Corn Silk Days Part 16

Chapter Twenty-two: Amy Pearson.

"Catherine, I really want to apologize for not telling you anything about my relationship with Benjamin."

"Lucinda, it's really not my business, that is, if it is the past."

"It is."

Michael's jaw was clinched as he listened. Lucinda couldn't help but see he was angry. And knowing what she knew about Benjamin's father, his anger was directed at Benjamin more than at her. He apparently could not hold his anger any longer as he said, "I don't believe that."

Lucinda looked him straight in the eyes. "I'm sorry you don't believe it, Michael. It is in the past. What relationship I have with Benjamin is only one of friendship and family. Nothing else."

"Yeah, sure."

Alexander put his hand on his son's shoulder. "You heard the lady, Michael. Just drop it."

Catherine spoke up. "Alright Lucinda, I accept that. You do understand I felt I had to stand up for my son in his absence in case there was any threat to his marriage."

"I do."

"But then again," Catherine continued, "if there was or is any threat, I can't do anything about that except complain. I know that."

Lucinda smiled. "I do understand, Catherine. I would expect that from you. You would stand up for your son. But in this case, that's not necessary. Everything is fine. And I apologize to all of you for not revealing our past relationship. It was very awkward for both of us when we recently met. Benjamin was as shocked to see me as I was to see him. I had no idea he was in this family. I mean, the Benjamin I knew before."

Alexander pulled his pipe from his mouth and said, "Seems the world is shrinking now days. People get around. Trains and all, river boats."

"Looks like it is time for court to resume," Catherine said. "Let's go in the court and get this over with."

Alexander put his arm around Lucinda. "You hang in there, kiddo. It'll be okay."

"Please state your name," the prosecutor instructed.

"Benjamin Sanford Storm."

"Mr. Storm, have you ever used another name, an alias?"

"Yes, sir. For a couple of years I used the last name of Sturm."

"And why was that?"

"Just being juvenile. Didn't want the family name at that time. So I used an earlier ancestral form of it."

"How well do you know Lucinda Garrison?"

"Well."

"The two of you were involved in a romantic relationship?"

"Yes. For a short time years ago."

"Tell me, Mr. Storm, now that you are back in the family fold, have you renewed your relationship with the young lady, the married young lady-"

"Objection!"

"Overruled."

Vance adjusted his eyegla.s.ses, pushing them upward on the bridge of his nose, glanced at the jury and then asked, "Have you renewed your relationship with Lucinda Garrison?"

"My friendship, yes."

"Is that all?"

"Yes, that is all. Friendship."

"How well did you know the young man, Thomas Karns."

"I did not know him."

"You beat to death a young man and you don't even know him!"

Matthews was on his feet in seconds. "Objection, objection!"

"Sustained." The Judge gave a stern look and pointed his finger at Vance. "We won't have any more of that, is that clear, Mr. Vance?"

"Yes, your honor." Vance moved about before continuing his questioning. As he paced, his steps fell upon a squeaking floor plank and intermittently broke the silence in the courtroom.

He stopped directly in front of the witness box, stared at Benjamin before asking rather flippantly, "So you're a jealous man, is that right, Mr. Storm?"

Although the question stirred up anger in Benjamin he quietly and coolly answered, "There is nothing to be jealous of, Mr. Vance."

Emma Pearson was an upright citizen, morally and ethically sound. And she knew this decision was one of great importance and although it could have tongues wagging, it was the right one.

She and her sixteen-year-old daughter, Amy Pearson, entered the courtroom as Prosecutor Vince called Benjamin Storm a killer.

She pulled Amy close to her, and said quietly, "You alright, honey?"

Amy's eyes scanned the courtroom and stopped on the parents of Thomas Kerns. "Yes, I'm fine, Mama."

Emma slightly pushed her daughter forward, and both stopped at the gallery fence separating them from the inner goings on of the courtroom. The bailiff came toward them. "Please, sit down there in the last row, ma'am." He pointed the way.

"We are here to see Judge Patterson."

The bailiff shrugged and said, "You can't. We have a trial happening."

"I know. That is why we are here. The court has to know what we know."

Judge Patterson banged his gavel on his desk. "Bailiff, this is disrupting the proceedings."

Emma Pearson started to speak up but her daughter, Amy spoke first. "Your honor," said Amy, "I have important information for you about this case, about Thomas Karns."

