Dunaway's Crossing (31 page)

“Thank you.”

Will leaned forward so that he could meet her eyes. “You know I’m on your side too.”

Bea Dot clutched his hand on her shoulder and squeezed it with appreciation.

“David, let us go into the other room so these two can talk,” Lavinia said. “I have some good news to tell you as well.”

“We could certainly use more of that,” Uncle David said as he rose and joined his wife. “Bea Dot, we’ll talk more about this later.”

Bea Dot nodded, then watched her aunt and uncle leave the room, imagining her aunt’s glee at telling her husband about their grandchild. Will came around the divan and sat in the place Uncle David had just vacated. “Really. How do you feel? This time, I’m not asking about your health.”

She couldn’t answer right away, unsure of how to pinpoint her emotions. She picked at the cuff of her sleeve as she frowned in contemplation. “It’s hard to say,” she finally answered. “Relieved, perhaps? Purged? Mostly overwhelmed. So much has happened in the last few days. Just after I learned California died, I learned you were alive. I awoke this morning wondering if I’d be able to get a divorce. Now I’m a widow. In my mind, I know the worst is over, but at the same time, I don’t feel like celebrating. Does that make sense?”

Will took both her hands in his warm, comforting palms. “It makes perfect sense. In fact, it reminds me of how I felt when I returned from France—awfully glad to be home, but crushed at the reason for being there.”

Bea Dot squeezed his fingers as she smiled at him. Will had never spoken to her of his wartime experience. Even now, his deliberately cryptic words revealed that this admission was a big step for him, and that his trust in her had grown. She didn’t push for more details. One day, he’d share them with her. He sat with her in silence for a few minutes before Bea Dot suggested they join Uncle David and Aunt Lavinia.

“One more thing.” Will stopped her as she shifted to rise. “I know this is the worst time to bring this up, but I’ll have to return to Pineview tomorrow.”

“Oh?” With her own life a whirlwind, Bea Dot hadn’t thought about Will’s leaving.

“I must get back to the crossing. I’ve been away far too long. But I want to remind you that I’ve asked you to marry me. You haven’t given me an answer, and I don’t expect you to give me one now. But the offer still stands, and I hope with all my heart that you’ll eventually join me in Pineview.”

Bea Dot reached out and put her hands to Will’s cheeks, smiling at the thought of how lucky she was to have him in her life. “Nothing would make me happier.”

E
pilogue

W
hy must we have this conversation again, Uncle David? My mind is made up.” Bea Dot latched, then unlatched the leather handbag in her lap, spending her frustration through her fingers instead of her voice. “After installing a nice headstone for California and her family, I want to give the rest of the money to charity.”

Uncle David sighed, then leaned forward in the train seat facing Bea Dot, holding his head in his gray-gloved hands. He shook it slowly, before raising his face to hers. She could see the exasperation in his eyes.

“You can give the money to charity, dear. I’m not opposed to that.” He held his palms up to her as he spoke. “But why must you give it all away? Why not use some of it to invest in a house for you and Will when you marry?”

“Will already has a place,” she explained for the hundredth time.

“A country store?” Aunt Lavinia chimed in next to her. “That’s no place to raise a family.”

“Let’s not put the cart before the horse,” Bea Dot said to both of them. “Besides, you don’t know Will the way I do. He would never want to live in a house bought with Ben’s money—”

“It was your father’s money mostly,” Uncle David reminded her, pointing his finger for emphasis.

“Nevertheless,” Bea Dot persisted, “Will’s not that kind of person. He would much rather use that fortune to help others. I would too.”

Uncle David sighed, then leaned back in his seat.

“I told you she wouldn’t budge,” he said to his wife, who shook her head in defeat as she bundled up her knitting and tucked it away in her satchel.

Bea Dot peered through the window, where the afternoon sun glinted through the limbs of the rapidly passing pine trees. They’d been riding for several hours, but the train had recently left the Hawkinsville station. Pineview was next, and she couldn’t wait to arrive, not only to see Ralph, Nettie, and Will again, but also to escape this belabored conversation about how to spend her inheritance.

“If you insist on giving the money away, have you decided on a beneficiary?”

“So many choices,” she said, before biting her lip. “I want to get Will’s input before making a final decision. I’ll let you know soon.”

Through the window, pine trees gave way to cotton fields, then the occasional farmhouse. Eventually the train passed the cotton exchange, and she knew the depot was imminent. She clutched Aunt Lavinia’s arm. “We’re here.”

Aunt Lavinia gathered her wrap around her shoulders and put her satchel in her lap. As the train slowed, then came to a stop, Bea Dot rose and stepped back in the aisle to let her aunt deboard first. Aunt Lavinia would have run all the way to Pineview if she could have.

“What a nice little town,” Uncle David observed as he stooped to peer out the window. “You’ll have to introduce us to all your friends while we’re here.”

