Ransom of Love by Al Lacy

Author:Al Lacy [and Joanna Lacy, Al]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-307-87478-8
Publisher: The Doubleday Religious Publishing Group
Published: 2011-09-06T16:00:00+00:00

Finn Colvin was sitting on the back porch, reading a newspaper he had picked up in town. Suddenly, the sight of two horses coming at a walk past the slave shacks caught his eye. He squinted, and it took only a few seconds to see that Edward was leading George’s limping horse, with George draped over the saddle.

He dropped the paper and bounded off the porch. Slaves looked on wide-eyed as Finn ran up to Edward and saw that he was weeping. He shot a glance at George’s lifeless form.

“Wha—what happened?”

His face void of color, Edward slid listlessly from the saddle and said, “We were racing, Pa. George’s horse stumbled on a broken tree limb. George was thrown from the saddle as the horse went down. His head struck a rock. He’s dead.”

Finn examined George’s bloody head and ejected a wordless wail, then sobbed, “It’s true! It’s true! Exactly as Mose dreamed it!”

Edward put an arm around his father’s shoulders. “Pa, what’re you talkin’ about?”

Finn looked at his youngest son. “Ol’ Mose had a dream last night. He dreamed that George was riding his horse. The horse stumbled, and George was thrown from the saddle. He hit his head and it killed him! He told this to your mother and me no more than two hours ago!”

Finn worked to get himself under control. “Oh, I hate to have to tell your mother. This will tear her to pieces.”

“Pa … do you want me to tell her?”

“No, son. I have to do it. I’ll let you explain how it happened after I break it to her. Let’s take George into the house.”

“I’ll carry him, Pa.”

“No. I’ll carry him. Turn the horses over to the slaves and let them remove the saddles and bridles.”

As he spoke, Finn planted his feet firmly next to the horse and eased George’s body into his arms.

When they moved inside the house, there was no one in sight. Finn carried the body past the kitchen. “I’ll put him on the love seat in the sewing room. You stay with him. I’ll go find your mother and bring her.”

Martha suddenly appeared at the far end of the hall and froze when she saw the body in her husband’s arms. She dropped a vase of flowers and cried out in horror.

“Go to her, Edward,” Finn said, “while I lay him down.”

Edward hadn’t taken the first step when Martha bolted toward them, crying, “What happened? What happened?” Her eyes were wide and her face like stone as she said, “Edward! Is he—”

He gripped her shoulders. “Yes, Mom. He’s dead.”

She shut her eyes tight. “The dream was true, Edward! It was true! Mose’s dream was true!”

Finn came from the sewing room and brushed past Edward to fold Martha in his arms. “I don’t understand it, Martha,” he said. “I don’t understand it, but George was killed exactly as Mose dreamed.”

“I want to see him,” she said, choking on her words.

“I know. But I have to warn you. It’s not a pretty sight.

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