Mockingbird's Call (4 page)

Jared told himself it didn't matter. She was a stranger, and he would probably never see her again once he disembarked at Chattanooga, where he would have to spend the night before catching the train to Knoxville. But he still felt drawn to her, wanting to know where she lived, where she was going, what her dreams and aspirations were. Was his inclination a nudge from God? Or did it come from his own, more shallow desire?

❧

The shrill blow of the locomotive's whistle pulled Amelia's attention away from the trials of Lucie Manette and Charles Darnay in the compelling novel she was reading.

Tabitha had fallen asleep next to her, but now she awakened with a start. “Is something wrong?”

Amelia glanced out of the window and realized the day was drawing to a close. The sun had fallen below the western ridge of tree-covered hills, casting the valley they were traveling through into darkness. Smoky gray fog rose up and blurred the trees on the upward slopes of the hills surrounding them. She craned her neck but could find no evidence of a threat. “Everything seems fine.”

The train whistle blew once more, and Luke leaned toward them. “We're about to reach the end of this leg of our journey. As soon as we climb out of this valley, you'll be able to see Chattanooga.”

“And we'll spend the night there?”

Luke nodded. “We'll be staying at a boardinghouse where I've overnighted several times before. I think you'll find it to your liking.”

“Look at that.” Tabitha pointed out the window.

While they had been talking, the train had chugged its way up to the peak, and the valley was spread out below them. Amelia caught her breath. The river at the bottom of the valley looked like an ebony ribbon, its surface gleaming as it caught the light of the rising moon. The curve of the river reminded her of a bird's nest with the town of Chattanooga serving as its hatchling. “It's beautiful. So different from Nashville.” She watched spellbound as the train made its descent into the valley, slowing as it reached the station.

When the car stopped, she was glad to lean on Luke's arm once more. It was so nice to have a knowledgeable guide. Over the years, her parents had encouraged her to consider him as an eligible candidate for marriage, but somehow she'd never been able to think of him that way. She supposed it was all the time they'd spent together growing up. Luke had always acted more like a brother than a suitor.

But now she was having second thoughts. Luke was capable, handsome, and smart. Perhaps she should take her parents' advice. It might even help restore her to their good graces.

❧

Jared pulled on his boots and slipped out of the room just as the sun was beginning to make its presence known in the east. He left the boardinghouse and wandered through his former hometown. Chattanooga had grown in the past four years. New businesses had sprung up, and he spotted several new houses dotting the area in the curve of the Tennessee River.

He returned to his room as the town began to come to life. Seizing the opportunity for quiet reflection, he grabbed his Bible and escaped to the small garden behind the boardinghouse. The train would not depart for Knoxville for at least two hours, which left him plenty of time for prayer before he joined the other travelers for breakfast.

A feeling of peace settled on his shoulders. These were the times he'd missed while living in Nashville with Great-Aunt Dolly. He looked up at the limbs of a tree, noticing that its leaves were beginning to turn brown with the approach of winter. Although Jared knew God was everywhere, the silence and peace of these surroundings made him feel closer to his Lord than anywhere else.

He thumbed through his Bible and finally settled on the 53rd chapter of Isaiah where he read about the slaughtered lamb. Had Isaiah felt the horror of his prophecies? It must have been terrible to foresee the undeserved death of Christ. Or had Isaiah been comforted by the prophecy that ended that chapter? Jared read the words again, his finger tracing the lines.
“And he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for transgressors.”
For a moment, guilt threatened to crush him. He was one of the transgressors for whom Christ had gone silently to the cross. But then he allowed the Spirit to comfort him with the knowledge that he was forgiven and that his sins had been removed and miraculously forgotten.

Jared sank to his knees, thanking God for forgiveness for the sins that had separated him from his Maker. The peace he had felt earlier flowed more strongly. He could sense the risen Christ holding out His arms for an embrace. He basked in the love and wonder of that image.