“I don’t have many,” Bea Dot said, nervous jitters developing in her stomach. “As soon as I arrived last time, Netta and I had to move out to the country. I hardly know a soul in Pineview.”
And I doubt I have friends in the country, thanks to Ben’s letter
, she thought.

The porter opened the doors of their car, and Aunt Lavinia nearly flew out. When Bea Dot and Uncle David stepped onto the platform, Aunt Lavinia had already found Ralph and greeted him quickly before taking baby Netta from the dark-skinned woman standing next to him. Ralph laughed heartily as Aunt Lavinia cooed and tickled the infant. The woman, whom Bea Dot supposed was the baby’s nurse, smiled politely, then stepped back from Ralph and his mother-in-law.

Uncle David shook Ralph’s hand, then pulled him close for a hug and manly thump on the back. Then he reached his finger under the baby’s chin and said hello. Bea Dot approached Ralph next, smiling warmly.

“Hello, Ralph. It’s good to see you again.”

“I was never able to welcome you to Pineview the first time,” he said. “Thank you for giving me this second chance.” Although the strain had faded from Ralph’s eyes, gray now streaked his formerly dark hair. He had not yet regained the weight he’d lost.

“Nettie has certainly grown,” she said, dying to hold the baby but knowing she must wait for Aunt Lavinia to release the child.

“Yes, she certainly has. She’s a blessing.”

Aunt Lavinia stepped over to Ralph, declaring how her beautiful granddaughter favored the Barksdale side of the family. Ralph listened patiently, nodding and smiling, as his mother-in-law gushed.

Bea Dot approached the baby’s nurse, who stood quietly with hands folded in front of her crisp, white apron. She wore a blue kerchief around her head. She met Bea Dot’s eyes but said nothing.

“Hello,” Bea Dot said gently, as if approaching a nervous cat. “I’m Bea Dot Ferguson, Mrs. Coolidge’s cousin. You must be the baby’s nurse.”

“Yes, ma’am,” the woman said pleasantly enough, but with no real enthusiasm.

“What is your name?” Bea Dot asked.

“Lola, ma’am.”

Bea Dot’s eyebrows rose at the recognition of Lola’s name. “You worked for Mrs. Coolidge before her death, didn’t you? And you cared for patients in the Coolidge home during the epidemic?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Lola’s countenance remained unchanged.

“Then you nursed my fiancée, Will Dunaway,” Bea Dot said. “I can’t thank you enough for all you did for him. He wouldn’t have pulled through without your help.”

Lola’s shoulders relaxed, and something in her eyes softened. “He done it himself, ma’am. Ain’t nobody survived that flu didn’t have the strength to pull through.”

“Well, I think you sell yourself short,” Bea Dot said, cocking her head to the side and smiling. “And I will always be grateful for your assistance.” She reached out and touched Lola’s upper arm.

“Thank you, ma’am.” Lola’s eyes crinkled slightly as her lips elevated to a pretty smile. Then she nodded toward the Barksdales and Ralph as the baby began to cry. “I best see ’bout that child. Her grandmama gone jostle her to death.”

Bea Dot chuckled as she watched Lola take the baby from a reluctant Aunt Lavinia, when a tall figure striding her way caught her attention.

“There’s my bride to be,” Will said as he embraced Bea Dot and planted a kiss firmly on her cheek. Then he picked her up and squeezed her as he whispered in her ear, “I’ll give you a better kiss when we’re alone.”

“Can’t wait,” she whispered back before he put her on her feet.

“Did you have a good trip?” he asked.

“Long, but uneventful,” she replied.

“Hello, Will,” Aunt Lavinia interrupted them as she reached up to kiss his cheek. “So good to see you again.” Uncle David approached him and shook his hand, making the usual small talk about the train ride.

“Well, look who’s finally come back to see us!” Bea Dot turned quickly at the familiar voice behind her. Thaddeus Taylor towered above her, with Eliza next to him, holding a much bigger baby Troy. She wore a familiar brown wool skirt with a gathered hem and slit in the front, where a lacy petticoat peeked out. On her head she wore a smart hat of brown-and-gray-spotted fur.

“Why, Thaddeus! Eliza! I wasn’t expecting to see you here.” Bea Dot grinned at the Taylors’ friendly greeting, though her insides still hummed at the possibility of disapproval, still not knowing exactly what Ben had told them in his letter. “You are so kind to meet us at the station. And Eliza, you look so pretty in that outfit. Have I seen it before?”

“When you left it at my house, I figured you didn’t want it no more,” Eliza said, blushing and smiling sheepishly.

“That’s my skirt?” Bea Dot asked with surprise.

“It’s the one got ripped down the front,” Eliza explained. “I fixed it up real nice with this petticoat because I needed something fancy enough to wear with this hat Thaddeus made me.”

“That there’s the bobcat Will killed,” Thaddeus said with a proud smile.

Bea Dot stepped back to admire Eliza in her new hat and altered hobble skirt.

