Promise Me Forever Read online

  George glanced around and inquired, “Where is that partner of mine? Did I miss seeing him? I was in the laboratory on the other side.”

  “No, Phillip isn’t with us,” Rachel told the fiftytwo year old man with a pleasant expression and genial manner. “He’s in Baltimore for several weeks on business.” She didn’t detect any suspicious reaction to that news. “Dan came to visit me and has business here and in Athens, so we’re making a holiday of it while Phillip’s away. Dan’s been at sea on a long voyage, so he needs time off to enjoy himself. He’s never been to either town and I didn’t see much when I was here last time, so we’re staying until Monday morning.”

  “That’s nice, Rachel. I’ll be delighted to show you two around while you’re here. I can use a little relaxation and entertainment myself.”

  Rachel put on her prettiest smile. “That’s wonderful, George, and very kind of you, if it doesn’t interfere with work.”

  “Have a seat while we chat.” George took his chair and motioned to two others for his visitors. “Unless you have plans, I can fill your schedule except for Friday. I have appointments that day, but in the evening there is a big party at a friend’s home. I’m sure he won’t mind if I bring you two along. It will give you a chance to meet some important and nice people.”

  “Sounds marvelous, too tempting to resist. Don’t you agree, Dan?”

  “Sounds like what we both need, Cousin Rachel. Thank you, sir.”

  “We accept your hospitality and kindness, George.”

  He leaned back in his chair and smiled. “Excellent. Of course you’ll join me and Molly Sue for supper at our home tonight, won’t you?”

  “We’d be delighted to come. I look forward to seeing Mrs. Leathers again. The last visit, she gave me some wonderful recipes. Naturally our housekeeper, Lula Mae, doesn’t cook them as good as your wife, but we have enjoyed them nonetheless. Perhaps she’ll share more special ones with me.”

  Pride and love glowed in George’s brown eyes. “I’m sure she will. Molly Sue is the best cook I’ve ever known. It’s too bad Phillip couldn’t come with you. He’s working too hard. He looked tired the last time I saw him. I hope he gets a little rest while he’s away. How long will he be up North?”

  Rachel feigned a look of dismay. “Six to seven weeks, he said. I miss him already, and he’s only been gone a few days. Thank goodness I have Dan to keep me company and this trip for diversion.”

  George’s fingers toyed with the gold chain to his vest-pocket watch. He glanced at a calendar on one wall and looked concerned. “That’s a long trip.”

  “Yes, I know. Is there any pressing business?”

  George stroked his mustache. “Not before his return. I did want to chat with him about some changes I have in mind, but they can wait.”

  “I suppose you’re busy working on that large and important order Phillip mentioned,” Rachel remarked in a casual tone.

  George curled his fingers around the arms of his chair. “Yes… Did Phillip send me any special instructions? Or send anything else?”

  He had hesitated, as if unsure of what to say, or perhaps wondering what or how much she knew about it. She thought it wise to put the nervous man at ease. “No. Is there a problem? Did he forget something in his rush to leave? His urgent trip did come up unexpectedly.”

  “Not really, but he said he was sending word soon on a new project. I’m sure he’ll handle it when he returns. Nothing to worry about.”

  “He didn’t mention anything to me, but you men never tell us wives very much about business. I hope it won’t slow you down to entertain us.”

  “Certainly not. We have good men working for us. They don’t require much supervision. You’re a ship captain, Dan? Do you work for Phillip?”

  Rachel and Dan both noticed how George changed the subject.

  “I have my own clipper, work for myself, and live on my ship, the Merry Wind. I have friends and acquaintances who hire me to deliver cargoes for them around the world. When I’m not doing that, I usually pick up my next job and shipment wherever I’m docked. My base is Charleston; that’s where I receive my mail and most job offers.”

  “It sounds as if you stay busy and on the move.”

