A Hope Beyond (15 page)

Carolina felt a trembling that began in her heart and seemed to wash over her in waves. Are you calling me, Father? she wondered silently.

She cast a wary glance toward her brother. York seemed completely unaffected, even bored by the long narration of Scripture. Lucy, too, sat without any notable expression of interest. Carolina lowered her eyes, afraid to look into the face of the minister.

“God called upon Abram,” came the booming voice again, “and he took up his wife and all of his possessions and went out from the land of his knowledge into a place he did not know. God called him forth, and Abram went obediently, even unto the possibility of his own death. And why? Because it was well with him and the Lord, and he was an obedient man.

“And in this, God gave unto him a covenant. God blessed him and declared that he would make of him a great nation, and indeed we see today that we are a part of that nation. We are descendants of Abram, and we will each and every one of us face the calling of God.

“Will you go forth into obedience when God speaks?”

Carolina clasped her hands tightly together. Her heart fairly leaped at the anticipation of answering God’s call. Was God calling her west? Had it been God’s direction for her all along that she fall in love with the railroad and a man of like-minded determination, and see the West settled and developed?

After church, she rode in silence beside Lucy, who was sharing an animated conversation, mostly with York, about that afternoon’s celebration. It was New Year’s Day, and the Alexanders had placed an ad in earlier newspapers to announce they would receive visitors on that first day of the year. Even now, Lucy was giving an orderly account for the festivities and refreshments they would offer. But it was of little concern to Carolina, in spite of the fact that Lucy hoped to introduce her to several very eligible bachelors.

Carolina’s thoughts were turned ever inward. How she longed to talk with James and explain her heart. Would he understand? Would he know her desires and believe her accurate in feeling led to go out of her father’s house and into the unknown?

God, if you are calling me to leave my home, please open the door wide and show me the way, Carolina prayed.

The carriage bounced and jostled back and forth until they drew up in front of the three-story brick house.

“Oh, look, Father,” Lucy cried in delight, “a mumming parade.”

Carolina could see that indeed a line of masqueraded merrymakers were singing and dancing down the street. Mumming was something she’d only heard of and never in her short life had actually experienced. Folks of every shape and size would cover themselves in layers of clothes and mask their identity in order to fool their friends.

Carolina looked upon the mummers with interest. Some wore costumes that were little more than sheets and blankets held together with rope, while others were elaborately gowned. All wore masks of cloth or paper, and some played instruments while others sang songs.

York assisted Carolina and Lucy from the carriage just as the mummers drew closer and began to surround them.

“Good year to you, sirs and madams,” one of the mummers announced.

Lucy pulled at Carolina’s coat. “Come, we must guess who these kind people are. I think that one over there might well be Mr. Oneida.”

Carolina’s gaze followed to a portly figure whose paper mask resembled a brilliant gold star. “What makes you so sure?” Carolina asked, seeing nothing recognizable in any of the players.

“I’m certain I saw that star among his Christmas decorations. Mr. Oneida, is that you?” Lucy asked, quite seriously.

“I must confess you have a good eye, mi’lady.” The man bowed low over Lucy’s hand.

“You must all come in from the cold and play and sing for us,” Lucy commanded. She turned and led the way to the door. “We have refreshments and gifts for you all.”

Carolina followed at a slower pace.

“You seem preoccupied, little sister,” York whispered against her ear.

Carolina smiled up. “Just considering the future.”

York smiled and his gaze followed Lucy. “Me too.”

“Are you going to make the holidays complete and ask for her hand?”

“I very well may,” he answered with a determined look. “Would that meet with your approval?”

“Most assuredly,” Carolina replied. “I already love Lucy as a sister. It seems only fitting that she join our family.”

They brought up the rear, allowing the mummers to make their way into the house first. Carolina was just undoing the buttons of her coat when Henry Alexander appeared in the entryway.

“It seems this was delivered by one of your slaves while we were in church.” He handed York an envelope. “The boy is even now having refreshments in our kitchen.”