Jared had no idea how much time passed before he heard someone walking toward him. The newcomer stepped into his line of vision, and Jared's breath caught in his throat. It was her! The beauty from the train, the girl who read Dickens. “Miss Amelia!” He scrambled to his feet and brushed at the leaves that clung to his trousers. “Good morning.”

She stopped as soon as she saw him, standing in a shaft of sunlight that made her hair glow. “I'm sorry. I didn't realize anyone would be out here. I came to explore the garden. From my window it appeared too inviting to ignore. I didn't mean to disturb your privacy.”

“It is beautiful, isn't it?” Jared couldn't imagine any setting more breathtaking than the girl who stood facing him. He cleared his throat, his mind scurrying to find the words to tell her his thoughts.

She turned slightly away from him. “I should be getting back to my room.”

“Please don't leave on my account. I was just reading from my Bible. I love coming outside and talking to God.”

She turned back to him, her expression showing interest. “What scripture are you reading?”

“Isaiah, the 53rd chapter.”

Her brow wrinkled. “That's a hard book for me to understand. I prefer reading the New Testament. Especially Paul's letters. They are full of so much hope.”

“That's the way I feel about Isaiah.” He beckoned her toward a wooden bench, pulling out his handkerchief and dusting its surface to protect her clothing. “Come look at this passage.”

Amelia sat on the rough-hewn bench, and Jared settled next to her. She smelled so nice, a mixture of roses and spring flowers that made him want to breathe deeply.

He put the thought from his mind and opened his Bible and read the scripture aloud. Then he turned a few pages and read his favorite verse, Isaiah 40:31. “ ‘But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.' ”

“Those verses are certainly full of hope,” Amelia conceded. “But what about all of the admonitions directed at the people of Israel? Didn't he spend a lot of time trying to warn them about following the path to destruction?”

Jared stared into Amelia's blue eyes. They reminded him of a clear mountain stream. He almost forgot what they were discussing as he gazed at her beautiful face. “Ummm. . .yes, you're right.” He shook his head to clear it. “But Isaiah tempers his warnings with these words of hope. Words that can bring us peace in the midst of our darkest days.”

“I never thought about it like that.” She smiled at him.

Jared lost his train of thought once more. He closed his Bible and stood up. “I better get back inside. I'll be leaving soon. I'm going on to Knoxville.”

“Me, too.” She clapped her hands. “Maybe we'll see each other in Knoxville.”

Was she flirting with him? What could such a lovely young woman see in a bookish fellow like him? Jared couldn't even figure out how to answer her. A large part of him wished it was likely that they'd run into each other again, but he doubted it. She would be attending parties and dances while he would spend all of his time studying.

Amelia stood and took his handkerchief from the bench. “Thank you for being so gallant.”

He shook his head. “Keep it.” He winced inwardly at the abrupt words. Why hadn't he paid more attention to the art of conversing with young women? He felt gauche and rude, but he didn't know how to soften his words. He was much better at writing than speaking. Finally, he settled on practicality. “It's probably time for breakfast.”

After a brief silence, she let her hand fall to her side and moved to exit the garden. He followed her to the dining room, berating himself for not being more of a gentleman. He should have offered his arm to her. Why couldn't he be more self-assured? Why couldn't he find the right words for the occasion? Why did his tongue have to twist itself up into knots? Even if he did see Amelia after this trip, he was sure she would avoid him like the plague. And why shouldn't she?

Jared made quick work of his breakfast before seeking a seat on the ET&G, the train that would take him to Knoxville. Although he looked for Amelia and her traveling companions, he didn't see them again, even when the train stopped for lunch. He told himself it was for the best. Her guardian, Luke, would never allow him to speak to her. And even if he did, Jared still had no idea what to say to her.

Four

Jared couldn't stop smiling. Two weeks at college, and everything was working out splendidly—well almost everything. He had a great roommate, Benjamin Montgomery, the youngest son of a local businessman. He and Benjamin had much in common, including older sisters and a love of the natural world. Of course, Benjamin was more interested in playing around than studying, but Jared was sure his attitude would change once they got into the full swing of the semester.

