Editor’s Note: This is an ongoing series which runs each Thursday morning titled the Richland Chronicles Volume 3, by author Paul Lintern. It is set in 1831 and tells the story of Richland County through the eyes of young people. This is the third in a three-book trilogy. Volume 1 was Amelia Changes Her Tune, while Volume II was Isaac and Wolf Paw Find Their Home.
The trip home was much easier, of course, because it was daylight and Autumn was alone.
She walked quickly — she knew her family would be worried — but she also looked around, soaking up the day and fairly dancing for the good feeling that filled her heart.
I’ve done a good thing. I hope I can make Mother and Father see it that way.
So much for keeping a secret.
She thought about the note she had left behind, a note she figured only Elizabeth might understand, one she hoped would not cause any trouble:
Before I lay me down to sleep,
A delivery I’ve got to keep,
Walk by night, return by Day,
I pray the Lord to guide my way.
Autumn had capitalized Day, so that Father might think of Mr. Day if anything went wrong.
If anything went wrong? Everything could have gone wrong. How did I get there safely and before dawn? Someone was guiding me. Oh Lord, don’t worry my parents too much, especially so they don’t want to punish me.
She found herself in Olivesburgh and although she had no money, she hoped Mrs. Bradley there would feed her and put it on Father’s tab.
“Well, there’s the little runaway now,” Mrs. Bradley said as Autumn walked in.
Autumn cringed at the word runaway.
Any other word, please — stray, wanderer, sleepwalker — but not runaway.
“Hello, Mrs. Bradley. I wondered if I could have something to eat?”
“Of course, darling, but you know your pappy is looking for you, was by this morning.”
“I’m on my way home. Had an errand to run…”
Her words caught her throat as she looked in the corner and saw two men – those two men – eating at a table. She lowered her voice almost to a whisper.
“I’ll just be getting a couple of biscuits so I can keep on my way.”
“Nonsense,” Mrs. Bradley said. “Let me make you something good, fitting for Mr. Zeiter’s princess of the Oakland Inn.”
As she said Oakland Inn, the strangers glanced over, then Autumn could feel them staring at her, from behind Mrs. Bradley.
“Yes, your Father said you were out all night, and he didn’t know where. Shouldn’t worry him like that.”
“You’re right, Mrs. Bradley. I had better just keep going, to get home as soon as possible,” and Autumn grabbed a biscuit and stepped out the side door.
She glanced over her shoulder and saw that the men were gone. Then she turned forward and almost ran into the belt bucket of the tall stranger.
“Where you goin’ little missy?” the man said.
Don’t say anything. Don’t be scared. Just walk away.
“’Scuse me,” she said.
“I said, where you goin? Or better, where you been?”
Autumn tried to walk around him, but he grabbed her by both arms and picked her up. She struggled a bit, but knew he was not going to let go. Suddenly the doll fell out of her apron.
“What’s this?” the shorter man said, picking it up.
“Lookie here. It’s a doll. A slave’s doll. Well, missy, looks like you and us gots to have a little talk. I think you are going to show us where you took your special nighttime delivery.”
“And I think you will let go of that girl right now,” Mrs. Bradley said, waving a broom handle in his face.
“It’ll take more than a broom handle, lady,” the man said.
“How about a musket?” came the voice of Mr. Bradley behind them.
“Or two,” came another voice, someone Autumn had seen at the store before but did not know.
“Or three,” came another voice from the wagon that had just pulled up.
Grumbling, the men put Autumn down.
“She’ll be keeping her doll, too,” Mrs. Bradley said, and the stranger handed it to Autumn.
“And you will be leaving,” Mr. Bradley said. “Never to return.”
The tall stranger acted like he wanted to threaten someone, but he just clenched his teeth and the two jumped on their horses and headed north.
“Come on, I’d better take you home,” Mr. Bradley said, and Autumn nodded.
Obediently she climbed on the horse and waited for Mr. Bradley to gather a few more things. From her perch on the horse, she could see a half dozen horses coming from the south. As they neared, she could see one very familiar figure.
“Father!” she called out, so happy to see him that she forgot she might be in trouble.
Jacob, looking relieved, galloped up to Autumn, grabbed her from the horse and hugged her as tightly as she ever remembered. It felt good.
Over her father’s shoulders, she saw that the sheriff was among the others riding toward them.
“Those men were here,” Autumn told her father.
“When?”
“Just now. Mr. Bradley sent them away.”
Jacob called to the sheriff and Autumn repeated it. The sheriff talked to Mr. Bradley, then told Jacob to take Autumn home; they would be hunting for the men.
“Are the men going to be arrested?”
“Autumn, Mrs. Holstein was killed last night.”
“Mrs. Holstein?”
“We’re pretty sure it was these two men.”
“Were they the ones who beat her up?”
“They seemed to know the man who placed the ad. We think they work for him. They seem to hunt for any runaways they can find, then return them for a reward. They’re called bounty hunters.”
“Why did they kill her?”
“They thought she was keeping a family of runaways.”
Autumn was silent.
“The family you took to Savannah.”
He knows!
“How…”
“Elizabeth explained what she knew, and showed us the note.”
More silence. Autumn knew she should apologize, and heaven knows she was glad to be safe on the horse with her father. But, she also just wanted everything to be normal again.
“I’m sorry Papa,” she said.
She only called him Papa when she was being his little girl.
“I know, punkin. We were scared to death for you, and angry that you would hide something like this from us.
“But we also know you did something very brave and very honorable. We are proud of you, too.”
Angry, scared, proud. Autumn just leaned back on her father and closed her eyes, glad to not have to be a hero any more, relieved just to be a little girl.
