TY Cherry and Cinny for preparing this in a timely manner. I was going to post yesterday, but you know ... I giveth and I taketh away! hehe.

Readers- See ya tomorrow for Ch 18! *hurray for weekend updates*

Chapter 17: Plans

"A thing is mighty big when time and distance cannot shrink it."

~Zora Neale Hurston

(EPOV)

I sat at James' dining room table, typing with just one finger 'cause I wasn't too good with the typewriter yet. Scarlett had gone with her cousins and uncle to get more supplies and Pa was in the living room, discussing politics with James' friends.

"Are you almost done, honey?" Ma appeared behind me, watching me frown as I huffed and stared at the half-typed paper.

"Not yet," I replied, folding my arms. "I don't know what to write to the president. Do I say biracials or coloreds or blacks? I don't know how to label myself."

Ma sighed, sweeping her dress underneath her as she took a seat in the white wooden chair. "You can write anything, I suppose. The president will know what you mean."

"But it has to be perfect, Ma. My freedom is riding on this. Your marriage too. I have to say it right or else none of this is gonna matter."

Ma chuckled, reaching out for my hand and placing it in hers. "Oh honey, there's no such thing as being perfect. And the president is going to understand what you mean no matter what word you use."

I rolled my eyes. Ma had this way of thinking that anything I did was great as long as I tried my best. It was hogwash, that's what it was. Noticing my frustrated expression, she continued. "Did I ever tell you what happened to me as a child?"

I tilted my head, my mind spinning with a million thoughts. Ma told me everything and I wasn't sure which story she was thinking about. "The one with you and Sue breaking the neighbor's window?"

Ma laughed again, clearly lost in her memory. "No, not that one, although I still don't know how we got caught. I meant about the boy and the tree."

I racked my brain for the unfamiliar story but eventually shook my head from side to side.

"I was a little girl," Ma began, slouching back in her chair. "I was about five or so and I remember walking home from school. It was a long walk, the kind where it took forever to get home and the sun was shining so hard I thought you'd melt from the heat."

"It was that hot?"

"Oh yes," Ma said, nodding her head. "I remember I had on this little dress—the kind my own mother made me—and pigtails, because I hated my hair being in my face. Anyways, I was walking by my lonesome, down the long dirt road, when I heard singing through the trees. Oh Lincoln, it was beautiful! Soulful and full of melody. Kind of like when your father sings only without out the throat gargling at the end."

I smiled and she giggled underneath her breath. "I heard that singing Lincoln, so I followed that sound through the woods and it carried me to the edge of the river. And that's when I saw them."

"Saw who?" I prodded. Ma was stretching this story out for some reason and I wanted her to get to the climax already.

"A boy. He was handsome, about your age or so, and he was hanging. There was a group of other blacks just like him, but he was the one tied to a tree."

I gasped and Ma swallowed, struggling to get the rest of the words out. "I think I was in shock. I just stood there, you know? I mean, I understood a lot of whites didn't like blacks, but my mother and father never treated them unkindly. There was no need to. People are people no matter what color they are."

"So what happened?" I asked. "Did you save him? Did someone else?"

"No," Ma said quietly. "I stood there, Lincoln, and I did nothing. I didn't yell for help or scream when he tugged at the rope. I didn't do anything, and it haunts me to this day."

"You were just a child, Ma," I reminded her softly. "No one expected you to be a hero."

"You don't understand, baby. I watched him. It was like I couldn't peel my eyes away. And he stared right at me the entire time. I watched him live and I watched him die. I watched a white man kill a black boy and I never said a word. I never told my parents and when I did tell your Pa, it was years later. I was ashamed, I think."

"It wasn't your fault."

"It was. See Lincoln, when you see wrong being done to another person, you have to do something. I could have gone for help. I could have kicked that man and given the boy and the others a chance to run. But I didn't. The reason I'm telling you this is because I'm proud of you. You're working so hard on writing these letters and trying to make a change. It's more than I ever did."

I hated seeing Ma so upset and full of guilt. Standing up, I went to her side of the table and squeezed her tightly as she wiped away a tear. "You are making a difference Ma."

Ma shook her head, disagreeing.

"No really, you are," I repeated. "I mean, look at what you've done. I'm writing a stupid letter and you've already made a change. You fell in love with someone different. You didn't give a shit who cared and you loved Pa regardless. And you had me. I think that's pretty brave of you!"

Ma didn't even reprimand me for cursing. "Really?"

I nodded as Ma looked at me with watery eyes. "Yep. And if Grandma and Grandpa were still alive, I think they'd be proud of you too."

I'd never met them, but I'd like to think they were good people. They accepted my Pa after all, and that was good enough for me.

"I guess you're right. What matters is that I'm helping now," Ma responded. "And I did raise me one handsome son."

