The Songs of Stones River by Jessica Gunderson

Author:Jessica Gunderson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: 9781434297037, 9781434297044, Slaves, African Americans, The Battle of Stones River, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Civil War
Publisher: Stone Arch Books
Published: 2014-12-23T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

A Knock at the Door

Eli

“That white friend of yours near caught me,” Daisy whispered.

I straightened and eyed her straight on. “I ain’t got no white friends,” I muttered, though I knew who she meant. “Catch you doin’ what?”

Daisy straightened her neck and held her chin high. “Runnin’ off,” she said, louder than I liked.

“Don’t you be tryin’ that again!” I warned.

“I aim to,” she said, her chin still pointing to the clouds. “You can’t stop me, neither. I’m headin’ out ’fore the winter comes.”

“He didn’t tell Massah Pitt?”

“Never had a chance to, I reckon. I was preparin’ for a whipping this morning, but Massah was sweet as pie. Set off for town, and I ain’t seen him since.”

Just then, James rounded the corner of the barn. “Get on,” I hissed to Daisy, and she scampered away.

James

That evening, I spent supper troubled by my decision. I tried talking about the awful weather to distract myself, but Mama was in a dour mood, sighing into her plate, and Nellie jiggled on her chair and pushed grits into her mouth without saying a word.

Finally I fell silent. I should’ve told Mr. Pitt, I thought. Daisy was his property. What if she tried to escape again?

Mr. Pitt had trusted me. And I’d betrayed him. What would my father have thought?

Tomorrow, I told myself. Tomorrow I would tell Mr. Pitt what Daisy had done.

A knock at the door interrupted my thoughts. Mama’s knuckles whitened around her fork. “Who could that be? At this hour?”

Mr. Pitt, I thought. He’s discovered my deception and sent the jailers to arrest me.

None of us moved. The rapping sounded again, louder this time.

Mama half-rose, but I put out a hand to stop her. “I’ll answer it,” I said.

I walked, knees shaking, to the door, ready to meet my punishment.

I swung open the door to find a young woman shivering on our porch. Her coat was tattered and mud-stained. Dark, wet curls flapped against her cheek. She shoved a strand of hair, in a rather unladylike manner, from her face. Despite her pitiful appearance, she flashed me a bright, cheerful smile.

“Might I come in?” she said, in a thick accent I couldn’t place. “I’m so hungry I’m nearin’ certain death!”

I frowned at her. Even though I was relieved the jailers weren’t after me, I felt irritated. “We’ve got scarce enough food to feed ourselves, let alone beggars,” I said.

The girl’s mouth dropped in amazement. “Are you meanin’ to say you don’t remember me?” she said.

Just then, Mama, who’d crept up silently behind me, shoved me aside. “Rosellen?” Mama cried. She swept the girl into a great hug.

The girl grinned at me over Mama’s shoulder. “Pleasure to see you again, Jimmy. I’m your cousin Rosellen.”

* * *

Mama scurried about, gathering dry clothes and a plate of food for Rosellen. I hadn’t seen Mama so energized since my father died. I worried she’d overdo herself, but her cheeks were the brightest pink I’d seen in months.

As she was rushing about, she kept pausing to gaze at Rosellen.

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