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Today she wore a blue silk dress that was full and flowing from her tiny waist. The silk fabric had been one of Dancing Cloud’s gifts to her that had come directly from China during one of Dancing Cloud’s transactions with his abundant crop of ginseng.
Lauralee’s thoughts were catapulted back to the present when the city of Mattoon came into view as houses began to multiply along the sides of the tracks. She watched from the window, her mind drifting back to the past and to the events that had taken place after she and Dancing Cloud had arrived there those ten long years ago.
She smiled to herself when she thought of helping Dancing Cloud escape from the jail, and of coming face to face with Paul Brown during the escape. From the kindness of Paul’s heart he had allowed them to escape.
Paul was married now to Jana. Jana with the long and flowing brilliant red hair and turquoise eyes. She wondered if they had been blessed with children?
The melancholia that always swept through her heart at the thought of not being able to give birth, herself, came to her at the thought of Paul and his wife possibly having children.
Never wanting to labor long over anything that reminded her of her womb being barren, she thrust those thoughts aside.
Leaning closer to the window, her eyes widened as she spotted the Union Depot a short distance away. Her gaze swept over the large depot, the trains’ smokestacks having blackened the building as they steamed through town. Not only did the building house the train depot, but also the Essex House Hotel.
The trains always stopped at the Essex House, to feed their passengers since the trains did not offer a dining-car service.
The train shuddered to a stop as it came directly in front of the depot. Lauralee felt the excitement building to see her Aunt Nancy, while still deeply inside her lay the grieving she felt for her uncle.
But she loved her aunt dearly. Who could not get excited over seeing her once again?
And it was almost like going home every time she came to Mattoon. Her aunt had become her mother in all ways that mattered.
“We’re here,” Wilnoty said, her eyes brimming with excitement. “I love coming to Mattoon. I so enjoy the people on the streets and the big buildings. It is nothing like living in the moun
tains.”
Dancing Cloud frowned at his daughter. He did not like to see her taking to this environment as she so obviously did. He never wanted her to choose this way of life over that which his people offered. The white community had too many ways that corrupted their people. He never wanted his daughter tempted with that which corrupted!
“We will stay only long enough for you to extend your condolences to your aunt, and then we must return to our people,” Dancing Cloud said, his eyes intent on Lauralee.
Lauralee understood. She had heard the same envy in their daughter’s voice that Dancing Cloud had obviously heard. She, too, did not want her daughter to get caught up in this world that could in one breath falsely welcome her, and in the other condemn her for the color of her skin.
“Yes, I see that as best, and I am sure that my aunt will not expect more from us than that,” Lauralee said, clutching her purse as others began filing from the train.
She looked from the window again and her heart frolicked in her chest when she not only saw Aunt Nancy standing outside the train, but also Paul Brown and his lovely wife, standing with Nancy.
Lauralee’s eyes shifted. Standing beside Jana was a child. It had to be their son. He was the exact replica of his father. The blond hair. The blue eyes. The long, straight nose. And squared shoulders.
Yes, the young man was already handsome. He was perhaps now five years of age. It had been six years now since Lauralee had visited Mattoon.
Dancing Cloud moved from the seat and took a travel bag down from overhead, then reached a hand to his daughter and led her out into the aisle.
Lauralee smiled up at Dancing Cloud as he then offered her his hand.
She left the seat, moved down the aisle, then stepped quickly down the narrow steps.
Hearing her name being spoken, Lauralee turned and found her Aunt Nancy running toward her, Paul and his family following at a brisk clip.
She ran to her aunt and hugged her tightly.
“Aunt Nancy,” she murmured, nurtured by the warmth of her aunt’s fleshy arms, yet feeling the absence of her uncle so heavily within her heart. “Oh, Aunt Nancy, I’m so sorry about Uncle Abner. So very, very sorry. And I wish that we could have gotten here sooner, to be here to comfort you during the funeral.”
“There, there, child,” Nancy murmured, stroking Lauralee’s back. “It’s all right. I’m learning to accept my loss. Abner wouldn’t want me grieving forever over his death. I’m comforted in my loneliest hours with remembrances of what we shared those many years we were married.”
“I wish to place flowers on his grave,” Lauralee said, as she eased from her aunt’s arms. “Perhaps you can tell me where I might purchase a lovely bouquet?”
“Abner would be happier with flowers from our own garden,” Nancy said, patting Lauralee on the arm.
Then Nancy knelt down and gathered Wilnoty into her arms. “My, my, but you have grown,” she murmured. “You were just a tiny thing the last time I saw you. Now you are such a lady.”
