Southern Legacy: Completed Version Page 39

  “Little Fannie was sickly,” Jo said in her defense. “Poor Mother Montgomery was quite distressed.”

  “You are too kindhearted. Why, look at her! Not to mention, she went after your best friend. It is said that the two of them are inseparable.”

  Jo glanced over the fan to look at Charlotte. Something was wrong with her dear friend. She knew her too well not to recognize that Charlotte wasn’t the same toward her since she married. The thought crossed Jo’s mind it might have something to do with her pregnancy. Like Grace Ann’s situation, Charlotte had not been able to conceive.

  “I believe it’s time for you to be in bed, Mrs. Montgomery.”

  Placing the fan down, she looked up at her husband. Despite her back aching and her swollen feet, she suddenly didn’t want to leave…not with Kathleen acting as if she was hostess.

  “I can’t leave our guests, Wade,” she protested.

  “I’m certain they will understand. You need to rest. Come, I will see you back to our room.”

  She realized she was not going to win the debate and accepted his hand, helping her to her feet. Oh, mother of all! I’m huge! When she looked up into Wade’s face, she saw the amusement in his eyes. Suddenly a wave of pity swept through her. She fought back her tears. Tears for only heaven knew what reason.

  Wade left after he tucked her in bed. Alone in the dark, her mind wandered to the goings-on downstairs. Tossing and turning, she slept little, wishing Wade would come to bed. Somewhere in the middle of the night, she awoke alone. She cried.

  In the wee hours of the morning, Jo crawled out of bed, her wrap tight around her. Where was Wade? Her bare feet crossed the cold floor, but as she turned the handle of the door, a voice called to her.

  “Josephine, where are you going? Do you need anything? I can call Rosa for you.”

  Startled, Jo clutched her heart. “Oh, Wade!” she cried. “You scared me so! What are you doing in the chair?”

  His hair lay plastered to the left side of his head. He wore his nightclothes and had pulled a blanket around him. He looked most uncomfortable. “I didn’t want to disturb you.” He yawned as his long legs stretched out from the blanket. “Do you feel alright? It is not even light outside.”

  “I was looking for you.” For some unknown reason, her voice faltered. Tears welled. “You weren’t in bed…You would rather sleep in a chair than with me?”

  “Oh, my dear.” He took her in his arms and embraced her tightly. Kissing the top of her head, he murmured, “I didn’t want to disturb you. You were tossing and turning. Here.” He swept her in his arms and placed her back into bed. “Now, stay where I put you.”

  He eased in beside her and kissed her.

  “You looked so miserable in that chair…but you can’t sleep with me?”

  “I don’t think I’m going to win this talk if we continue.” He snuggled next to her. “I told you I wouldn’t leave our bed. I won’t. It is only I think living in Charleston is disturbing you. I believe you need peace and quiet at the end of your confinement. Would you like to return to Magnolia Bluff?”

  “Alone?”

  “No,” he assured her. “I will be there. I can travel by boat the days I need to return to Charleston.”

  Jo said nothing more, not wanting to admit she wanted desperately to be away from the city. Her anxiety eased to know she would be going back to their home—the place her child was conceived, the place her child would be born and raised.

  * * * *

  Josephine slept through most of the journey back to Magnolia Bluff. True to his word, Wade had brought her home, along with Mother Montgomery and baby Fannie.

  “You are not mad with me for wanting to leave Charleston?” Jo asked when the carriage turned down the lane toward the plantation house.

  A smile flickered across his face as he reached over and caressed her face. “No, never. You should not worry about anything but our child. I was born here. Now my child will be. This is our home…his heritage.”

  The carriage came to a stop and the door opened. Wade exited first and extended his hand to her. A chill was in the air, but the day was bright. Glancing upward, Jo soaked in the sight. Sunrays streamed down from the heavens as if God smiled down upon them.

  She looked upon her husband’s smiling face.

  “Welcome home, Mrs. Montgomery.”

  * * * *

  Fall took on a deep hue of vibrant colors as the leaves began to fall. The fields had been harvested and the garden pruned for the upcoming winter. The wonderful aroma of apple pie filled the house.