The only fly in Jared's ointment was a certain senior, Luke Talbot. He was the snobby fellow who'd escorted the beauteous Amelia on the train. And he'd made it clear that he had no time for underclassmen. But it would not be hard to avoid Mr. Talbot since they shared only chapel together. The seniors went to different classrooms, practiced their military exercises in a different area than the freshmen, and ate at different times.

With a shrug, Jared dismissed Luke Talbot from his thoughts and looked down at the flyer in his hand. It was an announcement for the first meeting of the Societas Philomathesian, a literary society at East Tennessee University. The door to his room opened, and Jared looked up to see Benjamin entering.

“I couldn't believe old Mr. Wallace surprised us with that test today.” Benjamin tossed his book on their shared desk and threw himself across his bed.

“It wasn't so bad. He only asked questions from the chapter on regular Latin declensions.”

Benjamin made a face at him. “He might as well have asked about cathedrals in France or shipping lanes in the Mediterranean.”

A laugh bubbled up from Jared's chest. “Tell me you didn't say the same thing to Mr. Wallace.”

A nod answered him. Benjamin Montgomery was a charmer who had won over most of their teachers within the first few days of his arrival. He was a good-looking man with a wiry strength that served him well on the parade grounds and large, deep blue eyes that held a hint of mischief all the time. He could say the most outrageous things, and the only response he got was appreciative laughter. Jared wished he had the same talent.

“You are incorrigible.” Jared shook his head. “That would be a better line of questioning from Mr. Whitsell, our geography teacher.”

“Geography, history, language, mathematics. All of it is nonsense. The only part of college that appeals to me is the military part.” Benjamin sat on the edge of his bed and held his arms up, pretending to aim a rifle at the far wall. “I'm only attending ETU to please my parents. As soon as I finish here, I'm going to join up and shoot me some Yanks.”

“What if I join the Yanks? Are you going to shoot me?”

Benjamin dropped his stance, and his mouth dropped open. His eyes, normally dark blue, turned almost purple in shock. “Fight with the Yanks? Now you sound like Whitsell, ready to betray your own countrymen.”

“Don't tell me you haven't considered it. It's well known that Knoxville is divided. No matter which side you choose, you're likely to be fighting against someone you know.”

A shrug was his only answer. “What are you reading?” asked Benjamin.

Jared held up the flyer in his hand. “The Societas Philomathesian is holding a meeting tomorrow night. Say you'll go with me.” Jared knew it would be out of character for his roommate to attend something as serious as a literary society meeting, but he hoped to convince his friend. “I'll help you with your Latin verbs.”

Benjamin stared at him for a full minute before answering. “I'll do it, but I want something more than a Latin tutor. I need a partner in crime.”

“I don't know. . . . What kind of crime?”

“It won't be too bad. I just want to cause Mr. Wallace as much confusion as he caused me this morning.”

Now it was Jared's turn to study his roommate's face as he considered his options. He could go alone to the society meeting and fade quietly into the background until he made new friends with similar interests, or he could yield to the temptation to do something daring. He'd never had much chance to be boyish at home, not with all those women around. And his pa was so starchy, he couldn't imagine Adam Stuart throwing caution to the wind. “I'll do it.”

“It's a deal then.” Benjamin stood up. “All we have to do is wait until everyone is asleep. I'll get the necessary equipment.”

Jared took a deep breath and placed his hand in Benjamin's outstretched one. He hoped he would not regret his impulse.

❧

Jared pulled the slack out of the rope he and Benjamin had tied to the professors' doorknobs. All was quiet on the hall. The other students were snug in their beds, no doubt sleeping as he and his roommate should be doing. Instead, they had crept to the end of the floor where their professors slept in rooms directly across from each other. Following Benjamin's instructions, he had tied one end of their rope to Mr. Whitsell's doorknob. Benjamin looped the other end around Mr. Wallace's doorknob. He watched as his roommate tied a knot that would prevent either professor from opening his door in the morning.

