The Will of Time Page 13

The wall swung open.

  "Oh my God," she said to herself, then stuck her head into the entrance. A narrow, darkened staircase descended just behind the wall papered door, and Leia could see that it circled down and toward the front of the house. Toward the dining room.

  Toward the cellar.

  Leia looked around, certain that her wildly beating heart had attracted someone's attention, but she was alone. She made her way back to her own room and took the tin whale-oil lamp, lit it, and checked the hall. It was still empty.

  Stepping lightly to make as little noise as possible, Leia made her way back to Martha's room. With one quick check to ensure her little quest was unnoticed, Leia started down the steps, around and then down straight into a wall of wood planks. Solid wood planks.

  Before frustration could take over, Leia reminded herself of how she'd made the bedroom door open, so she estimated the same place on the wall in front of her, and pushed.

  Nothing happened.

  Moving the oil lamp across the wall, she pushed on several spots that appeared to be mere knots in the wood. They were mere knots. She tapped on the wall with her knuckles, like the detectives on television did to test for hollow spots. Nothing gave way.

  About to retreat, Leia spied a tiny seashell wedged between two planks, just inches above the floor. She pushed on the shell, and the invisible door opened. Looking in, Leia was confused at first, because it seemed that she'd only found a closet, but there was a handle, a wooden block, and she found that opened easily, right into the McGarland cellar...right into the closet Brant had told her not to bother with.

  Leia went out to the back porch and caught sight of Hettie heating water for the wash. Could she ask her about the secret passage? With one final thought of the door, and a wish for her deodorant, she moved toward the steaming kettle and offered to help.

  "Now this is the honeymoon of my dreams," she said, softly to the kettle.

  But Hettie's ears heard all. "What's this honeemoon?"

  "Just an expression they use in the city. It refers to a trip a newly married couple takes to get to know each other," she said, stretching a cotton petticoat out full length. The material was hot, heavy with water and smelled detergent-ad fresh. The sun was beating down on the two women, who were comfortable finishing their task in silence. Leia was reminded of time spent with Martin when she was small, stretching freshly laundered clothes out over the back yard line. Martin said the sunshine and fresh air was better than using the dryer. She wasn't required to help Martin any more than she was required to help Hettie, but she had always enjoyed the company and feeling of accomplishment.

  The pleasure of seeing her work finished was one of the things she liked about appraising houses. After an inspection and local research, she'd compile her report, photos, floor plan sketch, and maps. Her name was printed on the first page, the invoice, and the official signature places. The thick, slick finished project was worth more than three hundred dollars to mortgage companies and banks. In 1863, that sum was probably more than a year's income. The job would have been even more satisfying if she'd found a secret passage in someone's house. Her life would have been more satisfying if she'd found this particular passage in her own home, in her own time.

  "Leah," Martha called from porch, "MaryKatherine, Patrick and I are walking to the Bauer's today. They've invited us for dinner, bless their hearts. Will you come? If I don't see someone outside these walls soon, I'll just go plumb crazy." She laughed. MaryKatherine waited behind her, smiling.

  "Yes, please come, Leah. We can announce your marriage. Did you know Patrick sent the announcements to the Carroll County Democrat and the Sentinel ? They may not print social items right now, but they will surely in the future, and perhaps by that time you'll be..."

  "Out of mourning?" Leia nodded. "Thank you, but no. I'm going to stay and help Hettie. I'm not really in the mood for visiting, and the circumstances around my wedding were certainly not festive. I'm sure you understand, this is, delicate." She cast her eyes down, hoping to look grieving and embarrassed.

  "Of course, dear. We do understand. It's just that there's so little happy news these days. Well, we won't return until this evening. So Hettie, please don't make a large noon meal. Perhaps tomorrow we'll have the chicken, but the hens are dwindling," Martha said, wringing her hands.

  The bellowing of Patrick's fatherly voice called the ladies to embark on their trip.

  Once the last soggy garment had been stewed, Leia and Hettie retreated to the kitchen for a break. Leia began to ask for ice cubes for her tea, but caught herself. When the maid offered her hot pork and potatoes, Leia declined.

