Northern Star (23 page)

John watched Wade closely. He didn’t know the cause of the hatred Wade bore for Hunter, but he could see it burning in Wade’s eyes. John had to answer Wade’s question carefully, for he was not a man to lie or give away secrets. “Perry met Hunter in Philadelphia, I think. She never said much about it, and I forgot to ask Hunter. He,
or rather Abram, helped Perry book passage here just after the war.”

“Why was Perry in Philadelphia when the war ended?” Wade’s question was demanding. He had to know how much John knew about Perry.

“I have no idea,” John stated. He turned his face toward Mary, discouraging any further questioning by Wade.

Wade knew his uncle well enough to know that even if John Williams did know the answer, he couldn’t be pushed or bullied into telling. Wade’s mind moved logically. If Hunter had helped her once, was it possible he’d helped her again? He’d been close enough to help three nights ago, but how could Perry have had time to let him know she was in trouble? Maybe they were secret lovers. If so, Hunter could have come to her. That would explain her reluctance to marry him.
By God, if she is alive, I’ll kill her for the humiliation she’s caused me.
Wade’s face reddened as his thoughts raced on. He knew it was a wild hunch. He had no clue to point Perry to Hunter.

Calmly he asked, “Who went up in that balloon with Hunter?”

John didn’t seem to understand the point of Wade’s question. But as always, his words were carefully chosen around his nephew. “Hunter had only Abram with him.” John didn’t seem to want to go into detail about Hunter’s visit. Wade thought it almost looked as if his uncle were hiding something—not about Perry, surely, or the grief wouldn’t have been in his eyes, but perhaps about Hunter’s reason for visiting.

“No one else was in the balloon? You’re sure?” Wade pressed.

“I’m sure. I walked up and looked into the basket. It was loaded with supplies.” John’s eyebrow raised as he studied Wade.

The Union captain’s pace slowed. He would have to be careful or John would guess his suspicions. “Why did Hunter come down here?” Wade asked, interrogating
John. He could not put his finger on why, but Wade felt John was not telling everything he knew.

John shrugged. “He planned to return as soon as the war was over to visit us. Maybe he just wanted to see us before the wedding next month.”

Wade knew Hunter and Jennifer planned to marry after the war, but he hadn’t thought much about it. She was too much of a woman for Hunter, or for any one man. Wade had known her years ago. At the time he’d left her alone after a mild flirtation. She was more trouble than he wanted to take on. Also, Wade thought it would be fun to watch his cousin suffer after they were married. His theory about Hunter and Perry didn’t make any sense, with Hunter planning to marry soon. Hunter wasn’t the type to have both a wife and a mistress. Wade laughed to himself. His cousin seemed to have little to say around one woman, much less two. Unless she was a bird, any woman would have trouble talking with Hunter. His only love was flying through the air in that damn balloon.

Wade smiled warmly, transforming his manner instantly. “I think I’d best go to Philadelphia for the wedding of my only cousin.” He thought for a minute before adding, “And I think I’ll offer Perry’s poor maid a job. With Perry gone and the old man hating the sight of Noma, maybe she’d like to stay on at my place. I haven’t really had time to look for a housekeeper.”

Wade’s mind was plotting as he moved away. If there ever had been anything between Hunter and Perry, surely Noma would know. Also, if there was any chance Perry was alive, she would find Noma. He would have the black woman watched, even though the odds were that it would be a waste of time.

Blackness engulfed Perry’s mind as she heard Molly’s voice calling her.

“Perry, Perry, are you all right?”

Shaking the dizziness from her head, Perry mumbled, “I’m fine. What happened?” She tried to sit up but her body seemed to fight her.

“Stay down,” Molly ordered. “I’m sorry I knocked you over so hard, but at least those varmints missed us. Remember, I told you Henry’s nephews was trying to run me out. Well, for the last two nights they’ve been using me for target practice if I step outa my door.”

Perry crawled closer to Molly. She could feel the night air drifting in from the open doorway. They heard a muted noise outside, as if a large object had fallen to the ground, then only silence. Perry whispered, “Molly, your gun!”

“I’ve got it pointed at the door. Just let one of them creak a hinge and he’ll be a dead man,” Molly answered.

