A Hope Beyond by Judith Pella Read Free Book Online Page A

feeling as he did toward the woman who was to become his wife. Of course, he’d said nothing to them about Carolina. Why bother, when nothing would come of it anyway?
    He turned on Greene Street and headed north, away from the harbor. His father would never understand. Leland Baldwin had taken James into the utmost confidence regarding the family’s shaky financial circumstance, and James’ actions would be perceived as a betrayal of such a trust.
    He heard the slowing of yet another hack and turned to wave the carriage on when he heard his name being called from inside.
    “Mr. Baldwin! Come join me.” It was Benjamin Latrobe.
    The carriage door swung open and Latrobe peered out. “You’ll freeze walking all the way home. Come, let me give you a ride.”
    James rubbed his frozen cheeks with his gloved hand. “I believe I will.” He climbed up and took the bench opposite Latrobe.
    “Glad to see you’re the sensible kind, Baldwin.”
    “Well, it is a bit colder than I’d thought. So where have you come from? I didn’t see you at the board meeting.”
    “That’s because I wasn’t there,” Latrobe said with a sly smile. “I’ve been Christmas shopping.”
    James felt a pang of regret at having joined up with his friend. No doubt Ben would be full of stories about Christmas and his family’s plans for the holidays. Trying hard not to appear the slightest bit concerned with the matter, James only nodded in acknowledgment.
    “Are you headed home to Washington City for Christmas?” Latrobe asked.
    James shook his head. “No. My parents . . . well, that is to say . . .” he stammered and felt his face flush. His relationship with Ben Latrobe was such that a glib lie did not sit well. “My parents are out of the city for the holidays. They’ve gone south to be with family,” he lied anyway.
    “And will you join them?”
    “No, I’m afraid I couldn’t possibly be away from Baltimore that long. I want to keep my hand in on the railroad business, and I want very much to be present when McLane makes his appearance.”
    “But Christmas is in less than a week and a half. Have you no plans?”
    “No, none,” James admitted, then lest Latrobe feel pity for him he added, “I’ll probably busy myself by catching up on my sleep and reading. A very pleasant way to spend some time, if I do say so.”
    “I’ll not hear of it!” Benjamin Latrobe declared. “My Ellen would be positively beside herself to learn that her husband had been so inhospitable as to allow a friend to dine alone on Christmas.”
    “Honestly,” James said, raising his hand, “I’ll be in good spirits and quite content.”
    “I won’t hear of it. You will share Christmas Day with us, and I will not take no for an answer.”
    James realized the futility of arguing and nodded consent. “I would be honored.”
    “Good. Now, tell me about the meeting. Did they vote McLane in?”
    “The vote will take place two days after Christmas.”
    “Good. I’m certain of the outcome and anxious for the thing to be done. There’s a great deal of work ahead of us, and now that the Point of Rocks fencing nonsense has been set aside, we can better focus our attention on the incline planes and the surveys west of Harper’s.”
    “What exactly happened at Point of Rocks?” James asked. He was familiar with the reference point, which lay several miles east of Harper’s Ferry along the Potomac. He knew of some trouble out there but had not heard details.
    “The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company had an agreement that the B&O would fence portions along the Point of Rocks area for the purpose of separating the canal and the railroad. They were concerned that the canal horses would become spooked and possibly even jump into the canal at the noisy passing of a steam locomotive.”
    “That makes sense,” James said.
    “It makes sense, but we had no other recourse. The passage is barely wide enough to accommodate both the canal and railroad. And you