Read Online Redfield Farm: A Novel of the Underground Railroad by Judith Redline Coopey - Free Book Online

through to Revelation. It was fine practice, and enlightening, but I wished for a geography so he could learn about Canada, where he was headed, and Africa, whence his people came. Maybe Nathaniel could find one in Bedford. A Christmas gift.
    By mid-December I was excited almost to distraction in anticipation of Elias’s return. But mid-month went by and no Elias. Christmas was coming on fast. He wasn’t writing anymore, so I took that to mean he was on his way, or soon would be. By the 20th, unable to stand it any longer, I pulled on my coat and boots and trekked through the snow to Ben’s house. Rebecca welcomed me at the door, her face flushed, very pregnant with their fourth child, two-year-old Alice, clinging to her skirts.
    The kitchen was filled with warmth, the smell of spices and currants, and the chatter of children. I longed for such a scene of my own. Curious as I was about Elias, I tried not to be too forward. After all, there was nothing formal or public about our relationship. It was simply a match everybody expected would happen sooner or later. So I worked to conceal my sense of urgency.
    “Oh, Ann. How good to see you,” Rebecca greeted me. “I need some adult company. Ben works all the time with Elias gone, and when he’s not with the horses he’s in the barn making Christmas gifts. I barely see a soul except these little ones from dawn to dusk.”
    “I thought as much,” I replied. “At least I have plenty of adult company. Too much, sometimes. I’m beginning to think Will McKitrick is something to dust.”
    “Heavy courting, is it?” Rebecca laughed. “Tell Betsy to be careful or she’ll end up like me: four babes in seven years and no end in sight!”
    I tied on an apron to help with the baking. “You’re well suited for it, Becky. You thrive on motherhood.”
    “That I do, but it doesn’t mean I couldn’t use some relief.” Little Alice peered at me from behind her mother’s skirts.
    “You’ll be a rich dowager soon enough. Are you thinking this one will be a boy?”
    “I hope. For Ben’s sake. Three daughters in a row is enough for any man. He needs a son.” I rolled the cookie dough as Rebecca took a pan out of the oven.
    “I guess he misses Elias much, then. Only women to talk to and no one to share the load.”
    “He does,” Rebecca continued. “But Elias should be along any day now. I thought to see him before this. Have you heard from him?”
    “Not for a couple of weeks.”
    “See? He’s on his way, of course. We’ll see him shortly. He’ll probably surprise us on Christmas Eve or Christmas day.”
    The two older girls, four-year-old Ruth and six-year-old Jane, sprinkled the cookies with sugar and pressed nuts into the dough. Baby Alice fell asleep on the settle by the fireplace.
    The talk eased my anxiety. Rebecca should know if Elias had changed his plans. My purpose accomplished, the afternoon passed slowly. I would rather have returned home to the pile of work waiting for me there, but Rebecca was in need of talk and would think it odd if I left too soon. So I stayed until near dark, when Ben came in from the barn, stomping snow off his boots.
    “Ann! You’ve been a stranger this winter! What keeps you away so much?” he asked.
    “Lots of work. Papa, Jesse, Nathaniel, Betsy and her beau.”
    Ben laughed. “Yes, many’s the time I’ve seen Will McKitrick’s horse in Papa’s barn.”
    The little girls tumbled over one another, bidding for their father’s attention. “They’ll soon be like us,” he grinned, “overrun with these.”
    “Betsy’ll be glad for it.”
    “And you, Ann. Your turn is likely coming home from Chambersburg right now.”
    I blushed, my eyes downcast. “Maybe so. I’d best be going. Betsy will think I’ve abandoned her.”
    I pulled on my boots and coat for the long walk through deep snow and purple shadows to the farm. It was so cold the snow squeaked under my boots. As I looked down toward the creek, I saw Sawyer