The Last Runaway

Belle writes on Honor’s behalf to Honor’s parents, announcing the birth of her daughter, Comfort Grace Haymaker. She urges her parents to write to her in Wellington. Below Honor’s sign off, Belle reports that Honor has left the Haymakers. She urges them to “talk sense” into Honor, who cannot stay long term with Belle; Belle is slowly dying of an affliction to her liver. She cautions that Honor should not be living at the shop when Donovan inherits it and advises that “Honor won’t do no better than Jack Haymaker—not in Ohio, anyway” (284).

Honor appreciates rocking chairs, which she previously considered “an aggressive sign of leisureliness” (285). With the arrival of baby Comfort, however, she appreciates the soothing nature of rocking and wonders if her previous stance was too judgmental. She muddles through the exhaustion of new motherhood, feeling guilty for her inability to help Belle more with the shop.

Honor recalls Jack’s visit the day after Comfort’s birth. She was initially glad to see him, though the good rapport between them faded when he told her that he made the baby a cradle but that it was only available for her if she returned to the Haymaker farm. When Belle’s customers saw her without a cradle, however, one brought his own cradle from childhood, explaining that he could not take it west with him. Honor is grateful, as the cradle allows her to sew while rocking Comfort with her foot.

Judith and Dorcas visit, both women pleased to meet Comfort. Dorcas mentions a new family’s arrival in Faithwell. Belle comments on Dorcas’s observation, opining that Dorcas will marry a member of the new family and that Judith is displeased with this. Honor begins to plan a quilt for Comfort, though she elects to know her daughter more before she decides on a pattern.

Honor takes Comfort on walks in Wellington despite the assumption that the townsfolk are gossiping about her leaving Jack. They watch the train arrive, which both mother and child initially dislike but come to anticipate. They occasionally encounter Donovan, who keeps his distance. Belle offers that this is because Comfort is an undeniable sign that Honor is attached to another man. Honor asks if Belle thinks that Donovan can change; Belle contends that “some people are born bad” (292). She believes that most Southerners know slavery to be wrong but lack the courage to say so. Coming to Ohio gave Belle that bravery, but she does not believe that Donovan will ever change. She urges Honor to focus on Comfort instead of worrying over “lost causes.”

In a letter to Biddy, Honor apologizes for the long gap between letters, referencing her months of silence. She notes her return to Belle’s and Comfort’s birth. She explains the different values that led to her defection of the Haymakers and how she aided the woman returning south, whose “certainty” she envies.

Jack, Honor reports, regularly visits and always asks when Honor will return. She gives no answer. Judith, meanwhile, threatened expulsion from the Quakers if Honor did not return by the 11th Month, further threatening to take Comfort from her. Dorcas helpfully brought Honor’s sewing box, signature quilt, baby clothes, and Biddy’s letter. She urged Honor not to tell Judith or Jack about this, as it signifies Dorcas’s acceptance that Honor will not return.

Honor congratulates Biddy on her upcoming marriage and promises to send back her quilt whenever possible. She discusses Belle’s kindness, the other woman’s aid in learning to make hats, and her suspicion that Belle is ill. She admits to still feeling ill at ease in the constantly changing political landscape of America. Her lack of solid family connections makes her feel unmoored.

An older woman enters the store, informing Belle about a “delivery” the next day. The woman comments that Belle is looking poorly, which Belle dismisses. Belle brushes off Honor’s questions, urging her to keep quiet. The next day, Thomas, the elderly man who first drove Honor to Wellington, arrives. Belle tells Honor to keep the customers in the shop busy.

When Honor hears Donovan’s horse, she understands that Thomas is helping people escaping slavery. Donovan enters the shop, seeking Belle. Honor distracts him by thanking him for his aid the night she tried to save the Black man in the woods. She expresses a desire that he would “change [his] ways” (302), but Donovan contends that this would not change things between them, especially not now that Comfort has been born. Donovan is shocked when Belle comes inside and begins urging him to help her carry loads of wood. Honor notes, however, that Belle is nervous.

When Donovan quickly leaves, Belle laughs that Comfort is a “lucky charm” who “spooks” Donovan (303). She tells Honor to ensure that Donovan doesn’t return and then heads back outside. Several minutes later, Thomas leaves. When Honor tries to ask Belle about what happened, Belle refuses to tell her, claiming that she can’t give Donovan information that she doesn’t have. Though Honor knows the truth of Belle’s participation in the Underground Railroad, she understands the need for silence.

Later that night, Honor hears a child fussing and a woman trying to comfort them. Belle attempts to make noise to cover up the sounds. Honor promises to lie to Donovan if necessary and urges Belle to bring the escaping mother and children inside so that they don’t freeze. It’s the woman Honor helped return south (whom she learns now is named Virginie), with her twin daughters, who are about five years old. Virginie wears the gray and yellow bonnet.

