"I saw Death once," the stranger's voice drifted in the light evening air chasing the silence of the dining car. It was late, and Pleasant thought she should have been sleep but the pleasure eluded her. The passenger cars were filled with doctors of all manners of practices returning from a seminar and fearing she would have a run in with Dr. Monhollen, Pleasant had escaped into the dining car. Doctors were there too but she had a better view of who came and went and could hide behind her menu if the senior doctor decided to come for a meal. She thought it strange Alice and Minas hadn't mentioned the seminar but then she had been so preoccupied.

Pleasant glanced around the dinning car for a familiar face and her eyes lingered on a head of dark hair, that could have easily been Havelock's, crowning above a book. No sooner had she locked on it, the sharp dressed man lowered the book and looked back at her from across the car. Pleasant gasped a little when she saw his eye patch but it took her a good few seconds to look away.

"No no it was before the war down south," the old man related his tale. "Way way down south. I was only a mere boy and a lot of us got it in our minds to escape. A preacher man had passed through three days earlier and he said he would free all those who met him in the swamp."

Pleasant looked at the old man. She couldn't help but wonder where he was going. She also noted that he wore fine clothing. The young man he spoke to seemed less than interested and kept most of his attention on the newspaper he held.

"Now that night I prepared to meet the others in the swamp but it just so happened that night that the master came down with a bad cough. Now the cook, she be one of the runners so someone had to make it all seem all right like no one was missing. So I took myself down to the kitchen and made Master his soup."

The young man lowered his paper. "And they left your hide?"

The man laughed. "That's not exactly how it happened," he said. "As soon as I made Master his soup I high tailed it out of there. I ran until my sides ached and I had to rest against a tree."

The young man lowered his newspaper and Pleasant had to smile at his hidden curiosity. "Then what happened?"

"Well as I was resting against the tree a snake slithered down it and bit me on the hand," the man grabbed the assaulted appendage. "I thought for sure I would die. The little devil slithered off and as I sat there aching I heard the hounds and the patty-rollers and the runaways screaming and hollering something terrible." His face saddened as he shook his head. "They wouldn't be caught and hanged though. One by one they threw themselves into the dark water to the white gators and tide."

"They drowned themselves?"

The man nodded. "Man, mothers, babies and all," he said. "To this day I imagine they be still trying to make their way to freedom land."

The young man frowned. "But you are still alive," he said. "How is it you say you met Death?"

The man laughed. "I say I met him, that don't mean I let him take me!" he laughed hard tossing back his head. "Master died in the war and left me four mules and a piece of land. I sold it all and came north, freedom land! As it turns out I know my way around good business. I learned to read and figure and here I am before you today a wealthy man."

The young man shook his head. "Seems like a tall tale to me," he said.

"Whatever it is it is all mine," the man said. "Death, though..." he rubbed his chin. "He say I owe him something now..."

"Nothing will satisfy but the soul," a waiter busy at another table said.

The man laughed fearlessly. "When I see Death we shall join hands and dance," he said. "I shall take a fine bow and say to he, Death, thank you for sparing me that day. Thank you, Death for making me rich." Both men laughed as the waiter continued to clear tables.

Pleasant watched him go over to the man with the eye patch who looked ready to leave the dinning car. As the old man and his young acquaintance grew loud, Pleasant decided to leave too. She returned to her seat and set her carpetbag in her lap. All it contained was a couple changes of clothes and under garments, the book Josie had given her, her Bible and hymn book, and the clothes pin doll. Aside from that all she had was Polaris and his things. Unfolding the light blanket next to her she draped it over her shoulders. She had barely closed her eyes when they sprung back open. The man's story had fitted its way into her mind and dislodged an old memory. Dear Lake Collect, hide this secret and you may have my soul at your will when I see you again.

Feeling a cold draft she wrapped the blanket tighter around herself as a porter came down the narrow aisle asking passengers if they needed anything. Pleasant sat up straighter as he neared her and put a smile on her face.

"Can I get you anything, miss?" he asked.

"No, thank you," Pleasant said and watched him pass. She was grateful the car wasn't crowded and no one sat next to her. If they saw how frantic and shaky she became they may have her committed. She looked to a woman across the aisle traveling with a small child. Both were resting. She wondered where they were going or if they even knew. Perhaps they were as lost as she was.

/

The train screeching to halt woke Pleasant. She found she had dropped her blanket on the floor and reached down to pick it up. As she folded it she looked out the window at the passengers disembarking. She watched as the woman with the small child hugged an older woman at the station.

