“Get some rest, Miss Archer. I don’t wish to have another patient under this roof. Two is quite enough.” His mouth quirked a bit.

  Simon came up to them.

  “Dr. Solomon, this is my friend, Simon Morgan. I believe you met the day we arrived.”

  Simon offered his hand.

  “Yes, of course I remember meeting you.” Dr. Solomon brought both hands to the handle of his bag.

  “Perhaps you would meet me in my room?” Simon asked.

  “Sure.”

  Simon led the doctor to his room and closed the door.

  ~*~

  “How may I assist you?” The doctor asked.

  Simon laid the stone on the desk. “Can you read this writing?”

  “Where did you pick up such a thing?” Solomon picked up the stone and smoothed it between thumb and forefinger, then cast it up to the light at the window.

  Once again, Simon told his story.

  “It is ancient writing, but I think I understand it.” He put the stone back on the desk. “I am not permitted to say this name out loud. But it is a name of the God of Israel. Do you know what it is?”

  “I am not sure. I have been told that it might be one of the stones from the back of the breastplate.”

  He smiled at that. “I am a doctor—not a rabbi—but if I remember my history correctly, those things are lost to history. There is some speculation that it wasn’t present at the time of the Second Temple, so I sincerely doubt their presence here now.”

  Simon cleared his throat. “Can you tell me what you know about the Horeb stone?”

  “I don’t know about anything called a Horeb stone. I thought you were speaking of the Urim and Thummim.”

  Simon nodded his head in agreement. “I was told this stone might be one of them.”

  “You will need a rabbi who has studied the priestly garments. I’m not sure that scholarship exists in the colonies. Have you a piece of paper? I will give you a name and a direction.”

  Simon handed over a small sheet of foolscap.

  Dr. Solomon scratched a quill across and handed it back. “Perhaps this man can help you.”

  Upon exiting the room, they found Amity waiting in the corridor next to her aunt’s open room. “Dr. Solomon, I have one more quick question.”

  “Yes?” His surprisingly deep voice still soft.

  “Can you recommend a lawyer in Fredericksburg?”

  “I have only had dealings with my own people.”

  “I have no issue with your people, Dr. Solomon.”

  “The man I recommend is honest. You may tell him that I sent you.” He scratched across the bottom of Simon’s foolscap and handed it to him.

  “Thank you.”

  “You are most welcome. I will check on your aunt later.” His smile lightened all his features and Simon thought he could do worse than call him friend.

  “Your father didn’t mention that you would need a lawyer.” Simon eyed her.

  “He probably didn’t have time as I only found out myself the morning we left.”

  “May I ask why you need to see a lawyer?”

  ~*~

  The need to share her plans had become a burden. With Clementine so sick, they had lost much time. Simon would have to get back to planting. Sitting with her aunt had given her time to form list after list of things that should be done for Lucy and her freedom, half of which she would never have time to do. It looked as though their trip to Winchester would not happen after all. If that is what God decided would be, then she would have to be content with that, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t free Lucy. She had to find a way to get Lucy out of Virginia safely.

  And that was easier said than done. None of the plantation owners she knew was keen on having freed slaves around. Aside from Field and her father, she wasn’t sure members of her own family would approve. Not that it mattered. Lucy, her best friend from childhood, deserved this, and Amity would make certain it happened, no matter the cost. She said a small prayer that her answer would come soon. “I haven’t even told Aunt Clementine, although she’s probably figured it out. She’s like that.”

  Simon nodded a small smile creasing his cheeks.

  “I cannot speak of it openly. Perhaps if we find a quiet place to sit?”

  “Someone recently told me that he believes he has more privacy out walking on the street than in a quiet coffee shop where the walls have ears.”

  Amity shivered then straightened her spine. “I’m not afraid.” She linked their arms and chose her words carefully. “Lucy has bought her freedom.”

  “Indeed?”

