Blackman's Coffin by Mark de Castrique Page B

didn’t have any debts and they didn’t have any trespasses because they owned all the property they could possibly need.
    “Your father’s talking to them, giving me a little time to get you ready.”
    Even though the room was warm, a cold shudder ran through me. “Are they taking me to jail?”
    Mother stopped in the middle of folding a handkerchief on my nightstand. Her worried expression changed into a smile. “Now whatever put that in your head?”
    “I was on the Biltmore Estate. Mr. Galloway told me the Vanderbilts don’t like trespassing.”
    “That colored man who found you—”
    “Elijah.”
    Mother nodded. “Elijah told Mrs. Vanderbilt the bear chased you onto their land.”
    I had enough wits about me not to argue against Elijah’s fib.
    “Mrs. Vanderbilt insists on paying all your medical expenses since the bear trap had been set by one of her men.”
    “And she’s coming to see me?”
    “She wants to say hello and have Dr. Lynch take a look at your leg.”
    “Dr. Lynch?”
    “Dr. James Madison Lynch, although everyone calls him Mike. He’s the surgeon for the estate. He saved Miss Cornelia when she had appendicitis and all the other doctors were afraid to operate. I’ve heard Dr. Lynch say he was too new in Asheville to know any better.”
    “But Mr. Vanderbilt died of appendicitis.” Even though I’d been only seven, I remembered how shocked everyone had been at Mr. Vanderbilt’s death.
    “That was in Washington, D.C. Folks round here say if Mr. George Vanderbilt had been tended by Dr. Lynch, he’d be alive today.” Mother fluffed up the pillow behind me. “Now perk up and mind your manners.”
    She glided out the door and then I heard her say, “Mrs. Vanderbilt, Miss Vanderbilt, please come in. Henderson was awake so it’s no trouble.”
    Mother returned followed by a slender woman in a deep blue dress that had to be store bought—maybe even out of the Sears Roebuck catalogue. Her dark brown hair was pulled up under a cream colored hat with a mesh veil folded onto its narrow brim. She clutched a matching purse under her left arm and extended her right hand, palm up, more for me to lay my hand atop rather than grip.
    “Pleased to make your acquaintance, Henderson.” Her voice sounded pleasant and light, each word crystal clear and formed by book learning.
    “Thank you, ma’am,” I said, briefly meeting her eyes and then dropping my gaze to the bedspread so as not to rudely stare.
    “And this is my daughter, Cornelia.”
    Mrs. Vanderbilt turned sideways and I saw the prettiest young woman step into my room. She seemed to float before me, her body adorned in light green fabric that shimmered like new spring grass in the sun. She had to be in her late teens, but not so much older that I couldn’t dream of walking by her side and hearing of all the marvelous places she’d been and people she’d met.
    “Henderson, my mother and I hope you are feeling better.” She gave a nod of her head and the waves of her brown tresses rippled against her smooth porcelain neck.
    “Henderson?” My mother’s thinly masked admonition broke through. “They want to know how you are feeling.”
    “Much better, thank you.” I looked at Mrs. Vanderbilt but couldn’t keep my eyes from constantly returning to Miss Cornelia.
    “That’s good to hear,” Mrs. Vanderbilt said. “But I’m not surprised. Elijah told me how brave you were.”
    I know pride is a sin, but I puffed my chest out a little.
    Miss Cornelia stepped closer. “Elijah said you didn’t even cry when he pulled your leg from the trap, and with the rabid bear lying right beside you.”
    Elijah had carried me to the stream before releasing the steel jaws, but Cornelia’s eyes had widened as she spoke, and I thought the drama of Elijah’s version shouldn’t be corrected.
    “Elijah was the one who was brave, Miss Cornelia. I hope to be able to thank him personally when I’m able to walk again.” The lump in my throat came