First Dawn Read online

  “An’ she’s mighty bossy, too.” Truth bobbed her head up and down.

  The old woman leaned back against the side of the wagon and guffawed. “I’d say a person would be needin’ both of them things to keep the two of you behavin’ on a regular basis.”

  Jarena beamed a self-satisfied grin at the twins as the wagon neared a bridge. “Pappy told Charles he could come callin’,” she told Miss Hattie, “but that was about the same time Mr. Hill and Mr. Lovejoy came to Georgetown and got everyone fired up about moving to Kansas. We didn’t have enough time to get to know each other very well.”

  Hattie patted Jarena’s fingers with her gnarled, leathery hand. “Don’t you be frettin’, chil’. His mama tol’ me they was comin’ out here with the next group from back home. Not that Lula was wantin’ to leave. She’d rather stay put in Georgetown, but I think she finally gave up arguin’ against the move when Charlie said he was leaving no matter what his mammy and pappy decided.”

  “Charles said that? I didn’t know. Thank you for telling me, Miss Hattie.”

  The thought of Charles’s declaration caused a warm glow to tinge Jarena’s cheeks. Even though he’d announced his intentions to travel west on numerous occasions, his words had fallen flat, always lacking the determined enthusiasm she had longed to hear. Now Miss Hattie’s words caused her heart to quicken and restored her belief that Charles had been sincere—that he would journey to Kansas.

  Miss Hattie grasped Jarena’s arm as the wagon slowly rolled onto the narrow bridge that spanned the Kansas River. “This ol’ bridge don’t appear none too sturdy, and I never did figure out how to swim—ol’ Massa never would let us learn. He told us there was a mighty deep river we’d have to cross if we run off, and we’d drown fer sure. Umm, umm. Dat man was a liar on top of being mean as a mad dog. I searched and searched after I got my freedom—never did find no river near thereabouts. Course ol’ Massa got what he wanted. We was too afeared to run away.”

  “Well, you’re free now, Miss Hattie, and there’s no need to worry about swimming. The bridge is going to hold up, and we’re all going to be just fine.”

  When the wagon finally rolled off the bridge and began to rumble down Kansas Avenue, Jarena gave Miss Hattie a reassuring smile.

  The old woman released her death grip on Jarena’s arm and looked around. “These here folks in Topekee got themselves a lot of churches. Must have a disagreeable bunch living in this here town.”

  Truth leaned forward and looked at Miss Hattie. “I ain’t seen nobody fightin’. Why you think they’re disagreeable?”

  “They got a Baptist church on one corner and a Methodist on the opposite corner, and right up the street they got three or four more churches. I figure they get their backs up ’bout something the preacher says and go huffing off to start ’em another church. Likely hopin’ they’ll get themselves a new preacher that’ll say exactly what they’re wantin’ to hear. Um, hum, dat’s what I’m thinkin’.” Hattie’s ample body swayed back and forth on the wagon seat as she pointed toward the various church buildings.

  Mr. Hill glanced over his narrow shoulder and shook his head. “I can attest to the fact that folks aren’t disagreeable, Miss Hattie. Topeka’s a large city, and it needs more than one or two churches.”

  She pointed her parasol toward two men staggering out of a saloon. “From the looks of those two, it appears you’re right about this town needin’ lots of churches.”

  The twins giggled and turned to watch the drunken men, but when Mr. Hill pulled back on the reins and the wagon slowed, they focused their attention on the noble limestone building looming before them.

  Mr. Hill leaned back against the wooden seat and yanked hard on the reins. “Whoa!” The horses came to an immediate halt as the metal bits cut into their mouths.

  Jarena cast an angry look in Mr. Hill’s direction. “Pappy says animals are like people. They respond to kindness.”

  “I agree. Animals are like people. Some learn easily but some take a lot more convincing.” He jumped down from the wagon.

  “What’d I tell you? That man can’t be trusted,” Miss Hattie whispered to Jarena and Nellie.

  “Come on, Granny. I’ll help you down.” Calvin grasped the old woman’s hand, obviously wanting to quiet her.