Footsteps sounded from the walkway outside. Perry rolled over, allowing Molly a clear view of the entrance. Both women held their breath as Molly’s steady hand raised the gun. Perry’s body tensed as she braced herself for the sound of the blast.

The moon silhouetted a man’s frame as he stood in the doorway. His huge body almost covered the entrance.
Molly steadied her arm as the firelight danced across Abram’s face. He froze when he saw Molly’s gun pointed directly at his chest.

Shock struck Perry like lightning as she realized Molly was aiming the gun at Abram. For an instant her body refused to respond, and panic flooded her brain. Then, with the spring of a trap, she jumped in front of Molly’s body. “No!” she shouted as the gun echoed around the kitchen.

The bullet grazed Perry’s arm and lodged in the door frame. Perry whirled like a dancer into Abram’s arms.

“No!” Molly shouted. “Get your hands off her, you killin’ bastard.” She stood and headed like a mad bull toward Abram. She raised the gun in her fist like a club and charged.

Perry raised her unharmed arm. “No, Molly. It’s Abram. He’s my friend. He brought me here.”

Molly took another step forward before slowing. Once she put her bulk into motion, it was difficult to stop quickly. She stared at Abram, a skeptical look on her aging face. She’d seen the huge black man once before, but it had been dark and she’d been more worried about Perry’s safety than trying to memorize the features of some man she thought she’d never see again.

Abram suddenly swung Perry up into his arms like a father carrying his frightened child. “The man you’re gunning for, ma’am, is lying in your garden. I saw his gun blast and thought he hit Miss Perry when I saw her fall. I just walked up behind him. He never knew what hit him. If he’s not dead, he’ll have a powerful headache come morning.” Abram’s voice was calm, as if in mild conversation, yet his eyes were alert to Molly’s actions.

“We’ll worry about him later,” the old woman stated, heaving her huge chest as if relieved of a heavy burden. “Bring that child over here and let me treat that arm.” Molly’s head nodded toward Perry as she stepped to the large kitchen table. Pulling her box of medicine from the
shelf by the stove, she mumbled over and over again about how frightened she was and how sorry.

“It’s only a scratch.” Perry tried to smile away the pain throbbing in her arm as Abram set her in Molly’s rocking chair. He stepped back and Molly began her work with trembling hands.

“I’ll doctor this, then we’ll find you somethin’ to eat. You look like you’ve been on the last train to hell and back, child.”

As Molly worked, Perry watched Abram nod with his head toward the door. He wanted to check on the man he’d left in the garden, but trying to get a word in between Molly’s chatter was like trying to slice wet sand.

Perry smiled down at Molly. She could see the old woman’s wrinkles grow deep with concern. A trembling hand gently touched her face.

“Child, what happened to your face?” Molly whispered as she pulled off Perry’s hat. Her chubby fingers cupped Perry’s chin as she gingerly turned her face toward the light.

“I’ll explain later, Molly. First, have you got any of that wonderful cooking of yours? We’ve been riding all day.”

“I haven’t got much I’m afraid, only bread and potato soup. For over a week I’ve been scared to leave the kitchen for more than a minute. About a month after you left, I started seein’ men hangin’ around. They’ve been movin’ closer ever day.”

As Molly brought Perry up-to-date, she moved about the kitchen. She put a pot on to simmer before returning to Perry with a cool, clean cloth for. her grazed arm. “We’ll worry about your belly and gettin’ some rest, then we’ll tackle those bruises.” She looked as though she might start crying. “I can’t tell you how glad I was to hear your voice at my door, child.”

Molly set two steaming bowls of soup on the table as Abram reappeared in the doorway.

Abram’s calm voice seemed incongruous coming from his powerful, rock-hard body. “I couldn’t find any sign of the man I struck. From the tracks it looks like two men, maybe three, drug him off. I followed their tracks to the far gate. After that I lost the trail in the dark. My guess is they won’t be back tonight.”

“Good.” Molly sighed in relief. “Now you sit down and have some soup and bread. I’m plum sorry I have no finer fare.”

Abram folded his large frame into the chair as he’d been told. He sat silently, eating as Perry told Molly of her escape from Three Oaks and Wade Williams. Molly listened as she worked, first reloading the pistol, then drawing a bath for Perry.

Abram stood as he swallowed his last gulp of coffee. “I have to leave for an hour. Is there anythin’ you need, Miss Molly?”

