Answering Liberty's Call by Tracy Lawson

Author:Tracy Lawson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Fidelis Publishing
Published: 2021-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

DUNLAP PLANTATION, STAFFORD COUNTY, VIRGINIA

JUNE 1766

As I stared down at Theo’s motionless form, I dropped the trivet on the worktable and hugged myself to quell my shaking. Rhoda knelt to run her hands over the back of his head and feel for the pulse in his neck. Then she fetched the bottle of opium tincture from the larder, poured some into Theo’s mouth, and let his head fall back to the floor.

“He’s gonna live. I didn’t hurt him that bad. After I’m gone you lock the door. Start supper like nothing’s wrong. Don’t you stir from this kitchen and don’t let anyone else in until I get back, you hear?” When I nodded, she left, and I watched her pick up her skirts and run in the direction of the stables. Then I locked the door behind her and leaned against it for a long moment, resisting the growing urge to kick Theo while he could not defend himself.

Then I, too, went into action. From the cold cellar, I brought up eggs and butter. As I cored apples and sliced them into rings, the familiar task comforted me, and my hands ceased to shake. I whisked the eggs with nutmeg, lemon juice, and rosewater, and poured it all over the apples in the cast-iron skillet, Rhoda’s weapon of choice. Apple tansey was Mrs. Dunlap’s favorite side dish.

While the tansey baked, I sliced bread, fixed platters of cold meat and cheeses, and dished up several kinds of fruit preserves. We had cakes left over from one of Mrs. Dunlap’s card parties and when everything was assembled, I felt no one could criticize the meal. I arranged lemon slices like flower petals on the finished tansy and was dusting it with a sprinkle of white sugar when someone pounded on the door. Stepping around Theo, I hurried to press my ear against it. “Who’s there?”

Rhoda answered. “Let us in.”

I threw the bolt and Rhoda entered with the stableman and another man I didn’t know, who bore two long, stout poles and a horse blanket. Both regarded Theo with fear in their eyes.

“Don’t worry. I promise he won’t remember nothing.” Rhoda cut strips of canvas for them to lash the poles together and commanded, “Tell it back to me again.”

The stableman replied, “Master Theo’s horse come back without him this afternoon. I went looking and found him layin’ in the pasture, down by the creek.”

“That’s right. And that’s all you say, cause that’s all you know.”

The other man frowned down at Rhoda. “You’re crazy.”

“Hush. I know what I’m doing.”

“But do you know what will happen if they find out we’re lying?”

She glanced at me before answering. “Yes. I know.” She took his face tenderly in her hands and kissed him on the lips. “Thank you.” Then she put her hands on her hips. “Now get.”

“Yes’m.” The men laid the blanket across the makeshift litter and rolled Theo onto it. He groaned but did not wake.

Rhoda called over her shoulder as she followed the men out.

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