“How long do you think it will take them to get free?”

Benjamin shushed him and returned his attention to their handiwork.

“What are you boys doing down there?” The whisper sounded as loud as a musket shot in the quiet hallway.

Jared gasped and jerked around to face the consequences of his actions. His whole life passed in front of his eyes in that brief moment. He would be sent home in disgrace. His parents would be so disappointed. Why had he ever agreed to such a silly prank?

His heart climbed up to his throat when a shaft of moon-light from a nearby window revealed Luke Talbot's wide shoulders and dark hair. He wished he could sink into the floorboards or disappear like a puff of smoke. Of allthe people to catch them, why did it have to be a man who already despised him? “We're uh. . .we're—”

Benjamin pushed his way past Jared and stepped up to Luke. “We thought we heard a noise in the hall and came to investigate.”

“Is that right?” Luke turned his attention on Benjamin. “And I suppose you have no idea who might have tied that rope to the professors' doorknobs?”

“I suppose it could have been any number of persons. Anyone with access to a length of rope who might also have a grudge against sneaky teachers who surprise unsuspecting freshmen with examinations.”

“And what do you have to say to that?” Luke turned back to Jared.

He held out his hands, palms up, and shrugged. He was about to confess when Luke chuckled quietly. “Is Wallace still pulling those same old tricks? Maybe this will convince him to desist.”

Jared could not have been more surprised if Luke had grown a tail and horns. This man had a sense of humor? He wasn't going to turn them in? They weren't going to be expelled?

“You two better get back to your room.” Luke pointed a finger at them. “And don't think I'll be as lenient if I catch you out in the hallways after hours again.”

Benjamin winked at Jared as they crept back to their room. Once they shut the door behind them, he slapped a hand on his chest and expelled a loud breath. “I thought we were done for when I heard him.”

Jared undressed quickly and pulled on his nightshirt. “Me, too. I was already imagining the disgrace of being sent home before my first month had passed.”

After they had both climbed into their beds, Jared lay still, contemplating the near disaster.

“I thought you said Luke Talbot was a pompous windbag.” Benjamin's voice was thoughtful. “I have to disagree with your opinion. I think he's a regular sport.”

Jared closed his eyes and sent a prayer of thankfulness to God that they had not been sent home in disgrace. “Yes, he was kind to let us go. But don't forget his warning.” He turned over in the bed and punched his pillow. “I'm never going to give him or anyone else the chance to catch me again. From here on out, I'll be doing everything strictly by the rules.”

❧

Jared could tell how much delight Benjamin was drawing from the commotion they'd caused, even though the two of them were not awake when the professors discovered they were trapped. By the time they dressed and headed for chapel, the row had died down, but the prank was the only topic being discussed. Who might have pulled such a trick? And done it without being caught?

“I hope they find out who did such an awful thing.” Benjamin's blue eyes sparkled with mischief.

Jared winced, wishing his roommate was not quite so bold. “I'm glad no one was hurt.”

“Don't be foolish. I heard they were set free within a matter of minutes. All it took was getting someone's attention.”

The two of them entered the chapel, which buzzed like a hornet's nest. Everyone was whispering about the incident, shaking their heads and hiding smiles behind their hands.

Jared felt a little sick. He wished he'd never taken part. Perhaps if he went to the president and confessed his part, he would feel better. But what if he was expelled? And Benjamin, too? His head began to ache. He didn't know what to do.

A hand clamped down on his right shoulder, and Jared nearly yelped his surprise. He twisted quickly and looked into the frowning face of Luke Talbot. “You look a bit green about the gills, Stuart. Are you feeling sick?”

Jared shook his head but remained mute.

Luke leaned close and whispered into his ear. “If you're thinking about blabbing about what happened last night, you'd better think again. Any confession at this point would perforce include me, and I will not stand for that. I have a spotless record here, and no underclassman is going to ruin it. No harm was done. Go about your regular studies. By evening, this episode will be forgotten.”

