Zetta's Mark by Sandra Aldrich

Author:Sandra Aldrich
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: friendship, murder, kentucky, appalachian, widowhood, 1923 mountain life, american chestnut tree blight, old time funeral, unwanted suitors
Publisher: Sandra Aldrich

CHAPTER 17

Rachel and Micah clutched Zetta’s skirt as she pulled Isaac against her heart and watched Jim carry Norrie’s lifeless body to the wagon his sons had pulled around.

Sally started to follow him, but managed only one step before sobs overwhelmed her.

Abigail and Deborah threw themselves against their mother and cried with her. Clarie and Zetta each put a hand on Sally’s shoulders as tears rolled down their own cheeks.

“Everything about this is wrong,” Sally finally managed. “Y’all shoulda heard Norrie talking to little Adah this morning as she nursed her, telling her about church and the singing folks would be doing and how God was gonna give them a new life. Now this!”

At that moment, Adah whimpered and made smacking sounds.

“How am I gonna keep this child alive?” Sally was close to wailing.

Clarie took Adah from the woman’s hands. “For now, we’re gonna take her home with us, and Zetta is gonna feed her whilst I check on Luttrell’s leg,” she said. “Then we’re gonna go to your house. Have your girls ever helped lay out a body?”

Sally swiped at her eyes. “Not ’til now,” she said.

Clarie turned to Abigail and Deborah as they huddled close to their mother.

“This is the last loving thing anybody can do for somebody else,” she said. “Y’all will wash her and dress her and brush her hair. And there ain’t nothing to be afraid of.”

Zetta pulled a handkerchief from her sleeve and wiped her tears. “And me and Clarie will be over soon as we can.”

“I reckon you’ve got salt,” Clarie said gently. “I’ll bring camphor when we come.”

Sally nodded. “Yes, I got plenty of salt. But I’ll appreciate the camphor.”

Deborah looked puzzled, but Abigail shook her head as she put her hand on her sister’s arm. In that moment, their brother Bernard stepped forward.

“Mama, we need to get to the house,” he said as he gestured toward the wagon. Jim was in the back, gently rocking Norrie as he held her in his lap. Albert jumped down from the front bench, ready to help his mother and sisters.

Zetta and Clarie, each clutching a baby, watched the beleaguered family settle into the wagon.

Rachel tugged on Zetta’s skirt. “That mean man hurt Miz Norrie,” the child said. “Is he gonna come hurt us?”

Zetta pulled Rachel close. “No, honey. The mean man is in jail now,” she said. “And he won’t ever come hurt us.”

She saw Micah watching her with wide, frightened eyes. Please, Lord, she inwardly prayed. May that be so.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.