  “Most of the time. I had to bring a load of ironwork to Savannah last week, so I took time off to visit with Cousin Rachel and her husband. It made better ballast than stones, and there was a good profit in that heavy load. If you ever have need of a private shipper, George, I’m for hire at reasonable prices.”

  “Sorry, Dan, but I either use the railroads or Phillip’s firm. I always try to refer any business I can to him. He’s been a good friend and partner for years. Since you’re both from Charleston and in shipping, I suppose you knew Phillip before he moved to Georgia and married your cousin.”

  Dan wanted to ask how many years and how the two had met and gotten into this business together, but it was better for that to wait until later. Too many questions could make the man even more nervous than he was. “No, I’m from Alexandria, Virginia. I started using Charleston as my home port after Phillip left. Most of my regular customers shipped out of there, so it seemed a good idea to change locations. It didn’t matter much to me, since I’m not around often. Before we leave town, I do have an order I’d like to place with you.”

  George assumed it was a small and personal one, so he didn’t press it at that time. “That sounds good to me; I can use the business. We’ll discuss it during the week and make out a contract. Have you ever been in an ammunition factory before?” After Dan shook his head in the negative, George asked if they would like a tour of the company.

  “We’d enjoy that very much, if you aren’t too busy,” Rachel answered enthusiastically.

  “Certainly not, Rachel. Besides, your visit is long overdue.” He stood and said, “Follow me, but stay close and don’t touch anything.”

  As they trailed behind George to the door to the adjoining structure, Rachel looked at Dan and smiled. She was delighted by how he had handled himself and by how quickly he came up with appropriate answers.

  Dan grinned and winked at her, also pleased with his performance.

  Rachel enjoyed Daniel Slade’s company and attention. She hoped he was trustworthy. She had never met anyone like this fascinating man who exuded virility and confidence. She was certain there would never be a dull moment with him.

  Sometimes it was awful to be a woman whose life was controlled by men and their whims. Perhaps Lula Mae was lucky in not needing a man to protect and support her, but most women did and wanted it that way. It was the natural way of life for a father to have that role while a girl was growing up, then for a husband to take over when she was older. Women were born to be obedient daughters and helpful sisters, then dutiful wives and good mothers. But where did the single woman fit in the scheme of life? If she were moral and genteel, only with a man, in wedlock. If she lost one mate, she was expected to find another. That was what southern society taught and demanded of her. But what happened if cruel fate kept defeating her life’s purpose? Rachel knew that answer too well. A southern woman could not afford a stain upon her honor. If she earned one, it was as damaging as a witch’s mark burned into her forehead for the whole world to see as a warning to avoid her. Somehow, some way, she had to destroy the unjust brand on her, the brand of Black Widow that alleged her to be a destructive predator of men.

  They had climbed the stairs to the top floor of the middle structure. She pushed aside her crazy thoughts and listened to George Leathers.

  “This is where it begins,” he said with pride, waving one hand over the large area. He picked up blocks with indentations of different sizes and explained bullets molds and ball-making. He motioned to a hot cupola in use and informed them that they melt the lead there, “one of the few locations we allow a fire, but away from anything explosive.”

  He guided them to another area of the floor. “These men are making shell casings. The rims are marked to indicate rim or ce
nter fire,” he said, then related the differences and how each worked. George looked at his guests to make certain he was talking in terms they understood before he urged them onward to the front of the second floor.

  Far from the fire in the vertical furnace and separated by a thick wall was the shell-loading area. “Powder is measured or weighed, poured into a shell, and the ball seated atop with the right amount of pressure.”

  “Fascinating,” Rachel murmured. “So many steps to make one.”

  “That isn’t all,” George said, but didn’t know she knew that.

  They went down the steps to the first floor. “This is where boxes are made and labeled with sizes. Over there is where the finished cartridges are stored until they’re packed.” George continued strolling as he talked and pointed to different tasks in progress. “In here, we store our chemicals and materials.” He moved to the next room. “Boxes and cases are shelved and orders are filled from here. We box by fifty cartridges with twenty boxes per case to make one thousand cartridges, unless it’s a special order for less. Supplies come by river or rail, and are sent out the same ways.”