  Jo had been at Magnolia Bluff for two weeks. How quickly she had fallen into a routine with a newfound confidence. Her days were spent managing the household, knitting and sewing for the baby, and taking long walks. Oh, how she loved her strolls!

  Wade accompanied her most days but when he wasn’t available, he made sure Rosa went with her. He wouldn’t allow her to go out alone. When he would go into Charleston, he would leave early and return late. He had only stayed over once.

  Miss Hazel moved into the main house. With Jo’s time growing near, her presence gave Jo a sense of comfort that her mammy would be there for the delivery. Miss Hazel had seen that the nursery had been opened up and prepared, putting Jo’s mind at ease.

  Early on a Thursday morning, Jo was engaged in knitting a blanket when the dogs began to bark. Wade had gone hunting with his grandfather before breakfast. At first, she assumed they had returned. Making her way to the window, she was surprised to see a carriage approach. The vehicle stopped—Charlotte and Jenna exited.

  Jo made her way to the door and waited for the two to be announced. Before either woman had time to step into the parlor, Jo shrieked, “Charlotte!”

  Her arms went around her old friend. Before she realized it, both of them had succumbed to tears. Sniffling back her sobs, Jo took a step back from Charlotte and then hugged her once again. “Charlotte, I’m so glad you have come.” She gently smoothed back the loosened tresses of her friend. “It is unexpected.”

  “I hope you’re not angry.” Charlotte winced slightly. “I had to see you.”

  “I’m so glad that you have come.”

  Jenna walked in without comment and hugged Jo. “It was my idea. I suggested to Charlotte it would do her good to come back to Magnolia Bluff.”

  “It has certainly lifted my spirits to see both of you.” Jo took Charlotte by the hand. “I’m so happy to have you here. You are staying for the birth?”

  “I don’t know,” Charlotte said tentatively. “Arthur said I could come, but he wants me back by the end of the week.”

  “He will survive for a few days, I’m certain.” Jenna shrugged in the most nonchalant manner. “He had no choice. I needed you.”

  Confused by the exchange, Jo asked, “Needed her? Why?”

  “It is Anna,” Jenna began. “She has another fever and wants Momma. Andrew is seeing to her. I promised her that Charlotte and I would come and help you and baby Fannie so Momma could go back to Charleston. Although, it took some convincing for Charlotte to accompany me.”

  Looking back at Charlotte, Jo pressed, “You did not want to come?”

  “Why ever would you think such a thing?” Charlotte declared, but she blushed and lowered her gaze. “Oh, Jo, I’m so sorry, but it was only…Arthur has wanted me to keep my distance. It was only because Andrew and Jenna insisted so…”

  “Why would Arthur want to keep you away from me?”

  “Understand, he is only looking out for me, Jo,” she said with such sadness in her voice. “He doesn’t understand how close we…were once. I think he was worried that there might be a scandal…”

  Jo blinked in surprise. “Arthur was concerned that I might taint your name? Charlotte, we are family.”

  Tears came to Charlotte’s eyes. “Arthur…he looks after me.” She shook her head, finding it hard to come up with the words she wanted to say. “He let me come today to see you.” Her voice carried higher. “But I…I c
an’t stay.”

  Jo leaned back in an effort to restrain the urge to unleash her temper against a man who wasn’t even there. Instead, she said, “Why, Charlotte, you love Magnolia Bluff, and I would love for you to be with me during my confinement. I’m certain, Wade will insist. Arthur can also come and stay. Wade said that the hunting has been the best it has been in years. I will have him send word to Arthur.”

  Charlotte looked over at Jo, but shied away when Jo’s eyes met hers. “No…no, Arthur is expecting me home…he would be angry.”

  “Expecting you home? You only just arrived!” Jo reached over and squeezed Charlotte’s hand. “Have you missed me as I have you?”

  “Oh, Josephine, you have always been a good friend. Much more so than I deserve.” Charlotte released a tremulous sigh. “I wanted to come. Truly I did and Arthur agreed when Kathleen suggested I talk to you and beg forgiveness for Andrew.”

  Immediately, Jo fumed. So Kathleen was behind this! It should not have shocked her, but to use Charlotte in this manner…to have gone to her husband! It just made no sense.

  “Forgive Andrew? I don’t understand. You did not come to visit, but to plead for Andrew?”