The jury could not take their eyes from the young girl, Amy Pearson. Neither could anyone in the courtroom.

She was poised, confident, and in control of her raw emotions as she described in detail her rape three months before by Thomas Karns. He had caught her in the trees behind the school and with a knife blade at her throat walked her further into the trees where the undergrowth was thick and green. She described in vivid detail the ground that she lie on, detail enough that one could almost smell the damp soil pressing tight against her naked and bruised loins, see the winter gra.s.s smashed wherever her body touched, and feel the weight and thrust of his partially naked body against and into hers. She described in detail his leather belt he had used to tie her hands behind her back, down to the silver belt buckle he had dangled in her face as he straddled her, threatening to put it around her neck and shut off her breath before rolling her onto her back to bind her hands.

The tears falling and rolling down Amy's cheeks were only a few of the tears present in the courtroom. The jury and audience were entranced by her detailed rendition of what happened to her the afternoon she was raped by fellow student, Thomas Karns, and how she wanted him dead for doing what he did to her, and how she thanked Benjamin Storm in front of the judge and jury, and citizens of their community, for taking away the evil of this young man and stopping him from raping another. Amy's testimony even had Thomas Karns's own mother crying.

Mrs. Julie Karns now believed what she had refused to believe. Her son was a rapist.

Julie Karns's heart went out to two victims that day, and she managed to let them know that what happened to each of them was despicable. But she was unable to afford Benjamin Storm the same forgiveness and understanding as could the jury that afternoon.

Less than three hours later, Benjamin Storm was acquitted of all charges in the death of Thomas Karns.

Chapter Twenty-three: Richmond.

Following the first major land battle of the War of the Rebellion at Mana.s.sas on July 21, 1861, three four-story-high tenement buildings in Richmond, Virginia, owned by Captain Luther Libby, and prior to the war used by him in his ship's chandler business, were among buildings commandeered for Union prisoners and hospital facilities. Confederate General Winder gave Libby forty-eight hours to vacate the three buildings located at Cary and Dock Streets at 20th Street.

Madeline knew the buildings. She had seen photographs and drawings of the buildings. She also knew prisoners were not kept on the ground floors. The drawings indicated the ground floors were used as offices and guard-rooms, and a kitchen was in the middle of the building. The bas.e.m.e.nts or cellars contained cells for dangerous prisoners, spies, and slaves sentenced to death. There was also a carpenter shop, and word was the carpentry was usually for caskets for dead soldiers. A Major d.i.c.k Turner ran a tight prison.

She also knew there was a nearby small prison that often held women prisoners if not incarcerated at Libby Prison.

Spies and Slaves.

She and Sadie.

She shuttered to think of being locked away in a prison and in a cell in the cellars of one of those buildings. No sunlight, dank for sure, and no safety from the Confederate guards who may have an animalistic urge to satisfy. Her stomach rolled with the thought, and she tried to brush away the nausea.

The wagon was driven by a young Confederate soldier, apparently a decent young man who had some manners as he did not treat either Madeline or Sadie roughly. He was pleasant and would engage in some conversation with Madeline. His name was Robert Lincoln and Madeline had immediately established he was not related to President Lincoln. He was single but had left a young woman, the woman he intended to marry, at home in Georgia.

But most of the young man's conversation was with the Confederate officer who rode upon his horse alongside the wagon. Ironically, Lieutenant William Edson was the only other soldier accompanying Madeline and Sadie to prison.

And the Lieutenant's conversation with Madeline was almost nonexistent except for a few orders given.

Although the ride in the back of the wagon was difficult, the air was dusty but not too warm. Madeline was worried about Sadie and what might happen to her when they reached Richmond. In all probability they would be separated. Spies did not have their attendant alongside them in a prison cell. No way. She knew that and she also knew Sadie knew. And Sadie seemed justifiably terrified.

How Madeline wished she could protect Sadie, could protect them both, but there was not any way out of this. She knew William hated her. She couldn't blame him. He had every right to hate her for what she had done.

Benjamin walked out of the courtroom and was greeted by family and friends. Knowing he was free from jail and free from most of the guilt he had felt brought unexpected tears to his eyes. He took a deep breath and resisted the tears. He wanted to be clear eyed and clear thinking. He owed two people his life and he moved quickly to catch the attention of Amy Pearson and her mother, Emma.

"Mrs. Pearson, can I have a moment," Benjamin asked.

"Yes, of course."

