Thank you for stopping by.

   I hope you'll take a moment

   and read this tender glimpse of

   Chapter Twenty of--

   DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT,

   book three of my Free Men and Dreamers series.

   After reading it, I'd appreciate hearing from you.

 

   And now . . .

                                                                                       

 

                                                                                    

Quilts, extra clothing, lanterns and bundles of candles, wrapped in muslin, sat in stacks on the twelve-by-twenty-foot underground shelter floor; they lay beneath shelves laden with foodstuffs, seeds, tools, firearms, and ammunition. Four large trunks contained the residents’ irreplaceable treasures. Jed and Frannie filled the two largest trunks with family heirlooms, portraits, silver, jewelry and documents, but having lost everything from her childhood upon marrying Jed, Hannah was able to identify only a few items whose loss would sadden her deeply. She had placed within one trunk the pink dress, worn at their impromptu wedding in Vermont, and her precious handkerchief, fashioned by Beatrice; it had come from one of the gowns made for her sister’s stillborn son, Bernard. She also added a few items of jewelry—wedding gifts Jed had given to her—and finally she added Selma’s precious freedom papers which the ex-slave had relinquished to Jed just before the lid was shut.

The last two trunks held the other Willows residents’ treasures—books, a family record Jerome had compiled, and a variety of trinkets Jed had given to each of them over the years—but again, it was the protection of their freedom papers that was their primary concern. Watching as the Willows residents added their meager treasures, Jed shrank from the vulgar inequity the situation exposed. Some had to pick and choose what to save, while some had so little that several of them could place all they had within the confines of a wooden trunk. The inequality almost overshadowed the horror that anyone should have to prepare for their survival in such a way at all. Adding to his distress was the melancholia so painfully etched on Hannah’s face.

“Come with me,” he said, stretching his hand to her. “I wanted it to be a surprise later tonight, but I want to show you now.” From one of the Pearsons’ chests he removed a packet bound with a leather cord. Removing the contents, he placed fifteen documents in Hannah’s hands.

“The freedom papers for Sookie, and Royal and Mercy’s family?” Hannah whispered reverently.

“And land deeds for everyone, five acres per person. I can’t ask them to risk their lives to defend the farm unless they have a stake in it.”

“All is just as you planned." Hannah nodded, clutching the bundles to her breast.

Jed noted her somber mood and reached for her, but she shook her head. “I thought this would please you,” he tried.

“It does . . . very much. It’s just . . .”

Jed backed up and sat on one of the trunks. “Help me understand what’s wrong.”

Hannah slowly turned to another of the trunks and sat, fumbling nervously with her hands. “None of this matters . . . not this sturdy shelter, not my safety, and certainly not anything in these trunks! None of it will mean anything to me if you get yourself killed, because I have nothing without you . . .” Jed began to stand but she raised her hand. He sat back down as she struggled to control her emotions. “I received a letter from Beatrice, and it only served to remind me that I have no one else but you. I have nowhere else but here now. My future and my happiness rest solely upon you. Do you understand that?”

“Hannah,” Jed groaned. “You have to know that no matter what—”

Furious, she exclaimed, “Don’t say no matter what to me! Don’t dismiss the fact that nothing you provide for me will matter at all if you die. You can protect the slaves from the consequences of your death by setting them free, but no provisions will free me from the impact of your death. I’d rather we leave the Willows, just forfeit all of it and live somewhere else, than remain here and risk that.”

Moments passed without another word being uttered. The air was tense and the silence stifling. Jed’s heart was harrowed by the utter sorrow he found etched on her face, and swallowing hard, he replied, “You know I can’t leave, Hannah.”

The steeled look on her face cut him deeply and he reached for her hand, but she turned and headed for the doorway.

“I listened to you. Please grant me the same courtesy.” His voice was sharp and she stiffened in response, then she slowly returned, taking a seat across from him. Leaning across the floor, he took her arms and drew close.

“You know it’s not because I love you one fraction less than you love me, nor because I love the Willows more than I love us. The Willows is the very symbol of all that I want for us.”

Hannah pushed away but Jed held her. She resisted initially, and when she finally relaxed she kept her face turned away from him. Angry and frustrated, he released her and leaned hard against the shelter’s wall, then scuffed his boot against the hatch.

“Like it or not, Hannah, if you know anything about me you know I can’t choose to run. I may save my skin but I will lose my soul and forfeit everything you claim to love about me. But know this, I will leave here if you ask me to, but I beg you not to ask that of me. People call me a hero for rescuing Light Horse Harry Lee and for riding through the blizzard to deliver the news about the British navy’s arrival. I’m no hero, Hannah, but I believe in liberty. And I believe it must be defended. Please don’t ask me to become a hypocrite and a liar who espouses principles he is unwilling to live.”

Hannah sat as still as death for several minutes, mulling over his words. Without warning she leaned forward in surrender, and Jed responded by alternately stroking and kissing her hair.

“I won’t offer you hollow words of comfort, Hannah. Let me show you how dear our life together is to me. I have no intentions of idly relinquishing what I’ve fought so hard to obtain. I’ve used what Matthew taught me. The men and I have made a plan. Come and see.” He offered her his hand and gently pulled her to her feet. Clasping her hand in his, he led her out of the dark, underground shelter and into the sunlight, guiding her from location to location, showing her every defensive placement he and the men had constructed. “These are black powder mines. Abel digs the holes, Jack fills them with powder and debris, and Jerome runs the lines.”

Clearly impressed, Hannah asked, “How many of these have you made?”

“Forty-three so far, placed around the perimeter on the White Oak line. We’re going to do the same along the shore tonight.”

“What if they get past these?” asked Hannah.

Jed acknowledged the wisdom of her question. “Then we have to rely on other defenses.”

“Such as?”

Realizing that his efforts to reassure her had become an examination of his readiness, he again became defensive. “Won’t you simply trust me?”

“I could say the same!” she countered.

Stunned, he wrinkled his brow and stared at her. “What do you mean?”

“Why haven’t you shown me all this before? Because you thought it would frighten me?”

Stumbling for an answer, all he could offer was, “I suppose.”

“If you truly knew anything about me, Jed Pearson, you’d know that the only thing that really frightens me is not knowing! Like Frannie, I too can fight. Stop and think for one minute and you’d realize that I’ve been fighting something or someone all my life!” Her voice faltered and then become stronger. “But lately, you’ve coddled me. I’ve allowed it, but it’s made me weak. Well, I know I’m more capable than that! Remember our journey back from New Hampshire after our wedding trip? You trusted me then. Jack trusts me now. So either we’re in this together or we’re not. But if we are, let me have some say in our destiny!”

Jed was speechless. He surveyed her face and realized that for the first time in ages he saw the real Hannah Stansbury standing before him again, a woman now, but still possessing the fire and spit that kept her spirit alive during all those terrible childhood years.

“You’re right, Hannah. I’m . . . I’m so sorry.” He stepped toward her and gathered her into his arms. “Frannie has warned me time and again that I do this . . . I think I’m protecting the people I love when all I do is hold them back. You are capable, Hannah. I’m sorry, sweetness. Please forgive me.”

Tears welled in Hannah’s eyes. “No . . . I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s happening to me. Ever since I read Arthur’s letter to Frannie, one minute I’m happy and calm, and the next I’m completely unreasonable. And then Beatrice’s letter came.”

“You don’t need to explain. Meet with us tonight. I want you there.”

*  *  * 

Thanks for visiting! If you enjoyed this glimpse, please write to me at lclewis2007@gmail.com.