A Hope Beyond Read online

  JUDITH PELLA

  TRACIE PETERSON

  A Hope Beyond

  Copyright © 1997

  Judith Pella and Tracie Peterson

  Cover design by John Hamilton Design

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

  Published by Bethany House Publishers

  11400 Hampshire Avenue South

  Bloomington, Minnesota 55438

  Bethany House Publishers is a division of

  Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

  E-book edition created 2010

  ISBN 978-1-4412-0714-2

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

  To

  Laura Sutter

  “I have been

  and always shall be

  your friend.”

  Thanks for being my friend.

  Love, Judy

  Contents

  What Has Gone Before

  PART ONE - December 1836—January 1837

  1 / Picking Up the Pieces

  2 / A Master Design

  3 / Plotting Revenge

  4 / Hampton’s Pursuit

  5 / Divine Intervention

  6 / First Kiss

  7 / Laying the Trap

  8 / Deciding the Future

  9 / Questions of Love

  10 / Lucy Alexander

  11 / Manipulating Fate

  12 / What Might Have Been

  13 / Christmas Disaster

  14 / Love Letters

  15 / When God Calls

  16 / Annabelle Bryce

  17 / Fragile Faith

  18 / A House of Cards

  PART TWO - February 1837—January 1838

  19 / Impenetrable Walls

  20 / Heart and Soul

  21 / First Step

  22 / Battle Lines

  23 / The Baring of Souls

  24 / A Day of Reckoning

  25 / A Stranger’s Rescue

  26 / Negotiating the Future

  27 / Educating Enticements

  28 / The Seduction

  29 / Startling Discoveries

  30 / New Arrivals

  31 / Reaching Limits

  32 / Amy’s Disappearance

  33 / Blake St. John

  PART THREE - June—November 1842

  34 / Out of the Darkness

  35 / Victoria

  36 / Joseph’s Visit

  37 / Deceptions and Discoveries

  38 / Unlocking the Past

  39 / Sacrifices

  40 / Paying the Piper

  41 / Proposals and Promises

  42 / Reconciliation

  43 / Independence Day

  44 / Coming Together

  45 / Seeking the Truth

  46 / Salvation

  47 / Coming to Terms

  48 / Father and Son

  49 / Rough Places Plain

  50 / Knowing Peace

  51 / Two Hearts Unite

  52 / The Gloves

  53 / New Beginnings

  My restless spirit never could endure

  To brood so long upon one luxury,

  Unless it did, though fearfully, espy

  A hope beyond the shadow of a dream

  JOHN KEATS

  What Has Gone Before

  Carolina Adams, a young woman of spirit and determination, enjoyed a pampered life in Oakbridge, her family’s plantation, outside of Falls Church, Virginia.

  Growing up as one of the middle siblings in a household of seven brothers and sisters, Carolina had always been eager to understand the world around her. Young ladies of the 1830s were not encouraged to educate themselves in the ways of masculine studies such as mathematics and science, but Carolina, ever the unconventional, desired to cross those boundaries. She was especially enthralled with the railroad, which she fell in love with the first time she saw a train roar into Washington City. When her indulgent father, Joseph Adams, permitted her a tutor, James Baldwin, Carolina began to realize part of her dream. Carolina’s older sister, Virginia, also hoped her dreams to be fulfilled by James Baldwin—her more conventional dreams of becoming a proper southern wife.

  Carolina was thrilled to have a tutor; however, James, who was once employed by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, put her off regarding the subject of railroads, causing Carolina to seek out the reason for his reticence. James had been involved in a railroad accident that seriously injured him and took the life of his friend and mentor, Phineas Davis. Thus, his delight and enthusiasm about railroad work was dimmed to the point that he actually feared riding a train again.

  During his recovery James was thrust into the job of tutoring Carolina Adams, and of courting her older sister Virginia. James had not been eager to marry, desiring to establish his career with the railroad first, but his father finally pressured James toward matrimony because the failing family finances desperately needed him to make a good marriage.

  What no one expected, least of all they, was that James and Carolina should fall in love with each other. James found healing in Carolina’s friendship, and as she helped him come to terms with the past, James began to visualize his future with the railroad once more. In turn, Carolina found in James a man who was not threatened by her intelligence and regard for learning. She also found a soul mate with whom she desired to spend the rest of her life. Unfortunately, he had all but committed himself to Virginia, and Carolina was too insecure in her love to dare come between them, much less reveal her feelings to James. Likewise, James refused to confront his growing affection for Carolina.

  Torn by his conflicting feelings toward the two sisters, and pressured by family expectations, James allowed himself to be carried along by events, soon finding himself engaged to Virginia. But eventually realizing he could not marry a woman he didn’t love, James broke off the engagement with Virginia. However, in order to save her from too much social embarrassment, he allowed Virginia to publicly break the engagement herself. Then, unable to face Carolina and the social ostracism his ungentlemanly behavior would cause, James left Oakbridge and Washington for a position with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, a job that would take him far away to unsettled lands. Carolina, steeped in sorrow over the recent death of her baby sister Maryland, found the loss of James to be just as devastating.

