Divided Nation, United Hearts by Yolanda Wallace

Author:Yolanda Wallace [Wallace, Yolanda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781626398481
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Published: 2017-01-28T23:00:00+00:00

*

“Is it over?” Percy asked tremulously after the sounds of gunfire slowed, then stopped altogether.

Earlier, the fierce fighting had been so close Clara had heard bullets hit the house. The shot that had punched a hole in her bedroom window had sent her scrambling for cover. She had turned a table on its side and held Abram and Percy close as they took shelter behind it.

She strained to hear. Though the rifles had fallen silent, the ground shook as the Union gunboats continued shelling Confederate positions.

“Yes, it’s over.” Clara turned the table upright and lit a candle to banish the darkness that had fallen during the battle. “For today, at least.”

“I’m hungry,” Abram said.

Clara’s stomach growled at the reminder they hadn’t eaten since breakfast. The shooting had started around six and hadn’t let up until now.

“Bring some sausages from the smokehouse. I’ll make biscuits and gravy for supper.”

Abram lit a lantern and held it in front of him as he headed for the front door.

“Make it quick,” Clara said before he removed the wooden barricade holding the door shut. “There might be Yankees roaming around out there somewhere. Take your rifle just in case.”

Abram tucked his rifle under his arm and darted out the door. Clara tossed wood into the stove and sprinkled kerosene on the logs so they would burn faster.

“What’s taking Abram so long?” Percy asked as he played with the cup-and-ball toy Clara had used Mama’s ring to purchase for him from the general store. “He should be back by now, shouldn’t he?”

Clara looked at the clock. Ten minutes had passed since Abram had left to fetch the sausages. Even if he had stopped to relieve his bladder first, he’d had plenty of time to complete his task.

“He’s probably out there pretending to be Davy Crockett.”

“I’ll fetch him.”

“No, you stay.” Clara wiped her hands on a dish towel after she placed the biscuits in a cast iron skillet. “I don’t want both of you running around in the dark.”

She lit another candle and used her hand to protect the flickering flame from the wind as she headed down the steps. The smokehouse was located on the far side of the barn, situated so the fumes from the burning hickory and cherry wood Papa used to cure the meat wouldn’t blow into the house.

Clara peered into the growing darkness. Light from Abram’s lantern spilled from under the smokehouse door.

“I thought you were hungry, slowpoke,” she said. “What’s the matter? Can’t find what you’re looking for?”

She blew out her candle and pulled the door open.

“Stay back, Clara.” Abram stood with his rifle trained on a Union soldier holding an armful of meat. “I caught this Yankee trying to steal from us.”

Clara didn’t know whether to move forward or retreat to the safety of the house.

“Careful, Abram. He might be dangerous.”

“I don’t mean any harm, ma’am,” the soldier said. “I was hungry and looking for something to eat.”

“So you saw our smokehouse and decided to help yourself?” Abram asked.

“I’m not looking to hurt anyone.

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