  “There’s so much to this business. How do you keep it all straight?”

  He beamed with pride. “Been in it a long time, Rachel, so it’s second nature to me. One last stop, the most dangerous and delicate one. Make sure you don’t touch anything in here or lean against any counter.”

  They entered a large and well-ventilated laboratory. It was cluttered with work and storage stations, laboratory equipment and instruments, chemicals, and packing containers. Three men were busy, but only one halted his task a moment to glance at the guests with his boss.

  Rachel and Dan both noticed that nowhere along their tour had George interrupted his workers to introduce either the men or them.

  “This is the dangerous and delicate area of powdermaking. We treat cotton or wood pulp with nitric and sulfuric acids to make nitrocellulose. Nitrocel is unstable and volatile. It decomposes rapidly to explode. The power of the explosion relies on how much it’s nitrated and the sizes and shapes of the granules. You don’t want any flames or accidental impacts in here. We have mild winters, so little heat is needed to keep these workers warm. If the weather gets too cold, we close down this area.” George was serious as he said, “I don’t like to take any risk, no matter how small, of blowing up this place. We get our power from the canal system that runs through this part of town. The white chemical is potassium nitrate. That yellow crystal-like is sulfur. The dark one is charcoal. They’re mixed in a seventy-five to ten-to-fifteen ratio, then all you need is nitrocel and it’s finished. Any spark or impact will ignite that blend, and it has to be keep dry until it’s weighed or measured and put inside shell casings.”

  Rachel looked at the large stores of chemicals and final mixtures. “Doesn’t this create a terrible danger of accidental explosions? This is a wooden structure; a fire would burn it to the ground in no time. I hope you and Phillip have plenty of insurance and a safety plan to evacuate men.”

  George and the nearby worker, the one who had glanced at them earlier, looked as if her question was strange. “Insurance is expensive, which is understandable for this business, but we’re well covered and have safety drills often. My employees are skilled and experienced, and we don’t allow smoking near the building. We sit alone on this site, so there’s no threat from other burning structures reaching us.”

  “That’s a relief, but it still seems so dangerous. Wouldn’t a brick building be better? Have you and Phillip thought about that change?”

  “Wood burns faster and easier, but brick would explode, too. We’ve never had an accident, and I don’t expect any in the future.”

  “I hope not,” Rachel murmured, and wondered why the man with the wire-rimmed glasses kept sneaking peeks at her over them.

  George removed his watch from his vest pocket and looked at the time. “Oh, my, it’s almost one o’clock. I wish I could spend more time with you this afternoon, but I have errands to run. I’ll tell Molly Sue to expect you for supper at six. You remember where the house is located?”

  “Yes, I think so.”

  “Are you staying at the Planter’s Hotel again?” George asked Rachel.

  “Yes, it’s so lovely.”

  George gave them directions to his home and suggested they use the trolley. “That should be fun for you, and the weather’s nice. I have my carriage outside. I can take you back to the hotel.”

  “That’s kind of you, George. We’ll have time to rest and freshen up before we come to your home. And we thoroughly enjoyed the tour.”

  “Yes, sir, we did,” Dan concurred.

  At the hotel, Dan and Rachel enjoyed a light snack in a cozy corner, as it was too long to wait between breakfast and the evening meal.

  “George sounded as if he was expecting an important message or delivery from Phillip,” Dan remarked, “then passed over it lightly when you questioned him about it. Wonder what that was about?”

  “I don’t know. Phillip didn’t mention anything pressing before he…left home. George certainly has a lot of men employed and they seemed very busy for a company whose business has slacked off. He didn’t even seem that enthusiastic about your order, as if he has more trade than he needs.”