“Father is probably wishing us a good year,” York replied, breaking the seal. He scanned the message then raised his eyes to meet Carolina’s.

Carolina could instantly see the change in her brother. “What is it? What has happened?”

“Penny has died,” he said simply.

In the front sitting room, the revelers were breaking into an enthusiastic song, but the noise was instantly muted in Carolina’s ears. Penny was dead. It didn’t seem possible, and yet she’d feared all along that her sister would never recover.

“Come,” Henry replied. “You must have a chair and some peace. I’ll see to it that the house is emptied.”

“Don’t bother on our part, Mr. Alexander,” said York. “Carolina and I must leave immediately for home.”

“I understand. I’ll have your horse readied. My driver will take your sister, and your slave can ride atop with him.”

“Thank you, sir,” York replied.

It all seemed so reasonable and easily settled that Carolina had no other choice but to go along with it. Her mind was a mass of confusion, and her heart was broken and shattered at the thought of the eleven-year-old girl who would never again climb trees or sing to her dolls.

“Poor Mother,” Carolina whispered just as Lucy came into the room laughing.

“I feared you were all—” She fell silent and instantly sobered when she saw their grim faces. “What is it?”

Henry put an arm around his daughter. “I’m afraid Penny Adams has passed away.”

“Oh, how terrible. Carolina, York, I’m so sorry.” Her eyes conveyed a sincerity that said more than words ever would.

“We must take leave of your company,” York replied, taking Lucy’s hand gently in his. “I pray we will not long be parted.”

16
Annabelle Bryce

“The drifts are impassable,” James Baldwin told his traveling companion, Ben Latrobe. “I’m afraid the railroad is completely shut down at this point. We can take a sleigh into Harper’s Ferry, but beyond that choice we’ll have to turn back.”

Several days earlier they had set out for Harper’s Ferry to inspect the new bridge. There had been discouraging reports about the structure, and Latrobe had asked James to accompany him so they could see for themselves if the reports were true. But the trip had been a difficult one almost from the beginning, hampered by a snowstorm that seemed to be getting worse rather than better. A simple two-day trip was easily going to take five.

Ben Latrobe cast a discouraged glance out the train car window, then nodded and sighed. “I suppose it must be. We’ve been slowed down at every point.”

“Must we go to Harper’s Ferry at this time?” James asked. “I realize there are problems with the bridge, but could it not wait?”

Latrobe shook his head. “We can’t risk it. What if the bridge collapses?” His wondrous seven-span structure crossed the river at Harper’s Ferry and was their key to westward expansion.

“Do you believe the situation to be truly that serious?” another of their companions, Charles Stewart, asked.

“I do. I knew from the very beginning there were problems. The bridge was not built to my specifications. When I viewed the building of it last May, I could see that the masonry was shoddy. I brought it to the attention of the contractors and was assured that in spite of the rough work, the design would meet every important detail listed. Now, however, it looks as though I misplaced my confidence in the builders. There’s a great deal of concern with the pier structures that come out of the river itself. I was recently advised that we might have to rebuild. Then, too, there is a worry about the abutment connections. I only pray I may find a reasonable and economical solution.”

The conductor appeared at that moment and ushered the three men into an awaiting sleigh. “I hope you gents don’t mind, but I have several female passengers who will need to ride along with you.”

“Not at all,” Latrobe replied, then noticed the woman who was trying to navigate the icy train steps. “Be a good man, Baldwin, and offer up some assistance.”

James picked his way back through the snow. His own footing was precariously awkward, and he found himself holding his breath as his foot slipped first one way and then the other. He reached the train car just as the woman moved to the final step. Ice had re-formed on the surface, and when she touched her boot to the platform, she lost her footing altogether.

With one quick, fluid motion, James caught her in his arms and saved her from plunging into the snowbank. However, the ice beneath his own feet kept him from retaining his balance, and he sat down hard on the snowy path.

“You, sir, should become an actor,” the woman said in a refined English voice. “Your timing is impeccable.”

