~ Too Late For Tomorrow ~

by

Diana Lee Johnson

"Do you think we remembered everything, Nellie?" Eulalia asked as they left the fifth store of the day, both of them laden with packages and boxes.

"I think we’ve bought half of Charleston, Eulalia." Nellie could barely respond as she struggled with the greater number of packages.

As they approached their buggy, which was already loaded with dry goods and the like, Nellie caught sight of James Collins.

"I think we should go now, Miss Eulalia," she whispered.

"Miss Eulalia. It’s always been just Eulalia, or even Lali. What’s gotten into you, Nellie?"

"Please ma’am," Nellie whispered as she grabbed Eulalia’s arm to help her into the buggy.

"Nellie?" Just then Eulalia, too, spotted Mr. Collins. She raised her chin and eyed him coldly.

"Bring yer nigger friend in t’ tote yer packages, Mrs. Hamilton?"

Eulalia ignored him, so he repeated himself louder than the first time.

"Nellie, do you hear a mule brayin’ close by?" Eulalia said calmly.

"Please, Miss Eulalia," Nellie whispered. "Please, let’s go home now."

"You’d best listen to your nigger, Mrs. Hamilton. Charleston isn’t the ideal place for abolitionists and nigger-lovers. One day I’m gonna catch that husband of yours harborin’ runaways. Then we’ll let the law handle things."

"Why, Mr. Collins," she turned toward him as if just discovering his presence, "I thought I got a whiff of yesterday’s garbage." Eulalia raised her eyebrows, holding her head high. "It’s amazing how some little men have correspondingly small minds."

Collins’ temper was seething. "If you were a man--"

"If I were a man, Mr. Collins, I wouldn’t even hire you as my stable boy."

Collins stormed off and mounted his horse, whipping him severely to a gallop.

"Eulalia, you shouldn’t be so bold without Jeremy here."

"He left didn’t he?"

They got in the buggy and drove slowly out of town. When Charleston was well out of sight, they came to a narrow and lonely stretch of road.

Suddenly, from out of nowhere came a man on horseback firing first one gun and then another. The horse bolted and the buggy tossed to and fro on the poorly maintained road. Nellie and Eulalia struggled to slow down, but Cleo was terrified.

"Just hold on Nellie," Eulalia shouted, "and hope she tires." But just then the wheel of the buggy struck a large stone and it turned over on its side. Nellie was thrown clear as the buggy upset, but Eulalia was trapped beneath a wheel. Nellie crawled over, but could not free her.

"I’ll have to go for help!" Nellie cried.

Eulalia nodded. She was in too much pain to answer. As Nellie left her sight, Eulalia felt the heat and moisture of the rush of blood on her inner thighs. There was little pain now, for the weight of the wheel made her almost numb. She knew she was losing her baby.

Fortunately, a husband and wife from a nearby plantation heard the commotion as they were traveling home and hurried to the scene.

Eulalia’s clothing was saturated with blood as the gentleman carried her to his coach. His wife screamed, "Come and take the lady home with us!" But Eulalia insisted they look for Nellie. "I’ll send someone back for her, madam. We must get you to a doctor."

"You’ll not send anyone back! You find Nellie, or leave me here."

"But ma’am!"

"I mean that, sir." Eulalia screamed with pain.

Nellie was nowhere in sight. When, at last, Eulalia lost consciousness, the wife convinced her husband to abandon the search and send a party back.

Nellie ran along the road, until she heard the sound of a horse coming up behind her. She turned to flag the rider down, but when she saw it was James Collins, she ran into the woods.

He pursued her until he over took her when she stumbled.

"Go ahead, run." He cackled as she struggled to her feet. "I can catch you again."