A/N I am so sorry about the delay in posting this. Real life has made an entrance into mine. I also have the chance to publish Broken as a free e-book, so I have spent time revamping and self edited it. I still don't whether to take it down and re-post here or just update it. Any way here is chapter 21 and now I am off to cook up mischief onboard the VOT ship.
Donna gathered her skirt in her hands and took off running across the garden to the small group of houses built for Sam's had moved his mother here just as Eb Harris had moved Charlie and his mother. The remaining four families sported nine kids among them. Since the kids moved in, she spent a portion of every day teaching the children how to read and do their sums. It had never occurred to her how much she enjoyed children and how much she enjoyed teaching them. She now counted those families amongst her friends. That anything could happen to even one made her sick, but for Eb or Tripp to be hurt was just not imaginable, especially this close to almost losing Nat. Ten from Eb's door, she remembered that she hadn't brought the emergency kit. She turned to Tripp and smiled with relief when he nodded and turned back for the house. If she ever wanted another man who seemed to know what she thought without asking, it would be Tripp Evans.
Donna headed for the steps. The sight of the pine wreath with a red bow that brightened the front door brought a smile to Donna's tired face. To her, it was a sure sign that Eb's sister felt at home. She truly hoped that just days before Christmas that nothing would destroy her happiness. The woman had already lost her oldest son and husband. To lose her brother was unthinkable. Donna had barely knocked on the wooden plank door when Charlie yanked it opened looking more scared and worried than she remembered ever seeing the boy.
"Come on in, Miss Donna." A woman's voice beckoned from inside the cabin.
"Mildred? Where's Eb? What happened. I didn't hear a gun go off, did he hurt himself chopping wood." Donna made no effort to hide her panic.
"I'm fine, Miss Donna," Eb said as he came from a back room.
"Eb?" she asked confused and getting a little irritated.
"Those men off the property?" he asked solemnly.
"Yes? Tripp said -"
"I know what he said," Eb replied. "I told him to get you down here without raising their suspicion. Mack saw the men coming and sent Ned to tell us. We thought you and the Doc were still sleeping, but Ned said he saw the Boss and Sam ride out. I need to show you something, and I will understand if you want to fire me."
"Fire you? Eb what's going on?" Donna was now throughly confused and rapidly becoming angry.
Eb gently took her by the elbow and guided her to the closed door. "Like I said," he said as opened the door, "I'll understand if you fire me." Donna stood in the opened doorway too stunned to move. Standing in the centre of the simple bedroom were the so-called prime breeders from Cyprus Hills. Both were girls no more than thirteen and one was heavily pregnant.
Her fists clenched and unclenched. She truly wanted to hit whatever so called man had touched the child staring back at her. "Oh. My. God," she finally spoke as she turned to Eb and Mildred, "Fire you, I could bloody kiss you. Their babies. Who the bloody hell does this to a baby," she said outraged by the sight of the two girls. They stood barefoot, in wet, dirty dresses looking exhausted, and terrified. The girls shrank in fear from Donna when she tried to hug them. The look of uncertainty mixed with fear on their faces broke her heart. Every slave that came to Barrow Manor had a horror story, but looking at these two young teens, Donna knew their's would top the list.
"Can you tell us your names?" she asked gently.
"Oh my dear Lord," Mam's stunned voice came from behind her. "Them's the runaways ain't they?"
"Mam, she's afraid of us, find out how she - - got ..." Donna's voice trembled with rage as she backed out of the room. Donna paced the small cabin as they all waited for Mam to come out. "Clothes, we need to burn their clothes." She looked at Mildred. There are three families plus Miriam with clothes that will fit one, but how are we going to dress the other?"
"I can cut down a nightgown and hem it. We need to get them scrubbed up, but what we do then? Miss Donna, we don't have room, you can't hide them up at the big house. If the law comes, they'll find them. They will put you and the Doctor in jail, and take the plantation."
"We hide them in the tunnel," Eb answered. "The Boss had us set up down there the other day just in case - strangers showed up needing a place to stay. I don't think, he was thinking about two little girls, though. I never thought I'd turn into an abolitionist, but I believe this has converted me."