Perry was proud of Abram for addressing Molly respectfully. She knew Abram’s keen eye missed little. She guessed that he already knew what Molly’s profession had been, just by the way the old woman talked.

“Well, if you find a store, I need food.” Molly laughed, knowing there would be nowhere to buy food at this hour.

“I’ll take care of the horses and bring up my bedroll. I’ll sleep against your door tonight, if you have no objections.”

“No, no!” Molly shouted. “I’ve never been so happy to have company.”

“Bolt the door behind me. I’ll see you in an hour,” Abram said as he vanished into the night.

Molly rushed over to do his bidding, then returned to help Perry undress. “That man looks like he could break any man in half with one hand, but he worries about you like you were a queen.”

“He’s a good friend.” Perry pulled the bandages from her ribs.

“Well, he’s one I wouldn’t want anywhere but on my side.” Molly helped her into the tub.

The hot bath felt wonderful to Perry’s tired, bruised body. Molly gently washed the dirt and dried blood from Perry’s hair. Perry was amazed at the old woman’s gentleness as she doctored her arm and the tiny cuts on her body.

“You’re luckier than a whore with clean sheets that I’m such a poor shot,” Molly said. “This scratch serves you right for teaching me to shoot.”

Perry laughed, holding her bruised ribs. “Well, at least you’re a better doctor than a gunman.”

Molly sobered somewhat as she studied Perry’s face. “I wish I could do somethin’ about your face. If I didn’t know your voice, I wouldn’t have recognized you on sight. You lie back and I’ll put cold rags around it. Maybe that’ll bring the swelling down. Then we’ll wrap those ribs.” She took a deep breath, enjoying the activity.

“I’d like to get my hands on that Wade Williams you say done this. I’ve seen men like him before in my profession. They’s the ones who can’t get it up less’n they’s hurtin’ the woman first. There ain’t no amount of money worth puttin’ up with them kind. I’ve seen them beat a woman senseless before they have their way with her. You done right to get away, Miss Perry. He would have killed you for sure next time. You can stay with me for as long as you like.” Molly’s promise was sincerely meant.

Tears rolled down Perry’s face. This old woman, shunned by everyone, was now her only friend. She didn’t have much but she was offering to share all she had. “Thank you,” Perry whispered beneath the towels over her face.

By the time Abram returned, Perry was doctored and dressed in a long white cotton gown. Molly had wrapped her in a colorful shawl, almost engulfing Perry’s small frame. The old woman was chatting by the fire, drying Perry’s hair, when Abram knocked.

As Molly pulled the door wide, he staggered in. Both
women laughed, for he looked like a one-man marketplace. He carried a large basket piled high with fruit and vegetables, hams dangled from ropes about his shoulders, and each elbow was weighted with sacks of flour and sugar.

“Where on earth did you find it all?” Perry asked as she helped him unload.

“Never mind. I’m just bringing you two a few things.” He pulled sacks of apples and spices from his pockets. Then he unbuttoned his coat and handed Perry a small gun.

“I want you to keep this close by your side. That little knife of yours won’t stop these men, and those dueling pistols will take too long to reload if there’s a fight.” His voice was firm, leaving no room for argument.

Perry accepted the gun. She wouldn’t have taken it, except Molly might need her help.

Molly was rummaging through the basket like a child at Christmas. She pulled out a fresh meat pie and shouted her joy.

Abram’s face twitched in a smile. “That was mighty fine potato soup, but I figure we could do with something else. Hunter’s cook made several tonight; she’ll never miss one.”

As he spoke, Perry realized where the supplies had come from. She also knew no one in Hunter’s house would have questioned Abram’s actions. She watched Molly and Abram dividing the pie into thirds. A warm feeling of being home enveloped her as she joined them in the late-night feast. She was miles away from Wade and safe—for tonight.

Perry tried to stand still as Molly pinned the hem of a newly made-over dress for her. This was the third one in a week that Molly had insisted she have from the seemingly endless supply in the attic. She giggled at her reflection in the mirror. The collar was high and the long double row of ivory buttons made her look very straitlaced and proper. The long sleeves hid her healing bruises. If it were not for the fear that the men who were trying to kill Molly might return, Perry would say she was happy for the first time in months.

“Hold still, child,” Molly mumbled through a mouthful of pins.