s not a runaway. It’s amazing how an extra five dollars will put shackles on a free man.”

“How unfair!”

“That’s why the Fugitive Slave Law is such an abomination. A free black can be forced back into slavery. They’ve been doing the same thing in Virginia since 1806. If a freed black man or woman doesn’t leave the state within a year, freedom is revoked.”

“You’re lucky Sam Morris stopped Edward from taking Noah.”

“I owe him,” Tyler admitted. “Sam said the local sheriff is more sympathetic than federal marshals. That’s why the commissioners have the power to fine local judges and sheriffs if they don’t comply with the law.” He grinned. “But they don’t like being strong armed.”

“So Noah is safe,” Cory concluded.

“If chasers find him with Tess, he can be arrested for aiding a runaway.” He tapped on the packet. “These papers should convince any chasers except the Cassell brothers that Noah and Tess are free. The problem is the flier Edward sent out. A hundred fifty dollar reward for news about Noah would tempt any man. That’s why Noah can’t search for Tess in the open, but I can.”

“Won’t you lead Edward to Tess?”

“I don’t know where Tess is.” He studied her. “Do you?”

“No.” Did he believe her? She wondered about something in the packet. “I saw a paper with her name on it. It had Reggie’s name on it, too. Did she set her free?”

“That’s the problem. Only Edward can legally free Tess and Adam, but I was hoping the documents would fool local inquiries.”

“Won’t having the false papers cause trouble for you?”

Tyler didn’t answer. He didn’t have to.