Andrew and Molly

Andrew and Molly Part 31

Molly’s rage deflated at Aggie’s outburst. Though Aggie had often been sharp-spoken and critical on her arrival, she’d mellowed and become like a mother, especially after Andrew was taken. The relationship changed further after Molly married Wharton and the children started coming. Aggie was simply “Granny” to them, a different status for both of them. Molly couldn’t deny her pride in coming up in the world. Aggie stood her ground but there were some who called Molly uppity and thought she ought to get off her high horse, especially those who had come over on the boat with her and were still struggling under indenture. In truth, Molly was acutely aware that Andrew’s position was lower than Wharton’s had been.

Meanwhile, Andrew recalled his devastation upon his return at finding Molly had been wed and widowed. She’d borne his son and given him another man’s name. He’d spent years suffering humiliation and pain watching for his chance to escape not knowing his old life was already lost to him. He couldn’t deny he’d taken comfort in Sarah, but that fact only complicated his ambiguous situation. Upon seeing the baby at birth, he couldn’t deny it. It was fully white, his child. He couldn’t leave it behind, even knowing it would be unwelcome. He knew he had no right to be angry at Molly but the change in their class angered and shamed him. Legally, he was her bondsman and she’d not yet offered him release nor welcomed him back in her life.

The two stared at each other across the table. The truth of the situation couldn’t be denied. Besides the history between them, they needed each other. Molly’s farm cried out for a man of Andrew’s talents. They shared a son, though he bore another man’s name. Molly had two girls and Andrew had a baby who needed raising.

”What are we to do?” cried Molly.

Aggie was gratified when Andrew wasn’t at her house for breakfast.

Andrew and Molly Part 30

Shocked, they turned to see Aggie standing in the door behind them, shaking with anger. “What’s wrong with you? Why can’t you see what a blessing you have? I’ve lost all three of my children and now my man. If God was good enough to give me back just one of them, I’d be down on my knees thanking him. Molly, Andrew is a fine man. There’s no better farmer or blacksmith around. He was kidnapped and tormented by the Indians. He never forgot about you. You can make a life together. It don’t make no difference you made a life with the master while he was gone. That was lucky for you and left you a rich woman, but now you’re free to be with Andrew again. No man around could run this farm like he can. You need him and he needs you. It don’t matter none about that baby he brought in. You got two babies with Wharton, didn’t you?

And you, Andrew. You need to git over your anger at Molly. She’s a good woman and just done what she was made to do. You ain’t so much different. Any fool can see that baby is yours. You took comfort where you could, not knowing if you’d ever git home.

Your pride is hurt but you and Molly took vows that still bind you. The two of you and your young one’s are all I’ve got and I ain’t going to stand by and let you take that from me if I can help it. Now, sit down and talk this out. I can’t take no more loss.” With this, she turned and left.

Andrew and Molly Part 28

Molly stared with fury at the reverend. “Perhaps you are right! This is not my child and his care has put me to a good deal of trouble. I already have three children. Out of concern for this nameless baby, I took him in but clearly he would be better off elsewhere. I’ll tell Rosemarie to ready him for travel and the two of them can go with you!”

“No! No! No!” protested Reverend Bennett. I can’t take charge. My wife is sickly and can’t care for a baby.”

“Rosemarie can care for the child. All you have to do is provide room and board and deal with The Assembly concerning Rosemarie. I will be glad to have both off my hands. My thanks to you.” Having had her say, she returned home and left the reverend sputtering.

Walking in her kitchen door, she snapped at Rosemarie. “Get yours and the baby’s things. You’re moving to Reverend Bennett’s. He’ll be expecting you.”

Rosemarie burst into tears. “I can’t stand that old man. Can’t I stay here?”

Molly’s anger made her cruel. “I guess you can go back to jail if you prefer. You can work that out with the Reverend and the Assembly. You need to hurry to get there before dark.”

In a few minutes, Rosemarie left with the baby and her poor few belongings. The children wailed at seeing them go. “Children, hush! I told you the baby was not ours to keep. The reverend is going to try to find his family. Wouldn’t you be sad if you lost your family?” This did little to mollify them.

Andrew and Molly Part 27

Late in the afternoon, Aggie walked to Bartles’ grave. Molly offered to go with her, but she wanted time alone.