  To help Carolina through her desolation, her father, a man of deep faith, led her to a rekindled hope that is found in Jesus, and Carolina gained a deeper, more personal faith in Christ. Her desires for the future, an education, a working involvement with the railroad, and James Baldwin were all a part of her distant dreams, but with her newfound faith, Carolina learned there is a hope beyond. . . .

  Part I

  December 1836—January 1837

  These railroads—could but the whistle be made musical, and the rumble and the jar got rid of—are positively the greatest blessing that the ages have wrought out for us. They give us wings; they annihilate the toil and dust of pilgrimage; they spiritualize travel!

  —NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE

  THE HOUSE OF THE SEVEN GABLES

  1

  Picking Up the Pieces

  Carolina Adams gave a halfhearted glance at the list of Christmas gift advertisements in her current issue of the American Railroad Journal. She was far more interested in the articles about advancements in locomotive design. The railroad magazine, a gift from her tutor and friend James Baldwin, was not only her window into the world of railroads but also a pleasant source of news from aro
und the country, sometimes even the world.

  She was well aware of the fact that the Journal was not the most acceptable reading material for young ladies of sixteen, but upon its weekly arrival to Oakbridge Plantation, Carolina avidly read it from cover to cover. It was her link to the railroad, and the railroad had become her link to the future.

  Very few people understood her love of this smoke-spewing beast. Railroads and locomotives were subjects best left to men. And, in a society where many people believed that such knowledge could very well cause a woman to go insane, Carolina had to fight hard to be allowed even a glimpse into such subjects. Only her father and James truly understood. But James was gone and her father was terribly preoccupied these days.

  So, it seemed at times the technical pages of the magazine offered her far more than information. In a way, her moments alone with it were a kind of comfort, a link to when times had been carefree and happy.

  “Ladies’ hats by Willington and Tombs,” she muttered to herself, glancing back at the open page. “For the best specimens of ladies’ and misses’ satin and beaver hats.” She noted this advertisement, thinking again of Christmas. Her sister Virginia had a far greater appreciation of such finery than Carolina. Perhaps a hat would make a nice gift for her.

  Thinking of Virginia caused Carolina to put down the magazine with a morose sigh. For weeks now, Virginia had barely spoken a civilized word to her. The death of their baby sister Maryland had naturally put a great damper on the holiday spirit, but for Virginia it was magnified by the fact that her betrothal to James Baldwin had been dissolved. Carolina had the distinct impression that Virginia blamed her for the entire matter. And just maybe Carolina did deserve some of her sister’s ire. James had been Carolina’s tutor for a few short but glorious months, and during that time Carolina and James had become friends. Unfortunately, Carolina had also fallen in love with her teacher.

  Sighing again, Carolina left her mahogany writing desk and ambled to the window. It was here, in her favorite spot, that Carolina felt most at home. The window seat had always offered her much comfort and tranquility. She pulled up her knees and placed her dainty pink slippers on the brocade seat cover. At sixteen, she had been properly presented to society, and instructed and trained in the ways of running a plantation household.

  Living just west of the country’s capital, near Falls Church, Virginia, Carolina had also enjoyed a strong political background. This pleasured her in ways that she could never share publicly, for what young woman of such genteel upbringing would dare to boast an interest in the government?

  On the surface of things, she appeared to have all life could offer, yet she felt trapped like a bird in a cage—like the slaves who worked on her father’s plantation. She knew her life was better by far than that of the poor souls whose only future was to work their master’s land, but she felt as helpless in deciding her own future as they must have felt in deciding theirs. Society looked upon women as the bearers of children. It was a woman’s responsibility to esteem her husband, bring glory to his name, and ease his burdens. Those few men who actually admired intelligence in a woman were greatly outnumbered by the general population, who deemed it totally unnecessary to educate and enlighten the female gender. Let women be placed on a pedestal in honor of their beauty and gentle nature—but whatever you do, don’t allow them to think for themselves.

  Margaret Adams had fully supported this ideal. She wanted her daughters to marry and raise a fine family of properly behaved children. She had instilled a firm belief that a woman’s place was to first do her husband’s bidding, and then see to her family. But it was not a view shared by Carolina. There was nothing wrong with those things, but there was so much more. . . .

  “My baby!”

  A moaning scream tore through the strained silence of the house and brought Carolina instantly to her feet. It was her mother. Again. Carolina hurried out of her room and down the hall to see what assistance she might offer this time.

  Peering into the nursery doorway, Carolina grimaced at the scene. Margaret Adams, unable to deal with the death of her youngest child Maryland, had taken up residence in the nursery. Eleven-year-old Pennsylvania Adams, affectionately called Penny, sat quivering, quite frightened, at one end of the room while several slaves tried to calm Margaret.

  “Where is Mary? Where is my baby?” Margaret looked accusingly at each of the slaves. “You have taken my baby!”

  Margaret didn’t seem to even notice Carolina’s arrival, so Carolina went to her sister first. Penny looked so frail and ghastly white that Carolina feared she, too, would succumb to the aftermath of the yellow fever that had stricken her and killed their sister little more than three months earlier.

