Path of Freedom Read Free

only been gone eight months. How could things change so fast?
    “Well, Pastor John, I'd better get these things home and put away so I can make it over to your place in time for supper.”
    “Good idea, Bruce.” John slapped him on the shoulder. “I'll see thee in a little while.”
    Bruce gave him a nod and climbed into the wagon. He took the reins, unset the brake, and guided the horse down the street.

    Flora didn't slow until the post office was in sight. Her sister breathed heavily from their brisk pace, hauling her new cloak over her arm.
    “I still don't see why thee wouldn't let me stop long enough to put my cloak in the wagon. Besides, I thought we had more shopping to do.” Irene glared at Flora while they waited for a buggy to pass before crossing the street.
    “I promise. We'll go back and finish our shopping after I'm sure Bruce Millikan is gone.” Flora charged into the street and stomped across the dirt road.
    “Thee cannot avoid him forever. Forgive him for the past and let it go. He's right. It was a long time ago.”
    “It's true that Beaver Face was a long time ago, but his calling me foolhardy this morning isn't.” Flora blew out a puff of air. If it were possible for a human being to explode, she'd be in a million pieces right now.
    She swung open the post office door and an elderly woman stumbled out.
    “Oh! Pardon me.” Flora reached for the woman's elbow to steady her.
    “Goodness!” The gray-haired woman righted herself and smoothed her skirts. She lifted her chin and glanced up at Flora and then Irene with brown eyes of stone. “You young people need not be in such haste. I daresay, this post office won't grow legs and walk, you know.”
    “We're sorry.” Flora pressed her lips together to keep from laughing.
    Inside, Flora blinked, adjusting her eyes to the darkness. She strode toward the open window, where Joseph Miller, the clerk, greeted her with a genuine smile.
    “Howdy, Miss Saferight and Miss Saferight.” He nodded to Irene standing by Flora. “Hazel and the baby are doing very well. You did a fine job delivering my baby girl.” He rubbed the top of his bald head, which sported a thin layer of brown hair stretched from ear to ear.
    “I'm glad to hear it. I hope to stop by for a visit before we leave on our trip to Virginia,” Flora said.
    “Hazel would like that. I think the confinement is starting to bother her.”
    “It won't be long before she'll be able to go out into society again.” Flora pulled out a folded letter addressed to her aunt. “I need to send this to Charlottesville, Virginia.”
    “That will be one penny.”
    Flora dug into her skirt pocket and handed him the required change. Once they finished their business at the post office, they stepped outside the small wooden building into the bright sun. She shielded her eyes. She loved North Carolina in the fall. Soon more color would fill their world and cooler weather would bring in the harvest.
    “I promised Mother we'd stop by the train station and find out the prices of the tickets,” Flora said as they made their way toward South Elm Street.
    “This is exciting!” In a sudden burst of energy, Irene caught Flora's pace as a smile tilted the corners of her mouth. “Just think, we'll be going through the capital city of Raleigh and then into Virginia in comfortable passenger seats. No slow, bumpy wagon with a hard wooden seat for days on end.”
    The sound of a distant train whistle bellowed through the air. Smoke shot into the sky over the gray roof of the wooden train depot as they neared. A shiny black engine appeared beyond the building, hauling several linked train cars. They took off in an eastward direction. More steam unleashed its power, hissing and groaning against the wheels attempting to churn over the rails. The massive iron machine started out slow, but gained speed and momentum with each thrust.
    They reached the side of the depot and rounded the corner of the building to the front