  Mr. Hill nodded toward the imposing building. “Guess you figured out that’s the capitol—at least what they’ve completed so far. And as you can see, there are plenty of stores where you can make your purchases, but don’t wait until time for our departure. I’ll meet you back here in two hours. Don’t be late!”

  “Don’ you be late,” Hattie said, peering from beneath the floppy folds of her ancient parasol. “You’s the one holdin’ up our travels.”

  Jarena stifled her desire to giggle. Their small contingent had been required to overcome insuperable odds to make it this far. Miss Hattie was not going to be intimidated by the likes of William R. Hill. Jarena watched Mr. Hill skulk away without further instruction. He appeared to realize Miss Hattie planned to hold him accountable.

  Truth and Grace rushed to their father’s side, their eyes darting from place to place with an undeniable eagerness. “Can we go and take a closer look at the capitol?”

  “And see inside the stores?” Grace added.

  Their enthusiasm was contagious and quickly spread among the remaining members of the group. “We should take advantage of this opportunity,” Nellie agreed while Miss Hattie dropped down on the wooden bench outside Peltham’s Dry Goods Store.

  “I’ll be waitin’ right here when ya’ll come back. Too hot to be trekkin’ around this here city.” Miss Hattie pulled a worn handkerchief from her dress pocket and wiped the perspiration from her face.

  Jarena hesitated, thinking Nellie would surely remain behind to watch after her grandmother. But Nellie hooked her arm through Calvin’s, and the two of them hastened to gather with the others. Hurrying forward, Jarena stepped alongside Nellie. “Don’t you think someone should stay here with Miss Hattie?”

  “She’s more than able ta fend fer herself. She’ll use dat parasol to scare off anyone who comes near her.”

  “But we’re not certain it’s safe. This isn’t Georgetown, Nellie. Besides, I’d think that given your condition, it might be better for you to remain behind and rest.”

  Nellie laughed at the remark. “You know it’s only da wealthy white women who take to their beds when they’s gonna have a baby. Why, I’ll be workin’ right up to the day I birth this chil’.”

  “And likely be up workin’ the day after, too.” Calvin’s chest swelled as he gazed down at his wife.

  “Why don’t you stay and look after Miss Hattie, Calvin?” Jarena encouraged.

  “She don’ want nobody to stay with her. Now come on, Jarena. You’re acting foolish,” Nellie chided.

  “Miss Hattie, are you sure you’re going to be all right?” Jarena asked. “I’ll stay with you if you want.”

  She waved her handkerchief. “You go on, chil’. I’m fine.”

  Jarena gave a doubtful nod, but she pushed any thoughts of the solitary old woman waiting in front of the store to the back of her mind. The hustle and bustle of the capital city with its throngs of people, variety of businesses, and tall buildings caused a rush of emotion. Topeka was truly amazing! Nothing like the frontier town she’d imagined. Why, this city even boasted two train stations—one for the Kansas Pacific Railroad and another for the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe. Back home in Georgetown, they’d not yet enticed even one railroad to pass near the town.

  Truth began to skip and swing her arms as the group made its way through town. “You think Nicodemus is gonna be anything like Topeka, Jarena?”

  “Don’t talk nonsense. And quit that skipping—you’re kicking up dust. Nicodemus is a newly formed town. It’s bound to be even smaller than Georgetown. We’ll have a church or two and maybe a general store—perhaps a few little shops, if we’re fortunate.”

  “You don’t know fer
sure. There may be some fine buildings jest like the ones here in Topeka,” Truth declared with a firm nod.

  Ezekiel patted Jarena’s arm. “Don’ discourage the chil’. This here’s a fine-lookin’ city, and if Nicodemus is only a smidgen as grand, I’ll be happy. I know we done the right thing coming here. This here state is the freest and friendliest state for coloreds.”

  Jarena walked alongside her father, remembering back several months ago when he’d rushed through the front door of their small house clutching a tattered handbill. He waved the paper in front of her and insisted she immediately stop cooking and read the words aloud. The broadside explained that the largest colored town in America was being formed two hundred and fifty miles west of Topeka, Kansas. Her father nearly danced with delight when she read the line stating there were lots for sale—five dollars for a house and seventy-five dollars for a business.

