Liberty House Page 18

  Ellen moved to see Katrina patching up Andrew. She walked over to see if she could lend a hand. She looked to Tommy and didn’t like the look she had in her eyes. How much could her daughter take? It had to end. ‘God, please help Tommy finally be free from this. Truly free with You. Help us keep the faith.’ She prayed because at that moment, her faith was being tested more than it had ever been. She still felt in her heart that the worst was yet to come.

  Tommy watched her brothers and Cole come in. She almost went over to hug Cole but stopped herself. She couldn’t get more attached to him; it wasn’t right for her or him. She had made a decision anyhow. Cole eyed her like he knew what she was up to. Could he read her so well? She looked away from him. Oh, how she wished he would put his arms around her and make everything better.

  They all sat down at the table, Katrina dished out peach cobbler and coffee, then she sat next to Andrew.

  They ate in silence for a while, most of them lacking an appetite.

  Tommy pushed her cobbler away, though it smelled wonderful. She knew she had to say it, but she wasn’t sure how.

  She finally started, "Did you find any tracks?"

  Maverick shook his head, "No, they ran into each other, then we met up with Owen and lost the trail. I don’t get it; it seems like he knows our land and our lives. He just disappears on the land." He swore.

  "Maverick, swearing is not going to help anything," Ellen told him gently.

  He frowned. "If it would, I would swear like a drunk." He looked at her. "I apologize."

  She nodded. “I wish we could do something to end this."

  "I have an idea," Tommy said, barely above a whisper.

  All ears and eyes went to her.

  Sawyer met her eyes and shook his head. He didn’t like the look in her eyes, he had seen it before. He sat across from her even though she wasn’t meeting his gaze.

  Tommy looked down at her coffee. "We draw out the men for the last time, give them a trap they won’t be able to get through."

  "What do you mean?" Matt asked. "Use yourself as a trap?"

  Tommy nodded.

  Maverick shook his head. "No way, we ain’t doing that. He would kill you for sure."

  "Not with you there to protect me," Tommy argued.

  Maverick leaned back and said, "There is no way. Don’t even talk about it."

  Tommy glared at him then turned to Cole, who shook his head.

  She stood up and grabbed her chair, not being able to handle sitting still. Her eyes on Maverick, she said, "This is my life. Do you know what it was like to hold David knowing he could get hit? He didn’t even cry tonight. I want the children to have a normal life. I don’t want them to live like this." She sighed. "If you don’t, then I’m leaving." Her voice was deadly serious.

  Maverick made a face. "You can’t. Where would you go, Tommy?"

  "Anywhere. To Mr. Runyan’s place or maybe west. Anywhere but here. I have been a burden on y'all enough. But I want to do something right in my life."

  Maverick stood up, "This is not the right thing. We will come up with something, but these ideas will not work."

  Tommy sat in the chair hard, defeated. "We need to do something. I want the children to have a normal life. I want a normal life."

  Maverick stood staring at her and said, "I got some ideas, but they take time. I think right now, we should talk to Mr. Runyan and ask him if he still wants to train you. And if so, I will set up a safe position for you. We won’t have anyone comin’ on his land besides us. We’ll only do it for a month and then call it quits and come home to do it from here."

  She frowned. "He won’t do it. No one is that crazy."

  Cole shook his head. "I think he will, he is a man that sees what he wants. He wants your art and it will take a trainer to get you to that point."

  Tommy shrugged, "What can we do to draw the men out? We can’t live like this forever?"

  "I think we should just take it day by day," Owen said. "Just play out what happens next."

  Maverick sat back down and stared at him, "So keep playing his game for what reason so he can get the upper hand. He always has it anyhow. Why should we fight back?"

  "You got an idea, Maverick?" Owen asked. "Why don’t you enlighten us?"

  Maverick frowned. "We try to figure when he is going to hit, we wait for him and trap him."

  Matt shook his head, "We have tried that before. It didn’t work. He never comes the same day and when we finally stopped looking as hard, he acted."