"Me too," his sister interjected.
As Mildred headed to find clothes for the two girls, Mam walked out of the room with tears running down her cheeks.
"What happened to them?"
"The Master at the old place bought those little girls from down in Mississippi. He bought a buck from North Carolina. When the girl came on her time, he had the overseer deliver her to the buck. His name is Tom. The one girl - her name is Tish, said Tom didn't want to touch her 'cuz she's so little. The overseer - he beat Tom. Told him, he was bought to stud and iffin he couldn't they'd..." Mam couldn't say the words.
"Take his manhood," Eb finished as Mam nodded numbly.
"Anyway, Tom took her every day until she stopped her time of the month. Tish says, the Master and the overseer watched every single time to make sure."
Donna's knees buckled. She was barely aware of the chair that suddenly appeared under her. "They raped that baby! This has to be a crime; it just has to be. "
"No ma'am," Eb knelt in front of her, "it ain't. It's breedin'. It happens all the time on most plantations. Just not this one. You can't rape a negra woman. That's the law. They can't marry, and they have no rights to their children. You better believe, Old Man Carson will have his overseer tear the country-side apart lookin' for those two. That baby is worth a thousand dollars when it's old enough to be weaned. Miss Donna, you and the Boss are the strangest plantation owners, I ever knew, and until I met you, I never thought it should be different. Now Sam - his Mary was a lot like you. You would have liked her - a lot, I think. But for the rest of us; we thought you were both a might tetched."
"If you thought that, why have you stayed. It can't be just because of the money?" Donna asked coldly,
"No ma'am," Eb answered, "It's because you and the Doctor see what's good in people, and you don't pay no never mind to their colour or what they used to be like. Me - I ain't drew a sober breath since the war until the day we rode on this plantation. Somehow, around you, it just didn't seem right to get drunk. The Doc, I ain't never had a boss that talks to folk the way he does. Around you two, we all want to do what's right and we don't like what's wrong. We ain't hidin' from that no more. What happened to those little girls is plain wrong. We will find away to get them out of here to somewhere safe. The men here will die to make sure that happens and they will die to defend this place, and the both of ya. Don't you worry, ya hear now? "
Donna's expression softened as tears threatened to spill over. That was the longest speech that she'd heard from Eb. She drew a breath to regain control. "Mam?"
"Yes, Miss Donna?"
"Get Addemenia or Cora down here. Except for Miriam, they are closest to their age. I don't think we should scare Miriam, and the girls can talk to them - convince them that they're safe. Once we make sure that no one can see, we'll move them to the dormitory and hide them in the tunnels. I will go to that Tea as planned. We don't need any suspicions raised or unwanted visitors showing up. Then, I guess we should try to figure out when that baby is due."
Donna stood up and headed for the door. She had to get out of this cabin and breathe. Donna walked back to the house numb. The three months spent here taught her more about America's history than she ever wanted to know. The tears that threatened earlier spilt over as she realised that if they hadn't rescued Miriam, she would have suffered the same fate. The thought of that precious little girl being touched by some monster made her physically ill. Her stomach rolled, threatening to erupt, forcing her to quicken her pace. She only managed to reach the magnolia tree before she began to heave. She had no idea how long she'd spent on her knees before she felt a wet flannel wipe her face. She leaned against strong arms as someone continued wiping spittle. Slowly, the rush of blood left her ears, and she recognised Miriam telling her that everything was okay. A set of powerful arms lifted her as gently as if she were a child. The dizziness from the simple move forced her eyes to stay closed as the arms carried her to the sick room and laid her down.
"I gots her now, Mr Tripp," Miriam said quietly. "She'll be okay."
Donna paid no attention to the retreating boots on the hardwood as she rolled on her side and wept until there were no more tears.
o0o
Harry loped easily next to Sam's gelding. The big bay strained against the Doctor's control wanting nothing more than to race ahead. Their hooves sent clumps of dirt flying as the two animals easily covered the ground underneath.
The Doctor glanced at Sam, "Harry wants to race," he yelled with a goofy grin. "Bet mine is better than yours," he challenged.
