A Quilt for Christmas by Sandra Dallas

Author:Sandra Dallas
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781466846081
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

CHAPTER SEVEN

April 3, 1865

With Clara wrapped in a quilt and huddled beside her, Eliza drove the buggy down the lane and out onto the main road. Eliza feared the Starks might be waiting for her at the turn, although Mother Stark had assured her the men would not come to the farm until dawn. She’d said they had finished Will’s jug of whiskey before they reached home, and once there, they’d started on their own corn liquor. They’d fallen asleep and wouldn’t wake for a while. When he wasn’t being mean, Dad Stark was either drinking or sleeping, Missouri Ann had told Eliza. “He’s got a gizzard for a heart,” she said.

It wasn’t just the Starks who made Eliza uneasy. If they weren’t on the road, others might be. After all, John had warned the Starks weren’t the only slave catchers who would be looking for Clara. And then there were always the tramps, the discharged soldiers and deserters, who would not hesitate to stop a woman driving a buggy late at night. She’d thought of bringing Luzena with her so that she could explain the child was sick and she was taking her to the doctor. But the doctor lived in the opposite direction. Besides, anyone stopping the buggy would see Clara curled up inside. Moreover, Luzena had already played a heroic part in keeping Clara safe. Eliza did not want to cause the girl further anguish.

The night was dark, with only a sliver of moon visible through the clouds. The hard rain kept falling, and the wind blew drops into the conveyance. Although she wished the skies would clear, Eliza knew that the rain offered protection, keeping at home anyone who did not have to be out on such a dreadful night. She flicked the reins against Sabra’s back, but the old horse had settled into little more than a walk, and Eliza knew the buggy would go no faster. Mercy’s farm was just two miles away, but with the time it had taken Davy to hitch up the buggy and Missouri Ann to dress Clara in warm clothing, then bundle her up in a quilt, it would be an hour or more before they reached the Eagles farm. Eliza judged it was already ten o’clock, so she wouldn’t return home until past midnight. But as long as she was there before sunup when the Starks were expected, she would be all right.

The buggy wheel hit a rock, and Eliza felt Clara’s head bounce against her shoulder and knew the woman was asleep. She wondered how Clara could sleep when her life was in danger, but perhaps she had lived her whole life in fear. Sleep was the best thing for her in her illness, and Eliza was glad the slave could rest. She snuggled up next to Clara and pulled part of the quilt around her shoulders and sank back against the seat. Despite the rain, she felt a kind of peace, as if she were alone in the world.

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