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He related the first time he learned he could pass, the whipping he’d received as a result, what he’d done during the war, and his decision to come west. “I couldn’t wait to leave the South behind. I’d lost touch with my siblings, and when I learned the railroads were interested in hiring veterans, I signed up.”
And in St.Louis he was reunited with his brother Andrew. “I ran into him at one of the gambling dens. He was at a table and had won so much money in stocks and gold, the stack was nearly as tall as you.”
Eddy smiled.
“He was elated to see me as I was him. After the game ended he scraped up his pile of winnings, we took a room at a nearby hotel and got very drunk.”
Amused, she shook her head.
His voice turned wistful. “The next morning, he gave me half that stack of winnings.”
“My goodness. Why?”
“Said I was owed it for the years I worked for nothing, and because brothers looked out for each other. Needless to say, I was done working for the railroad.”
Eddy nodded understandingly.
“When we left St.Louis, I came to Virginia City, bought stock in the mines, made myself even more wealthy. He went on to San Francisco, invested his money, made himself even more wealthy, too, and now he’s a banker.”
“Andrew sounds like a very special man.”
“He is. I can’t wait for you to meet him.”
“Does Jim know the truth?”
“Yes. I told him when we became partners. He’s kept my secret all these years.”
Eddy had another question. “Why didn’t you change your name? Don’t most people who pass do that?”
“I wanted Sable to be able to find me. If I changed it, she wouldn’t be able to.”
“You must love her a great deal to take such a risk. Someone from your past could’ve shown up here and exposed you.”
“I know. I relied on my faith in the Old Queens to keep that from happening.”
“Old Queens?”
“Like you, Your Majesty, I too am a descendant of African royalty.”
She stared. “No!”
“Yes, but I’ll save that tale for another time.”
Eddy found his story riveting. “So why change your life now? You could lose a lot.”
“I already have. I lost the twins. Mary said had I been Colored she could have maybe passed me off as a long lost relative. The state probably wouldn’t have cared. But since I wasn’t ...” He then said softly, “I didn’t want to lose you, too.”
The tiny shoots of hope she’d been harboring inside suddenly grew tall and straight under the bright sunshine filling her heart.
“I do want us to marry, Eddy, but truthfully, it’s unfair of me to expect an answer right now. I want you to think about it for a few days.”
She agreed. “I’ll also keep your secret.”
“Thanks. I need to contact Andrew. A few years ago we hatched a plan just in case I had a change of heart. Either way, my business holdings and money won’t be affected. It isn’t against Nevada law for me to own land or a business. I’ll break the news to the White Republicans at the upcoming ball. After that, socially, I’ll be a pariah in their circles, and will most certainly be asked to resign from the town council, but that’s a small price to pay.”
Eddy could imagine how people like Natalie Greer were going to react. “Some might want to harm you.”
“I know. If I have to protect myself or those I love, I will. And if anything does happen to me, I expect you to seek out my brother. He’ll know what to do. Promise me.”