"Dapper, you mean," I said, wriggling my eyebrows. "The word is dapper."

Ma laughed and at that moment James, Scarlett, and the others returned. Jessica made a beeline for us, saw Ma crying, and managed to wiggle her way into a Masen hug.

"Don't cry, Ma," Jessica said. "It's going to be all right 'cause I gots candy and Daddy said I could share. I don't want to but if it makes you feel better you can have some of my butterscotch."

Jessica begrudgingly held out a piece of wrapped candy, but had second thoughts and took out the one in her mouth instead. "Here, you can have this one."

Jasper appeared at the entrance of the kitchen and shook his head at his little sister's antics. "Fat ass."

Ma stared at Jasper in shock before accepting Jessica's half-eaten butterscotch. Then she walked over to Jasper and stuffed it in his mouth. "Who's the fat ass now?"

I gasped, shocked that she would do and say such a thing, but even James laughed from the living room. "Good for you Esme. It's about time someone showed him some manners!"

Jessica giggled too but the fun stopped when tripped on her own chunky feet.

Maybe Jasper was right after all.

.

.

.

"You're going home tomorrow?" Scarlett asked me as Alice passed out several cards. I pretended not to notice when she hid one underneath her leg.

"I've got to," I answered sadly. "Pa called Embry and he said most stores are back open and the cotton fields are ready to be picked. 'Sides, we need the money."

"I wish you could just stay here," Alice said, peeking at a card and hiding that one too. "We're going to Washington in four days anyways."

"Then that means I'll see you both this weekend. It'll only be for a little while."

I tried not to focus on Scarlett's expression or the way she kept fumbling with the hem of her dress. It was nice being under the same roof, at least for the past week and a half. But I knew Pa and Ma had bills to pay, and the last thing we needed was for the electricity to get shut off.

"Have you decided if you're going back home yet?" I asked Scarlett, trying to change the subject.

"I have," she scowled. "And I've made up my mind. I'm staying here. Forever."

I frowned, swiping the ace card from Alice before she could hide another one. "What do you mean, forever?"

"I'm not going back," she said matter-of-factly. "Mother hasn't called me since Father came and arrested Jenks, and I suppose she only did then she didn't have to deal with an angry husband. She only called to get me to turn you in. She doesn't care, Lincoln, and neither do I. I'm not spending another day in that house with that asshole!"

"Scarlett!" Even Alice turned to look at her cousin in shock. "You can't live here. I mean, I'm sure Daddy won't mind, but you can't stay here forever. You have parents and … and …"

"And what, Alice? Nothing. I have nothing."

"You have me," I added quietly.

Scarlett sighed and reached for my hand. "I know. I just … you ever get tired of dealing with people?"

"No," I answered truthfully. I loved people. I finally had others to be around and itwas the best thing that had ever happened to me. I don't think I could go back to being a nobody.

"Well, I'm tired Lincoln. I'm tired of Father. He'll never change. He'll die a racist and how long are we going to be able to keep sneaking out? One of us will get caught and it'll probably be me. Without Jenks for my lookout, I'll be discovered in no time."

"So that's it?" I asked incredulously. "You're giving up, just like that? You'll be an hour away, Scarlett! I won't ever see you! Sure, maybe once in a while for the NIC meetings, but we don't even know how often that'll be!"

"I'm not 'giving up,' Lincoln, but I have a life too," Scarlett retorted with an edge of sarcasm in her voice. She flung her hair to the side and it was a reflection of the Scarlett I first met long ago.

"Maybe I should leave …" Alice started to get up and several cards stuck to her lower thigh.

"NO!" Scarlett and I both shouted. Alice glanced at us with wide eyes and sat quietly, her eyes shifting between the two of us.

"You're being selfish," I continued. "You don't even care. I've been alone my whole life and I finally have you and you're leaving me."

"And that's my fault?" she cried. "Maybe you shouldn't have—"

"Shouldn't have what, Scarlett? Been born? Go ahead, finish what you were going to say! It's never stopped you before!"

I don't know what color I was turning but I felt my skin flush in anger. How dare she? I wasn't asking her to give up anything, I was asking her to go home to her parents were she belonged. Charles was evil, but he was still her father. She couldn't hide in Alice's house forever.

"Lincoln—" Scarlett reached out to apologize but I turned away, jumping to my feet.

"No, I'm done. It's getting late. We're leaving early so Pa can get to work on time. Alice, I'll see you later."

"Bye Lincoln." Alice waved timidly, not wanting to pick sides. Scarlett jabbed her in the side and Alice cried out as I stormed towards the doorway. "Ow! Don't get pissy with me because you're an orphan!"

I was so angry I didn't even notice James coming down the hall. I bumped right into his tall frame, stumbling two steps back.

