THE MIDNIGHT RIDE

THE MIDNIGHT RIDE

Elijah smiled and watched his family sleeping in the flickering dim light of the candle on the table. Deep in thought, he wondered, was the box the answer to his family’s dreams and his dad’s prayers? A still small voice broke the silence to ask, “Elijah, why are you awake?” Elizabeth said, walking closer to him. Placing her hand on his shoulder, he kissed it and asked her to sit with him.

“Mr. Jones asked us to demolish dad’s old house and build a new barn. While working, I found this box hidden inside the wall and brought it home. Reaching for the dirt-covered box, opened it and took out a black book along with an envelope, and placed them on the table.

“What do you mean?” asked Elizabeth. And watched her husband open the envelope to reveal piles of money with rubber bands around them. She gasped and squeezed his hand. It was more money than either of them had ever seen.

“Elijah, I’m shocked,” she said.

“Wait,” he said and picked up a black book. Confused now, Elizabeth wanted to know about the book.

“Several years ago, a bundle of cash and a black book came up missing that belonged to Master Jones. They never found them. Well, I guess Dad found it and hid it.”

“Do you know what is in the book?” she asked.

“There are names of slave movers and hunters. Mr. Jones played both sides. He helped slaves escape and then collected money from the owners for returning them. We are certain this is the missing $20 000 and his black book. I recognize the name, Harriet. The other names are not clear. We wanted freedom for so long for our children, and now we find my dad provided it for us,” said Elijah with a lump in his throat.

“Does that mean we will take the train everyone talks about and go north, where we will be free, and you won’t work so hard in the fields?” Elizabeth asked.

“Yes, my dear, that is what it means, and we must leave tonight.”

While trying to keep calm, Elizabeth said, “I finished the knapsacks for picking wild berries, and we can use them.”

Although he knew their children would have a better future in the north, the idea of leaving the plantation frightened him. With his strong faith in God, Elijah knew He would take care of them.

“When I was a child, my Momma wept when the Master forced me to work in the field alongside her. We pulled weeds, picked fruit and vegetables in the blistering sun until we could barely stand. When my mother died, with her back and shoulders badly humped over from work, they tied her on a board and placed her in the casket. Like you, I want a better life for our children,” said Elizabeth, her voice filled with hope and determination.

“You get dressed and pack food and clothes in the knapsacks. I’ll wake up the kids. Please hurry,” said Elijah, “Samuel, wake up.”

“It’s too early,” he said, confused since they always slept until daylight.

“Get up now. It is important.”

Sitting on the side of his bed, rubbing his forehead, Samuel asked, “Why are you awake in the middle of the night? We need our sleep.”

“We are going somewhere. Get dressed.”

“Yes, Paw,” he said and picked up his clothes.

Standing beside his son, Taylor’s cot, Elijah asked, “Son, are you awake?”

“Paw, what’s wrong? Is Maw sick?” asked Taylor, knowing sometimes his mother didn’t feel well.

“Your mother is alright. We want you to get dressed. Your mother and I want to talk with you about going somewhere.”

“Where are we going? We don’t have any money. Who will help us?” he asked.

“Your mother and I prayed, and God will take care of us,” said Elijah knowing with the $20,000 and the black book, they were okay.

“Sure,” said, “What will we do for food? We have no money.”

“God will provide,” said Elijah and smiled at Elizabeth, without telling him about the money “Yes, Paw,” he said and picked up his clothes.

He went to his daughter’s bed and shook her gently, “Felicia, I want you to get dressed. We’re going on a trip,” Elijah said, hugging his daughter.

“Where are we going?” asked Felicia. Rubbing her eyes, she yawned and stretched to get awake. When she failed to get an answer, she picked up her clothes and started dressing.

“We want you to come over here and sit down. Your mother and I have something to tell you,” said Elijah. Sitting beside her husband, Elizabeth waited to learn how he planned to tell the family. Going over to the broken window, Elijah peeked out in the moonlight and let his mind wander. He saw a barefooted boy wearing only overalls running behind the horses while his dad and grandfather plowed the hard Alabama ground. After a few minutes, Elijah sat down, ready to tell his children about their future.

The children sat on a bench near their parents as their father explained how his father and grandfather were slaves. They died without enjoying their freedom. He recalled they dreamed and prayed their children and grandchildren would be free to fulfill their dreams and live free.

“Paw, what are you talking about?” asked Samuel.

“I’m telling you God provided a way for us to go north where we will live free.”

“Paw, we can’t do this. The Master will be mad at you. He will never let us leave here. We are his slaves and must do what he tells us,” Samuel said and shook with fear, knowing if the slave hunters captured them, the Master would punish the parents.

“Son, we know that, and that is why we need to leave now before they find us missing.”