  Ezekiel Harban was immediately smitten with the idea of owning his own land. They attended meetings at their local church, where two colored men were introduced as the president and secretary of the Nicodemus Town Company, and William R. Hill was presented as the treasurer and the only white man who would be a member of the town company.

  Life hadn’t been the same since that day when Mr. Hill had smiled beguilingly at the members of the First Baptist Church and explained the wonders of the great Solomon Valley. He told them of fine acreage and a land that was much like Canaan, flowing with milk and honey for anyone willing to set his hand to the plow. They listened as he told of the rich black soil crying out to be tilled and planted, and of rolling hills that stretched as far as the eye could see. They harkened to his words of abundant wildlife, fine timber, coal deposits, and ample water available from plentiful springs and the south fork of the Solomon River that flowed nearby. And Jarena’s father drank up the information like a man dying of thirst.

  Her father was one of the first in line to hand over his life savings in exchange for four train tickets and a piece of paper. The paper was a deed declaring that he owned a piece of land in what he constantly reminded her was the freest and friendliest state for coloreds to settle: John Brown’s former stomping grounds—Kansas.

  Jarena gave her father a sidelong glance. “What are you going to do if Nicodemus isn’t everything you expect?”

  “You gotta have faith, gal. You’s too young to always be lookin’ fer the worst in things. Trust the good Lord. We’s on the right path.”

  “We’ll see, Pappy. We’ll see.”

  CHAPTER

  2

  There he is!” Grace pointed toward three wagons lumbering down Kansas Avenue. “Mr. Hill’s in the first wagon!”

  Jarena wished she could muster a bit of the twins’ exuberance; instead she was filled with anger and frustration. As the minutes had ticked away, she’d grown increasingly vexed at Mr. Hill and his delays. A full three hours had passed since the small troupe had parted company with their leader. All nine families planning to go to Nicodemus waited restlessly in front of the dry goods store. And when the assigned time for Hill’s return had come and gone, many of them had grown apprehensive. What if he didn’t return and they were left to fend for themselves with their meager funds? How would they possibly survive? Jerome Holt, Herman Kemble, and John Beyer had spoken bravely of making arrangements to travel by themselves, while others had argued in favor of waiting for Hill’s return. In the end, they had remained in their assigned location—all except the Tuttle family, who had decided to remain in Topeka instead of traveling on to Nicodemus.

  Mr. Hill appeared somewhat contrite as he jumped down from the wagon. “Sorry for the wait.”

  Jarena thought it a meager apology but then realized his words weren’t a request for forgiveness—or even an admission of guilt.

  “I had more trouble arranging to rent the horses and wagons than I anticipated. However, I’m pleased to tell you that I managed to find three more fellows who want to come along and become a part of the new town.”

  Miss Hattie folded her plump arms across her chest. “Hmmph! That don’ make up for the five you lost by being late.”

  Hill began counting on his fingers. “Five? That means we’re down to thirty-one settlers making the journey. Who pulled out?”

  “Walt Tuttle and his family decided they’s gonna remain in Topeka,” Ezekiel replied.

  Hill glanced down the street as though he expected to see the Tuttle family waiting somewhere nearby. “Well, I’ll go and find them. They’ve already purchased their land. Why would a short delay cause them to make such a rash decision?”

  “Ain’t no need to go lookin’. Walt sold his deed to Robert Fowler for half of what he paid you, and he’s already got hisself a job working with the blacksmith down the street.”

  Mr. Hill frowned. “John Hanson?”

  Ezekiel nodded. “Um, hum, dat’s it. Anyways, Mr. Hanson done told Walt he needed help and they’d be better off stayin’ in Topeka. Course, Walt’s missus was all fer staying in the bigger city, too.”

  “And their daughter Dovie’s gonna work as a housekeeper,” Truth said.

  Jarena secretly wished someone had offered her father a position in Topeka. She’d certainly rather remain in a large city with access to the railroad than continue westward. Yet if Charles was coming to Nicodemus, things would surely become more bearable.

  The men Mr. Hill had said were joining the group jumped down from the covered wagons and approached the settlers. One of the men, a broad-shouldered, muscular man who appeared to be in his midtwenties, stepped up beside Hill. “You need us to hep load da wagons?” he inquired.

