Part 11 (1/2)
”What is so crazy about two friends showing their care for one another?”
”We is crazy 'cuz we is cryin' buckets over rings we can't never wear.” She laughed harder. ” 'Tain't a soul, white nor colored, would think I came by a piece o' fine jewelry in a right and honest way. Knowin' each other has changed you and me, but the other folks round here is the same, and as mean as they always been. You heard the talk downstairs about marauders and war. The world is more hateful every day.”
I had been so caught up in the sentiment the rings represented it had not occurred to me they would likely bring d.a.m.nation as monumental as the mountains around us. Livie was right. She would be whipped without question. Or worse. Certainly Aunt Augusta would retrieve and dispose of any evidence with the potential of soiling my reputation, and hers by a.s.sociation. Yet Livie and I vowed we would not be parted from our precious keepsakes.
”I got an idea,” Livie said, taking the strip of rawhide that had tied the pouch she had given me. She removed the ring from her finger and threaded the rawhide through it. With a look of pure satisfaction, she tied it around her neck, then dropped the ring inside the collar of her dress. ”Out o' sight, but close at heart.”
Following her lead, I went to the jewelry box on my night table and rummaged through its contents, pus.h.i.+ng hairpins and brooches aside until I saw the glimmer of a simple gold necklace coiled in the corner. I lifted it out and let it dangle like a strand of hair in front of me.
”It was my mother's,” I whispered reverently.
She took the necklace from me as I removed my ring. Once it was threaded, Livie hooked the clasp at the back of my neck. I held the ring entwined with my mother's necklace and was dizzied by a swirl of emotion. Livie loosened the first few b.u.t.tons of my nightgown, then took the ring and dropped it inside. I smiled at her as I watched how tenderly she handled both the ring and the necklace.
”Always close at heart,” I whispered.
We crawled back into bed, drained from the highs and lows of the day. We curled and faced each other with heavy eyes. My last recollection was of Livie brus.h.i.+ng her hand across her chest until her fingers found and outlined the ring beneath her clothes. I did the same, tucking away the worry of what would become of us for another day.
Chapter 18.
”Rise and dress, Hannalore.” Aunt Augusta's curt voice tore through the peaceful slumber cradling me. She stood at the corner of my bed, waiting for me to sit up and obey. I glanced toward the empty spot next to me. Thankfully, Livie had slipped from my room before sunrise.
”The Runians are gathering in the front yard. I shall wait for you in the dining room.”
I abided her request and was downstairs before she finished her morning tea. She peered at me over her cup as I entered the room, but said nothing until I curtsied and offered her Christmas wishes. She did not return the greeting, and although her demeanor was distant and distracted, she did not appear angry as she had been the previous night.
”You retired early last night. Our guests were concerned and thought you had taken ill. Colton was particularly dismayed.”
”I apologize if my absence offended anyone. One of my dizzy spells came upon me, so I went to lie down in my room until it pa.s.sed. I must have fallen asleep.”
” 'Scuse me, Miz 'Gusta,” Winston said, stepping into the room. ”We got de whole o' Mud Run outside. If you is ready, I'll start with de fiddlin'.”
”Yes, you may begin, Winston. Hannah and I will join you once we hear the music.”
”As you say.” Winston nodded. ”Happy Christmas, Miz Hannah.”
”Happy Christmas.” I smiled, pleased someone acknowledged me with holiday wishes. When Winston flashed his we got a secret we got a secret grin, I felt for the first time that he and I finally did share an unspoken truth after all these years. With all of Mud Run under his watchful eye, he was surely aware of my comings and goings during the past month. My instinct told me my secret was safe with him. grin, I felt for the first time that he and I finally did share an unspoken truth after all these years. With all of Mud Run under his watchful eye, he was surely aware of my comings and goings during the past month. My instinct told me my secret was safe with him.
Christmas morning unfolded as it always had, only this year it had more meaning for me with Livie's smiling face in the crowd. Coming from a neglectful master, she was taken aback by the armful of food, clothing, and shoes she walked away with. Still, she turned back to me and patted her chest where the ring dangled beneath her clothes and mouthed the words Happy Christmas Happy Christmas. Then she walked down the hill to the Runian festivities, and I returned to the hollow of the house.
