Because of Rebecca

chapter Fourteen

Drizzling rain welcomed the train as it pulled into the station in Memphis. Despite the damp and muggy summer morning air, Rebecca wrapped the cloak around her and Ruth as much for warmth as protection from the wet.

They dashed across the street to the covered boardwalk.

Ruth’s steady hand on Rebecca’s arm kept her from falling into the mud when her booted foot slipped. The two giggled nervously as Rebecca removed the cloak and shook the rain from it, before wrapping it again around her shoulders. She noticed a well-dressed man in a white suit and plaid vest leaning against a post watching them.

“Goodness, are you all right?” Ruth asked.

“Yes. Just startled and out of breath.” Rebecca turned her back to the man to shield Ruth from seeing him. “I know it is mid-morning, but do you feel like breakfast?”

Ruth nodded.

“Follow me. I know a place where we can get something to eat.”

As they walked, Rebecca thought she heard footsteps following them. She stole a peek over her shoulder. It was the same man from the store not ten feet behind them. He smoked a cheroot and tipped his hat to her. She gasped and looked straight ahead.

“What’s wrong?” Ruth asked.

“Don’t be alarmed, but I think we’re being followed. Keep close to my side and don’t look back,” she whispered, feeling the girl tense and clutch her arm tighter.

The rain had let up by the time the boardwalk ended, and they turned down another side street toward a church. The man passed them by, but Rebecca wasn’t so certain it wasn’t a move to give them false security. She quickened her pace and urged Ruth toward the small parish house to the left. Rebecca knocked on the door, and a few moments later it swung open.

“Lord love ya,” an elderly woman greeted, hugging Rebecca quickly. “Come in. Come in.”

“Thank you, Mawsy.” Rebecca removed her cloak, took Ruth’s from her, and hung them on a peg by the door. “This is my friend Delia. We were hoping to have breakfast with you.”

“I’ve been expecting ya for nearly a week now. Was gettin’ awful worried, but Ben put me at ease. Said we’d have heard if somethin’ went wrong,” Mawsy rattled, putting a meager meal on the small table.

“Go ahead and sit down, Delia” Rebecca urged. “Where’s Ben this morning?”

“Funeral over in Wakefield for a dear friend of his. He should be back tonight. He’ll be sorry he missed ya. He always likes to pray with the travelers before they go.” Mawsy sat at the table, said a short prayer and helped herself to the food. “Eat up. We gotta get going soon.”

Rebecca watched Ruth for a short time as she timidly ate a dry biscuit. She wanted to put her at ease and smiled at her. “You’ll be traveling with Mawsy as her companion to the meeting point.”

Ruth slowly nodded. She picked up another biscuit.

“How many do you think they’ll be today?” Rebecca asked, turning her attention to Mawsy.

“Hard to tell. We had a dozen last week.” Mawsy finished her coffee and poured another cup.

“You do this for more ’n just me?” Ruth asked.

“Sure do.” Mawsy took her dishes to the sink. “I’ll go change into my spiffier traveling clothes. Be back shortly.”

“I’m worried,” Ruth said when Mawsy was safely out of the room.

“Try not to,” Rebecca urged.

“But what about that man that followed us?”

“He passed on by when we turned down the side street. You’ll be safe traveling with Mawsy.”

“Aren’t ya going with us?”

“No. My part of the journey is over. It’s safer that Mawsy is the one who takes you to the meeting point. The less people who know about its location the better.” She cleared the table.

Ruth nodded and slowly rose to help put the kitchen in order.

Once they were finished Rebecca said, “We have a plainer dress to fit the style a companion would wear for you to change into. Did they send the make-up?”

“It’s in my bag,” Ruth said. “Are ya sure it’s safe?”

Rebecca touched her arm in reassurance. “As safe as the rest of this journey has been. There are no guarantees. We try to do what we can to ensure you reach your destination without being caught. There’s danger to all involved.”

She nodded and bit her lower lip. “Am I closer now?”

“Yes.”

“Then why do I feel so scared?”

