Read Belle for Free Online

wife’s hat from her head and slap at the embers threatening to burn a hole in it.
    “The stacks always rain down ashes. Never stand real close,” Daniel advised her as they picked their way through the crowd. He added, “One time in Boston, I left the train station with three burn holes in my spanking-new suit.”
    Belle met his smile and doubted she’d forget the advice.
    Although the engine was made of metal, the four cars it pulled were made of wood. The freight car they were seeking was the last in line.
    The light-skinned porter unloading the car greeted their approach with a smile. “Can I help you?” he asked.
    “I’m expecting a package,” Daniel replied politely.
    The porter walked over to the stacked crates and other wrapped items piled nearby. “What’s the name?”
    “Best,” Daniel replied. “Mrs. Cecilia Best.”
    Belle hadn’t known Mrs. Best’s given name before now.
    It took the porter only a moment or two to find Mrs. Best’s leather-bound package. As he handed it over, he glanced at the writing on it. “Says here it came all the way from England.”
    Daniel took the fat parcel. “My mother has friends there. Thank you, sir.”
    “You’re welcome, son.”
    As she and Daniel walked back to the wagon, Belle wondered if one day she’d get packages from England, or be able to tell folks about the train station in Philadelphia. Daniel had mentioned being in Boston as casually as she would’ve mentioned the weather back home. Being free and facing an unknown future was both exciting and scary. Parts of her missed home like the dickens, but other parts wanted to be right here; she kind of liked this thing her papa called freedom. Thinking about him put a damper on her feelings, but she was determined to make him proud. She vowed to learn as much as she could, then become as prosperous as she could so when they were reunited he’d know the sacrifices he’d made on her behalf hadn’t been in vain. To that end, she vowed to learn something new every day. Today she’d learned many things, not the least being never stand too close to a train—if the smoke doesn’t get you, the brimstone will.
    They’d almost reached their wagon when a small group of people standing nearby drew their attention. The group was circled around some activity neither Belle nor Daniel could see.
    Belle asked, “What do you think is happening over there?”
    Daniel appeared concerned. “I’m not certain, but I recognize some of the people. Come on.”
    Belle followed.
    As they neared, Belle saw anger on the faces of the folks gathered, an anger seemingly directed at the tall, muscular Black man standing stonily in their midst. He seemed to be waiting to board the train, but there were bruises on his face and his clothing was torn and dirty. One of his eyes was swollen shut. Even though it appeared as if he’d been on the losing end of a fight, his chin was raised defiantly. A White man wearing a badge stood at his side and had one hand firmly clamped on the Black man’s arm.
    Belle was about to ask Daniel what this all meant when a big clod of dirt sailed out of the crowd and hit the Black man full in the face. Another was thrown. Then another. He ducked, but the rocks kept coming, much to the glee of the cheering, jeering crowd. When a rock struck the lawman, he raised his gun. Folks quieted.
    The lawman declared, “Next rock thrower’s gonna spend the night in jail.”
    The crowd grumbled.
    Someone shouted, “Turn him over to us!”
    “Yes!” another voice yelled out. “We’ll show him justice.”
    The murmur in the crowd began to grow. Belle could feel the tension in the air.
    Daniel grabbed Belle’s arm. “Let’s get out of here. Could be trouble.”
    Wanting to stay and get her questions answered, Belle was about to balk, but Daniel steered her firmly back toward the wagon. “Let’s go.”
    Belle had to practically run to keep up with Daniel’s long strides. “Daniel, who was that