  "We need to eat a light meal in this kind of heat, Hettie. Do we have any uncooked green vegetables in here?"

  Hettie nodded and presented Leia with a head of cabbage, some dried beans and a green bell pepper.

  "Do we have any tomatoes?"

  "Tomatoes?" Hettie's eyes grew wide. "Don't be eatin' those things, Miz Leah. They'll kill you."

  Leia was amazed. Would it hurt anything, she wondered, in the time line of history, to introduce one family to the tasty, vitamin-C bearing source of meaty, red tomatoes? Without meaning to, she had already changed the future for one Union soldier.

  "Well, never mind then. Let's cut these things into small pieces, and put them into these two bowls. Is there any leftover chicken?"

  Hettie followed Leia's instructions, making two neat salads in the process.

  "Now, we need a dressing. Do we have vinegar?" She couldn't come up with an oil, so she added a small measure of sugar and pepper to the vinegar.

  Hettie watched, mouth agape, as her new friend poured the strange concoction over the bowls of raw food.

  "Voila! Salads, light and nutritious," Leia announced, and invited the maid to join her at the kitchen table. She watched Hettie shake her head, perplexed at most everything Leia said and did. And although the dressing was not exactly what Leia had in mind, she noticed with pleasure that Hettie finished her entire salad and wiped the bottom of the bowl with a bread crust. Leia promised herself that she'd find tomatoes for next time.

  After assisting Hettie with a few other minor chores, Leia settled on the front porch with a book she'd found in Patrick's library. It was about architectural styles, with sketches, and she found it fascinating. The first two mansions described had hidden staircases. Before she could turn more than a few pages, the sound of trotting horses distracted her. She watched two men approach, erect on their steeds and decked in gray coats. Gray coats! Confederates, Rebs, Southerners, the enemy!

  Leia tossed her book aside, uncaring as it bounced off its spine. Her face froze into a half-smile. She stood with her hands balled into fists at her sides. Where's Hettie? she wondered. She'd read that sometimes soldiers wore whatever color uniform they could find that fit, but she judged by their bearing that these men were from the opposite side of the war.

  Leia pulled her spine up straighter still, trying to impersonate a lady of 1863. She would be proud and would not tolerate Rebs on her porch, telling herself to think like Scarlett.

  "Can I help you gentlemen?" she asked as they came to a stop in front of her wooden base.

  "Yes'm. Afternoon to you. We're looking for a Union man, Lieutenant Brant Douglas. Have you seen him?"

  She shook her head, feeling her hair stick to her neck. "I'm sorry, but I just arrived from Baltimore. I don't know this man, Douglas. Shall I tell the family you called?" She decided to play the dumb young lady.

  "Well, reports are that Douglas was hiding here, ma'am. And we need to find him."

  "Why is that, sir?"

  "Because he stole some of our slaves, damn his Union-blue hide! The law is clear. And we demand the rightful return of our property!"

  "There are no escaped slaves here, gentlemen," she said, gripping the wood railing for support. Her insides had turned to gelatin, quivering with fear. She hoped to maintain a calm exterior, but she was afraid. "Where is your unit?"

/>   The men exchanged glances and proceeded to dismount. Panic gripped Leia's stomach like a virus, and she hoped her insides would hold up. Sweat was running freely from her underarms and forehead, but she stood straight.

  "Where is your family?" The counter-question alarmed her further. What did these evil men have in mind? The older of the two approached the porch. He touched his tongue to his slimy lips, and Leia tried to avoid swaying under his licentious gaze. She had no weapon. There was no one home but Hettie...who was probably in the back yard tending the drying laundry.

  "Well, since you're new to the county, Mrs..."

  "Graham."

  "Mrs. Graham. Are you aware that this family is suspected of harboring runaway slaves? That's against the law, Mrs. Graham. Did you know that?" Both of his black-booted feet were now planted on the first porch step.

  "No sir. I sincerely doubt that fact. These are good people, and we have no slaves here at all, escaped or otherwise." Second step. Leia knew any screams for help would fall only on the pines, which were firmly anchored and as helpless as she.

  "So, are you all alone, Mrs. Graham?"