  "This time, we’ll be somewhere he can’t know we’re lookin’," Maverick told them.

  Tommy shrugged and said, "I’ll do it under one condition.”

  Maverick arched his eyebrow, "I think I liked you better when Cole didn't show you how to be so outspoken."

  Everyone laughed. Tommy made an amused face.

  "The children don’t come to Mr. Runyan or when I come back here, they won’t come around," Tommy told them like she would not argue.

  Travis looked at her, "How could you do that to us?"

  Tommy looked at him, "I am doing this to keep y’all safer, Travis."

  He looked down at his cobble, "It ain’t right, we deserve to be a family. I don’t want things to change."

  "I am doing it for you," she told him again.

  He finally nodded, but he knew it wasn’t up to him. He was a child after all.

  Tommy said, "I love you, Travis."

  He looked at her and nodded, not looking any happier.

  Maverick looked at her, "You have a deal."

  Tommy didn’t seem too happy. Now they had to meet Mr. Runyan in three days. She wasn’t looking forward to it, it was going to end badly. No one was that crazy besides her family.

  Chapter Nineteen

  “Miss Starry, please have a seat. Make yourself comfortable,” Mr. Runyan told Tommy.

  Tommy sat on the sofa next to Gloria and Ellen. The house was nothing like she had ever seen. It was large and elegant. The parlor was decorated with green wallpaper and had an elegant royal sofa and chair set with a royal green rug under which the wood floor showed. The curtains on the wall draped shut and cast a green shadow across the entire room. She was so nervous that she had to hold her hands at her sides to keep from shaking. “Sir, what do you think of the pieces of art I created?”

  “Oh, beautiful, I have just fallen in love with your art,” he said as he sat in a chair. “That’s why I have profusion for you.”

  “Yes,” she sighed. "Before you say anything, I should tell you my position." Tommy told him all she and Maverick had agreed on with Gloria and Cole staying at the Daphne Estate.

  He looked thoughtful. "Well, I will agree to those terms. I only ask that you let me sell your art in my gallery when you are done training. You will keep all the profits for all the work." He held up a hand when she started to speak up. "I am just fine with that. I sell other art in there and your art will bring a whole new perspective to it. I would appreciate that when the art takes off, though, you would give some of the profits to Liberty Home. But again, it is up to you."

  Tommy nodded. "That sounds just fine. Are you sure?"

  He smiled. "Certainly."

  Ellen spoke up, "Say Tommy chose to move outta state. How would you work that out?"

  "I have a gallery in Denver and some other cities, but I would have her ship the art on a train. If you move close enough to a gallery, we will work it out," he paused, "For now, you will be trained for a month by the best artist I know, Mr. Sam Anderson. He also loves your art and wants to see you become famous.”

  “You mean the Sam Anderson? As in, Sam Anderson from Texas?” Cole asked.

  “He is. You know of him?”

  Cole nodded but said nothing more.

  “So, you will be trained by him. Your food will be paid for. Basically, anything you want, just ask.” He turned to the brothers. “I will put up more guards. You want to add anything to make it safer, just name it, and I’ll do it. I want you all to
be comfortable with this too. You can come over and see her any time you want.”

  “Why would you do all this? It has to be more than just wanting her art?” Maverick asked.

  “See, I take people with hidden art inside them and I have Sam help them discover it. Or more like, I have someone more experienced teach them,” he paused. “I believe God can use your works for His glory.”

  “You’re a Christian?” Cole asked.

  “I am.” He nodded. “Now, would you all like to meet this Sam Anderson?” He didn’t wait for a response before saying, “Come to lunch with me and you can meet him.” He got up and walked to the dining room. They entered and he had them seated.

  “Where is this Mr. Anderson?” Tommy asked politely.

  “Oh, he’ll be here in a moment. Timeliness is not one of his strong points,” he answered. “I would like to pray before beginning, if you wouldn’t mind?” He asked humbly. When no one objected, he prayed out loud. “Father in Heaven, thank You for all You have given us. Bless this food. Thank You for the Starrys and Mr. Donovan. Thank You for blessing me so that I can bless them in return. In Your Holy Name Jesus, Amen.” He raised his head. “Now shall we eat?”

