Allegheny Hideaway. Kimberly Tanner GordonЧитать онлайн книгу.
“Enjoy your visit, Missus Blackheart,” the captain said as she stepped onto the gangplank. “Do you need any assistance getting down?”
“No, thank you, Captain,” Iris answered, nodding politely. She hurried down as fast as she dared to avoid any more conversation.
Iris watched as her trunk was loaded onto a wagon and driven to the Westport Hotel just three blocks away. She quickly made the short walk and registered inside as Missus Eugene Gray. In her room, she hastily changed into a pretty colorful dress in varying shades of red. She then pulled on the light brown wig and a cute straw hat with a simple ruffle of flowers on top. Without wasting a moment, she found her receipt for Hattie and rushed back to the ship. Since no one had seen her face on board, they did not recognize her at all when she walked up to the captain.
“Excuse me sir,” she called out waving.
He saw the pretty young woman below and waved back.
“Where can I pick up my new slave?” she asked, trying to act helpless as she waved her receipt.
The captain smiled and pointed a hand toward the back of the ship.
“Thank you!” Iris called out with another flirty wave.
Satisfied, she walked to the unloading area where several slaves were waiting in a pen like livestock. Some, to her horror, were even chained. Iris spotted Hattie, who did not look well. Iris quickened her steps and took her paperwork to the man who looked like he was in charge.
“Sir, I’ve come for my new slave,” she spoke loudly.
The man gave Iris a glancing over. His eyebrow shot up with approval. “A new slave, eh?” he asked back.
“Yes. A female. I’m guessing it’s that one,” she said, pointing to Hattie.
The man pointed at Hattie and ordered, “Come here!” He then looked at the papers he was given back in Charleston and compared them to what he was just given. “Yeah, she’s the one.” The man stamped the receipt and handed the sheet back to Iris. “There you go, ma’am. Have a good day now. And if you ever need another slave, you just come see me,” he added with a wink.
Iris nodded politely, but was disgusted. Hattie walked forward and Iris took her by the upper arm.
“Come with me,” she ordered sternly, just for show.
When they were out of earshot, Hattie let out a breath of relief. “Ma’am, I am so glad to see you.” She was almost in tears. “I’s never been so scared in a long time as I was on that ship.”
“You’re safe again now. Remember to call me Missus Gray while we are here. On the next ship, I’ll make sure you can stay with me.”
Hattie made an awful face. “Do we have to go on another one?”
“I’m afraid so, but not right away,” Iris answered. “Why don’t we go get something to eat right now? Later we can look into the train schedule for tomorrow.”
Hattie smiled. “I am awful hungry. We only got one meal, and it was terrible.” The slave walked on a few more feet in silence, then asked, “Where are we goin’ go on this train?”
Iris looked around. No one was listening. “Norfolk, Virginia.”
On a pretty morning the following day, Iris and Hattie boarded the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad. Iris wore her red dress and light brown wig again and told Hattie to sit in the back of the train car on a special bench just for servants. They were in for a long day of traveling, with many stops along the way. Iris spent the time reading a newspaper she had purchased that morning. Hattie either visited with another maid, looked out the window, or watched the people inside the car. About supper time, the train finally pulled into the depot at Norfolk. It was a busy little seaside town. After de-boarding, Iris found a nice little inn. Hattie had her own servant’s room on the ground floor and was thankful for the quiet, private space. Iris’ room was on the third floor, and had a great view of the bay. The pretty building overlooked the harbor and served a delicious supper downstairs. Iris and Hattie went for a short stroll after eating, to stretch their legs a bit after such a long day in a chair.
All the little shops along the street were closed for the evening, but the two friends enjoyed the fresh air and change of scenery. They returned to the inn long before dark to avoid any trouble and slept soundly.
After a hearty breakfast of corned beef over biscuits, Iris, still in her brown wig, headed out in a peach colored dress to find a ship. Hattie went along for protection. Unfortunately, Iris learned that no ships were heading to Baltimore until the next day.
“Well, Hattie, uh, Mary Grace …” Iris corrected herself. They had promised not to use their real names on this entire trip. “Looks like we have some free time today. I think I would like to browse around the stores. You can have a little money too if you want to buy yourself a trinket or something.”
“Thank you, ma’am,” the twenty year old replied, thrilled at the treat. “Are you sure you have enough to get us where we’re goin’?”
“Yes. Don’t you worry about that. We’ll be fine.”
In the mercantile, Hattie picked out a bar of softly scented soap and a small sampler to stitch. “It will give me something to do on the ship. Plus, I would like to hang it in my new room, when we get settled.”
“That’s a fine idea,” Iris approved. She picked out a new pair of soft white kid leather gloves, then paid for all the purchases.
The sales clerk noticed her accent and commented, “You’re not from around here, are you miss?”
“Why no, sir, I’m not,” she answered with a smile.
“Where are you from?” he questioned nosily.
“Georgia,” she fibbed. “Ever been there?”
“No miss, but if all the ladies are as lovely as you, I guess I need to go there,” he teased with a grin and a wink. “What brings you all the way up here?”
Smiling sweetly, when she really wanted to bite him, Iris lied. “My parents take a holiday every spring. We visit new towns all over the country. Last year, we went all the way to Texas!”
Hattie’s eyes grew wide in disbelief. Iris was getting herself in thick with this whopper.
“My word!” the young man exclaimed. “Texas huh?”
“We leave on the noon train today,” Iris continued. “I think they want to go all the way to the mountains in Virginia this time.”
“What a shame you aren’t staying longer,” the clerk told her with real disappointment on his face. “I sure would like to have seen you again in my store.”
Iris shook her head, acting of course. “What a shame … I had better go now though. Papa sure won’t want me missing the train. Bye,” she told him with a hint of flirting.
When they were outside, Hattie scolded her mistress. “That was shameful, ma’am. You shouldn’t do that. I couldn’t believe those lies you told and carrying on like that …”
Iris scoffed. “He believed it. Ate up every word. Did you see it?” she almost giggled. “Really Grace, do you think he believes I’m a runaway wife with jet black hair? No. He ate up my tale and that’s just what he’ll repeat if he’s ever asked. This is fun actually. I’m going to be a different person at each big town we stay in. It will be a detective’s nightmare.” Iris walked a few more steps pridefully, then added, “I’m so enjoying this freedom. I’ve never felt anything like it before.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Hattie answered. She had often wondered how it would feel to be free. It would be nice to have her freedom too.
The next morning, at seven-thirty, the ship north pulled away from port. A strong wind blew from the west. Iris had a bad feeling there would be a thunderstorm