Rebecca hugged her. “Sometimes we can’t help but fear the unknown. I’m still scared too, but I have faith we’ll see victory. I’ve been praying for it.”

The girl wiped moisture from her eyes with the back of her hands.

“Come. Let’s get you changed.” She led the way to the small room off from the kitchen. Touching up the make-up Madame Monique had applied the night before, she made sure it looked natural.

By the time Mawsy returned to the kitchen, Rebecca had Ruth dressed as a traveling companion. No longer did she wear the butter colored silk dress, but a sturdy, long sleeved charcoal blue with tiny black buttons down the front. Dove gray gloves covered her hands, and a matching hat hid most of the curls of her ebony wig.

A knock came at the kitchen door and the three women froze. Rebecca pulled Ruth to the side and they stepped out of view before Mawsy answered the door. She wrapped a protective arm around the young woman, and they held their breath until they heard Mawsy greet the visitor.

“Good morning, Horton. Would ya like a cup of coffee before we go?”

“I already had my fill, Mawsy, but thank ya,” the man said. “Any baggage today?”

“Just one. We’re traveling light for this trip. Come along, Delia.”

Timidly, Ruth left Rebecca in the shadows. “Yes, miss.” She handed her bag to the driver and reached for her cloak on the peg.

Rebecca waited five minutes after the door closed before donning her own cloak and leaving the parish house. She made sure the man she’d spotted earlier wasn’t hanging around before walking to the other end of the boardwalk and hailing a cab. She needed to see her lawyer.

****

Stuart Delaney watched from the doorway of the bakery as the auburn-haired beauty climbed into the carriage. He didn’t believe he’d seen her before, but there was definitely something about the way she looked that reminded him of the chit, Mariah, he’d bedded in New Orleans almost two years ago. The thought brought back pleasant memories. He recalled his clever manipulation at the masquerade party getting his friend to come as a priest to perform the “marriage ceremony.” The chit had been his for the taking after that little ruse. He wondered what ever happened to her. Her aunt had hurried her away from New Orleans the following day, and he’d never seen her again, but that hadn’t stopped him from thinking about her.

He lit another cheroot and took a few draws before heading back to the Exeter Hotel.

****

“Miss Davis, what a surprise,” Colton Merewether greeted when Rebecca entered his law office. “It’s been almost a year since you were here.”

“Yes. Much has happened since then.” She took the seat he offered.

“I heard about Mariah’s passing, and I’m deeply sorry,” he said. “Please forgive me for not paying a call on you and your aunt before now.”

“Thank you. That is partly why I’m here and why it has taken so long to do this. My aunt and I have stayed to ourselves at our country home while in mourning. As much as I love the home, I’m thinking of selling. Josephine and I need a fresh start. I’ve been looking at some property in Jackson, Mississippi.”

“I’m sorry to hear we will be losing you from our fine community. I know the church will greatly miss your aunt’s dutiful service,” Mr. Merewether said. “What are your plans for the cottage and property?”

“It was my family’s home for many years, but I do not see any reason to retain it. My aunt has become very fond of the community we have visited and I believe she wishes to stay as much as I do. That is why I’ve decided to sell. I was hoping you could make the necessary arrangements for me?”

“Certainly. It may take a few days to draw up the necessary paperwork for your signature.”

“I don’t have a few days, Mr. Merewether,” Rebecca said. “I’ve been away in Jackson for the last few weeks and only came in on business today. I must return as soon as possible. Aunt Josephine is expecting me.”

“I understand, Miss Davis, but what you are asking is highly irregular. Don’t you want a detailed accounting of the furnishings, personal belongings, what you want to keep and what you want to sell and so forth before you return to Mississippi?”

Rebecca considered what he said. “Yes. I hadn’t realized it might take so long to arrange.”

“I can take you out to the cottage this afternoon to look things over and begin the process. Does that meet with your approval?”

“That should be fine. I’d planned to stay in town tonight so I’ll be at the Exeter Hotel. You can call on me there.”

“I’ll call around two,” Mr. Merewether said, standing.

“Thank you very much.” Rebecca stood and shook the man’s hand.