  Mr. Hill nodded, and the three men transferred trunks and meager household furnishings from the freight wagons into the covered wagons they’d be using to travel to Nicodemus. “Doesn’t appear you folks purchased many supplies,” Hill remarked.

  “We got enough ta get us to Nicodemus,” Calvin replied. “Ain’t no need loading down the wagons with supplies when we can buy ’em once we get to our new home.”

  Hill dug the toe of his boot into the dirt. “Might take us longer to get there than you’re expecting. I can wait a little longer if you want to make some final purchases. We’ll need to stop at the livery down the street for the other wagons. If you like, we could camp outside of town and depart in the morning.”

  “Iffen we run short of cornmeal, these here men will jest have to get out there and kill us somethin’ to eat.” Miss Hattie spoke for the group. “I’m all fer gettin’ started, even if it is late in the day.”

  “Fine, if that’s what all of you prefer. Let me introduce you to our newest recruits and then we’ll load up. This is Percy Sharp, Henry Ralston, and Thomas Grayson.” Mr. Hill pointed to each of the men as he announced their names.

  “Still don’ trust dat man,” Miss Hattie said as she walked alongside Jarena toward the covered wagons. “And what we know ’bout them men he’s adding on? Dey ain’t got no womenfolk with ’em, and dat young one is the only one what looks like he kin pull his own weight. Dem other two is gonna be lazy—I can already tell. Don’t get to be my age without bein’ able to judge a man’s worth.”

  “You think the young one, Thomas Grayson, appears to be of sound character?” Jarena eyed the muscular young man.

  A quick jab from Miss Hattie’s elbow regained Jarena’s attention. “I thought you was pinin’ after Charles Francis, and here you is already settin’ your cap for that new feller.”

  A strong southerly wind whipped down the street, and Jarena clutched her bonnet. “I have absolutely no interest in Thomas Grayson. I merely asked if you thought he was a reliable individual.”

  “You want me to go tell him you need a hand up gettin’ into the wagon?” Truth sputtered.

  With a warning glare, Jarena pointed a finger at her sister. “You’ll do no such thing, young lady.”

  Miss Hattie laughed. “You surely got your hands full with them twins. Dey’s about as ornery as the day is long—’specially Truth,” she
said. “I believe I’ll jest walk down to the livery. Don’ think I wanna crawl in and out of that wagon any more’n I have to. Besides, I been sittin’ all afternoon.”

  “I’ll tell Pappy that I’m going to walk along with you and we’ll meet them at the livery,” Jarena replied. “You want me to tell Calvin and Nellie?”

  “If ya like. But tell ’em they don’ need to walk. They’s likely already in a wagon and ain’t no need to climb back out.”

  Jarena hurried off to deliver the messages. By the time she and Miss Hattie had walked to the livery, the baggage had been rearranged and seats assigned. Jarena and her family had been allotted the fourth wagon, which would also carry Miss Hattie and the young man, Thomas Grayson.

  Ezekiel explained that Mr. Hill had planned for only five conveyances. “But we tol’ him eight was the least we’d agree to—one for each family. Even one of them new fellers tol’ him that with our crates and baggage, there wouldn’t be ’nuff room fer folks if we took only five. Don’ think Mr. Hill was any too pleased, but it appears we’re gonna be plenty crowded even with eight wagons.”

  Miss Hattie nodded her agreement. “Iffen I’da been here, I’da tol’ him we needed at least ten. That woulda raised his hackles fer sure.”

  Thomas Grayson gave a hearty laugh at the older woman’s remark. “Think you’s a woman after my own heart, Miss Hattie.”

  “Don’ you go tryin’ to sweet-talk me. You’s way too young fer the likes of me,” she said, joining in his laughter. “Now give me a hand up into this wagon. Maybe we’ll get out of town afore nightfall.”

  When the weary entourage finally departed Topeka, it was late afternoon, and Jarena had pushed aside all thought of working on her mending. All of her time was spent pushing crates back into place or catching a falling crock as it was jostled loose. There was little doubt they would need to rearrange their belongings when they finally stopped for the night. Nothing remained in place as the wagon shifted and pitched back and forth through the rutty grasslands.