"Whoa there. You okay?" James asked, placing a concerned hand on my shoulder.

I nodded, too upset to really do anything else.

"My niece giving you a hard time?" he questioned with a smile.

I nodded again and he waved his hand towards the steps. "I've got just the solution."

I followed behind him down the narrow steps and made a left at the end stairwell. He led me to his office and closed the door behind him. I gazed in awe at the dark furniture and books lining the wall. He had a long desk which took up most of the room and he sat down, reaching into the second drawer. I sat across from him as he pulled out a small, brown box.

"Carlisle tells me you're a smoker," he grinned, opening the lid. "Me too, sometimes, when I get stressed. These here are expensive cigars, sent to me from a business partner."

James used a cutter to snip off the tip and lit the end with a silver lighter, spinning it several times. He puffed once and then passed it to me. I pulled on the large, round filter as if it were a cigarette and nearly coughed up my lung.

James laughed as I beat on my chest, trying to live past the ripe age of 16. "Strong, isn't it?"

"Y-yep," I sputtered out, and I felt my manhood slipping away from me.

"Pull on it slowly and puff it out," he suggested. "Not so fast this time. And don't inhale. It's a stogie."

I did as he said and the flavor of the tobacco was much smoother and not as harsh.

"Scarlett is a tough little one. Always was. She gets that from her father, I reckon. Real bull-headed, but that girl's got a soft side. She just has a tough time showing it."

"She doesn't want to go back to Birmingham," I explained, tapping the cigar on the edge of the clear glass that James handed me. "She said she's staying here."

James nodded. "Yes, we've discussed it. I told her she could if she wishes, but I'd have to talk to my brother and Renee first."

"I don't want to lose her," I sighed, puffing a few times and then putting the cigar out. "Maybe I'm being a pansy about all of this."

"No, I don't think that. You're in love and love makes you want to be with one you're meant to be with. You two crazy kids have made it this far. I don't think distance will be a factor."

I shook my head, disagreeing. "It will. I may not be as book smart as everyone else but I do know she's got to attend school in the fall. It'll be hard enough already. Throw in an hour's drive and it'll be like we never knew each other."

"You know, me and Victoria lived a long ways away from each other," James stated.

"You did?"

"Yep. We met at this show where this magician was cutting people in half and disappearing," he chuckled, smiling fondly at the memory. "All illusion if you ask me, but yep, we sat beside each other and made fun of the magician the whole time. Afterwards, we kissed behind the red curtain."

"You kissed on the first day?!" I couldn't imagine even thinking of doing such a thing, and I knew Scarlett would have never even considered it.

"Don't let Victoria fool you. She's a spicy little thing when she wants to be," he winked and I didn't even want to think of Scarlett's aunt that way.

"So how'd you do it?" I asked. "Manage the distance, I mean?"

James shrugged. "We didn't. I had her last name so I went to her hometown, found her in church Sunday morning, and marched right down the pews when the preacher was preaching."

"And?" I prodded.

"I asked her to marry me, right then and there!"

I gaped at him with an open mouth and James opened another drawer, but paused with his hand wrapped around the handle. "See, Lincoln, life is too short. When you want something bad enough, you'll do anything to keep it. After her brothers kicked my ass, we married a month later in that very church."

I smiled, but the curl of my mouth didn't quite fully reach my eyes. "I want it bad enough. I want Scarlett to be my girl for the rest of my life, but I don't think it's going to happen. And with her staying here, it'll only get worse."

"Then you do what I did," James said, pulling out a small velvet box and pushing it to my side of the desk. "I think you've gotten your ass kicked enough. Now you just gotta do the rest."

Puzzled, I lifted the small, velvet box and opened it, revealing a small diamond ring with a gold band. It sparkled underneath the lamp light and the twinkles danced around the dim room.

"That's the first ring I bought her. When I finally made it big, I got her a better one. I thought I'd pass it on to Alice, but that daughter of mine is a free spirit. And it'll be a while before Jessica thinks of anything besides donuts."

I grinned, turning the box in my hand. "I already gave her a ring, you know. But it don't look like this."

"I suppose not," James chuckled. "But you do what you need to do. And I have to say, I'd rather no one else marry that niece of mine. You're a fine boy and I'd be happy to make you a part of this family."

I swallowed, overwhelmed by his generosity. "T-thank you, James. I mean it."

"No problem. But do me a favor, Son."

"Yeah, what's that?" I mumbled, too dazed by the ring.

James shut the drawer and it was so loud, I glanced up to see him staring at me. "Wrap it up, will ya? I want a great niece or nephew, just not anytime soon."

I heard a laugh come from behind me and when I turned around, it was Pa leaning against the doorway, winking at James.