Belle explains that Virginie and her children arrived hidden in the false bottom of Thomas’s wagon; she confirms Honor’s suspicion that Thomas hid someone this way when he first brought her to Wellington. With Honor’s promise to lie if necessary, Belle happily reveals all the clever ways that she and Thomas outsmart Donovan. She shows Honor the secret compartment at the back of the woodshed. Comfort cries, and Honor hurries back to the house, only to find Virginie comforting her. Honor wonders why she never asked any of the previous escapees their names. When Virginie sings a song, Comfort seems to smile, though experienced mother Virginie knows that the baby is still too young.

Belle feeds the family and gives the sick child a poultice. She then urges them back to their hiding place. Belle hopes that the sick child will be all right, noting the family’s proximity to Canada. When the girl’s coughing persists, she brings the sick child to her bed, hoping that sleeping somewhere warm will help her keep quiet, should Donovan come check. Belle puts the child in her own bed, though the girl comes in to sleep with Honor and Comfort in the night. Honor marvels at the thought that she is sleeping with a Black child, which she finds both unusual and peaceful.

Donovan bursts into the house in the night. The little girl coughs, and Honor urges her to be quiet. Honor tries to cover up the sound with her own cough, beginning to nurse Comfort so that she can sit up in a way that obscures the girl. Donovan looks with “a kind of longing” at Honor breastfeeding her daughter but does not enter the room to search further (312). He again comments on her Star of Bethlehem quilt, which has the same style as one his mother once made, and then leaves. The frightened child begins to cry, Honor shushing her again. Donovan leaves without finding the other hidden escapees. Honor worries about how the family will get safely away, but Belle urges her not to fret.

The next morning, the sick child’s condition has improved. Belle and Honor spend the day sewing, and Belle’s energy is nervous. Belle mends the gray bonnet, though the details she adds have made it conspicuously fancy for a Black woman. Belle’s trick is revealed when a large group of women enter the store before departing en masse for the train. Belle tells Virginie, now finely dressed, to boldly call after the group and join them, her show of belonging designed to trick a watching Donovan. Virginie and her children leave, with Honor and Belle unable to watch lest they draw Donovan’s attention. They notice, several minutes later, that Donovan has gone, though they have no way of knowing if he left in pursuit of Virginie and her children. Belle explains that helping escapees is not always so complicated; Donovan has been around the shop more since Honor arrived. Honor realizes that she is contributing to the danger the escapees face. The next day, they learn that Virginie and her children safely left Wellington and are en route to Oberlin.

In the last week before Honor is due to return to Faithwell or be disowned by the local Friends, she notices Belle’s declining health. While Belle and Comfort both sleep, Honor sits in a rare moment of silence, which feels unusually empty. She muses on the quilt she plans for Comfort, wondering if the rosette pattern she considered is too English for her American daughter.

Mrs. Reed knocks at the door; Honor quickly lets her inside before she can be seen. She asks why Honor has left the Haymakers and calls Honor’s disagreement over helping escapees insufficient reason. She points out Honor’s insignificance in the greater project of the Underground Railroad and argues that those escaping slavery can only dream of the kind of life that Honor is throwing away. Belle enters to agree with Mrs. Reed, and the two greet each other; it’s the first time they’ve met, though they’ve worked together for years.

The women demand to know what it is about Jack, aside from his family, that Honor dislikes. She claims that the problem is herself—she feels impermanent here. They understand but frame it as an inherent part of living in Ohio, where settlements are young. They ask why she left England in the first place. Honor explains the separation with Samuel and how it left her feeling without a place in her community. Belle views leaving one’s country to escape a problem as “a very American notion” (324). She presses Honor to list things she likes about Ohio. Comfort fusses, and Mrs. Reed comforts her. Honor feels a sense of belonging with Belle and Mrs. Reed, though she knows that it will not last.

Donovan suddenly bursts into the house. He says that Mrs. Reed is not a free woman under the new Fugitive Slave Law; though she escaped slavery 12 years prior, the new law allows him to apprehend her. He mocks her for leaving the safety of Oberlin for Honor’s sake. Honor pleads with him, promising to leave Wellington forever if he doesn’t arrest Mrs. Reed. He refuses and binds Mrs. Reed. Belle attacks him. They all struggle as Donovan drags Mrs. Reed outside.

Jack approaches. Donovan orders him to help him apprehend Mrs. Reed or face legal consequences. Mrs. Reed urges Jack to ignore Donovan, arguing that Donovan is merely trying to divide Jack and Honor. Jack hesitates, and Belle emerges with a shotgun and shoots Donovan in the chest. Mrs. Reed thanks Belle for her aid and apologizes for its necessity before hastily leaving. Belle informs Honor that she has made her a new bonnet and asks her to sit with Donovan as he dies. Honor does, telling Jack that they “must find a new way, different from [his] family’s” (332). Jack agrees.

Honor writes Biddy her last letter from Faithwell; she, Comfort, and Jack are due to head west. Dorcas has married, and she and her new husband will remain at the Haymaker farm with Judith, who, to Honor’s relief, declined to accompany them west. She lists the quilts that she will take with her: her signature quilt; her marriage quilt; Comfort’s cot quilt, made from Honor’s collected scraps; and Mrs. Reed’s quilt, given as a gift. She looks forward to her movement west, claiming that she is “learning the difference between running from and running towards” (335).