Not ready to leave yet, the reverend lingered over tea. Having been raised Catholic, Molly had not attended the services of the Anglican Church. Though she’d met Reverend Bennett through her close association with the Bartles she’d never considered him her spiritual advisor, nor felt any particular need of an advisor. Aggie, in particular, was devout, and made it no secret that Molly should be attending services, especially for the sake of the children’s tender souls.

While Molly packed her things to hurry home to her children, Reverend Bennett asked to speak to her on a church matter. “Reverend Bennett, I am Catholic. My children were baptized in the Anglican faith because at their father’s request.”

“I know, but am concerned about the soul of the little one in your house brought back from the Indians. He needs baptizing.” Reverend Bennett pronounced.

“I suppose he does,” Molly agreed. “But he’s only been here a few days. I’m hoping someone comes forward once word gets around. Most assuredly his family will want him baptized in their faith.”

“I know a bit of your background.” said Reverend Bennett. Molly bristled at his tone. “ I understand Andrew brought this child with him when he escaped. Did he know who the child’s family might be?”

Turning to leave, Molly replied curtly. “I have no idea. You’d best speak to Andrew.”

Andrew and Molly Part 26

Rosemarie tiptoed in at dawn bringing the women boiled eggs, corn porridge and tea. She found them nodding at Bartles’s bedside. His noisy breathing had stopped. He was dead. Rosemarie sat her basket on the table, gently touched Molly’s shoulder, and tiptoed out.

Molly took Aggie’s hand, waking her to her loss. “He’s gone to God.”

Aggie sighed stoically. “What will I do without him?”

Molly returned. “What will we do without him? He knows everything about our places.”

As the women prepared the body for burial, they heard hammering as the men built a coffin. Soon the minister arrived to offer comfort and prepare for the funeral. The neighbors brought a funeral meal that included stewed squirrel, baked chicken, ham and roast beef. The table groaned under baked yams, beans, potatoes, squash, and tomatoes. Pies and cakes were too numerous to count.

Will and Aggie Bartles were good neighbors, held in high regard. There was not a family who was not a beneficiary of their kindness. Women bustled about the kitchen tending the table and tidying up. Men spoke in hushed tones, doing whatever chores they could, including chopping wood, harness repair, and replacing shingles.

The service was simple, scripture and a eulogy. The mourners ringed around the grave on the Bartles small acreage in view of the back door of the small, neat cabin. Aggie stood stoic and unweeping as they lowered the body into the grave.

Andrew and Molly Part 24

Without a word, Aggie scooped up the little girls and guided a protesting Jamie back to her cabin as the grieving family headed for the dusty road.

“This has gone on long enough,” Molly stated flatly., gesturing for Andrew to follow her into the kitchen. “Time to talk. Rosemarie, take the baby and go to Aggie.”

Andrew sat glumly at the rough kitchen table as Molly made tea and sliced bread, sausage, and cheese. How unlike the times they’d shared a simple meal before his capture. He desperately regretted reproaching her for marrying the master before having a chance to reconcile.

Sarah poured steaming tea and placed a full plate before him. “Time to talk. What are we to do? We loved and needed each other once. Now I am a widow, a mother with children to protect, and a farm to run. I was made to marry our master, though I admit, it was not against my will. Thinking you dead, I feared my fate with no protection. This is a hard place to be a bondswoman with no one to defend me. I truly grieved you, but did what I had to do. Even the reverend insisted I marry Wharton. What are we to do? Now I have children to consider, Jamie is yours by birthright, though Wharton accepted him. The girls are truly Wharton’s.”

Andrew broke in. “We were truly married. I am your one true husband. I’ve never stopped loving you. All I could think of was escaping and getting back. I feared for you every hour I was gone.”

Just then, Rosemarie rushed in. “Make haste! Aggie sent me.! It’s Bartles!”

Andrew and Molly Part 23

Jamie was back in minutes. He was followed by a sweaty, ruddy-faced Andrew, clearly anxious at being called from his work. He couldn’t imagine what would be important enough to call him from timbering.

Molly took a seat on a stump between the two men, clearly interested in what business Joseph James had with him. Rosemarie, dawdling at serving milk and cookies to the children lingered on the sidelines. She had no intention of missing out on anything to do with Andrew. Curtly, Molly dismissed her. “Rosemarie, be about your own business.”