Growing tired of the rails Pleasant gathered her things and stepped off the train. She planned to find a place to stay the day and catch a night train out the following evening. After setting her carpetbag and blanket aside she sent for Polaris. As she waited she turned her attention to a man on a ladder repainting a sign.

"New Castle, Wilmington...Newark?" Pleasant read the half faded sign.

"Not sure where to go?" the man asked with a smile as he climbed down from his ladder. He wiped his hands on a rag then stuffed it into his pocket. "You might enjoy New Castle just fine."

"I'm not sure," Pleasant said. "I'm looking to be far away...not near any trains."

The man tilted his head. "Are you running from something?" he asked. "You seem much too shy to be running for something. No one is trying to hurt you are they?"

Pleasant looked down and shook her head.

"I see, I see," the man said. "The name is Hank Barge." He extended his large hand and Pleasant shook it. "You're from Dixie aren't you?"

Pleasant smiled and nodded. "That is correct, sir," she said.

"Well it's nice to see folks from my neck of the woods still coming north," Hank said. "There is nothing going on for us coloreds in the south."

Pleasant looked down again. She could feel Hank's gaze analyzing her behavior. "Where...where do you recommend I stay?"

Hank chuckled at her innocence. "Right here in town if you like the sights," he said. "I live over in Wilmington with my family. I like it fine. But if I was running from something I might look for something less visited."

Pleasant wanted to correct him that she was not running but held her tongue. Perhaps she was running. Baldwin hadn't exactly ordered her to leave town. She closed her eyes. Just thinking about him and his refusal to believe her ripped her heart apart and poor May... She turned back to the train idling on the tracks and stiffed a sob.

"Miss. Miss?"

Pleasant turned back to Hank and sniffled.

"He can't hurt you where you are now," Hank said. When she tried to protest Hank held up his hand. "Now I know the look of a woman with a broken heart. Time is good for healing."

"Time has a perverted sense of humor," Pleasant said.

Hank smiled gently. "That is also true," he said. "But keep your faith. Think of what happens after the rain."

Pleasant nodded her head and shook his hand again when he offered it. "Thank you."

Hank bowed slightly. "Take care, miss..."

"Miss Day," Pleasant said.

"Miss Day," Hank repeated.

A man arrived from the train with Polaris saddled. Saying goodbye to Hank Pleasant hurried over to them and took the reins. "Thank you, sir," she said to the handler. "We'll have to find us a place to stay over," she said to Polaris. "I feel a terrible urge to hide." She took his head in her hands and kissed his star.

Hank shook his head as he watched her walk away. As he turned back to his ladder he spotted a familiar face among the crowd. "Dr. Geiger!" He made his way over to the man and they shook hands. "How was your party?"

"Seminar, Hank, there wasn't any celebrating," Addison Geiger said stuffing his watch into his pocket. "The sign looks great."

Hank wrinkled his nose. "The wife doesn't care for the shape." Pleasant came to his mind. "Say Doc, a girl just passed through here all alone. Being it that you're such a kindly fellow I was hoping you could help her."

"Help her?"

"Well she seemed... She didn't seem fit to be off on her own. Not right." He tapped his head."

"Oh. Hank, I'm not that sort of doctor."

"But we can't let her roam around on her own. She's not from here. She's not even from the north. I think she'd trust you if you went after her; you being a doctor and all."

Addison looked about. "I don't know, I might startle her. Some people don't take to doctor. My having one eye may not help the situation."

"Come on, Doc. It would be a shame if something happened to that gal."

Addison looked at hank sympathetically. "All right, where is she?"

"She went right that way—" Hank pointed, then froze. He turned in every direction but there was no sign of the woman and the horse. "Blasted. She couldn't have just..."

"Well what did she look like? I'll keep a look out," Addison said, and as Hank described Pleasant Addison realized that the strange woman wasn't a complete stranger to him. He had her a number of times on the train. She was noticeably disturbed to the point of drawing unwanted attention to herself. He had felt pity for the lonesome creature.

/

Margaret looked up from the sofa as May entered the room with a tray of tea and a side of cheese and crackers. "You really didn't have to," she said as she sat up. "I feel perfectly fine now."

Alice who sat on the lounge looked at her friend. "You didn't feel well yesterday either," she pointed out.

