FOUR
"Wake up, sleepy head.” Mary nudged Maggie awake.
“We’re a few hours away from Granville County.
Probably could’ve reached it yesterday, but I didn’t want to push them too hard.
” Mary nodded towards the sleeping children.
“If anyone asks, we are going to visit a relative at the Female Seminary. The kids are too young to stick to a script, so we will be honest about them: we came across them on the way and need a home for them.”
Wiping the sleep from her eyes, Maggie yawned. “‘Female Seminary’?” She wasn’t sure she heard her correctly.
Mary began gathering their things. “Yep, Female Seminary.”
Maggie took in Mary’s rough appearance, the children, and the snoring dogs. This ought to be interesting.
“Maybe we should tidy ourselves up a bit first…”
Everyone stared at them. Or rather, at the pack of dogs clearing the path ahead for them as they entered Oxford.
Mary whistled, reining the dogs in closer.
If the dogs caught attention, then Mary was bound to.
A large woman, close to six feet tall, strolling through the street was a sight to behold.
There was a sense of relief when they walked through the gate to the seminary. Mary lifted the brass knocker and banged it on the door.
A tall young man opened the door. “They said they saw a large woman tromping into town with a couple of hounds and I knew it was you. I came down at once, hoping to beat you to the door. But alas.” Stepping over the threshold, he embraced Mary.
What in the world?
“And who do we have here?” He noticed Maggie and the children.
“Miss Ackerman, and two rascals. Quincy and Susannah,” Mary pointed. Stepping to the side of the man, she addressed them now. “My cousin, John Mills.”
That accounted for the similar height.
“Welcome, Miss Ackerman, Quincy, and Susannah. Please, come inside. I believe my wife prepared some refreshments.”
They followed him through the building, winding down corridors.
Some rooms had open doors, and they could see women inside the classrooms. Aside from the one elderly male teacher, John seemed outnumbered.
Reaching the kitchen, John introduced a beautiful woman as his wife, Elizabeth, and the small baby in her arms as their daughter. Elizabeth warmly greeted them, hugging Mary and showing the prized bundle.
“It’s a joyous occasion to have my favorite cousin meet my family. But I assume the visit is primarily for other reasons. Elizabeth, would you mind taking the children to the dining room while I speak to my cousin and Miss Ackerman?” John touched his wife gently.
Elizabeth smiled at the two children. “Not at all. I do believe there are some snacks on the table.” At the mention of food, the children dashed from the room, with Elizabeth following close behind, carrying the baby.
John motioned for Maggie and Mary to sit. Elizabeth had already poured glasses of water. Maggie sipped it politely.
John smiled at her. “Tell me, what brings you to Oxford?”
Keeping the story as short as possible, Maggie told him of her destination and that Mary had volunteered to help her get there, how they met Quincy and Susannah, and the brief history she’d gathered. “But now, we don’t know what’ll happen to them…” She trailed off.
Mary got to the point. “John, Halifax is too far to take the children. Would you be willing to find them somewhere to stay?”
He pondered her request. “I’ll ask around. See if anyone can shelter them for a while. But with circumstances as they are… It’s doubtful anyone will keep them both. Finding the boy a home should be easy. There are plenty out there who need a hand, with most of the men gone. But as far as the girl—”
“Susannah,” Mary corrected.
“…As far as Susannah, her placement may be more difficult. It’s a shame there isn’t an orphanage…
” He glanced at Mary and Maggie, sensing their disappointment.
“I’d keep them if I could, I swear to you.
But with the baby, Elizabeth’s just getting back on her feet—It’s all I can do to keep this place running. I’m sorry.”
“They’ve been through hell and back and still, they have stayed together. Shouldn’t be any reason to be separated now.” Mary stared at John, keeping her voice low.
“Mary, I said I’m sorry…I’ll try and do what I can, but with realistic expectations—”
“No, I’m not angry with you,” she took a deep breath. “Could you keep them here until I drop Maggie off in Halifax and come back?” Mary’s gaze refocused on Maggie. “You don’t have to pay me, but I can’t go further than Halifax.”
Maggie was flabbergasted. “I’m not worried about the money, Mary. Just surprised. What’ll you do with them differently when you come back and get them?”
John leaned forward as he, too, waited for the answer.
Mary sat unblinking. “I suppose I’ll take them back home. Back to Ashboro. And care for them until a home comes available for both of them.”
After traveling with her for days, Maggie still found Mary baffling. She wasn’t the only one.
John reached across to take Mary’s hand. “Are you sure, cousin? That’s quite an undertaking.”
