I Have Seen Him in the Watchfires by Cathy Gohlke

Author:Cathy Gohlke [Gohlke, Cathy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-57567-403-2
Publisher: Moody Publishers
Published: 2008-08-31T04:00:00+00:00

Twenty-One

Minutes passed before the window creaked open. It sounded as though someone climbed over the sill. Soft footfalls padded across the room, came near the bed—and I knew they were not Rebecca’s footsteps. I tried not to breathe. There was a swooshing sound on the floor beneath the bed. Suddenly a small, dark face peered through the bed ropes into mine, our noses not five inches apart.

“My name’s Hezekiah. Mama calls me Hez.” It was the same small boy that had asked my name in the town square that morning, the child whose mother had swept him down the street.

“I’m Robert.”

“That’s right. That’s what Mama said.”

“You were in the town square this morning.”

“Nope. That was my brother, Sam.”

“You sure about that?” He looked like the very same boy. Hezekiah giggled.

“Sam and me’s twins. Can’t nobody tell us apart but our mama. She named Sam for a prophet and me for a king—said it suits us.” He nodded, solemn.

Then it hit me. These were Rebecca’s twins—the mulatto twins born in the slave quarters at Grandfather’s Ashland the first time I visited there. He’d be about the right age. “Is Rebecca your mother?” Hezekiah nodded. “Where is your mama now?” I felt ridiculous talking to him through bed ropes.

“She working down to the tavern. She tell me come see you. She said for me to tell you stay right where you are this day. Those mens is combing the streets, searching every house for you.”

“Does Mrs. Gibbons know you’re here?”

“No. But that’s fine. Sam and me runs errands for the widow all the time. She won’t mind. Mama said the widow’s got to tend her boy and don’t have time to be minding you too. She say I can keep you company.”

“I can’t stay here. I’ve got to be on my way.”

“Mama say you stay here till dark. She said Old George’ll take care of everything.” Hezekiah stopped, considering things. “You sure got a pretty horse.”

I swallowed. Where was Stargazer now? “Do you know where my horse is?”

Hezekiah shook his head. “But Old George know. He’s the best with horses anybody ever was.” Then Hezekiah patted my arm through the rope squares. “Don’t you worry. Old George takes care of everything. Everything be all right.” I wanted to believe that. “I got to go now. I’ll bring you something to eat later.”

Hezekiah’s lips turned up into a smile before he scooted away. I heard him climb over the window ledge. Later the front door opened, and I heard the voices of the Widow Gibbons and a man, maybe Dr. Macey The door to the widow’s bedchamber never opened, but I could hear their muffled voices through the wall. I never heard Wooster. I wondered if he woke up, and if the doctor could bring down his fever. I wished the widow would come tell me something—anything—but I knew she had more important things on her mind.

Light passed slowly across the floor. I dared not move, and I could barely breathe. I tried to sleep, but the ropes cut into my face—first one way, then the other.

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