A Lady's Choice (27 page)

“Mr. Taylor, you must remember that our pickets were sent to Occoquan because we embarrassed the president of the United States. Everyone he's sent to investigate tell him all the reports of abuse in the facility are false.”

“Well, I've seen the place, and there's a guard there who might be willing to testify. What can we do to get Sarah out of there?”

Marian sat back in her chair and stared at Alex for several seconds. “Since word leaked out about the night of terror, the newspapers have reported about the ordeal of the jailed pickets. Even though their sentences are almost up, we need to get them out right away. We've engaged two lawyers, Dudley Field Malone and Matthew O'Brien, to represent the women at Occoquan. I'm going to their office this afternoon. I'll tell them what you've told me.”

“I called their office before I left Memphis. One of my law school friends works there. He was supposed to keep me informed about Sarah, but he's away on his honeymoon. I know they're working to get the women released, but it's urgent we get Sarah out of there now. She won't live much longer.”

“We want to get all our friends out. Why don't you stay here while I'm gone? I should be back in about two hours.”

Ellen stood and extended her hand. “Thank you for helping our Sarah. She means a lot to us.”

The door to the room suddenly burst open, and a young girl rushed in. “Are you really Mr. Alex? Have you come to help Miss Sarah?”

Alex rose slowly from his chair. “Why, yes, I am. How did you know my name?”

The girl's cheeks flamed, and she ducked her head. “Oh, I beg your pardon for flyin' in here like this, but I just about burst when I heard you were here.”

Marian walked over to the girl and hugged her. “This is Dora Campbell. She came here with Sarah, and she's been about to go out of her mind ever since Sarah's arrest. I'll leave her to tell you the story of how they came to be here.”

Marian glanced at a watch pinned to the front of her dress and frowned. “I have to go, or I'm going to be late. Please make yourselves at home while I'm gone.” She grabbed a coat from the rack near the door and hurried from the room.

Ellen rose and motioned the girl to sit in a chair next to her. “I'm Ellen, Alex's sister. Tell us how you came to be with Sarah.”

Dora edged closer and opposite Ellen. “Miss Sarah told me all about how good you were to her when she and her mama moved to Richland Creek. She said—”

Ellen smiled and held up a hand. “Dora, tell us how you came to be with Sarah.”

Dora grinned. “Oh, I'm sorry. I get carried away when I'm excited, and I'm just so glad you're here. Well, you see, I worked as a maid at Mrs. Simpson's school, and Miss Sarah was real good to me. When they decided to come to Washington, they brought me along too.”

The words poured from Dora's mouth, and Sarah's life in the sixteen months since leaving Richland Creek unfolded. Alex sat with his elbows on his knees and his hands covering his face. The more Dora talked, the lower his heart sank.

When she finally completed the story, Alex raised stricken eyes to his sister. “No wonder God kept telling me to pray for her.”

Tears rolled down Ellen's cheeks, and she knelt in front of Alex. She cupped his face in her hands and looked into her eyes. “You didn't know, but God did. Your prayers have gotten her this far, and they're gonna git her home.”

Edmund dropped to his knees by his wife. He encircled her shoulders with one arm and placed the other around Alex. “I think we need to pray for the lawyers who'll meet this afternoon. Let's ask God to give them the wisdom to get these women out of that prison.”

Dora joined the group, and the four bowed their heads as they petitioned God to spare Sarah and reunite the jailed pickets with their families.

The hands on the clock above the desk moved slowly. Alex paced the floor, his hands jammed into his pockets. Marian had said two hours, but it had already been over three. Where could she be? He froze at the sounds of shouts rising in the outer office. The door flew open, and Marian stood there looking as if she had just finished a race. Red splotches covered her cheeks, and her breath came in short spurts.

She raised her arms in victory. “It's a miracle.”

Ellen and Edmund, who had dozed in their chairs, jumped up, and Alex ran to Marian. “What happened?”

Marian struggled to catch her breath. “I'm sorry I've been gone so long, but I rushed back as quickly as I could. I didn't want to get your hopes up before I left, but I knew that Mr. Malone and Mr. O'Brien planned to meet with Judge Edmund Waddill in Alexandria today to request a habeas corpus hearing for the jailed pickets. I've been at their office waiting to hear from them.”

“And?”