Mary dropped her hand. “I know it is. But they won’t be split up.”
They fell silent. There was no way to talk her out of it.
Speaking softly, John relinquished. “I’ll speak to Elizabeth, but I’m sure she’ll be happy to watch over Quincy and Susannah until you return.”
“Thank you. That’s all I ask.”
John turned to Maggie. “Halifax, you said? Tell me why again. I might be able to help.”
As it happened, John could help. An acquaintance of his, Reverend Adams, was in Halifax.
“When he wrote to me and proposed the idea of traveling to Halifax as an interim preacher, I cautioned him against it. He’s elderly and it can be a dangerous area. Many slaves have been caught trying to escape there because of the river. Your contact, did they not mention this?”
Maggie squirmed. “Um, no. Just that the Roanoke River Navigation Company might be willing to take me north, until I could find a troop heading towards Petersburg or Richmond.”
“Hmm,” John murmured. His head swiveled towards Mary. “And how did you get involved in this, cousin? That hasn’t been made very clear.”
“A favor for a friend. The first time I met Miss Ackerman, one bark from the dogs sent her scurrying up a tree.”
Rolling her eyes, Maggie was grateful for Mary’s blunt humor. Hopefully, John would focus on that. Maggie wasn’t entirely sure she trusted him more than taking care of the children for a few days.
Taking the bait, John relented. “You’re welcome to use your contact, but I wouldn’t advise it, personally.
The rapids can be tricky. I myself have traveled that river many times and can tell you that.
On the other hand, Reverend Adams could be persuaded to travel further north and take you with him.
As a minister, he has been one of the very few, if not only, persons allowed by both parties to keep his covered wagon.
Occasionally, he rides out to camps to provide blessings or prayers to those who lay dying and a message on Sundays.
His age also grants him some mercy, I believe. ”
“Both parties?”
“Yes. Or at least every camp he’s encountered,” John shrugged. “Faith is shared, not only for one group of people. And especially in times of war, it can be…profound.”
Steering back to the original conversation, Maggie looked at Mary. “We go find the reverend?”
With Mary’s nonverbal approval, John went to find Elizabeth, who very kindly agreed to take charge of the children while Mary was gone.
When the children were informed of the plan, their little faces were so downcast at the separation.
But, when Mary asked them if they would like to travel back with her and stay until a proper family for them could be found, they were ecstatic.
The joy they exhibited was contagious. Everyone was smiling, but no one more than Mary when Susannah hugged her tightly.
In that little girl’s embrace, Mary was a decade younger.
The sorrow and grief she’d experienced in life were washed away.
They may already have found a home, Maggie realized, watching the happy trio.
She felt guilty dragging Mary away from them, but these last few weeks had humbled her enough to know that she would never make it on her own.
Mary said nothing, of course, hugged the children goodbye, and left on her own accord.
Elizabeth tried to persuade them to stay the night and rest up, but neither Mary nor Maggie desired to waste any more time.
With one last wave, Maggie and Mary gathered their packs and Elizabeth ushered the children into the kitchen, where she promised they could help make a treat for dessert.
John quickly inscribed a letter to Reverend Adams and gave it to them to carry.
Steeling herself for more stares in town, Maggie followed Mary outside, where she whistled the dogs to attention, and they set off. The walk through town was brisk, and Maggie breathed easier once they were outside of it.
One step closer to Henry. The journey had been full of many ups and downs and she tried not to think about losing Mary in Halifax. The idea of replacing her quiet companion with Adams, a traveling preacher, made her nervous. “Your cousin was very intriguing,” Maggie said, making conversation.
“That he is.”
“Were you always close?”
“Yes and no. Grew up beside each other in Virginia, but didn’t become close until adulthood.
My family didn’t agree with my choice of husband.
They judged him only by his birthplace. I didn’t hear from any of my family after the wedding until John wrote a few years later.
He’d gone to Wake Forest for college, not far from Raleigh.
His family had disowned him when he voiced his different opinions.
We wrote here and there, but not much after I moved, other than to tell here where I was. ”
It was the most information that Mary had shared with her. The revelations within were astounding. “What sort of opinions?”
“The kind that don’t align with your brother, the heir, who enlists with the Confederate Army.”
More of Mary’s story made sense. The only missing piece that Maggie promised herself not to ask about was Mary’s close bond with the children.
Feeling that she had gleaned enough from Mary, she allowed the conversation to end.
There were at least two days left before they reached Halifax.
It's best not irritate each other with questions.