A Perilous Proposal (42 page)

“Let's string him up with him!” shouted a voice.

“Shut up, Deke, you fool. We don't want a white man's blood on our hands.”

“Watch what you call my boy, Sam,” now said the man who had led the charge into Rosewood.

“Take it easy, Dwight, all I meant—”

The brief argument went no further. Suddenly a shot rang out from the darkness behind them.

Several of the horses whinnied and reared as everyone spun around. None had yet noticed the half-frayed strand of rope two feet above their captive's head.

A second shot followed.

“What the—” yelled someone. But he was drowned out by more shouts of anger and confusion. No one yet realized that at the first shot, Templeton Daniels had sprinted back for the cover of the trees. He now lay on the ground with his own rifle cocked and ready.

A third shot split the rope at the same moment the horse bearing Jeremiah bolted, leaving him dangling momentarily from the tree.

Suddenly frightened and angered as well as confused, some of the men tried to fight back. But they could see nothing of their enemy. They peered into the night as they drew their pistols. But no sooner had they lifted their guns from their holsters than—

Bang!
one, then . . .

Bang!
two . . .

. . . and guns were flying from their hands!

“I'm hit!” cried one of the gunmen. His torch fell to the ground as he grabbed the wound. “My hand's broken! I'm not waiting around to get killed!”

Five shots had now been fired from the woods. Two more sent another pistol and one rifle to the ground. More yells mingled with the echoing explosions. Then came a volley of shots from Templeton's rifle on the opposite side. The riders realized they were caught in the crossfire of a gunfight they could not hope to win.

“Let's get out of here!” cried three at once. They bolted after the first rider, who was already disappearing down the trail past Henry without even seeing him.

As their lights bounded away, the torch that had fallen still flickered enough to give a little light. Ward, Henry, and Templeton hurried out from different sides of the woods.

“That was some shooting, Ward!” said Templeton.

Mr. Ward nodded. “Don't remind me,” he said. “I just hope I never have to use one of these again.”

But Henry ran past them and stooped to the ground to see if they were in time.

D
ECISION OF
L
OVE

58

H
ow long we waited back in the kitchen at Rosewood, I couldn't say. It seemed like ten hours!

Finally it was Josepha who cried, “I hear sumfin— dey's comin'!”

We all ran out the door and looked out. As the riders gradually came into view I realized with sickening horror that I only saw three horses
.

No!
I cried, and ran out into the night. My heart was in an agony of grief. Had I found love only to lose it like this? I was sobbing as I ran. Gradually the forms of the three riders came into clearer focus. It was my papa, Mr. Ward, and Henry. There was no sign of—

But then Henry stopped and began to dismount
.

Another rider sat on his horse! He had been sitting behind him!

“Jeremiah!” I shrieked
.

Henry had barely managed to help him to the ground when I pushed past him and threw my arms around Jeremiah's shoulders
.

I was so deliriously happy at that moment that if the question of marriage had come up right then I would have married Jeremiah in an instant! I was so
relieved and happy and excited and full of love, nothing else mattered
.

And actually, the subject did come up again. You'll probably be surprised when I tell you that it was me who brought it up. I don't suppose it was too ladylike for me to be so forward. But who cared about being ladylike at a time like this! I was just so happy Jeremiah was safe
.

The first chance I got, after a couple days when he had recovered and felt better and we could talk alone, I told Jeremiah what I was thinking
.

“Jeremiah,” I said, “I've changed my mind.”

“About what?”

“About not marrying you yet. If you still want me to, I've decided that I am ready to marry you whenever you want.”

Now it was Jeremiah who didn't say anything, but looked away. He had a funny expression on his face. Suddenly a terrible thought struck me—maybe he didn't want to marry me now! Had I just made a big fool of myself for saying what I had!

All I could do was wait to find out what he was thinking
.

“I .. . uh,” Jeremiah began. “I, uh . . . don't know exactly how ter say dis .. . but I been thinkin' about it eber since da other night . . . an' now it's me whose changed my mind—”

Jeremiah saw the look of shock and dismay on my face
.

“It ain't like dat!” he said. “I hope you's not mistakin' my meanin'. I ain't changed my mind about you. I want ter marry you more den eber. It's jes' too perilous, Mayme. So now it's me who ain't ready yet. I'm thinking dat it jes' ain't safe yet wiff all dis.”

Finally I understood. I should have realized how
shaken he had been by what had happened
.

“Dis danger ain't gwine go away,” he went on. “Ter git married now wud mean puttin' you in da middle ob dat danger too. I can't do dat. I love you too much.”

By now I was crying. For someone who didn't used to think I was emotional, I sure cried a lot!

Slowly Jeremiah took me in his arms and held me. How can I possibly describe all the feelings that were going through me at that moment! In a strange way I almost felt a quieter joy than when he had asked me to marry him. I felt so content and safe in his arms. He was looking out for me. He wanted to protect me. He was thinking of me even more than of himself
.

I felt loved!

Jeremiah loved me enough not to marry me. He loved me so much that he would rather not marry me to protect me than to marry me and have it be dangerous for me. What a lucky girl I was to be loved that much
.

“I love you, Mayme,” he said softly in my ear
.

“I love you too, Jeremiah.”

“Our time'll come, an' it'll be da right time.”

I stepped back, wiped my eyes, and smiled. “You're a good man, Jeremiah Patterson,” I said. “I'm sure glad you found Carolina, so I could find you!”

E
NDINGS AND
B
EGINNINGS

59

J
eremiah talked to my papa again the next day and told him what he'd decided and what he'd said to me and that we'd decided to wait
.

“I've been thinking about it all too,” said my papa. “You're right about the danger not going away. And I'm not altogether comfortable with you and Henry so far away from us and in town by yourselves.”

“But what kin we do, Mr. Templeton?”

“Ward and I have been thinking that maybe it's time you went to work for us.”

“I ain't sure I knows wha'chu mean, Mr. Templeton.”

“What I'm saying is that you're working for Rosewood from now on. And if you're going to work here, you ought to live at Rosewood too.”

“You mean it, Mr. Templeton!”

“Ward and I've already got it figured out. We'll fix up the best of the old slave cabins. You and your pa can use it like it's your own. You can stay here, or at Henry's place in town, however you like. You're also going to each have a horse of your own, so that if you need to get here fast, you'll be able to.”

“But won't all dat put you in more danger too?”

“We'll handle it together,” said my papa. “If you're going to marry my daughter someday, I need to keep an eye on you!”

When I heard about it, of course I was happier than I could be
.

And that's how two more boarders came to stay at Rosewood, though Henry kept his quarters and job at the livery in town too
.

Even though Jeremiah and I weren't married, I got to see him and work with him and talk with him every day. That couldn't help but make us all the more ready to be married someday
.

I hadn't thought my little family at Rosewood could get any better
.

But it had! Jeremiah was now part of it too!

E
PILOGUE

M
RS
. E
LFRIDA
H
AMMOND
,
OWNER OF THE GENERAL
store in Greens Crossing, North Carolina, and keeper of the town's post office, took her responsibility seriously.