  “He probably thought it was small and personal, and I didn’t want to distract him with its size. Maybe they’re working on that big special order.”

  Rachel’s thoughts had drifted when Dan made his remark and caught her off guard. “What big and special order?” She tensed, fearing he had made a slip that proved he was involved after all.

  “The one you mentioned to George earlier.”

  “I guess my mind is elsewhere, such as on dinner tonight at his home. I hope we can learn more than we did this morning, which wasn’t anything other than George acting a little tense and that man staring at me.”

  A waiter came and offered more coffee. Dan let him fill his cup, but Rachel said she was finished. The man took away their dishes and left.

  “I noticed that, too,” Dan commented. “The one in the laboratory. Maybe he was just taken with your beauty and charm, Mrs. McCandless.”

  “Thanks, but he gave me an eerie feeling.” Rising, she said, “I’m going to my room to rest before I freshen up for tonight’s adventure. I’ll meet you at my door at five-fifteen. Does a trolley ride sound fun to you?”

  “It surely does. I’ll finish my coffee and see you later. Rest well.”

  Rachel was glad one of the water closets on this floor was only a short distance from her room. She had washed off in a basin last night and this morning, so she wanted a long and soothing bath before tonight’s adventure.

  When she finished and returned to her room, she began to gather what she needed to dress for the upcoming episode. Within moments, she halted and frowned, then checked the room with thoroughness. Alarm consumed her. As she had certain ways of folding and placing items, it was obvious someone had searched through her things but tried not to make it evident. Yet nothing was missing! A thief would have stolen her jewels, so she ruled out that possibility. Surely, she surmised, a maid wouldn’t risk being caught or reported for nosy mischief that could get her fired.

  A daring sneak had explored her room. George or Harry or the unknown client? Maybe the culprit was seeking that missing money or written clues to her involvement. Someone, she reasoned in dismay, was trailing her and had known she was absent. It could be the same villain who had spied on her at home and shot at her!

  What about Daniel Slade? Rachel didn’t want to think of him, but she had no choice, as she must consider any potential foe. In each instance, he had the opportunity to be responsible. If Dan was guilty, his only motive could be some entanglement in the mysterious deal. At times she believed and trusted him; at others, she didn’t. Mostly he appeared open and honest, saying and doing the right things for an old friend. Yet sometimes she sensed he was holding something back. Maybe that was normal behavior
for a man who was trying to resist a friend’s wife, or maybe it was something else…

  Rachel cautioned herself to be more leery of him and everyone. She didn’t like being watched and intimidated, especially when she didn’t know why and by whom. She wondered if she should mention to Dan that she had noticed the search, but she decided it was best to keep the matter a secret for now. She prayed it wasn’t him behind the evil deed.

  The trolley stopped to pick up passengers. Dan assisted Rachel and another lady aboard. Everyone took their seats and the driver urged the horses onward past the railroad tracks on Washington Street.

  It halted near a fountain for several people who lived nearby to get off and for one to get on. While they waited, Rachel and Dan glanced down tree-lined Monument Street to their right to see the fifty-foot signer’s obelisk in the center of Greene Street, standing tall and proud of its meaning before City Hall with its cupola of the temple of justice.

  “Phillip told me the last time we visited that it’s made of granite blocks from Stone Mountain,” Rachel said. “He said two of the three Georgia signers of the Declaration of Independence are buried beneath the obelisk. Isn’t that fascinating? Important men resting there forever.”

  “It certainly makes an unusual headstone. When I die, I want a small and simple one above me, just large enough to let people know someone is buried there so they won’t trample my grave in ignorance,” he remarked as if teasing, but it was actually to prick her about the lack of a marker on his brother’s grave.

  “That isn’t funny, Dan,” she scolded.

  Dan witnessed anguish in her multicolored eyes, an unexpected emotion that caused them to shine with moisture. He wondered why she employed this ruse. “I’m sorry, Rachel,” he said. “Death never is a laughing matter.”