Road to Freedom

Chapter 3

The wagon bounced along the worn path, through the forest. The sun was getting ready to set, and the crickets were tuning up their legs. There was the sound of something running through the woods. At first, Daniel thought it was animals getting ready to bed down for the night. Yet it seemed that whenever he looked toward the direction of the sound, he’d see a head duck behind a tree or a group of bushes.

Daniel was about to mention this to the storekeeper, but the man simply smiled as he held the reigns lightly in his hand. If Mr. Conrad wasn’t concerned about what or who was following them, then should he be?

After several minutes of the ride, the path began to widen, and the forest pull back. In place of the trees were small buildings. There weren’t many. There were three on the left side of the path: each resembling each other in structure. One story buildings made of dark, aged wood and each having a front porch. One of the buildings had a small stable and coral in the back, both made of the same rough looking wood. The buildings looked run down, but couldn’t be considered a shack. Daniel figured that with some paint, the buildings wouldn’t look half bad. On the other side of the path were two buildings. They too had the same structure of the other buildings, but one had a small, wooden cross on top – proudly identifying itself as the communities’ church. This was Freedom, Virginia.

People began to come out of or around from the back of these buildings. Daniel didn’t know what to think when he saw how dark they were. He had always tried to imagine what a Negro must look like, and now here he was, witnessing for himself. To his surprise, they weren’t monstrous looking like he had always pictured them. They looked just like simple, everyday people: living, working, and soon to be learning.

They all gathered around the wagon as Jacob and Daniel climbed down. Daniel could feel the stares and it made him uncomfortable. He was relieved when Jacob began conversing with the people.

“Good evening!” he greeted in a friendly manner, “I’ve come to pick up some items and make a few deliveries.”

“You’d better have my material, Mr. Conrad, or no more quilts and dresses for you.” a plump lady hollered as she came over to the crowd. She had her hands on her hips, and her tone was firm though there was a hint of a smile on her face.

“Now, Miss Betsy, in the short time we’ve known each other I have never let you down, have I?” Jacob asked as he reached into the back of the wagon and pulled out three bolts of different colored fabric.

Her face lit up at the sight of them. She was obviously pleased with his selection.

“I’ll go fetch those dresses and quilts for you.” she said, but before she could turn to leave, Jacob stopped her.

“Wait a minute. I have someone here I want you all to meet.” he said, placing his hand on Daniel’s shoulder. “This is Daniel Marshall. He’s going to be your teacher here for a couple of months.”

“Doc told us he was coming.” Betsy smiled and held her hand in Daniel’s direction. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Marshall.”

“You too, ma’am!” Daniel replied as he shook her hand.

“Betsy’s a seamstress and quilter.” Jacob explained, “You see, we all have a business going here. They sell me items from their trade, and I sell these items in my store. I pay them either in cash or with items they need from my store. It all works rather well.” He then continued with the introductions.  “This is Isaiah Wright and his wife, Sue.” Jacob said, acknowledging a couple to his left, “Isaiah’s a carpenter. I sell a lot of his furniture in town.”

“How d’ya do?!” Isaiah asked, but before Daniel could answer he spoke to Jacob, “I have a couple of end tables and a bookshelf for you to take tonight.”

“That’s fine! I’ll help you load them in the wagon.” Jacob said, then turned to another couple, “Pastor and Mrs. Stewart, I know you’ve been praying for this day.”

“Yes, indeed!” Pastor Stewart grinned as he reached out and shook Daniel’s hand, “Mr. Marshall, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“You’ll be teaching our children too: Mark and Ruth.” Mrs. Stewart proudly announced.

“I look forward to it.” Daniel smiled at the couple. This was the warmest greeting that he had received yet. As Jacob continued introductions, Daniel could feel the distrust in the air. He understood the feeling, for when he had first seen them he had felt the same way. Yet being here and talking to them, he began to feel the same as Mr. Conrad. Black or white: they were all human beings.

“Where’s the Doc?” Jacob asked after he and Daniel helped load Isaiah’s wood carvings into the back of the wagon.

“He had to go to the Willard farm.” Isaiah said, “Ted pulled a back muscle, and his missus says he can’t hardly walk.”

“Doc asked me to show Mr. Marshall to his home, and to extend his apologies for not being here to greet him.” Pastor said.