"Doc, that's a city-bred nag, ain't no way he can beat my Morgan."
"Race?"
"Race," Sam agreed as dug his heels into his black horse's sides.
The animal exploded with speed and took off at a full on gallop. Not to be beaten, Harry matched his competitor stride for stride. Both men leaned over their horse's neck urging them to run faster. Finally after nearly a mile, with both horses still neck to neck, Sam's black pulled ahead by a neck. Exhausted, the two horses began to slow, and the two men laughingly drew them back to a lope to start the process of cooling them off. Harry had different ideas, and with one last burst of energy the horse took off again. The next time he pulled up, his competitor was half a length behind.
"Damn Doc, that was cheatin'," Sam protested as he laughed.
"Wasn't me," the Doctor said defensively. "Harry can't stand to have anyone pass him." The Doctor patted his horse's sweat drenched neck.
"Come on, I know where there's a creek to cool them off." Sam slapped the Doctor's shoulder and then led the Doctor off the road into the woods. They made their way deeper through the trees until they found the creek. Both men dismounted and they the tired horses into the water.
When Sam looked over at his boss standing in ankle deep water letting the stallion drink, he would have smiled, but the sudden anxious look on the Doc's face added to the sense of worry that he always had about the man. The Doctor rarely looked content for long.
"So, what's our plan?" he finally asked. The Doctor's expression immediately changed to the goofy grin that he got whenever he faked his mood.
"Beyond paying a visit to that little weasel Roberts, and asking why we haven't heard from him, can't honestly say, I have one. Some day soon, someone smart will invent a way to communicate that will eliminate the need for a ride."
"Thought that's what the telegraph was for." Sam quipped.
"Don't think, I see a pole anywhere," the Doctor grinned.
"What's bothering you, boss?" Samuel led his horse out of the stream to dry land.
"What makes you think there's anything bothering me?"
"Doc, I have known you for three months, and while it's not that long, I've learned that you worry too much. So - what's up."
"Something's wrong with Donna," he answered quietly. "I'm not sure what it is. Just ..."
"You think she's sick? She doesn't act sick. She had a lot of fun last night. Hell, we all had a lot of fun last night."
"You should know she wants to get you a girlfriend." The Doctor chuckled as he led Harry from the stream. "She thinks you, Tripp and Hawkins are lonely and need wives."
"Women." Sam shook his head. "Why are you worried about her?"
"I don't know, she's..." He drew a breath and shook his head. "I'm being ridiculous aren't I."
"You are a man in love, Doc."
The Doctor stopped from mounting Harry, and stared over his saddle at Sam as if the man had lost his mind. He was about to come up with a denial when it dawned on him that, for all the times, people had asked, even assumed that he and Donna were a couple, Sam was the first human to say out loud that he loved her.
"Yeah, I guess, I do," he said softly. "Come on: the quicker I threaten Roberts," he said as he swung up into the saddle, "the quicker, we can go home.
The rest of the ride to Charleston was made at an easy lope. They entered the city and weaved their way through the busy streets to the market district before turning the horses west to Queen Street. The Italianate style building rose like a palace from the street. The Doctor barely remembered what the outside of the hospital looked like. Once the entered the hospital's grounds, Sam led the way to the coloured wing of the hospital. The Doctor had no trouble finding Roper's office. There was a sort of perverted pleasure in seeing the man go white just at the sight of him.
"What do you want? Roberts backed away.
"Me," the Doctor said with a broad smile. "I just want to chat," he finished as he dropped into a chair.
o0o
"So," Donna asked Miriam and Mam as she stood in front of the cheval mirror. She still looked tired. Her pale colour made the dark circles under eyes look worse.
"Miss Donna, you should rest," Mam fussed with Miriam nodding her head in agreement.
"No, we need to know what the word is about those girls. We also need to find out about the family Simmons is looking for. I need Mrs Tillet to know that we can give them shelter. I don't look that awful do I?" she asked as she smoothed her skirt.
"Well ..." Miriam started to answer before she received a swat from her mother.
