Maizie sat on her bed and replayed the nightmare in her mind as if she were viewing a motion picture. The night was moonless. The rain poured down in relentless sheets; the wind howled in menacing overtures. A raging river, nearly at flood stage, roared nearby. Maizie clung to her mother for comfort as they huddled together near a small campfire in a cave under an outcropping of limestone. Suddenly a boar-like creature with huge tusks charged them, seeming to have no fear of the fire. Maizie’s mother picked up a cypress branch from the fire and threw it at the beast. The limb missed and as the boar stopped to inspect the now hissing log, Maizie and her mama tried to run for safety. Maizie’s legs, heavy and slow moving, made it impossible for her to keep up with her mother. Both slipped and fell in the mud outside the cave. The beast, only momentarily slowed by the burning branch, approached them, enormous and menacing. His tusks seemed to glow by the light of the campfire. Maizie’s mother looked at her child and grabbed her arm and pulled Maizie toward her. The beast was upon them. There was no escape.
In the terror of that moment Maizie sat up in bed. Her breaths came in a short staccato rhythm. The nightmare was crippling and left Maizie shaking, heart racing, her body limp with fear. When she identified her surroundings and knew she was safe, she lay back on her bed, turned onto her stomach, and began to cry into her pillow. Her crying calmed her and after an hour she fell back to sleep, but it was a fitful, fearful slumber. She woke frequently when in her dreams her mother would say, “I’m trying Maizie, but life is hard. Your mama loves you, but there are too many beasts and slippery paths in this world.” Her mother’s words were slim comfort to her.
Maizie removed the map from her bedside drawer. Opening it gently, she placed it on her bed. Putting her finger on Vicksburg, she followed a path from each circled town to the next until she was in Memphis, Tennessee. She had memories of Memphis, but all the other towns were unclear or there were no recollections at all. She looked again at the symbols hand drawn with pencil and wondered why she had never seen her mother looking over the map. Seems a good thing to teach a child, map reading. There was so much she didn’t know and maybe the truth would free her from her nightmares. She decided that she would write a letter to Meadowlark’s friend in Vicksburg and inquire about her parents. She would do it soon. This decision calmed her and she stood to get ready for the day.
Arriving in the kitchen, Maizie was greeted by Corky, who was still filling in for Phillippe and Leon. “Glad you’re here, Maizie. Busy day already.”
“You need help?”
“In the cavalry I learned to make short-order breakfasts real good. Don’t need your help. Sugar is here meeting with Mrs. Glidewell about improvements to the backside,” Corky explained. “Seems Mrs. Glidewell wants to put sleeping stalls in the bunkhouse so the guys have more privacy. Not needed for me, but I guess it’s a good idea. By the way, Mrs. Glidewell said she wants you to join her for breakfast. She’s got Rye Fulton in there too.”
Maizie looked down to the floor as her hands began to knead the folds on her skirt. Her neck and shoulders stiffened. “No. No, I won’t do that.”
“No? You okay, girl? What you mean no?”
“I’ll stay and help you, please. I’ll take my breakfast in the kitchen. I’d just be in the way in the dining room.” There was desperation in her tone, a pleading. Her eyes gave away her fear.
“Nope, Mrs. Glidewell was clear. You were to join her.”
“I’m not hungry, Corky. Think I’ll just go to work.” Corky stopped what he was doing, picked up a hand towel and wiped his hands. “Is it because of what happened last night in the kitchen? Did Fulton say something to you to upset you?”
“No, of course not. Nothing happened. I have just been upset lately.”
“You must join them for breakfast then. You don’t have a choice, Maizie.”
“Why?”
“When Mary Glidewell says you are to come for breakfast, I think you better hightail it to the table, girl.” Maizie looked at Corky with a long, telling face, and after thinking it over in silence did as Corky had insisted.
In the dining room, she found Mary, Sugar, and Rye Fulton enjoying a bowl of canned fruit, toast slathered in nut butter, and coffee. She felt her stomach turn and nervously sat down next to Sugar. “Guess I slept in,” Maizie said to Mrs. Glidewell. “Corky said you wanted me here.”
“Yes, that’s true. Do you feel all right, Maizie? Your eyes are a bit puffy. Did you sleep well?” asked Mary, showing concern.
“I slept fine. It’s just… well, I slept fine.”
“Good. Maizie, this is Rye Fulton. He’s the photographer that took pictures during the opening to match season.
“Yes, I have met Mr. Fulton,” Maizie said, looking into her cup.
Maizie could feel Fulton’s eyes upon her. Her hands began to shake so visibly that she folded them on her lap.
“Maizie, we are going to see Rye’s proofs after breakfast. You can help me pick the best ones.”
“Proofs?” asked Maizie.
“Picture samples from the match races. I for one am quite excited to see them. Will you join us, Sugar?”
“Oh, I’s afraid I got to get to workin’ this mornin’,” said Sugar. “Me and the girls are into deep cleaning. Takes a bit of time.”
“Me too. I need to get to work.