“Judge Waddill ordered the White House pickets be brought to his court for a hearing tomorrow, but he released all of them into Mr. Malone's custody. He's making arrangements now for their transportation here to Cameron House.”

“Can we meet him there and take Sarah to a hospital?”

“The receptionist has called for a taxi. You're welcome to go.”

Alex headed toward the door but stopped when Dora cried out. “Wait. Don't leave yet.”

She ran from the room and returned in minutes. A locket dangled from her fingers, and she held it out to Alex. “Give this to Miss Sarah. I kept it safe for her.”

Alex's fingers closed around the locket, and he clutched it in his hands. “Thank you, Dora.”

Ellen put her arm around Dora and looked into her eyes. “Why don't you come with us and give it to her yourself?”

A smile lit Dora's face. “You mean I can come see Miss Sarah get released?”

“Well, you can do that, and then I 'spect you'll have to go to the hospital to help nurse her back to health. And then I guess you'll just have to come back to the farm in Tennessee and help me get her good as new.”

Dora threw her arms around Ellen, and sobs shook her body. “Miss Sarah said nobody was kinder than you, and now I know it's true.”

Alex looked over at Edmund as the two women exited the room. “Well, I guess Ellen's found someone to take over my empty bedroom.”

Edmund threw back his head and laughed. “That's my Ellen. Lord love her, there'll never be another like her.”

Tears filled Alex's eyes at the sight of his sister, brother-in-law, and a girl he'd never met before today. They all shared a bond. They loved Sarah and wanted to see her restored to health. He only hoped they weren't too late.

What was happening? Sarah cried out and struggled to resist being pulled upward, but strong arms lifted her.

“Wrap this blanket around her. She's burning up with fever.” A familiar voice whispered nearby, and lips brushed her forehead. Soothing words drifted into her ear, and she snuggled closer to the warm body that cradled her and offered security.

Her nose nuzzled soft fabric and inhaled the familiar scent of homemade soap she remembered from long ago. She opened her mouth and tried to call out Ellen's name, but no sound emerged. The arms tightened around her. “It's Alex, Sarah. You're safe now.” She relaxed and felt the darkness washing over her again.

Sometimes Sarah felt something cool wash across her face and heard voices speak words she didn't understand. “…fever…cold water…” Maybe they said more, but she felt too tired to listen.

Hot liquid poured into her mouth, and she cringed at the fire it ignited as it slithered over the rawness of her throat. More words drifted into her foggy mind. “…know it hurts…good for you…”

Gentle hands pushed and probed her body, and she winced in pain. She tried to fight off her attackers, but weakness prevented that. All she could do was lie still and endure whatever they did to her.

She had no idea how long she endured the torture, but it seemed to go on forever. She longed to sleep, but they kept waking her. Finally she opened her eyes and blinked. She lay in a bed in a darkened room. She ran her fingers over the crisp sheet and blanket that covered her. These weren't the covers she was accustomed to at Occaquan. She inhaled, and a sweet smell of lilac rose to her nostrils.

Her eyes adjusted to the darkness, and she realized a small lamp burned on a table next to the bed. A chair with a sleeping figure slumped in it sat next to the table. She blinked to focus her eyes and rubbed them with her fingers.

She blinked again and concentrated on the person in the chair. Her heart thudded in her chest. Was it really him? Her hand reached toward him.

“Alex?” Her voice cracked, and her throat constricted in pain.

A snore drifted from the chair. Sarah swallowed and tried again, this time with more force. “Alex?”

His head jerked up, and he sprang toward the bed. Rumpled hair tumbled over his sleepy eyes, and the shadow of a beard darkened his tired face. He fell on his knees beside her and grabbed her hand. His gaze raked her face. “Sarah, you're awake! How do you feel?”

“Tired, but you look awful. How long have you been here?”

“We brought you from the prison five days ago, but you've been very ill. We've been so worried.” His voice quivered with the words, and his hand gripped hers like a vise.

She rubbed her forehead with her free hand. “Where am I?”

“You're in a hospital, and the doctors have let Edmund help treat you since we brought you here. Ellen and Dora have hardly left your side. I had to make them get some sleep tonight.”

Her heart skipped a beat. “Ellen and Dora are both here?”

“You'll see them in the morning. Just rest now and don't worry about anything. You're safe with me now.” He released her hand and fumbled in his pocket. “Oh, I almost forgot. Dora wanted me to give you this.”

