I untied the ribbon and held up an exquisite, gold-blushed hankie made of silk and the finest laces, embroidered with delicate flowers and sprigs.
“You never had yourself a proper bridal trousseau on our wedding day.”
Jackson dug into another pocket. “When we were arrested, the law took away our rings.” He pushed a gold band onto my finger. “Cussy Mary, I promise, I won’t allow anyone, God or man, to thieve our time, take my bride from me ever again. I will not lose another minute of us together.” A fire latched on to his promise.
My love and gratitude for him sprung to my eyes.
He nudged his chin to the mistletoe hanging above us, the wind tangling the festive red ribbon it was tethered to, then pressed his promise onto my lips, erasing my apprehension.
But with each passing day, he brooded, mulling over our safety, certain that wordwouldget out. We might run into the Kentucky sheriff or Chester again. More Kentucky folks visiting their kin in the soldiers’ graveyard. Fretted about the law, and what would happen to our son if we were caught. “We need to go where we can lose ourselves in a crowd of millions,” he’d say.
Millions.Louisville had been big enough, but I couldn’t imagine living in such a place. It sounded terrifying. Smothering. And it left me wondering how folks could breathe, packed in and stealing each other’s air like that.
***
I’d been foolish, so busy with Elijah Jack and enjoying our newfound happiness, I’d pushed my cautions aside, stepped right into the shoes of a free dead woman, and learned how to breathe again.
The new baby had left me with bear teeth, a power I hadn’t felt since the birth of Honey, but the mantle I carried to protect us grew heavier, the load more difficult.
The air had changed since we ran into Chester. Jackson had become more cautious and began looking over his shoulder. I found myself skittish at every strange noise, spending too much time sneaking peeks out Rose’s windows.
For days our voices lingered in darkened hallways and crannies of the ol’ boardinghouse as I clutched the baby close, an alarm pummeling my flesh.
Jackson reminded me that the child of an immoral blue heathen would be easy prey and quickly snatched into the law’s cruel, iron grip, lost to the whims and misplaced paperwork of yawning officials in any one of many wrong states. Worse, he’d likely be locked away and experimented on.
“It’s dangerous to stay any longer,” he’d insisted yesterday as I placed Elijah Jack inside his bassinette. “That sheriff could show up in this town any day.”
Exasperated, I held up a hand to tamp the discussion, collect my muddled thoughts. “Likely if he comes, it won’t be until the Kentucky men make their fall pilgrimage.”
“Cussy Mary.” He fumbled a curse slipping off his tongue. “Angeline.I won’t ever lose you again. I must keep you and our son safe.” He kissed my forehead, the words fevered against myflesh. “I won’t lose another child.Us.”
But as Christmas came and went, I grew moody, plagued by thoughts of my daughter living alone. Agonized over the family she’d now lost and how I could give it back to her.
“It’s too dangerous here,” Jackson pressed again as I cleaned a guest room in the early morning.
Torn, I spun around. “What about Honey? It’s dangerous leaving our daughter all alone! The hills are raising her, and it should be me,” I lashed out, not sure what had gotten into me. “She needs her mama, Jackson.” I anguished over the thought of not being there to protect her, help her through the rough patches a young girl faced. Listen to her hopes and dreams. Witness her growing into a woman.
He shook his head.
“Jackson, I don’t want Devil John and Martha Hannah giving their blessing for any marriage proposal that might be coming. I need to be closer to Honey. The thought of moving farther from Kaintuck and to a bigger city feels like I’m losing her forever.”
“You know that as a condition of my release, I had to agree to a banishment from home for twenty-five years. And if you’re found alive, people like that meddling sheriff would like nothing better than to cause you grave harm. I would follow you to the ends of this tired old earth—back to our Kentucky and hide you in them hills again if I could keep you safe and be with our daughter. But we can’t chance the law coming down on us and our son becoming an orphan.”
“If only there was a way to be closer.”
“Honey has been emancipated. She is safe and free. But we can never forget: We are not.”
***
From the bed, two-month-old Elijah Jack kicked the knittedblanket off his legs. Patiently, Rose tucked it back around him, then lifted the babe up and kissed the top of his head. “You be a good boy for your mama, sweetheart. Grow up and be even afinerman for a good woman. Like your papa.”
She gripped my hand, the scent of powdered roses wafting around her. “I sure will miss you around here.” She fiddled with the angel brooch Jackson had given her for Christmas. “And my sweet Elijah. You did a good job cleaning and keeping the records. Jackson’s been a blessing and the home’s never looked better. It’s been a big help for this old woman.” She held up money. “Here’s your last pay. Write to me, Angeline.”
“I will as soon as we settle. But you keep it, Miss Rose.” I pushed away her hand. “Jackson has work waiting for him in the masonry business, and his lawyers have wired our funds from the sale of our home. We’ll be fine, ma’am.” But my words were weighted with doubt.
“I know you’ll be fine, young lady. Justfine.” She lifted her stubborn chin bone, reminding me of Mrs. Claxton and my ol’ Loretta. “Just the same, a smart lady shouldalwayshave her some sneaky-Pete money set aside for emergencies. Pete being my grandfather and what Grandma taught me long ago after he went on one too many tears. Not that yours ever will, but… No need telling the menfolk now.” She rolled the bills inside the baby’s blanket and tucked tight.
From inside the pickup truck, I stared out, weary at having to put down roots again, anxious to one day befine. Free of the laws that had shackled us to a nomad’s life.