“Andrew, Mr. Joseph James would have a word with you.” Molly explained.

“I heard you’ve just escaped from a long time with the Indians. Me an’ Marthy wanted to know if you’d heard anything of our girl Sarah. She was out berrying an’ was took by the Indians about a year ago. She was a little yellow-haired girl not as big as Marthy. She’d be turning sixteen tomorrow. She’s been gone a long time, but we been trying to hold out hope for her. Did you see her?” Joseph gave Andrew a pitiful look.

Andrew looked stricken and struggled for words. “Mr. James, I did see a girl named Sarah. She was in the camp where I was for a while. I’m sorry to tell you she died along with most of the Indians when the sickness came through. That’s when I escaped.”

Marthy gasped and looked faint. Molly moved to support the pitiful woman. “Let’s get you in to lie down.” She offered, kindly.

Joseph put his arm around his wife. “No Missus. We’ll be better off getting home. We weren’t expecting good news. Thank you.” The sad little family and shuffled down the dusty road toward home.

Andrew and Molly Part 22

Gossip has wings. Rosemarie was still unpacking her parcels when a man accompanied by thin woman with a tow-headed boy tapped at the door.

“Kin we speak with Mistress Wharton?” The man inquired.

Rosemarie gave them a quick glance, judging them to be of the servant class and wasted no manners on them. “She’s around back making soap.” Had they been quality, she would have invited them in and put water on for tea. Instead, she led them to the back with the baby still slung on her back. By reason of serving as wet nurse to a child of the family, she felt she’d moved up in the world.

The visitors found Molly at the black iron soap pot stirring the boiling mixture. Addie was simultaneously chopping wood for the fire and steering the young ones away from danger. Molly closed the neck of her bodice and wiped sweat from her sweaty face, leaving an ashen streak. “Pardon me for for not leaving my work but I can’t let my soap spoil. How can I help you?”

The man spoke hesitantly, “Good day. I’m Joseph James and this is my wife Marthy. We heard in town your bondsman just come home after gittin’ away from the injuns. We was wondering if he might’a heard something about our girl, Sarah. She was took by injuns about a year ago. Could we talk to him?”

“I’ll send my boy for him. Jamie, fetch Andrew from the wood cutting. Mr. James needs to talk to him.”

Jamie sped toward the woods, thrilled to escape the company of women and babies.

“I’m sorry I can not stop my work to seat you properly, but you are welcome water from the well and rest yourselves while we are a’waiting Andrew.”

Molly could see by her visitor’s poor clothes they were of the servant class as she had been and therefore felt comfortable not providing more niceties as she drew a bucket of water and took a seat on a stump in the shade. Knowing the little boy was probably hungry, she directed Rosemarie, “Fetch molasses cookies and milk for the children.”

“Yes, Mistress .” Reluctantly, Rosemarie left them. She was anxious to know their business with Andrew, who she found attractive. Though she’d been in the household a few days, she’d gleaned little from its close-mouthed inhabitants.

Andrew and Molly Part 20

Though Molly had lived through an exhausting day, she slept fitfully. She couldn’t ignore the fact that thinking Andrew dead, she’d married a kind man and given birth to three children, While she’d been sheltered and loved, he’d been enslaved, tortured, and struggled to stay alive and returned to find her married and his son belonging to another man.

Andrew found no peace in his cot in Bartle’s cabin. He’d dreamed of his escape and return to Molly for years, imagining their joyous reunion. By now, she’d have completed her time. He’d known, he’d likely have to complete his bond, but she’d be free, possibly able to help him buy out of his situation early. They could still have had a good life. He’d been hurt to find she’d moved up in the world. Beyond that, there was the awful possibility after her marriage to the master that he’d find himself bound to her. He had no idea what their situation might be.

He tossed in misery, vacillating between hurt, humiliation and miserable anger that she hadn’t waited for him and knowing she’d not had that choice. He couldn’t deny that they’d both been pawns. She’d come up in the world while he remained at the bottom of the heap.

He couldn’t deny that he wouldn’t have made the same choice, given the opportunity. Had he had a choice in those dark days, he’d have seized upon opportunity for escape, even if it meant not coming back to her.