“I hope you don’t mind me wearing it,” Eliza said shyly.

“Of course I don’t,” Bea Dot said. “I think it’s very becoming.”

Eliza grinned at the compliment, then smiled at her husband with satisfaction.

“Well, why are we all standing here?” Ralph said to the whole group. “Let’s go back to my house and start Thanksgiving a little early. Come, Mr. and Mrs. Barksdale, you can ride in my automobile.” He gestured to the porter to follow him with the luggage.

“We’ll be along behind you,” Will called out to Ralph as the group made their way to the edge of the platform. Bea Dot slowly surveyed the station’s surroundings, but all she saw were Ralph’s motorcar and the Taylors, who were now getting into Thaddeus’s truck. Two or three other passengers got into cars with their loved ones, but where was Will’s horse and wagon?

“Are we going to walk to Ralph’s house?” Bea Dot asked.

“I have a surprise for you,” he said with a wink. “Follow me.”

Taking her hand, Will led Bea Dot to the other side of the station, where she found a porter had already placed her trunk in the back of a shiny black flatbed truck. Will walked up to it and opened the passenger’s-side door. Dumbstruck, Bea Dot stared at the machine, then forced her eyes away from it to gape at Will.

“Well, what do you think?” he asked.

“I think a pig just flew by,” she said. “Either that or hell just froze over. You bought a truck?”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said, his back straightening with pride. “After you said you’d marry me, I figured my wife shouldn’t ride around town in a wagon. Besides, the first time I picked you up at the station, the wagon proved a bit of a problem.”

Bea Dot smiled at the memory.

“Come on,” he said. “Get in.” He gestured toward the door, and Bea Dot slid into the seat. Will shut the door, then turned the crank before taking the wheel.

“How long have you had it?” she asked.

“A little more than a week,” he answered. “Just long enough to get comfortable driving it.” He put the car in gear, then pulled away from the depot. “How do you like it?”

“Oh, it’s mighty fine,” Bea Dot said, rubbing her gloved hand along the leather seat. “Will you take me for a short ride around town before we go to Ralph’s?”

“Certainly, madam,” Will said in jest. Then he added, “I’d love to have a few minutes alone with you anyway.”

Bea Dot’s heart warmed at the anticipation of having this man all to herself by New Year’s. Still, she lowered her voice and turned to a more serious topic. “Will, I must ask your opinion about something.”

“What is it?”

“You know I’ve decided to donate my inheritance to a charity,” she began, examining her fingers as she spoke. When Will frowned at the mention of Ben Ferguson’s estate, she continued quickly to get the matter over with. “Well, it just came to me that the money would best be used in the form of scholarships.”

This time, Will’s eyebrows lifted. “That’s a good idea,” he said. “Have you chosen a school?”

“Not definitely, but I was thinking, well, have you heard of Spelman Seminary in Atlanta? Or Morehouse College?”

“I think so,” Will replied slowly. “Those are schools for black folks, aren’t they?”

“Yes. I was thinking of giving Ben’s money to them.”

Will’s laugh came straight from his gut, and its volume made Bea Dot jump at first.

“What’s so funny?” she asked.

“The thought of Ben Ferguson turning over in his grave,” Will said, brushing a lock of hair off his forehead. “What a perfect ending to his story—giving his money to a couple of black schools. Have you told his parents yet? They’ll have kittens.”

Bea Dot pulled back one corner of her mouth in disapproval. “This isn’t a joke, Will. And donating to those schools has nothing to do with what Ben would think. I truly believe they’re the best choice.”

“All right then, why are you considering them?” Will turned his truck off the main street and drove Bea Dot toward the primary school.

“The thought just came to me as I was talking to Lola,” she said. “I don’t know her well, but I would imagine she had very little education. Yet when you and all those other people were sick, Ralph depended on her to care for you. Just think what she could have done if she had been schooled. She probably wouldn’t take advantage of a scholarship herself, but I think she would appreciate the gesture of giving others a chance.”

Will’s voice softened at Bea Dot’s explanation. “I hadn’t thought of that. You have a good point.”

“There’s also Cal,” she continued. “You didn’t know her, but she was the most important person to me for most of my life. She died because a white doctor wouldn’t make time for her. If our black folk can’t turn to white doctors for help, then they need their own doctors to care for them. Maybe scholarships will help black students get the education they need to serve their own kind. And that would be good for the general public.”

Will smiled and took his hand off the gearshift to clutch hers. “Well, sweetheart, you’ve sold me, but you don’t need my opinion. It’s your money. You do with it what you think is best.”

“Then that’s what I’ll do,” Bea Dot said, resting her head on the back of the seat.

Will had driven the truck around a block of Pineview’s residential neighborhood before turning it back onto the street where Ralph lived. As the truck approached Ralph’s house, Bea Dot spied his motorcar in the yard alongside Thaddeus’s truck.