  “Yes. My father recommended that I see a lawyer for the correct papers. And I think he should view the transaction as well. I do not want Lucy to have to watch her back her whole life.”

  “I will go with you.”

  “I cannot leave until Aunt Clementine is out of the wilderness, as Dr. Solomon says.”

  “Then I will bring the lawyer to you.”

  Hope rose in her heart. How had she not thought of that? She must be more tired than she realized. Of course they could do the business here. Amity handed over the torn paper she’d gotten from Dr. Solomon.

  “I shall be back directly.”

  ~*~

  Glad to be doing something productive Simon stepped out in the street in search of Joseph Moses’s establishment in Sophia Street. The stone in his pocket had become a permanent fixture to the end that he no longer knew if it grew warm or cold. The pistol residing in his other pocket was cold.

  Thanks to Dr. Solomon’s introduction, it took less than one minute of persuasion to procure Mr. Moses’s promise to follow him to the Blackstone Tavern.

  “You have caught me at a very opportune time as I was closing up for the day. I shall have time to follow you to meet this Miss Archer and discover how I may be of assistance.”

  The dandy little man barely reached Simon’s shoulder. Dressed in fine black cloth and a sculpted coat, Simon stopped short of asking after his tailor.

  Sophia Street, on the banks of the Rappahannock River, boasted tall wooden warehouses no doubt still full of goods meant for England. Dusk made fuzzy lines of the structures. Lengthened shadows crept across the street. Camp-cats, Mary had called the men following them that night. Simon glanced around the street. He wondered if she watched now or if she and her brother-in-law had left for Winchester. Simon took hold of the pistol in his pocket.

  A man yanked Moses from his side.

  A vice grip grabbed Simon’s right arm from behind. “What’s a fine—” Simon wrenched his right arm and grabbed the shoulder of the man’s thin coat, dislodged the man’s grip, and swung his left hand around and pointed his gun into the hollow of the man’s cheek.

  A quick glance at Moses’s showed his assailant in the same position.

  “What do you want?”

  “Nothin’ mister,” the short one whined.

  “Just let us go. We’ll not bother ye again.”

  “The magistrate is in the next block.” Moses offered.

  ~*~

  A soft tap at the door roused Amity from her chair next to her aunt.

  “Mary?”

  “I left Danny with Jon and I came as soon as I could, Miss Amity.”

  “I saw Mr. Simon attacked in the street along with a little man I never seen before. He was quick for so little a fellow. They stopped them thieves in their tracks. It was the same two men from the other night. Then they took ’em off. I guess they went to the jail. I thought I should tell ye.”

  Amity’s stomach seized. “Is he all right?”

  “By the way he marched the attacker off I think so.” Mary laid her hand on Amity’s arm. “How is Miss Clementine?”

  “Still with a fever.”

  “If you would permit me, I have an old family recipe for a fever. I can bring it later if ye like.”

  “I’ll try anything.”

  “Don’t forget the blanket, Willie, you’ll freeze…”

  Amity wrung out a cloth and placed it on her aunt’s forehead. “She’s been doing that all day.”

  “She’ll be all right, Miss Amity. It’s just the fever.”

  “I have heard of folks talking to the dead before they die.”

  “No, Miss Amity. They don’t talk to them. They see them. It’s different.” Mary adjusted the blanket covering Clementine. “I remember one young soldier told me his mother come to see him home. She’s right over there he said, pointing to the corner of the tent.” Mary fanned herself with flattened hands. “He was so young. Later that morning he went, as peaceful as could be.”

  Amity lifted a stray tendril and placed it carefully out of the way of the cloth.

  “She’s not said anything like that.”

  “I’ve seen it more than once. They will tell ye ‘me old Dad came and laid down with me last night’. Those people are awake, not delirious with fever like she is. Rest yourself, miss. It’s just the fever talking is all.”

  A small knot of peace began to unravel the despair that had twisted Amity’s guts since daybreak. Amity placed a hand on her friend’s arm. “It must have been so hard.”