  “Mother?” Carolina called softly. “Mother, you should sit down and rest.” Carolina gave Penny’s shoulder a reassuring pat, then crossed the room slowly to where Margaret stood over an empty cradle.

  “Mother?”

  Margaret Adams, a handsome woman of thirty-nine, turned and stared at her daughter as though seeing a ghost.

  “I can’t find her,” Margaret sobbed hysterically. “They have taken her away and I can’t find her.”

  “Mama . . .”

  “Where is my Mary?” Margaret turned plaintive eyes toward Carolina.

  The negresses backed away, their dark eyes hopeful that Carolina could ease the tension of the moment. Carolina reached out to touch her mother’s arm.

  “Mother, don’t you remember?” Carolina led her to the rocking chair. “Mary died of yellow fever this August last. She and Penny were so very sick. Remember?”

  Margaret stared in disbelief for a moment, and then, as if reliving the painful past once again, she finally nodded, her eyes stark with grief. “Yes . . . I remember now.” She calmed a bit and allowed Carolina to help her sit. Glancing around the room, Margaret seemed to come out of her daze and realize her surroundings. “Sometimes my mind plays tricks on me. It’s just so hard to imagine she’s really gone.”

  “I know, Mama. It’s hard for all of us, but especially hard for you.” Carolina glanced over to Penny, who was now being helped back into bed by one of the slaves.

  Carolina knelt beside her mother and waited for her senses to fully return. These days were so troubling to Carolina. Her mother’s mind had weakened in the loss of yet another child. Many years ago, she’d given over two infant sons to the fever. Carolina had never known these brothers, as they were born in the years between her older brother York and sister Virginia, but the effect on her mother had been the same. At least that was how it was told to Carolina. Apparently, Margaret had suffered tremendous melancholy after the death of her sons, and it wasn’t until the birth of Virginia that Margaret was restored to her original strength. It was little wonder that Virginia had become her favorite child. She had given Margaret a reason to live.

  As if thinking of her could conjure her presence, Carolina glanced up to find Virginia standing in the doorway. “Look, Mother, Virginia has come. Why don’t we go into the music room? Virginia could play for you, and I’ll arrange for tea.”

  Virginia swept into the room in a lovely forest green muslin. The gown was trimmed heavily in black, but the green and the youthful styling made it clear that the nineteen-year-old refused to give in entirely to the black bombazine of mourning.

  “Come along, Mother,” said Virginia. “I can take care of everything. You and I will take a short walk out to where they are butchering the hogs. We can’t let that process go unsupervised, now can we?” She didn’t wait for an answer but quickly added, “After that, we will return to the house and I will tuck you into bed for a rest.” Virginia threw Carolina a glance, but no word of acknowledgment.

  There was clear hostility in Virginia’s icy blue eyes. Where Carolina had dark brown eyes and rich chocolate brown hair, Virginia’s eyes were like their father’s, and her hair was a shade lighter. Virginia’s beauty and grace were lauded by all around her and especially captivated the youn
g men. At one time she had been one of the most notable belles in the county, although as the years edged up to push her toward spinsterhood, Virginia was less and less regarded as such a prize. Her own stubbornness and desire to find just the right man to marry had created this circumstance. But she refused to see it that way and thus, as far as Carolina could tell, had blithely broken her most recent engagement to James Baldwin, announcing to the world that she needed to remain close to her mother in order to offer her proper care in the wake of Mary’s death.

  People, of course, thought Virginia the epitome of southern womanhood. The supreme sacrifice of giving up one’s own interests to care for an ailing parent was highly regarded in the social circles so very important to Virginia. But Carolina had an idea that it was not for these people that Virginia had made her choice. Carolina couldn’t guess what her true reasons might be, but Virginia always seemed to have ulterior motives.

  Watching as her sister led their mother from the room, Carolina felt an emptiness that refused to be filled. Her entire life had been spent in the security of family and material comforts, and now it seemed that her family was falling apart.

  Her two older brothers, York and Maine, were both away from Oakbridge, the plantation of their birth. Maine, having felt God’s calling, attended seminary in England, while York, destined to be in the public eye, found politics and the Washington scene to be his forte. Assistant to the ailing President Andrew Jackson, York had only recently learned that he would be held over as an aide to the newly elected Martin Van Buren. The only other sibling, besides the ailing Penny, was Georgia Adams.

  Poor Georgia, Carolina thought to herself. The child had been positively overlooked on numerous occasions, much to her detriment. It seemed even worse now with the other members of the family wrapped up in their own problems. Often completely unsupervised, she managed to move in adult circles and engage herself in adult activities, even though she was scarcely fourteen. She flirted outrageously with grown men and often opened her mouth to share most inappropriate conversation. It was after Georgia had relayed the intimate details of her friend Mercy Pritchard’s love life that Carolina had first spoken to their father. But, steeped in his own grief because of the collapse of his wife’s sanity and daughter’s death, not to mention growing national economic struggles, Joseph Adams was unable to offer much help.