With a sigh Margaret got up from the sofa and went to the balcony doors. "Perhaps I just miss Pleasant," she looked across the lawn. "I miss her Bible hugging, tight laced, matronly, docile ways."

"She'll be back," Alice said.

"Do you really think so?" May asked setting down the tray and taking a seat.

"Let's not get false hope," Margaret said returning with a sweep of her dressing gown. "Espen says Baldwin is a dragon, every little thing sets him off. Long as I've lived I' have never seen that man with a temper until now."

Alice laced her fingers and sighed. "I know people have had to cross him before. I just don't see why he became so angry with Pleasant."

Margaret sat back down. "Espen agrees. He says he's never seen him so unforgiving."

"Then maybe there is more to it than we know," Alice said and the cousins looked at her eagerly. "I just don't know what."

"My cousin was virtuous," Margaret said. "She was punctual and she was fair."

"Then perhaps it is not about her character," Alice said. "Perhaps it is not about her at all in a sense. What did you talk about when she met him?"

Margaret shook her head. "She was more concerned with one of her students than herself," she said. "A girl named Mamie something..."

Alice thought. "Minas says she asked him about a student as well," she said. "She came by the house; I wonder if it could be the same girl."

"All I know is that she worked for the Berry family," Margaret said rubbing her stomach. She reached to the table and picked up the teacup. "Do you think that could be what made Baldwin so angry? Something to do with that girl?"

"Perhaps," Alice said. "I just don't know anything about her."

"I know she has no family," May said. "And s-s-s-sometimes she couldn't attend school. Pleasant wrote the Monhollens about it."

Margaret leaned back on the sofa and propped her foot up in the table. "Who are you, Mamie and why do you seem to stir up everyone?"

"There is another thing," Alice said. "Minas said that the girl had been unwell."

"And Pleasant was not permitted to see her when she went to the Berry's home," Margaret said. "She..." she bit back. Perhaps it was unwise to throw the accusation of Dick Crowninshield out. She found herself wondering how Alice would react. Perhaps the woman she had grown up with would morph into a dragon like Baldwin Monhollen had done. "I need more information." She chose to say. Feeling a sudden wave of sickness she jumped up and ran into the washroom.

"She's been doing that all day," Maryanne said.

"Hm," Alice thought. "Margaret, perhaps you should come with me and see Minas," she called to her friend.

"I'm fine," Margaret shouted from the other room. With a heavy sigh she rejoined them and put her hand to her head. "I'm fine."

Alice turned away to hide her smile. "Margaret?"

"Yes?"

"I think you should fetch your baby things from your mother."

Margaret sniffled. "She sent all of that stuff with me when I moved; why?"

Alice beamed. "Because you are going to be a mother."

Margaret frowned then her eyes grew wide then she burst into tears. "Why?" she wailed.

"Oh, dear it's only natural," Alice said. "Why, I have three children."

"But I'm not you, Alice," Margaret said. "I can't bounce and croon to babies! And my honeymoon!" she covered her face as she sank to the floor.

Alice stiffed a laugh and joined her. "Now, this is a happy moment," she said. "Motherhood is beautiful."

Margaret scowled. "Then why were you always complaining about your feet, and your back and your clothes not fitting?" Margaret demanded. "I'm going to hang Henry! I'll strangle him!"

"Mood swings are also normal," Alice said calmly.

"Stop it, Alice!" Margaret snapped. "I have to help my cousin. Now is no time to carry babies." With a sigh she leaned against the table and looked toward the balcony. "Hm, I wonder what I shall call him...or her."

Alice looked at May who smiled.

"You do know this is the best baby in the world," Margaret said. "I hope it is more like its father than me. I can be slightly selfish at times." She sucked her teeth. "Oh, I am so frustrated!"

Alice laughed. "We know."

Margaret swatted her playfully. "I must tell Henry when I'm certain. He could use the good news with how he feels after punching Baldwin Monhollen. To see a tall man fall. He looked like a kicked puppy there on the ground. My Henry was an Amazon protecting his woman. A kicked puppy. Didn't he, May? Oh never mind you won't say anything bad about people. Yes." Margaret nodded. "We must fight for Pleasant. We must find out what happened."

"You have to tell us what you know," Alice insisted.

"I will," Margaret said. "And it is the truth. Pleasant had nothing to gain from lying. Also we should keep this from Henry. I don't want him feeling guilty forever after punching men. So..it will be the three of us." She smiled. "The four of us."