He looked down at the young woman. "Amy, I want to thank you for coming forward publicly as you did. I know it must be so difficult but I want you to know how much I appreciate it. You are a brave young woman, and I know your mother must be very proud of you. I wish you all the best, and much happiness in your life."

Amy blushed. "Thank you. And thank you in more ways than one. I know it has been difficult for you sitting in jail but you did the right thing. The right thing for many of us."

"Mr. Storm," Emma Pearson said, "It has been a difficult time for everyone involved in this, but I know the good Lord will give us all his comfort and blessing as we move beyond this. There will be happy times again. Trust in that."

"Thank you, Mrs. Pearson. I will, I will," he confirmed. As Benjamin turned to walk back to the family group, he saw the approval on Lucinda's face. Her beautiful face. d.a.m.n, he thought. I still love that woman.

When he took Lucinda's hand to give her his thanks, he also saw it was okay with her to give her a light hug. And he did. Light, quick, but leaving him with a longing for more. As she turned away he wondered, did she have a longing for more, too?

It was late afternoon when Lieutenant Edson led the wagon into a clearing alongside a stand of Hickory trees.

"We're going to bed down here for the night," Edson said. "Robert, as soon as you get the ladies down from the wagon, get a fire going and see what kind of chow we have."

"Yes, sir."

Hardly a word was spoken through supper. Madeline wondered if this meal of ham, Sadie's applesauce, and her bread, might be the last decent meal they would have. She had lingered in her eating, wishing her host would talk to her directly but he did not. He ate, drank coffee, and then opened a bottle of whiskey as the food was gone and they sat around the fire.

As Madeline sipped her coffee she noticed young Robert seemed happy to see the whiskey and he pa.s.sed on the coffee for the booze. It was not long before he was intoxicated. She wanted to take the bottle away from him but it was not her business and William did not seem concerned that his soldier was getting drunk. In fact, unless it was her imagination, he seemed to encourage Robert's drinking, having one toast after another to some lame event.

Within the next hour or more, it was one lame event too many for Robert as he pa.s.sed out cold. William only laughed, picked up a blanket and tossed it over his soldier curled up on his side on the ground.

It was nearing sunset and Madeline rose to her feet to take a walk. William moved fast to her side. "Where do you think you're going?"

"Nowhere, William. Just need to stretch a bit."

"You stay close within my eyesight, you got it?"

"Yes, I will. You think I'm crazy enough to run away in this unknown place."

He smiled. "No, I think you're smarter than that. You stay clear of Robert, too."

Oh, she hadn't thought of that. Robert has a gun on his side under the wool blanket. "Okay, William," she answered.

Madeline had her back to William and was not paying him attention as she talked with Sadie and when she turned around she saw the horse was hooked up to the wagon and William was moving fast toward them. He took Madeline by the arm and commanded, "Quickly, into the wagon, Sadie too, and be quiet. Let's not wake Robert."

Unsure of what was happening, she did as told. William's horse was tied to the back of the wagon and he climbed aboard. He grabbed the reins and moved the wagon away and onto a nearby road.

As soon as they were removed from the camp area a distance, he turned around, looked directly at Madeline and smiled. With the setting sun outlining his body, now minus his Confederate gray jacket and replaced with a plain black flannel shirt, he said, "Ladies, we're not going to Richmond. We are northward-bound."

Chapter Twenty-four: Thursday, the 17th Day of September 1863 Camp at Brashear City, Louisiana Dear Companion, It is once more that I embrace the present opportunity of addressing a few lines to you to let you know where we are and how I am getting along. My health is not very good at present although I am getting better. I had the flux since we came down here and is the cause of my health being bad. I hope these few lines will find you all enjoying good health and pleasure.

At present, we are eighty miles west of New Orleans on the railroad. If you had a war map you could see where we are. This is one of the poorest countries I have ever seen. It is a very swampy country. We have very poor water to drink and hardly enough of that, and the water in the bayous is salty. The tide runs up of a night between eighteen to thirty inches. So you may know that we are tolerable nigh to the Gulf.

I would not be surprised if we took a scout through Texas but we will have to fight before we go far. The Rebs are fortified about seven miles from here. They are on an island and I should not wonder if they would be gobbled up for they have no way of retreating and more than that they have a lot of conscripts and they have to guard them to keep them from deserting. An army of that kind will not do much at fighting, although they are under old Zack Taylor's son and if he takes after his old dad he will be a hard nut to crack.