“Thanks, Pastor.” Jacob smiled, then turned to Daniel, “I’m leaving you in good hands. Now over at that church, you’re going to have a room full of youngsters around eight tomorrow morning. So don’t be late, teacher!”

As Jacob’s wagon pulled out of Freedom, a silence fell over the groups left behind. Daniel wondered if they were feeling as awkward as he was at that moment. Pastor stepped forward, and placed his hand on Daniel’s back.

“I’ll show you where you’ll be staying.” he said.


Daniel was escorted to the building next to the church. It looked like two separate houses joined together in the middle. It was explained to Daniel that the door to the left led to the Doc’s office. The door to the right was his home. Walking through this door, the Pastor took down a lamp that hung next to the door, lit it, and placed it back on its shelf. The interior of the home was quite simple. One large room with two separate beds at the far end: one on the right, and one of the left. At the end of each bed was a small chest of drawers. To the immediate left was a very long, narrow table that was basically clear except for a plate of food, a bread box, and a cookie jar.  Above this table hung a wash tub, and several shelves that held the cooking basics like salt, sugar, and coffee beans. To the right of this table was a stove, and on it sat a coffee pot.  Right in the middle of the room was a small table with two chairs on each end. There was note on top of the table, but Daniel decided to wait to read it after the Pastor left.

“It’s humble, but it’s warm and the roof don’t leak.” Pastor said.

“It’s fine! Thank you!” Daniel said, smiling at him.

“If you need anything, our place is off to the back of the church.” Pastor said as he placed his hat on and walked to the door, “I’ll leave you to get settled in now. Good night!”

“Good night!” Daniel said. Suit case still in hand, he walked to the table and read the note.

Mr. Marshall,

I’m sorry I wasn’t here to meet you, but I was called away at last minute. If you’re hungry, there’s a plate of food on the kitchen table. Your bed is the one to the right. I’m sure you’re tired from your trip, so don’t worry about waiting up for me. It may be late before I get back.

Doc


~~~~~


When Jacob arrived back in town, it was dark out and hardly anyone was on the street. He pulled around to the back of his store so that he could unload his wagon. Before he could climb down, though, he was met by three unwelcome guests who came from the alley. They were young men in their early twenties, and known trouble makers especially for the shop keeper. They didn’t approve of his dealings with the Negroes and had tried on several occasions to scare him out of helping them. Jacob stood firm though, and hoped the boys would tire of dealing with him. Unfortunately they hadn’t yet.



“What’s in the wagon, Mr. Conrad?” Eric asked. He was the leader of the group. His bright red hair stuck out from under his hat, and the freckles on his face seemed bright with mischief.

“I’ve warned you boys before not to come around here.” Jacob said, “Last time it was with a barrel full of rock salt. If I remember correctly, Billy, you weren’t able to sit down for a couple of weeks.”

Billy’s dark eyes grew even darker at the painful and humiliating memory.

“You been out to see them darkies again?” he asked.

“Yes, I have!” Jacob replied unashamedly.

“We saw you taking someone out there. A white boy!” Billy said, “What’s his role in all of this?”

“Well I figure that that’s his business, not mine.” Jacob said.

“You never did tell me what’s in the wagon!” Eric said as he moved toward the back. “You sneak some darkies into town?”

Eric’s hand reached for the canvas that was covering the items, but Jacob grabbed his rifle, cocked it, and pointed it at the young man. Eric quickly pulled his hand away and jumped back.

“I’ve warned you boys time and time again to stay away from here. I’ve prayed that I’d never have to kill one of you in order to get the point across, but I’m beginning to see that’s going to be the only way.” Though he had no real intention of killing Eric, Jacob still raised his rifle as though he would shoot.

“Please don’t shoot him, Mr. Conrad!” Corey, Eric’s younger brother, yelled. The youngest of the three boys, Corey just didn’t seem to have what it took to be a part of this gang. “Please don’t shoot!” Corey then turned his pleading to his brother. “Let’s go now, Eric! Who cares if he wants to see those darkies. He ain’t bothering us.”

“Listen to your brother, boy!” Jacob said, his sights still set on Eric, “He seems to have the most sense out of all of you.”

Eric scowled as he finally walked back toward the front of the wagon with his two comrades.

“Why do you care anything about them anyway?” he said, “I don’t see why a man would want to kill his own kind protecting folks that ain’t his kind.”

“You’re not my kind, Eric!” Jacob said, a smirk on his face, “You’ve got freckles. I can’t stand people with freckles.”