“Sir, Ralston Moore.”
“Ard Elgin.”
William stepped forward. “William”—he paused for a moment—“Fields. And this is my wife, Sulli Fields.”
“If there’s work, put us to it.” Ralston smiled.
“Runaways are you?” Ard noted William’s pause and he figured, correctly, that the fellow was thinking of a last name.
“No,” William replied too loudly.
Ralston had learned a lot in his brief run for freedom. Well, it didn’t seem brief: He’d lost weight, his feet hurt, and he wanted to sleep on a pallet. No more sleeping on the earth, where the dampness crept into his bones.
“I see.” Ard smiled. “What can you do?”
“We’re both good with horses and my wife can cook or help in the house.” William puffed out his chest.
“Can always use hands.” Ard, tired of the turnover, wanted to keep his own job, so if he found some good workers who stayed, and he figured runaway slaves would stay, he’d receive a reward from the Boss.
“Day’s over but you can stay in the cabin there.” He pointed to a high-roofed cabin. “We can sort this out tomorrow. Pump out behind the cabin. If you head up this path you’ll come to the bunkhouse. Food’s in an hour. Miss Frances don’t like dirty people, so wash up. Any clothes?”
“No, sir.”
“I’ll tell her, otherwise she’ll get her nose out of joint. If I can get you hired, you give me your first week’s pay. Then we’ll be even. I’m taking a chance on three people I don’t know. Hear?”
“Yes, sir. You won’t be sorry.” Ralston extended his hand.
Ard shook it. “You got a wife, boy?”
Ralston shook his head. “Not yet.”
Ard laughed. “Clean up. Do the best you can and don’t mind Miss Frances. She has a tart tongue.” He focused on Sulli. “I expect she’ll put you to work. Keep your mouth shut and do what she says.”
“Yes, sir.”
They left him, hurrying for the cabin. No one wanted to be late for food.
Sulli opened the door. “A fireplace.”
William stood in the opened door, looked at the bunk beds, and said to Ralston, “You take the top.” Ralston looked around for blankets. Six were neatly folded on a shelf. He walked outside with a bucket, filled it with water, took off his shirt, washed himself as best he could while William brought in firewood stacked at the side of the house. The sun had set. Ralston shivered but it felt good to be a little clean, even if he had to put his old shirt back on.
Sulli inspected every nook and cranny. An old pot sat on the shelf underneath the blanket shelf. It was a start.
Miss Frances lived up to her billing, but she handed the three of them patched shirts and two pair of pants. She told Sulli if Mr. Finney hired her, she’d find a decent dress. In her own way Miss Frances had a kind heart but no backtalk, no laziness.
As the three walked back in the darkness, Ard walking halfway with them, Ralston asked, “How many slaves here?”
“Royal Oak doesn’t have slaves. Mr. Finney says they’re worthless. Cost too much. He’ll give you a wage, a place to live. If you want to eat with us, Miss Frances is a fine cook, you pay three dollars a month for food and Miss Frances doesn’t stint on food. You have to make your own breakfast. Mr. Finney is a demanding man. Do what he tells you. Even if he cusses you like a dog, do what he tells you. For that matter, do what I tell you.”
“Yes, Mr. Elgin.” They all three replied nearly in unison.
“Dawn. Be at the stables. Sulli, Miss Frances will be coming to the bunkhouse kitchen. Best you meet her there.”
“Yes, sir.”
Back at the cabin, warm now, for there would be a frost tonight, William and Sulli went outside in the cold to wash each other. Ralston climbed up in the bunk, a straw pallet on top. Felt good. He took off his clothes, pulled the blanket up, happy for his small comforts. He knew not to trust William, who had proven to be a liar, out for himself. As for Sulli, well, she wasn’t his worry. He liked her. Thought she deserved better. He would work hard. He would make good. He was a free man and he would stay a free man.
The fates played games with people. Sometimes they were cruel, sometimes kind. But no matter what they did, how they rolled the dice, Ralston was free.
29
April 26, 2018
Thursday
The problem wasn’t what fell from the sky but what had sneaked into the car. The two cats burrowed under the comforter, as did Tucker. Pirate, larger, remained in the farmhouse where he would be with Fair. But the others were sneaky and neither Harry nor Susan knew they carried stowaways until they reached the outskirts of Culpeper. Given that the two talked nonstop even if Tucker snored or Pewter coughed, they might have missed it. Also, Susan’s Audi station wagon was big.
Once they discovered their passengers, the two decided to keep going. Turning back would cost them about an hour each way, so the plan was to secure the very bad children in the cabin. Once at the cabin, the two cats and the dog were literally bundled inside, the door rapidly shut behind them. Given the chill, Harry set to building a fire while Susan unpacked, hanging up their raincoats—as well as short, flannel-lined front-zip jackets for use if it didn’t rain—on the pegs by the door. Each had brought silk underwear, three sweaters apiece, four pair of silk socks, and four pair of thin wool socks to wear over the silk. Both hated for their feet to get cold, which happened often. One would think Harry, a true country girl, would have figured out the secret to warm feet, but even with Thinsulate-lined hiking boots, her feet grew cold. Gloves were easier, plus she could stick her hands in her pockets. The temperature for tomorrow, the first day, was predicted to nudge up to 53ºF. If it didn’t rain, that would be refreshing, especially if one was running.
“There.” Harry stepped back as the flames touched the logs.
“Given that these cabins, the first three built in 1917, have no insulation, the fire is a godsend. As it is, even in this small space it takes about an hour to really warm up.” Susan found the history of the Institute and its buildings fascinating.
“Our ancestors were tough. Even the rich were tough.” Harry had brought water in plastic gallon jugs.
She poured water, which she’d brought for tea, into a large water bowl for the animals.
A knock on the door sent Harry to open it a crack to keep her pets in. She opened it farther and Arlene slipped in.
“Didn’t read your text until I parked.” She stared at Mrs. Murphy, Pewter, and Tucker. “You’re going to really need to keep them in.”
“I know. If it gets impossible, I guess I’ll borrow Susan’s car and drive them back home.”
“Thought I’d check around. We have about an hour of sunlight.”
“Good idea.” Susan reached for her short coat.
Harry did likewise and they stepped outside, Harry carefully closing the door behind her.
First they walked over to the kennels. Almost everyone drove in early to get their hounds settled.