Donna turned away from the mirror. "This is as good as it is going to get. Now, you," she smiled at Miriam, "are beautiful." The girl was dressed in a conservative grey dress with a high collar. They were walking into a group of women with varying degrees of feelings about slavery. For as much as Donna hated the idea, Miriam needed to look and act the part. Donna couldn't wait for the day when she would get this girl far away from the south, preferably safe in Canada or even England. She had no doubt the Doctor would make sure that she would be well cared for even if it meant hiring a governess to educate her.
"Okay, let's go," she said as she reached for Miriam's hand.
By the time they were outside, Donna had forced her self to be in a better mood. Tripp already sat on the back of his sorrel. Will stood at the side of the carriage ready to help his mistress in the carriage. Donna laughed when she saw the group of worried people standing around. "Blimey, you look like I'm off to the guillotine," she laughed.
"I don't know what that is, ma'am," Cora answered shyly, "but you take care. You weren't feeling good earlier, and well you know that there scum is patrolin' the road."
"Thanks Cora. You and Addemenia look after our visitors. Will and Tripp won't let anything happen to us."
"Miss Donna," Sally spoke up, "Take the long way to the village - please. I've gotta feelin'"
"Sally, everyone, we need to be there by one. Everything will be fine." Donna took Will's proffered hand and then Miriam climbed in beside her. She leaned against the carriage seat as Will closed the door. She was glad they were taking the Brougham. The closed-in carriage had curtains over the window limiting the view inside making it less likely that Simmons' cutthroats would recognise them carriage. She ignored the fact that the line of thinking was a bit problematic. They would still recognise Tripp sitting up straight on his sorrel. She leaned back against the seat as Will closed the door.
Minutes later, Will had the carriage moving for the main road. The bouncing added to Donna's headache squeezed Miriam's hand. Nothing could go wrong.
The drive in to the village of took less than half an hour. Will brought the carriage to a stop outside a large grey stone church identified by a bronze sign as Saint Christopher. At least they were in the right place. The bell tower at the front of the building rose fifteen feet in the air. Behind the church, a walled off court yard protected the convent that hid behind the walls. Donna had toured churches in Paris one year on holiday, but this felt different. This church was at best, only a few years old. Will hopped from his seat and tied the horses to the tie block before helping Donna and Miriam out of the carriage. He smiled up at Tripp who stood with his rifle laying across his arms like a guard standing over precious cargo.
Donna stepped out and cast a wary eye toward the women entering at the side building of the church. "Miriam," she whispered quietly, " I want you to stay close to me, but listen to what the other girls are saying. We need to know what the other servants have heard about the girls."
"Yes ma'am," Miriam nodded as she stared nervously at the finely dressed women entering the church. "Miss Donna?"
"Yes, sweetie."
"I ain't never been in a white church. What do they do in there?"
"Well, I'm not religious, and I'm not Catholic, but I don't think they practice sacrifices if that's what you mean."
"But I heard a slave say once something about how they eat the Lord."
Donna blanched and then choked back a laugh. "No - they don't. On the way home, I promise, I will explain. Now can you do this, can we figure out what is happening?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Will?"
"Yes, Mistress."
"Talk to the other drivers, nose around and see what you can find out."
"Yes ma'am."
Donna took one last look at the ladies entering the Church and sighed deeply. The sight of Mrs Tillis entering the side door was a relief. At least she would know two people in the building. Now all she had to do was find out about the slaves that needed sheltering. This might actually be fun. She was investigating again just like she had done before she left home to travel.
o0o
"Simmons! Yo - in the cabin! Matthew Simmons!"
Matthew Simmons walked out from behind the cabin. "Horace, can't a man visit the necessary without you bellowing like a wounded bull."
"You were right that bitch from Barrow went to the ladies meeting, bold as brass. Took the main road straight into the village. Nobody with her, but two niggers and Tripp Evans."
A malicious grin spread across Simmons face. The opportunity to make a little money just fell in his hands, and he intended to put it to use. "Get the boys and wait by the curve by Miller's field. Put Evans off his horse, but don't kill him. I want him to take that foreign bastard a message! He gets his woman when I get the slaves he bought out from under us in Charleston."