  "Absolutely not! We have many free servants, any of which will be out here shortly."

  The Reb in the yard chuckled. "Aw...she's scared, Nathan. Guess our little hostess has only our needs to see to after all. Maybe we should do a slave-search." He approached the porch.

  Third step. Both men stood in front of Leia, looking down at her, making her feel tiny. She could smell their pungent body odor comprised of sweat, horses and wool.

  The sun seemed to brighten as Hettie appeared behind Leia on the porch. The men, obviously now convinced that servants were at home, tipped their ragged caps. They thanked Leia for her time and left as quickly as they had came. Leia turned to Hettie, threw her arms around her, and hugged the damp woman.

  As Leia sipped un-iced tea with Hettie in the kitchen, patting her skin dry with a cotton rag, a messenger arrived from the Bauer home. The women, jumpy from their earlier encounter, listened patiently to his message.

  "The family has decided to stay the night with the Bauers. Mr. Patrick's taken to feelin' poorly and has already retired."

  Hettie gave the man tea and a slice of pie before sending him back on his long walk.

  "Looks like it's just you and me tonight, Hettie."

  "Yes ma'am."

  Leia was relieved in one sense, looking forward to an evening alone. She'd always enjoyed her privacy, spending much time alone growing up. Her privacy was one of the casualties of time-travel, having been in short supply as of late. ...and then there was Hettie. Hettie was not the long time friend Sara was, but she was quiet and a good listener when needed.

  "Hettie, have you seen any slaves here that didn't belong? Or servants?"

  "You mean runaways?"

  Leia explained the purpose of the Confederates' visit, but Hettie clammed up. Questions about the passage would have to wait.

  Immersed in lukewarm bath water, Leia let the day's stress begin to wash away. The scene with the two men stilled played over and over in her mind, like a video tape looping non-stop. Why had they been so sure that their slaves were here? Did the McGarlands really have a reputation for hiding runaways? It didn't make sense. She had never seen anyone around except Hettie and her part-time helper, Sarny.

  She needed to speak with Brant about...Brant knew. Brant knew about the time-travel door because he had sent slaves into the future to help them escape! Maybe he didn't know where they were going exactly, just that they went somewhere on the silent railway! Underground railroad! That's what the fortune-teller had meant. Leia grew excited with her dawning ideas, and she splashed water over the sides of the tub onto the wooden floor.

  If Brant could send slaves through the portal, maybe he could help her find it again. What a risk that man had been taking to help runaways and risk the wrath of their masters! No wonder he was suspicious of her interest in the basement. ...That closet door passage! Everything was coming together. Leia filled with pride at the character depth of her new husband. He had been risking his neck to help other human beings. Her heart filled with love for Brant, pumping up aerobically. She had to tell him. He had left not knowing how much she cared for him. She hadn't been certain herself until just now. Perhaps when she explained her time-travel, she had cleared up the doorway mystery for him, too.

  She dried off, fighting an urge to begin perspiring anew. She called for Hettie to help her dress quickly.

  "Hettie," she explained, as the maid buttoned her into a navy dress. "I have to go after Brant. I have to warn him that those Confederates are looking for him. They're probably tracking him right now!"

  The maid was shaking her head vigorously. "Oh, no, Miz Leah, you can't be prancing around the countryside with the enemy so close. Those two men today could've killed you...or worse."

  Knowing she was right, Leia didn't argue or try to reason. She spoke softly, "I'm going, Hettie. I'm going to warn my husband that he's in danger. Your friend was right about that. And I'm going to tell him something else, too."

  Hettie looked at her, one dark eyebrow raised. "What's that?"

  "That I love him."

  Riding on horseback was an activity Leia had tried a few times as a young girl. Growing up in the country had provided the opportunity, but Leia had preferred her bike and later, her car. Hettie helped her prepare somewhat, but Leia felt unstable and uncoordinated as her bumpy ride commenced.

  The brief discussion she'd had with Brant did not prepare Leia to actually find him, but an idea of the general direction did help. This was Carroll County, after all, even if the modern landmarks she'd grown up with were not even built yet. Leia handled the brown mare, Patsy, with shaky hands as she wished for composure. She knew the horse could sense her anxiety and would react to it eventually.