  “If I ever serve in a hospital again, it will be too soon.” She patted Amity’s hand. “I’d best get back and make that special tea.”

  ~*~

  It was full dark by the time the would-be thieves were incarcerated, and Simon and the lawyer finally ascended the steps of the tavern.

  “You must allow me to buy your supper.” Simon offered.

  “On the contrary. You have done me a very great service. If I had gone to the magistrate alone, the man who attacked me would be free on the street.”

  “Surely not.”

  “It has happened to me before, my friend.” He held open the door. “Now tell me what I can do to help you while I buy you something to eat and drink.”

  Mr. Burns pulled a face when seating the two men in the private dining chamber. One look from Simon and the man snapped to attention. “What may I bring you gentlemen?”

  Moses ordered the finest meat and vegetables the tavern had to offer along with a bottle of their most expensive brandy. “There is a small matter I wish to discuss with you before we get to our original business.” Moses said while cutting into his beef.

  “Oh?”

  “Fredericksburg is still a very small town. We have a collection of worthies, most with the surname of Washington, but essentially it is still fairly small.” He lifted his glass to his lips. “Tomorrow you have agreed to meet with a small set of us. Let me assure you that you have friends. Assessments must be made before you are brought into the fold.”

  “What fold?”

  “We are a small group of men committed to a set of ideals.”

  “And what might those be?”

  “We can speak more in depth at another time. I’m sure you understand the need for circumspection. These are dangerous times, as our adventure this evening proves.”

  “To tell you the truth, Mr. Moses…”

  “Joseph, please.”

  “Joseph. I grow weary of these games. I have come into possession of a rock. Many people are interested in my rock.” He pulled it from his pocket and smoothed it. “I could just sell it to the highest bidder.”

  Joseph’s shrewd eyes watched the stone.

  “But I find I’m attached to it in some odd way. I don’t wish to part with it.” He closed it in his palm. “And I don’t think I shall.”

  “That is, of course, your right.” Joseph’s dark eyes twinkled in the candlelight. “But surely it’s worth it to you to discover its value—if it has any—and I’m fairly certain you know it does.”

  Simon slipped the stone securely into his pocket.

  Joseph’s eyes never left Simon’s.

  “I brought you here to meet with a young lady.”

  Joseph stopped smiling.

  Simon called for a boy to request Amity to come down.

  19

  Another soft tap revealed a servant requesting her presence downstairs.

  “I will stay with Miss Clementine, Miss Amity.”

  “I shall return directly.”

  The two men stood when Amity entered the chamber.

  “Miss Archer.” Mr. Moses stepped away from the table and bowed. There is nothing to fear, she told her quaking insides.

  “Mr. Moses it is kind of you to come so late in the day.”

  He inclined his head slightly, “You are most welcome. How may I be of assistance?”

  “Mr. Moses, I wish you to witness the fact that my slave, Lucy, has purchased her freedom.”

  “Is Lucy here with you?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  “I shall go find her.” Simon excused himself from the room.

  “Shall we sit down?” Mr. Moses waved her to a seat. He waited for her to take her place before he resumed his seat. “This is not something I see every day.” He took a sip from his cup. “But it is a fairly simple transaction.”

  Simon returned with a flustered Lucy and Jax with a grin wide enough to brighten the entire room.

  Mr. Moses did not stand when Lucy entered the room. “Please have a seat.” He directed her to the chair next to Amity’s. “Now Lucy, you understand that once you have gained your freedom you must leave Virginia?”

  “Yes, sir, I understand that.”

  “Well, if I’m to witness, let me see the money.”

  Lucy reached into her pocket and placed a rolled handkerchief filled with coins on the table in front of Amity.

  Amity opened the cloth and counted. “It is sufficient.”

  Mr. Moses took note of the ten pounds.

  “I shall have my clerk draw up a more formal paper tomorrow. You may both come and sign tomorrow afternoon.”