James laughed, meeting eyes that were very nearly violet in color. “Your servant, ma’am,” he said rather formally. “However, were my footing as secure as my timing, we might be seated in the sleigh rather than this wet snowbank.” He waited until the conductor came to their rescue.

“Let me offer you a hand,” the conductor said, reaching out to lift the woman from James’ arms. He deposited her into the sleigh just as James got to his feet and dusted off his backside.

By the time he made his way to the carriage, the conductor had returned to help the other two women, both of whom appeared to be traveling companions of the first. Seating the three women on one side and the gentlemen on the other, James found himself matched up opposite the woman he’d attempted to assist.

“I should introduce myself,” she said with a smile that was all charm and sophistication. “I’m Annabelle Bryce.”

“The actress?” James asked. He’d heard of her performances in New York and Boston.

“The very same. I’m honored that you have heard of me.”

“I doubt seriously there are many who haven’t. You are highly regarded as one of the best actresses in the world.”

“I don’t know that I would go that far,” Annabelle replied. She passed her gloved hand through the air. “These are my conspirators and constant companions.” The two women at her left smiled as the wind blew down on them. “Miss Davina Richards is my understudy, and Gretta is my maid.”

“Ladies,” James said, “I’m pleased to meet you. I am James Baldwin.” Then motioning to the gentlemen on his right, he added, “And this is Benjamin Latrobe and Charles Stewart.”

There were nods of acknowledgment and greeting as the conductor loaded several pieces of luggage on the sleigh.

“Hope your journey’s a safe one,” he told them, then signaled the driver that they were ready.

A crack of the whip sent the team into motion, and James felt the stinging bite of the icy wind against his face. At least it had stopped snowing, although the sky remained heavy and threatened to resume the onslaught at any moment.

“So what brings you ladies to this part of the country?” Ben asked.

“We are performing, of course,” Annabelle replied. She seemed not to notice the cold and refrained from huddling with the other two women. Davina and Gretta had all but buried themselves beneath heavy carriage blankets, while Annabelle actually appeared to thrive from exposure to the elements.

“A few of us agreed,” Annabelle continued, “to perform in Harper’s Ferry as a favor to an old friend. And since I have a sister who lives up the hill from the arsenal, I figured to kill two birds with the same stone.”

Davina popped her head up at this. “We had no idea we would meet with so many obstacles, and were it not too late to back out, we might never have braved the trip.”

“Yes, well, it might have been more pleasant traveling had the drifts not shut down the railroad.” Benjamin Latrobe’s voice betrayed the disappointment he obviously felt.

“It is of no matter,” Annabelle declared. “I’ve never been one for convention. When plans change, I simply see them as new challenges and go about my business.”

James smiled and nodded. He thought of Carolina and her spirit of adventure. That was exactly how she was. Whenever challenged with the impossible, she merely put her best foot forward and plunged headlong into the matter with all the enthusiasm she could muster.

“I see you approve,” Annabelle said, directing her amused expression at James.

“I do indeed. Too often we are stifled by the obstacles before us. This railroad is a perfect example. Were it not for hearty men with visionary dreams and unquenchable spirits, riding the rails might not ever have been an option.”

“Are you gentlemen with the railroad?” Annabelle asked.

“Yes indeed. We are even now on railroad business,” Benjamin answered before James could reply.

“How exciting.” She smiled sweetly.

“It can be,” James agreed. He returned her smile and fell silent. Annabelle Bryce completely captivated his attention. She wasn’t all that beautiful. Her nose was a tad too large for her face, and the years had given her a number of wrinkles around the eyes and mouth. But there was something unique about her that James could not quite define. Something that intrigued him and made him desire to know her better.

They were forced to stop six different times, not only to rest the horses but to warm the passengers from their frozen states. James kept mostly to himself during these times of respite, but on the final stop before reaching Harper’s Ferry, he found himself the center of Annabelle Bryce’s attention.

“You aren’t like your companions,” she said, instantly focusing her eyes on his face. “You are an outsider.”