  He called a servant by the wall, and the food came pouring out. The first course: soup, salad, and rich fresh bread. They talked lightly as they ate. Then the second course came out: chicken with corn, green beans, rice pudding, and steaming rolls. It was all wonderful food. The man by the wall stayed and helped serve. They were all kind and thanked him. They felt it was weird to be served but said nothing. Finally, the last course was served, ice cream with apple crisp and dark fudge chocolate cake. They loved the ice cream. They hadn’t had it in a long time.

  After it was done, no one asked why Sam Anderson didn’t show up, but they all wondered.

  “How was your meal?” Mr. Runyan asked.

  The response was positive.

  “I would like to thank your cook, if I could?” Tommy said.

  He nodded to the servant and told him to call the cook out of the kitchen.

  The servant did as he was told and out came the cook, a large man with cocoa-colored skin and deep mud-brown eyes.

  Cole looked at him then stood. “Sam? Sam? It’s really you, man.” He got up and gave him a bear hug.

  “Hey, it’s good to see you again!” He looked at Cole. “So, I am here to teach your girl?”

  “No, a friend that I am working for,” Cole responded.

  “I heard about that.” Sam had black, wooly hair. He was many years older than Cole. He was raised in the north and anybody could tell by his accent. He didn’t use slave slang or have a southern accent. He spoke like an exceptionally educated, cultured man.

  Cole raised an eyebrow.

  “You know the Home, there ain’t any place for secrets especially when it comes to you. They keep me updated.”

  Cole grinned, “I thought you were working with children at the Home.”

  “I was, but I decided to come here. I’m helping a lot here, training children.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me who you were?”

  “I wanted to know what your friends would do first. React to a colored man training her.” Sam gave him a knowing look.

  Cole looked at Tommy, “Tommy, you know, when I saw your art, I said there was only one better. Well, this is him.”

  “Want to come into the parlor and we can talk?” Sam invited them. He took Tommy’s hand and kissed it. “It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Starry.” He smiled openly. “I’ve seen your art. It’s some of the most beautiful work I’ve ever seen. I would like to train you.”

  “What would I learn from you? See, I never had a teacher or tutor,” Tommy said.

  “That’s fine. I would teach you to work with colors-when and how to use them. I’d teach you how to draw with an artist's eye.”

  She nodded, saying, “And you wouldn’t mind Cole or one of the brothers bein’ here?”

  “Nope. Your wish is my command.”

  “Man, a woman could get used to this,” Tommy smiled. Her dream was coming true. If it could only last this time.

  “My Ladies, why don't you get settled in and this afternoon you will start your lessons,” Mr. Runyan

  said to Tommy and Gloria.

  Cole and Maverick set up a boundary around the grounds. They checked out the girl's room, then their own; it all looked safe.

  Mr. Runyan called a maid over. “Sally, show the Starry family to their rooms.”

  “Yes, sir.” She bowed.

  Mr. Runyan turned back to his guests. “Sally will show you where you will stay.” He left them swiftly.

  Upon entering Gloria’s room first, Sally said, “You and Miss Tommy will share a door to your rooms.”

  They went to Tommy's room next; it had light blue wallpaper with navy blue flowers on it. The bed was huge with a light blue mattress and at least half a dozen pillows. In the corner was a couch and two chairs. In the other corner were a table and two chairs. Along one of the walls was a sofa, a beautiful teal color. On the other side of the wall was a wood oak wardrobe, which was a few feet from the door connecting to Gloria's room. Tommy’s luggage sat in the middle of the room.

  “This room is stunning,” Tommy whispered in awe.

  “Don't get too attached; you have to leave too soon,” Maverick teased.

  “I thought you had stayed at some of the plantations. Didn't you have a room like this then?” Cole asked.