  Charlotte seemed befuddled and hesitated before she continued. “Do you not believe it is a shame to hold to being angry at someone when you seem so much happier with Wade? Look at yourself. You can’t deny that you would have been miserable married to Andrew. Don’t you believe everything ended well for everyone?”

  “Dear Charlotte, you don’t know everything that happened…the humiliation…the pain…all because of Andrew’s selfish act. Do you not know what happened when I returned…Harry Lee…what he did to Gillie…Cullen.” She caught her breath. “It killed Papa.” Jo had not meant for her emotions to run away with her.

  Charlotte began to tremble again. “Oh, Jo, I didn’t mean to upset you. I know nothing of what happened to Gillie…or Cullen.” Her hands shook. “It is you...you seem different now than you did before you left. It’s in your eyes.”

  “Of course it is, silly,” Jo said with a sudden light-heartedness in a vain attempt to deflate the rising tension. “I’m going to have a child. It changes all women.”

  “No, it’s more than that. There’s a fire in your eyes that wasn’t there before. To be honest,” Charlotte said, “before you left, I was worried about you.”

  Jo studied her friend for a moment. She was different. There was a fire inside her, a motherly instinct to protect her babe. Her need to shield her baby wasn’t something she could talk to Charlotte about, or anyone for that matter.

  Losing patience, Jenna said, “Charlotte, do not hedge the truth. The nerve of that woman to press upon you to bother Jo during her confinement! You shouldn’t allow it.”

  “Arthur says that Kathleen is family and that she needs friends. She has been treated poorly since she arrived. She is Andrew’s wife and doors have been closed to her because of you, Jo.”

  “With reason, Charlotte,” Jo said, aghast. “But it was not my actions, but hers that have closed doors. Darling, she married my fiancé and the letter she sent to my dear Papa…”

  “Please, Jo, how was she to know that he would have a heart attack? She feels awful and wants nothing more than for you to forgive her. It is unfair to blame her for your loss.”

  “Not blame her?” Jo questioned, confused at her friend’s insistence on forgiving that woman. Anger swelled, she pressed, “Why would I not blame her, Charlotte? All she had to do was tell me Andrew had married her. Why would she send a letter to my father? I was in Philadelphia. Why? If you know her so well, tell me why?”

  Charlotte rose and then faltered. Jenna immediately stood and wrapped her arm about her. Jo was slower in her response, but helped Charlotte to the settee. As she lifted her legs, Jo caught sight of Charlotte’s ankle.

  Swollen and bruised, Jo wondered how Charlotte walked. “Charlotte, you are injured. What happened?”

  “It’s nothing,” Charlotte insisted. “You know I’m such a klutz. I tripped down the stairs. That is all.”

  “It’s not all, you silly girl,” Jo declared. “You are going to bed immediately.”

  “No.” Charlotte’s eyes widened…fearful. “I—”

  “We will not take no for an answer. Will we, Jenna?” Jo glanced over at Jenna. “Rest. I will go have your rooms prepared and inform Mother Montgomery of your arrival.”

  Jenna followed Jo to the door. With her hand on Jo’s arm, she halted Jo’s progress. “It will do Charlotte good to get away from Charleston for a time.”

  “What is wrong with her?”

  Looking back over her shoulder, Jenna leaned down for Jo’s ears only. “It is whispered that Kathleen was seen with Arthur, walking in the Sawyers’ garden last week…alone.”

  Jo’s heart sank. Poor Charlotte! Poor Andrew! “I swear! What is wrong with that woman?”

  “I don’t know,” Jenna answered. “But I believe it will be best for Charlotte to stay here.”

  “But of course,” Jo agreed. “I will have Wade send Arthur word. He would not dare go against Wade.”

  * * * *

  The last few days had been a pleasurable time for Josephine. Though Mother Montgomery had returned to Charleston to care for Anna, she had sent word that Anna’s fever had broken. It was her hope to be back at Magnolia Bluff before the birth.

  While her mother was away, Jenna had made it her mission to see that Jo’s burden around the plantation had been eased. Charlotte had taken to overseeing the care of Fannie. Jo took joy in watching Charlotte playing with Fannie and decided it was what Charlotte needed—a baby of her own.

