Egad!
Our five characters have finally arrived, they have finally retreated from their uncomfortable freight car and stepped into Charleston of 1908. Finding necessities will be difficult, but not as elusive as friendliness, helpfulness, or understanding. They will have to rely on their strengths: intelligence, perseverance, and bravery. Tough to find attributes these days, let alone in that long ago, a slow healing southern town.
A nearby stranger’s hacking cough urged the five to silently jog behind huge piles of lengthy logs waiting for the sawmill. After several scurries around the yard, they approached the main gate, and the guardhouse rattled from the snores heard inside. They managed to scoot away and feel the freedom of the darkened streets of Charleston.
“Now where?” Ross reflected everyone’s willingness to bathe, eat, and rest. Not necessarily in that order.
“There’s a rooming house over there” Catherine pointed across the street and the porch light welcomed them into a decision. It took a while for someone to answer, but the answer to their request for two rooms turned the late evening positive.
“There’s room for the gents in my front room and you gals can have the upstairs small bedroom. Come in so I can shut out the cold.” The tall husky man who had answered their knock turned and seemed to expect them to follow. “There had better be five honest people behind me. I’m a captain on the Charleston police force and I need my sleep.”
He pointed to the backdoor and explained about the plumbing, a small house outside. “We’ll install indoor arrangements this year, I hope.” His sudden stop and turn caught their attention as he glared at Joann. “Sorry folks. She stays in the shed next to the outhouse,” he grinned and added, “There’s some old blankets out there.”
Jacob stepped forward with his wallet exposed and the bills forcing the leather to open. “Now, how much do the five of us owe you? There’s a discount, right? There’s a discount for a Jew and a beautiful half African?”
The silence thickened. The host softened his glare and it landed on Catherine. “Are you willing to sleep with her?”
She stepped forward and counted the hairs in his nose. “Willing, ready, and pleased to do so, any time, any place. Are there enough blankets for two in that out-building of yours?”
He hesitated, but finally answered with a shrug, “Suit yourself, young lady. Just don’t let it get around this town that you’re a … ” His sudden change of tune surprised no one. The red lines in his sleepy eyes turned blue with fear when the weapons came out. He held up his hands, “No need for those, gentlemen. We all need our sleep. Let’s get to it.” He turned, left the room, and ignored their sighs of relief.
Ross slid his arms around Joann and closed his eyes as Jacob and Trevor returned their pistol and knives to their pockets and sheaves. “Good God, woman, are you all right?”
“Of course, I am. That wasn’t bad. Remember, we’ve been through worse.” She kissed him for a quick wonderful moment, let him go, and turned to Catherine. “Come on then, faithful one, let’s check out our hard fought-for luxury suite upstairs.”
“Wait. We need to make plans,” Trevor sounded whiney even to himself.
Jacob sluggishly threw himself onto one of the worn couches. “Those can wait until morning, my friend. Kiss the pretty girl good night and turn down that lamp. Shouldn’t waste good kerosene.” His eyes closed and the others appreciated how tried their new friend must truly have been when his entire body seemed to deflate into slumber before their eyes.
“He’s right,” Catherine sighed.
“About what?” Trevor stepped as close as he could to her warmth.
“You should kiss me before I fall over.”
Trevor followed her directions and Joann planted a quick a second quick peck on Ross’s cheek before leading Catherine upstairs. The men settled on the second couch and a large, overstuffed chair and drifted toward sleep, while listening to their ladies briefly move about just above their heads.
From the back of the house heavy steps approached the front. “You folks be gone before sunrise.”
“The price includes breakfast. You must serve early,” Ross reminded him from his chair, while his hunting knife itched to appear from his belt.
“No breakfast,” he crossed his arms, expecting trouble. “Y’all paid extra to break the law.” He then turned the lamp completely dark. “No colored in this rooming house,” he mumbled.
In the pre-dawn light, a cold drizzle tapped on the glass as if in warning of a difficult day ahead. The five walked onto the porch and faced the street with baggage in hand. Joann announced, “Well, that went well.”
Enough! (Until later)
Eleanor Tatum 