  A shadow crossed her face. “I guess so, but it wasn't my choice to go to the place. This is different; this is my choice.”

  “I'm glad.”

  “Sir, would you like to follow me?” Sally asked. When she was about to leave, she turned to Tommy. “Miss Starry, I will be back to help you unpack.”

  “Oh, I'll do it. Thank you.”

  Sally looked at her, surprised. “I will be back.” She went out with Maverick and Cole following.

  After Sally showed Maverick to his own room, he went to Cole's through the continuing door. He leaned against the door and watched Cole stare out the window. “So, Cole, why didn't you tell me you protected Sam Anderson?"

  He turned to look at Maverick. “I didn't want to make a big deal out of it, and I didn't know if Sam wanted it to come out. But from what I heard today; he doesn't mind admitting it.”

  “I thought you only helped rich children.”

  “He is. His master at the time left all the money to his adopted black son, but of course that was a problem. I took on his charge until the war when he lost almost everything. I lost contact with him a little after he moved here. Izzy keeps in touch with most of them and tells me about it.” He smiled and walked farther into the room. “He was one of my best friends who didn’t mind telling me about the choices I was making.”

  Maverick nodded. “He was a true friend when you needed one.”

  Cole agreed. “I often wonder how y'all deal with it every day. I go to Colorado territory when I want to be accepted.”

  Maverick shrugged. “It would be nice one day to go somewhere where we belong.” He smiled softly and walked to the window. “The children won’t ever know it though. To them, Silkwood is like the rest of Alabama. They can see life through innocent eyes.”

  “That’s good for them. They are protected.”

  Maverick looked at him. “Cole, thank you for all of this.”

  Cole shrugged. “Just helping a friend, helping a friend.”

  Maverick smiled broadly. “A friend huh?”

  Cole blushed. He wished he was darker so that he could hide blushes or the redness in his face. He shook his head and decided not to say anything. Because knowing Maverick, anything he said wouldn’t be believed. He was the brains for a reason.

  Izzy walked Lucia and Sophia to the train station, hugging them, "Come back safe. Give Cole a hug for me."

  Lucia hugged her, "Will do. It will be good to see your brother again."

  Izzy hugged them again before they got
on the train. She still felt anxious about letting them go as she may never see them again.

  She walked back to where she had her carriage parked. She was wearing a full, pink skirt and a soft, purple blouse. It showed off her beautiful skin, her hair was high on her head. She was doing some business stuff for the train and so she dressed nicely for that. She was more a simple kind of girl.

  She was about to climb up when a man stopped her by putting a hand, rough dirty on her shoulder. She turned to face him but couldn't see his face under his huge hat. She moved gracefully out of his touch. She kept her voice even, “May I help you?” She figured he was a man that needed her help from the home.

  “You will never see your friends again. Beware,” he muttered.

  “What? What do you mean? Do you know something?”

  “Beware, Striker,” then the man limped away, faster than Izzy thought he could do.

  Izzy went after him, calling, "What do you mean?" She followed him, but for a limp man, he walked fast. She grabbed his arm and stopped him. "Talk to me, sir. What do you mean I won’t see my friends again?"

  "Just be beware, lady," he muttered.

  He tried to pull away, but Izzy wouldn’t let him go, and she still couldn’t see his face, "Why don’t you come to the sheriff's office? He will get this worked out."

  At the mention of the sheriff's office, he hit her across the face harder than Izzy thought he could. She would have fallen back if she wasn’t used to it. She was forced to let him go, as her head began to ring. He ran away, no limp this time.

  Izzy closed her eyes against the pain and couldn’t go after him. It could just be a cruel joke, but why blame Striker? She stood in fear. Oh, why had she said the sheriff's office? She knew why. She knew she couldn’t have done it on her own anymore. She hated this fear she had. It made her feel vulnerable. When she got that feeling she wanted to hit someone. Would she ever be over this fear?

  She heard a voice call her name from behind. He came up to her and touched her arm. She flinched and pulled away. She saw it was her blond headed cousin, Roy Armstrong.