Gideon's Call by Leavell Peter

Author:Leavell, Peter [Leavell, Peter]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Worthy Book Publishers
Published: 2012-10-23T04:00:00+00:00

TWENTY FIVE

Pierce trudged across the path toward the main house. His boots felt as if they were filled with rocks. Depression pressed on his mind. Three days after the beating, he still hadn't fully recovered.

Freedmen milled around stacks of clothes and food in the front yard, attended by Miss Walker and Miss Nelly. The freedmen had been paid wages, meager to be sure, but the goods sent from the North weren't expensive. A token price was set on each item to teach the freed slaves to weigh each purchase carefully in hopes they would save for luxury items.

A dog barked, but he ignored it.

He eyed a mule resting in front of the steps leading up to the porch.

Miss Nelly paused her sales and looked at Pierce. “Tad's new friend, Buster.”

“He must be feeling better.”

“Much.” Miss Nelly turned back to her customers.

Pierce patted Buster's muzzle and continued into the house.

The door felt heavier than usual. His mind, normally quick to sort through problems, seemed sluggish, as if wading through the marsh mud. He tried to take a deep breath and pain seared through his heart. He grabbed the door frame.

“Mr. Pierce, are you feeling ill again?” Miss Towne rushed from the parlor to his side. “Tad, why don't you see if Susannah has a chore you can do with one hand.” He felt her touch on his elbow. “Come, quickly, to the kitchen, sit down.”

She led him down the hall and to the right, past the formal dining room and into a small kitchen where she helped him to a bench.

Miss Towne leaned toward a cluttered counter and pots crashed to the floor.

“I'm sorry, most relaxing sounds, I'm sure.”

Pierce rested against a small table. “I'm just tired. In college, these pains in my heart always came when work was the hardest. A doctor believes it may have something to do with my stomach.”

Miss Towne nodded. “I'll fix you some tea and buttered bread, and you'll be about your business in no time.”

He sighed. “I suppose. Been a long day.” The sunlight slanted across the kitchen floor. Three o'clock and he felt as if it were time for bed.

She turned to him, studied his face, then set the kettle over the fire and set a slice of bread on the stove. “Did you see General Hunter today?”

The smell of fresh bread filled the room. His stomach rumbled. Perhaps food was a good idea. “I visited him, yes.”

“Good news?”

“I suppose that depends on your point of view.”

Miss Towne brushed a strand of hair that crossed her cheek. “I trust he was in good health?”

“Is any general in good health?”

She smiled. “A choice few.” She pulled the dark bread off the stove and buttered the slice. Thick, rich grain, unbleached flour, a favorite of the freedmen. As slaves they were forced to eat bleached flour, an item they quickly discarded. She poured hot water in two small cups and whisked the silver tea strainer in both. “Drink this.”

“General Hunter has plans for the freedmen's future.

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