  Jo saw Charlotte return to a semblance of her former self. Color returned to her cheeks. At times, she even smiled. It did not go unnoticed by Jo that Charlotte had not even mentioned Arthur, and Jo didn’t press. She did not want anything to disturb the peace she had found.

  Awaiting her time, Jo spent her days with a growing anticipation. She had come upon the realization that Wade was the Wade of old: easy mannered, gracious, and charming. His care and concern for her was evident to everyone. She took comfort with him by her side.

  The sound of a rapidly approaching horse interrupted Jenna’s play on the fortepiano. Wade rose, but heavy footsteps followed by a loud pounding on the front door, led to a stout, medium height man bursting into the room.

  Immediately, Jo recognized Arthur Bowles. He held a hat in his hand, uncovering his unkempt hair. He looked quite disheveled; his waistcoat was unbuttoned and his cravat hung loose. It was obvious he had traveled fast and hard.

  Moreover, he reeked of whiskey on both body and breath. His stubble face transformed into a reddened rage when his eyes caught sight of his wife, who seemed frozen in her chair. “Charlotte, why did you not return? I told you…”

  Jo watched mortified as the man rushed across the floor and pulled Charlotte to her feet. His expression hardened; his eyes blazed with pure rage. A painful moan escaped Charlotte when he raised his hand. For a moment, Jo feared the awful man was going to slap Charlotte before Wade seized hold of the outraged man and hauled him away from his cousin.

  Jenna swiftly took Charlotte into her arms in a protective manner, placing herself between Charlotte and her husband. Grandfather Montgomery rose and stood between the women and the enraged husband as another barrier.

  Wade spun Arthur around and faced the man, eye to eye. “I warn you now, sir, to contain your temper or you will sorely regret your actions. You will not now or ever raise your hand to a woman in his house.”

  Arthur sneered. “She is my wife. I will do with her what I will.”

  As he pulled him up by his lapel, Wade barked, “She is my cousin and this is my home. Make no mistake about it. You will not treat a member of my family in this manner under my roof.”

  Arthur scoffed. “Do not lecture me when you have sorely ill-treated one of your own. A sweet, kind soul who has no one. You and your family have turned your back on one in need�
�so do not lecture me.”

  Wade wasted no time in questioning who Arthur spoke of; the whole of the room knew who he meant. Wade laughed. “You are a fool if you believe Kathleen to be the innocent party.”

  Indignant, Arthur drew himself up to full height. His bitterness remained unrestrained. “Kathleen is your family! The poor woman has been treated abominably. Living in a strange city that holds animosity toward her because she was born north of the Mason-Dixon—”

  “Please don’t,” Wade demanded. “Don’t say another word. You need to sleep off your bottle of courage.”

  “Courage?” Arthur’s voice rose. “Are you questioning my courage? I assure you I have already signed up to fight those damn Yankees. Have you?”

  “Surely you jest! Why is everyone so fired up about secession? To fight a war? It all seems so silly to me. Why would anyone want a stupid war?” Jo stated forcefully, having enough of Arthur’s nonsense.

  “I am not surprised at your sentiment. It is whispered you are a Yankee sympathizer.” Arthur sneered with righteous anger. “If Lincoln is elected, no good Southerner will be happy until Yankee blood is spilled. Would you like that, Josephine Montgomery? How will you feel when your lover has taken up arms against the South?”

  Wade’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “Watch your words. You are talking to my wife.”

  Arthur huffed. “Was she not set to marry that damn Yankee cousin of yours after Andrew jilted her? I hear he’s done gone and signed himself back up in the Navy for the Union. Didn’t tell her, did ya, Charlotte? Ya said that your Jo would never side against the South. I tell ya she has… It’s blasphemy! Why, I’ve heard it said she’s a nigger lover.”

  “You little man! You don’t know me, so don’t try twisting my actions.” Jo’s eyes blazed and bore into him. “Do not question my loyalty. I have no doubt that we, Southerners, are drenched in tradition of honor and loyalty. Our men are brave and courageous, but I do feel there is a need to change…it is ours to make right. But if you question where I stand if secession comes, make no mistake about where I’ll be. I have a Rebel heart and can be no other.”