Chariot on the Mountain by Jack Ford

Author:Jack Ford
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2018-05-16T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 40

ALTHOUGH THEY KNEW THAT THEY SHOULD NOW FEEL SAFE—OR AT least safer—Mary and Kitty were still apprehensive. Arriving at the mill owned by Aaron Wright, they were welcomed by his wife, Elizabeth, who escorted them to their lodgings for the night, a spacious and comfortable room in the rear of the mill office, with stuffed horsehair mattresses covering several sleeping pallets and a wood-burning stove in a corner for heat.

At first, they were bewildered by the openness of the space, since they had become used to sleeping in dark and secretive places during their journey. But Aaron’s son, John, who had carried their bags to the room, assured them that there was no need for concern. Even though slave catchers had been seen on occasion traveling north from Maryland, he told them, none had ever stopped at their home or attempted to question them or their neighbors.

“Thou are safe here,” John said. “Such men would not be welcome. Several of them have been arrested and jailed after they’ve entered Pennsylvania. Thou are protected by us and the laws.”

Later that night, as Kitty struggled to fall asleep, grappling with relentless flashing images of manacles and nooses, whips, dark cellars, rushing floodwaters, and shadowy figures carrying guns, she wondered if the peace and security of real freedom would ever come her way. The sleep that she eventually found was brief, troubled, and sporadic, and she awoke with a deep-seated feeling of dread, which could not be erased by the glorious sunshine and promise of the new day.

They left the Wright home shortly after breakfast, accompanied again by Aaron and John in their creaking, ponderous wagon. The trip to the farm of Amon Jones on Bear Mountain should take about one hour, they were told, although the last mile up the mountain would take up a good portion of that time, since the road was steep, winding, and narrow.

On the way, they stopped to water the horses at a roadside tavern near the village of Bendersville. The owner, a hulking, bearded, genial man who introduced himself as Charley Myers, exchanged friendly banter with Aaron and John, and after the Wrights explained the presence of Mary, Kitty, and the children, he extended his hand to the women and offered what seemed like a heartfelt welcome to the area.

The group arrived at the top of Bear Mountain at mid-afternoon, after a slow, arduous trek up the twisting gravelly lane. Kitty was anxious as they approached the Jones farm, not at all sure what was in store for her now that they had finally arrived at this new place. Mary had decided that she would remain nearby for a few weeks, while Kitty settled in, just in case there were any problems. While there, Mary also intended to execute a document, in a Pennsylvania court, making it clear that Kitty and the children had been manumitted and were, indeed, free.

As the wagon and carriage came upon a small clearing, the dappled sunlight peeking through the canopy of trees overhead revealed a ramshackle log cabin wedged up against the side of a hill.

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