  Amity glanced from Mr. Moses to Lucy. “Is that all there is?”

  “Essentially, yes. It will not be official until you both sign the document tomorrow.” He smiled at them both.

  “Miss Amity, is he serious? I’m free?”

  Amity looked at Mr. Moses once more. He nodded his head vigorously smiling all the while.

  Lucy stood up and stepped away from the table.

  Amity stood.

  Lucy looked at the floor and gave her usual curtsy. “Miss Amity, I think I need to go for a walk or something.”

  “Miss Lucy.”

  Lucy looked up.

  Amity curtsied.

  Lucy’s eyes filled. Jax took her by the hand.

  “Perhaps I shall see you when you return. We have a few things we should discuss, if you think you will have the time.”

  “Miss Amity, I will always have time for you.”

  She dropped Jax’s hand and grabbed Amity into an embrace reminiscent of the ones they’d shared as children.

  Amity’s heart swelled with peace. She’d done the right thing. Deep inside something off kilter set itself straight, clean, and unburdened.

  Lucy and Jax disappeared outside hand in hand.

  When the door closed behind them, a loud squeal sounded outside the tavern.

  Simon and Mr. Moses were deep in conversation when she returned.

  “I shall provide them a wagon,” Simon spoke with a smile.

  “But they will need a sizable stake to set up house in Ohio. It’s not exactly the right time to leave either. There are no crops in the field.”

  “I’m sure Jax has thought of that, but I’m prepared to set them up. If they hurry and find a suitable place, they can get crops in the ground in time. The Ohio season will be a bit behind ours.”

  Amity returned to the table quietly heart in her throat. How like him to be so generous.

  She sent him a small wave and headed back up to her aunt and Mary.

  “Jonathan says the weather’s cleared up enough for us to be on our way.”

  “We will see you before you leave?” Amity asked.

  “I be bringing the tea in the morning for Miss Clementine. I’d better get back and inform him of that. He still moves like the army. Up ye go and off ye go with no warning to the troops. Only now it’s me and Danny that’s troops.” She laughed at her own joke

  After penning a letter to her father updating Clementine’s condition, Amity settled into a chair she’d placed next to the bed what seemed like years ago…but in reality was just three days.

  A soft tapping of her hand woke her in the night. No moon shown in the window and the candle had long gone out.

  “Is that you, Amity?”

  Amity grasped the cool hand of Clementine.

  “Oh, Aunt Clementine, your hand is so cool.”

  A deep intake of breath and slow exhale. “I think I feel better.”

  Amity lit the candle.

  Clementine pushed herself up with her one good arm. Though pale and a little thinner, the twinkle returned to her eye. “I’m famished. What did you save me to eat?”

  Amity grinned and brought her a dish of broth and small piece of bread.

  “Not bad.” She said after a sip of the cold liquid. “William did know his taverns.”

  “That he did.” After Clementine ate a little more, she grew tired.

  Amity blew out the light and stretched out on one of the servant’s beds. She closed her eyes and didn’t open them until a soft tap played on the door.

  Mary arrived with Danny on her hip and a tankard of tea.

  “Oh, Danny, I didn’t know you were in Fredericksburg too!” Aunt Clementine held out her good arm.

  Mary let him down on the side of the bed. “If you’re sure?”

  “I’m positive.” Clementine gave Danny a little squeeze. “Now what’s this you’ve brought me?”

  “It’s an old family recipe. It’s a tea to help with the fever.” Mary touched Clementine’s hand. “Which you don’t have.”

  “It broke in the night.”

  “Well, it won’t hurt you to have a dish of tea anyway.”

  Mary poured and Clementine drank.

  “It’s not like any tea I’ve ever tasted.”

  “I didn’t say it tasted good, I said it was good medicine.”

  The three women laughed and settled in for a good visit since it might be the last time they might get the chance.

  “Be sure to leave me your direction so I may look you up when next I travel to Winchester.” She glanced at Amity, “I don’t think I will make it this time.”