“Gather up the things you want to take with you and help your brother and sister. We have only a few minutes before we leave. Dressed and ready to go, each one checked their knapsack. Elizabeth put extra food in her knapsack for the children.

The tin box and envelope fit perfectly in the bottom of Elijah’s oversize knapsack, where it was safe.

“Wait for me. I can’t leave Ms. Starlight here. She’ll miss me,” said Felicia and rushed to her bed, picked up an old worn rag doll, and hugged it.

When she returned, she said, “We are ready to leave.”

“It is time,” said Elijah and blew out the oil lamp.

The midnight train whistle blew, signaling the approach to the yard. He knew shortly, another train would arrive, and Elijah planned to be on it with his family and leave the memories of the slave life behind in the fields of Alabama.

He grabbed Elizabeth’s hand and gave it a firm squeeze. She squeezed back. That moment gave him the strength he needed to do what he expected of himself.

“What do we do about snakes?” Samuel asked.

“Never mind the snakes, let’s move on,” he said as the family walked through the grass and weeds toward the woods and remained quiet.

Elijah led the way while Elizabeth made sure the children kept up. After walking several miles through the trees and bushes in the moonlight, they came to a creek.

Going through spider webs, Felicia grabbed her dad’s hand and started crying, “Hush child, you’re okay,” said Elizabeth and wiped her hands across her face.

“But Maw, I have spiders on me,” she said, rubbing her shoulders.

“No child, they are spider webs. Come on. You’re okay.”

Suddenly, Samuel tripped over a log and slid down the creek embankment. Grabbing his arm, Elijah prevented him from going into the water.

“My legs hurt. I want to rest. I’m hungry,” whined Felicia and sat down on a log.

“We have no time to rest,” said Elijah, with a sense of urgency as Elizabeth gave each child a piece of bread and stopped for a brief rest before they continued walking.

“Don’t forget they are but children, and it won’t hurt to let them rest a minute,” she said.

After eating her bread, Felicia was ready to go again. Within the first hour, they entered the woods. The moon shining through the trees flooded Elijah’s mind with thoughts of the many slaves that traveled this path under the same moonshine to freedom. Glancing at Elizabeth, her face shined. She was a beautiful woman, and he loved her.

When they arrived at the grassy area just outside the train yard and sat down in the tall grass to rest, he whispered as they waited for the train. “When the train comes. I’ll help your mother onto the train, and I want you boy to carry Felicia, so we don’t want to be late.”

Elizabeth noticed the moon went behind the clouds and shivered when it grew darker. The sounds of the crickets chirping interrupted the quietness of the night. Elijah allowed the children to catch their breath, knowing they were hot, tired, and sweaty from their journey. Removing a water jar and a loaf of bread, Elizabeth gave each a drink and a piece of bread. The mosquitoes were terrible this time of the year, biting the kids on the arms, legs, and face. They complained the stagnate water from a nearby pond smelled awful, and the parents kept reminding them to remain quiet.

“Yes, Paw,” she said with a smile.

“Daddy, Mrs. Starlite is happy and wants to go on the train,” said Felicia.

“Calm down, baby girl. Mrs. Starlite will have a new home with you in Pennsylvania. Tell her you will take care of her,” Elizabeth said, and hugged her tightly, and stroked her hands over her daughter’s face.

“Taylor, when we arrive in Pennsylvania. I’ll get a job, and you can take care of your mother, brother, and little sister. We trust God, He’ll be with us, and you’ll be okay. This night, we’ll see our dreams of freedom come true. Looking at Taylor, he said, “Son, we love you.”

Suddenly a light appeared in the early morning darkness. As it got closer, “It is time,” said Elijah and instructed the children to keep up with him. The light got brighter as the train got closer, the steam engine’s sound became deafening as it chugged along the track. The train made a loud hissing sound when it stopped in the yard.

The children stared at each other with a look of surprise on their faces. Since this was the first time they had seen a train. Grabbing her daughter’s hand, “God will protect and guide us.”

He turned to Felicia and Samuel. “Be strong. God will help you,” said Elijah and watched Samuel climb into the boxcar. He wiped his eyes before he picked up Felicia. “Baby girl, we love you and want you to know you are the light of our life. We’re with you and your brothers. Your future is in this train ride.”

Holding her hand, Elijah hugged his wife and whispered, “God is so good to us,” she wept when he placed his arms around her.

“Maw and Paw, we love you.,” said Taylor and helped his mother onto the train as the whistle blew to signal it was ready to leave.

“It is exciting that Mrs. Starlite and I will have a new life and a new home,” said Felicia.

“I am glad for you,” said Elijah and watched Samuel lift Felicia and Mrs. Starlite onto the train before he climbed on, sat down with his family. The train moved down the tracks, picking up speed, taking his family to freedom. Snuggling in her dad’s arms, Felicia felt safe.