Her mother's locket hung from his fingers. He gently raised her head and fastened the catch. She clasped the pendant in her hand and felt the indentions on the back. “Sometimes at the workhouse I would reach for this, and I'd remember how I'd lost it just like I lost everything else. I didn't think I'd ever regain anything I threw away.”

“Well, you have the necklace and all of us back. We're going to have a grand life together, Sarah.”

His lips brushed across her forehead, and she touched the necklace before she closed her eyes. She was tired but more peaceful than she'd been in years. She smiled. “Safe with you.”

Two days later Sarah sat in bed with pillows propped behind her back. The door opened, and her heart raced at the sight of Alex entering the room. He stopped beside the bed and planted a kiss on her cheek before he dropped down in the chair beside her. “You look much better today. The doctor said you may be able to leave the hospital in a few days if you continue to improve.”

“That would be wonderful.” Another thought struck her, and she bit down on her lip. “But I still have so many unanswered questions about what happened after I became sick.”

His eyes darkened, and he leaned forward. “I wanted to wait until you were better to tell you the rest of the story. Are you up to it now?”

She shivered and clutched Alex's hand. “I am. I want to know about the other women.”

Alex took a deep breath and squeezed her hand. “After the night the guards went on their rampage, word leaked out to the newspapers about what was going on in Occoquan. Two lawyers took the story to a judge, and he released all the women into their custody.” He smiled at her and rubbed her hand.

“Where are they now?”

“The day after their release, they went to court. You were too sick to be there, but the others went. The judge dropped all the charges and freed all the pickets.”

“And Henrietta?”

“She's fine. Her mother came from Boston to take her home, but Henrietta refused to go, even when her mother insisted. She said she meant to stay here until you recovered. I don't think she had ever defied her mother before. Her mother was really impressed that Henrietta stood up for herself.”

“What about Alice? How is she?”

Alex smiled. “She's already back at work. That woman is amazing. I've never seen anybody as dedicated to a cause as she is.” His smile grew bigger. “Unless it's you.”

Tears filled Sarah's eyes, and her heart soared at the words she heard. She placed her free hand on top of his, which still held hers. “I'm glad they're all safe, but there's something I want you to know. That judge may have dropped the charges against me, but my real freedom came the night the guards shackled me to the bars. I gave my life back to Jesus that night. He gave me such peace, and I knew I didn't have to worry anymore because I placed my faith in Him.”

Alex raised her hand to his lips and kissed her fingers. “I've prayed for you ever since you left. Some days I'd nearly go crazy worrying about you, but God reminded me He still controlled our lives.”

“Thank you for praying and not giving up.”

Alex looked into her eyes. “When I saw you in Memphis, I told you I understood about your dream. I'm sorry I didn't support you. The money at Mr. Buckley's firm could never take the place of having you in my life.” His voice choked, and tears filled his eyes. “I love you, Sarah, and I need you. I don't want to lose you again. Please come home with me and be my wife.”

“Are you sure you still want that, Alex?” Her voice trembled, and a tear welled at the edge of her eye. “What about Larraine?”

“I thought I could trade love for companionship, but I couldn't.” He grinned. “But you may not want to marry me. I don't have a job anymore.”

“You've left Mr. Buckley's firm?”

He shrugged. “Well, I guess I was fired, but it's all right. I didn't fit in there. I'll find something else.”

“I guess I'm fired too.” Tears sprang to her eyes. “Alex, I'm so sorry I didn't listen to you about Roger Thorne. H–he k–killed…”

Alex pressed his finger to her lips. “I know. We don't have to talk about this until you're better. We both made mistakes, but we're together now. That's all that matters.”

“I should have tried harder to work things out instead of accusing you of just wanting to make money. I was so happy to see you that day you came to the school, but I let you leave without telling you. Can you ever forgive me for being so selfish?”

Alex swallowed and took a deep breath. “That's all behind us now. All I want is to spend the rest of my life with you.”

Her heart pounded in her chest, and happiness bubbled from deep inside. “I love you too, and I want to marry you. Can we go home and be married in the church at Richland Creek?”

Alex's tired face beamed. “We'll go just as soon as you can travel.”

A thought crossed her mind, and she frowned. “You do understand that I still intend to work for women's right to vote.”