The Cottoncrest Curse: A Novel

Chapter 83

280 1893 Chapter 83 “Do you think it will work, Mr. Jake?” “I don’t see why not. Have you ever taken a train?” “No. Never.” “But it’s true what Antonio told me, isn’t it?” “Sure is, Mr. Jake. That’s what Louis has been spending all his time on. He was working on it before I left to go to Cottoncrest, and he’s still working on it now. He’s trying to get the passenger car case heard in the Supreme Court. I’ve seen the pleadings he’s going to file. Homer’s name is right there, right on papers going to the U.S. Supreme Court. Homer Adolph Plessy versus J. H. Ferguson. Of course, Louis can’t argue the case. Can’t even put his name on the briefs if it is going to have any chance to be heard. Two white lawyers, Al Tourgee and Jim Walker, have their names on the briefs, but it’s Louis who’s behind it all.” Jake didn’t care about the lawsuit. He didn’t care about the legal issues . The important thing was that Jenny had confirmed what Antonio had said. Jenny began to shiver with the cold, despite her cloak. Jake opened up his long black coat and held out his arm. Jenny snuggled into the warmth of his coat, into the warmth of his embrace. She rested her head on his shoulder and drifted into sleep. Jake stayed watchful, his eyes continually scanning the two entrances to the cemetery. There was no time for any carelessness. There was no time for any mistake. There was no time for any lapse in attentiveness. Dawn would be here shortly. ...