He nodded and slid into a pew. Mr. Wallace was leading the chapel service, and Jared was glad to see the man was his usual self, confident and a little pompous. His headache eased, his stomach settled down, and he concentrated on his prayer, thanking God for not getting caught and vowing to never again allow someone to drag him into another such incident.

The rest of the day passed without incident, for which Jared was thankful.

After dinner, he and Benjamin went to the Societas Philomathesian meeting, taking seats on the back row and listening as several members stood and read poetry, stories, or essays they'd written. His imagination was ignited. This is why he'd come to ETU—to be a part of such academic pursuits. He only wished he could think of a good subject to write about. His mind went to the Indians his parents worked so hard to protect, but that was their cause, not his. He listened to one fellow get up and read about the obligation of Southern men to join the Confederate Army, and Jared wondered why he was writing about his beliefs instead of fighting for them.

So caught up was Jared in the evening that he didn't realize how bored Benjamin was until he heard a soft buzzing sound. He looked over in horror to see his friend slumped down in the chair, his face dropped so far forward his chin rested on his chest. He elbowed Benjamin.

“Wha. . .what's the matter?”

“Shhh!” Jared put a finger across his lips in warning. “You fell asleep.”

Benjamin frowned. “And you woke me? Is it time to go?”

Jared expelled a breath. “No.”

“Okay then.” Benjamin slouched once more and closed his eyes.

What had he expected? For Benjamin to suddenly gain an interest in literature? He sighed again. Benjamin raised one eyelid and peeked at him. He looked so innocent, so longsuffering. It was hard for Jared to hold on to his indignation. He could feel a grin teasing the corners of his mouth. How did Benjamin do it? He never seemed more than half serious about anything, but still he managed to charm his way through every circumstance. Jared wished some of that charm would rub off on him.

The meeting broke up, and he watched as Benjamin complimented each of the readers on his work, listening and nodding his head as one or another expounded further on his ideas. Jared chuckled to himself. If only they knew the truth.

“Did you enjoy the evening?” Benjamin asked as they made their way across campus to the dormitory.

“Very much. I want to write something and present it at the next meeting.”

“Do you really?” Benjamin's voice was full of scorn. “I cannot imagine a duller group. But I guess it depends on your interests. My taste runs to more exciting pursuits, which puts me in mind of a favor I need to ask.”

“Oh no.” Jared opened the door of Southern Hall. The hallway was dimly lit as most students had already retired for the evening. “You're not going to get me involved in any more mischief.”

“No,” protested Benjamin. “It's nothing like that. Even I know when it's time to lie low. This has to do with my parents. Next week they're throwing a birthday party for a cousin of mine who recently came to town. She's from your part of the state—Nashville, or near to it. Anyway, my parents thought it would be nice to have a gathering of young people to help her feel more welcome.”

“I don't know. Debutantes and parties are not my favorite pastimes. Besides, I have a lot of studying to do.”

Benjamin's face took on the betrayed look of a heartbroken puppy. “You don't mean to make me go alone. I even told Ma I'd be bringing you with me.”

“You told your mother without consulting me?” Jared shook his head. He really didn't want to go and didn't appreciate feeling manipulated. This was the perfect time to take a firm stand and refuse his roommate.

“We'll have a great time. We can skip the dinner and show up in time for the dancing.” Benjamin bowed to an imaginary partner. “You'll have a great time. We'll make certain Cousin Amelia has sufficient dance partners to make her feel accepted, and then I promise to bring you straight back to your studies.”

Jared's heart missed a beat and then compensated by doubling its speed. Amelia? Surely not the girl he'd seen on the train all those weeks ago? Was it possible? Knoxville was a large town, but how many young women had recently arrived there from Nashville? Curiosity and hope, a heady combination, filled his thoughts. How he would enjoy another opportunity to talk to her. He glanced at Benjamin and nodded. “I'll go.”