  She passed the Shellman house, the estate Hettie had brought her to when meeting the seer. The woman had known Brant had a secret, and about Leia's own feelings for him. The ride continued as pleasantly as could be expected until the sun began to set. It was only then that Leia began to doubt the wisdom of her plan.

  Her thighs aching, she munched on a hard, flat cracker substance that Hettie had supplied, something soldiers ate, she had said, that didn't spoil. It was hard, chewy and tasted to Leia like a flour and water torture item. She noticed pieces of similar foodstuffs littering the grass in one area, a sure sign Brant's group had come this way. The hardtack wasn't even growing mushy in the now dew-covered grass. A few scraps of cloth joined the crackers and appeared to Leia like Hansel and Gretel's carefully dropped trail.

  The flash of something pale gray caught Leia's eye a few dozen yards ahead of her, something that slipped between the trees. Panic began to grip her, just like earlier that day, and she pulled on the rein to slow her horse.

  "Shhh," she murmured, to herself as much as to Patsy. She glanced around, hoping to spot a hiding place. The pines were tall and thick, but not wide enough to hide them. A rustling sound piqued her attention, and her mouth dropped open as Belle Boyd stepped out of the trees ahead.

  "Miss Boyd," she said, letting out the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.

  "Leah! What are you doing out here? Are you lost?" Belle came closer.

  "Oh, no, I'm just...going after Brant's party. He left this morning. I believe they came this way."

  Belle nodded. "I saw them this afternoon. Keep heading north...but you have a long way to ride. Is it something urgent?"

  "I'm afraid so. Otherwise, it would be crazy to go after them."

  "And dangerous."

  "Will you ride with me, Belle?" Leia's hopes shot up at the prospect of having company during the hours of darkness ahead.

  "For a short while, I think," Belle said, "My horse is beyond that clearing. Do you really need to do this, Leah?"

  "Yes."

  "Oh, it must be true love," Belle sighed. "How I envy you. Brant's a handsome beau." She mounted.

&nbs
p; "Belle, Brant and I were married last night."

  "Oh, do tell!" Belle's eyes lit up, with some emotion Leia couldn't identify, and she begged for the story.

  Leia recounted the strange series of events; her argument with Brant, how they had made up on the front lawn and their eventual discovery by Brant's fellow soldiers. Patrick's anger, Martha's hand-wringing, MaryKatherine's blessings and the hasty vows. She enjoyed unloading the tale, it was like making a soul-cleansing confession.

  The darkness was final by the time Leia finished. Belle had listened intently, saying little. Stars sparkled above them, and a half moon helped light their way. The moment Leia had been dreading arrived.

  "Leah, I must turn back now. My hostess will be concerned. She's probably already very worried. Do you think you can find Brant, if you ride straight?"

  "I'm sure of it. I should be in Adams County after I pass Carroll Hill, and then I'll ride toward the first factory I find."

  "Factory, why?"

  "Because General Meade has a trap waiting for a whole bunch of Confederates that are aiming for shoes. Everyone knows Pennsylvania makes the best shoes."

  "An ambush?" Belle licked her lips.

  "I guess that's the term for it. Thank you, Belle, for keeping me company this far."

  "When you return home, give Miss Martha my greetings. Goodbye, Leah, Good luck." She turned and disappeared into a copse, and like a fairy or elf, she was gone.

  Leia rode on alone, swatting at mosquitoes in the moonlight. Riding through one section of a tree-lined dirt road, Leia saw hundreds of fireflies flashing on either side. She remembered a similar experience, years ago in high school. She and Sara had slipped out of the Smith's house one summer night, heading for town.

  They had walked down Maple Lane, a narrow road lined by woods on both sides. The lightening bugs had been wild that night, too, and the girls had imagined the bright flashes to be camera flashes. Pretending they were movie stars, they had strutted down the lane posing for their firefly fans, turning this way and that. Smiling and mouthing glamorous "thank-yous," they had humored their imaginary fans. She could use Sara's sense of humor right now.