When she exited the lawyer’s office, the sun shined and there was no sign of the morning’s earlier rain shower. She scanned the street for any unlikely characters who could be watching her, then headed to the hotel to get a room.

Safely inside her room, she relaxed for the first time since she left Jackson the night before. Even with Ruth out of her care, she was still in danger of being caught. If the wrong person saw them together, even though Ruth wore a very good disguise, it could raise suspicion about them.

Nervously, she poured some water from the pitcher on the washstand and dipped a towel in it before blotting her face and neck with it. Tired, she took off her dress and lay down on the bed. She tried not to worry about her part of the mission. It was over and she’d be safely back in Jackson as soon as she took care of business with Mr. Merewether. She also needed to make a visit to the bank and have her funds transferred to Jackson as well.

Turning onto her side, she closed her eyes and thought about Lucas. She missed him. She also wondered if Josephine and Doctor Gordon were attending Mass together today. Dear Charlotte was a Godsend with the way she took care of Lucas and Josephine when she wasn’t there. Then her thoughts stopped on Jared. He was the one she longed to see the most when she returned. She wanted to set matters right with him. If he’d still have her, she’d accept his proposal. And whether he wanted her to or not, she planned on buying Rory’s markers. After meeting his cousin, she doubted he’d be so honorable as to cover them.

****

It was late in the afternoon when Jared stepped off the train in Memphis the next day. He checked with the conductor and got directions to the nearest hotel. After the long trip, he needed a bath and a shave before he started searching for Rebecca. His stomach rumbled, and he decided he’d take time to eat something as well.

At the hotel, he requested a hot bath and signed the registry book. He couldn’t believe his luck when he saw Rebecca’s signature a few lines above his. Fate was being kind to let him come to the very hotel where she stayed.

“Excuse me, but can you tell me if Miss Davis is still here?” He pointed to the name so the clerk could see.

The bell clerk looked at the book and turned to the alcove of slots. “Her key’s not here. She must be in her room.”

Jared didn’t want to alarm her by showing up at her door unexpected. It was better if he announced he’d followed her to Memphis. She might not like it, but he was here and there wasn’t much she could do about it. “Can I leave a message for her then?”

“Of course.”

The clerk gave him some paper and he jotted down a note. He folded the paper, slid it into the envelope, and handed it back to the man. “Please see that she gets this.”

“Yes, sir.”

Jared turned, smelled the delicious aromas coming from the dining room to the left of the lobby, and debated whether he should eat or go to his room. Unable to dispel the need to bathe, he started up to his room, but stopped when he heard a man call his name.

“Hollingsworth. Is that you?”

Surprised, he slowly turned and came face to face with a flamboyantly dressed man. The brightly plaid vest visible underneath the white coat gave the man’s preferred profession away. A gambler.

“Do I know you?” Jared asked, wondering how many people in the world would mistake him for Rory upon first glance.

The man studied him for a moment and shook his head. “I beg your pardon, sir, but I thought you were someone else.”

“No harm.” He sized the man up curious if he were a friend or foe of Rory’s, before he continued on up to his room.

The hot bath he’d ordered arrived shortly after he entered his room. He didn’t waste a moment taking advantage of the steam and he relaxed. He closed his eyes and his thoughts turned to Rebecca. Knowing she was somewhere within the hotel made him long to find her. But he’d reacted too irrationally the last few times they’d met, so he vowed to practice a little patience.

****

Rebecca woke from a nap to knocking at her door. She slowly got up and slipped on the dress she’d worn to the bank that morning. Transferring her money to Jackson had not been as simple as she’d imagined. There had been so many documents to sign. “Just a minute.”

She opened the door and a bellboy handed her an envelope. “Please wait a moment.” She went to get her purse and took out a coin to hand to the lad. “Thank you.”

She closed the door wondering who could be sending her a message at the hotel. The only person who could possibly need to reach her was her lawyer and they were to meet again this afternoon. Unfolding the paper, she quickly read the words, stopping when she saw the closure.

Jared. Her heart skipped a beat.

How had he found out where she had went?