”I have a gift for you, Aunt Augusta.” I presented her the embroidered handkerchief I had sewn for her.
”Place the gift on the chair, child. I want to speak with you.”
I set the handkerchief aside and went to where she stood studying the decorated tree. Among the burgundy ribbons and silver decorations was an unpretentious, handmade ornament. It was a delicately embroidered handkerchief that was fitted in an oval frame no larger than a pear. Across the center was a line of cross- st.i.tching that gave the appearance of a row of figures joined at the hands with a lone star above them, similar to the design of the household quilt patterns.
”Your mother gave me this ornament the year you were born.”
My heart fluttered because she so rarely spoke of my mother. I a.s.sumed their relations.h.i.+p was not close because they were so different; however, a soft, yearning expression pained her face as she admired the ornament twirling slowly on the evergreen bough.
”Everything was plain and simple for her,” she mused, drawing me into her reminiscence. ”I envied her for it.” As quickly as Aunt Augusta gave me the warm reflection, she s.n.a.t.c.hed it away. ”It also made me fear for her. The world is not a plain and simple place. One wrong step, and a sea of consequence will crash down on you.”
She was glaring at me now, waiting for a response. ”Your uncle tells me he saw you frequenting Mud Run while I was away.”
”I was only-”
”You have no business there, and I will not stand for improper behavior. You have grown too familiar with Livetta, and the repercussions resulting from an indiscretion of this nature are more far-reaching than a child's mind can grasp.”
”Stop calling me a child. I am a grown woman, and your harsh words no longer frighten me.”
She grabbed my shoulders roughly and shook me. ”It is not me you need to fear. This is not a game. I cannot protect you outside these walls. Southern tradition and structure are under attack. Anyone who moves against public opinion will be viewed as a traitor. And punished as one as well.”
”Livie was ill. I went to check on her, the same as you look in on the Runian women when they deliver a child. Did you ask Uncle Mooney how he came to see me that night?” I pushed her hands off me. ”He was down there having his way with Fatima, and I walked in on him. So don't you ever preach to me about proper behavior.”
Aunt Augusta was aghast, and I took great pleasure in delivering the blow.
”Mooney was in Mud Run?”
”Squealing like a pig in slop. And it was not his first visit to Fatima, poor thing. I cried for her too, and am not ashamed to admit it.”
I turned and ran from the room, expecting Aunt Augusta to command me to stop, but no harsh words came. Although I won the battle, when I reached my room, I screamed against my pillow in frustration. It was all so hopeless. Near midday, there came a soft tap against the door.
”Hannah, are you there?” Colt's voice was low and soothing. ”Augusta is visiting West Gate. Come down to the sitting room and talk with me.”
When I opened the door, his smile coaxed me out of hiding. ”That's my girl,” he said, offering me his elbow. ”I was concerned when you disappeared last night. I had your promise of the last dance, but you were nowhere to be found.”
”Forgive me, Colt. I just could not bear another moment.”
”Oh, thankfully there is nothing to forgive,” he said as we reached the bottom of the staircase. He escorted me to the bench near the tree, where we sat side by side. ”Genevieve Moffett was tracking me like a ba.s.set hound, so I took refuge in the kitchen with Granny Morgan. Now, if Genevieve had found me and claimed me for a dance, then forgiveness would be out of the question.”
He nudged me until I smiled, and it felt good. My dear Colt. Even though I was certain Aunt Augusta had sent him to speak to me, I let my guard down enough to tease him back.
”I imagine the inconvenience of being sequestered in the kitchen was offset by the possibility of commandeering an extra piece of Granny's apple cobbler.”
”Sweet Hannah,” Colt laughed. ”You know me well.”
”I know you well enough to suspect you would not knock on my chamber door without approval from Aunt Augusta.”
”Her distress is not without cause. I warned you from the beginning that you had to be careful with regard to Livetta. It is a delicate matter, now more than ever. You must act with your head instead of your heart.”
”I should have known you would side with Aunt Augusta,” I said, dripping with disappointment.
”We are not on opposite sides. These are dangerous times, and my warning is meant to protect you from harm. And protect Livetta as well. I feel an attachment to her just as you do. However, you cannot let your feelings go too far.”