Mary knew that John had been torn between elation and fear for his son’s homecoming. Wounded could mean many things. They had all heard stories from Samuel, via his letters, of the atrocious medical care of the fighting men. Many died from the attending surgeons’ tender care. Perhaps death was for the best after the butchery. John had spoken his worries aloud and his worry of what Theo would think about his son, Drake. Would Theo would acknowledge the boy or not? John had come to love his grandson unconditionally.
Children born of white masters were very common. Many of those children were set free as adults, many were kept as slaves, or sent away. Mary knew it tore at John, to think Drake might be sent away. One afternoon on the veranda, John had been in an agitative state about Drake. Drake and Ida were in the yard playing with several other children.
“I won’t stand for him sending Drake away.” John said with vehement.
“Why would you think Theo would send Drake away.” Mary asked, watching the children. She knew Drake couldn’t understand the conversation, but watched the child.
“I know Theo will want to marry Sarah. He won’t want a bastard reminding him. I just know it.” John said hoarsely, his voice quavering, tears standing in his eyes. Mary looked down at the sturdy toddler’s curly hair. Drake had light sandy hair and bright blue eyes, just as Theodore had when he was young. Theo now had dark brown hair with streaks of blonde, but the similarity was striking. The boy had no hint of his mother, except for his full lips and a slight flare of his nostrils. Mary was sure that many whites would never guess the child’s parentage.
“I think when Theo sees Drake, he can’t help but love the boy. Don’t you fret now, you’ll upset the boy.” Mary said gently, laying a hand on the old man’s shoulder. John wiped at his eyes and nodded. Mary looked over to Patina, who shrugged and shook her head. When had John Anderson become so fragile?
Patina was unobtrusive, letting her master dote on the child. The situation had turned out well for her and she knew her son would be well taken care of. She looked forward to seeing Theo once more, she wondered how he would receive his son. Patina still worked out in the house with Mary and caring for the children. She helped Cookie out as well, when her hands were free.
She hoped that Theo was safe. Her heart had nearly dropped when they’d received news that Theo was wounded once again. Her life and happiness were in Theo’s hands, she knew he loved her. But Patina knew that he would marry Sarah, and then her life and the life of Drake would rest in Sarah’s hands. If Sarah were a mean spirited and jealous woman, that would not bode well for her or her son. Only time would tell.
Life was getting harder, the Union soldiers found one of the squirreled away food stores and had depleted them of the much-needed food. Tall Tom sent the younger men out to hunt, supplementing their diet with deer or feral hogs. The sow had died and had been butchered, but part of that had also been found and was taken, over the strident protesting of John Anderson.
Screams jolted the farm early one January morning. Nan strident screams sent up the alarm. A group of rough deserters had entered her cabin and had beaten Gabe unconscious. The men were viciously raping Nan and stealing anything that was remotely editable. Nan was six months pregnant and her fists were beating against the rapist’s face. Nan’s oldest, Joseph, ran up to the main house, his small legs rubbery with fear and his screams echoing those of his mother’s. Joseph’s brothers crying desperately in the corner of the cabin as they watched their mother’s violation. Samuel screaming the loudest. One of the deserters walked over to the huddled children and kicked Samuel in the head. The silence was ominous and sickening.
Nan hearing the abrupt silence, renewed her fighting. One of the other men came to hold her down and Nan was beaten while the man raped her. Her unconscious body received vicious blows, rocking her great bulk. The other children whimpered, holding Samuel’s limp body in their small arms. Their small minds shutting down at the horror and horrific act.
John Anderson burst into the small cabin, flanked by Tall Tom and Dark Henry. The men brought pistols and muskets. Seeing the devastation in that small house, they opened fire without word, on the evil men. There were six men in all, and those men who were not killed by gunshot, were beaten to death by Henry and Tom. Other slaves gathered around the cabin as the bodies of the invaders were hauled out of the cabin and laid out in the yard. There were several unconscious slaves who had tried to help, their bodies littered the yard, among the dead. Their homes ransacked as well. The women were squatted by the unconscious men, trying to revive them. Some of the women picked up the stolen items, returning them to their homes.
Henry and Tom gently lifted Nan onto her pallet, putting her nightclothes to right. Checking Gabe, they found that he was alive, but his head had been split open and he was bleeding profusely onto the dirt floor. Tall Tom took part of the bedding and ripped it to bind Gabe’s head. Several of the women came in, bringing bandages. Their faces carved deep with fear and dread. Tom looked up when he had finished and saw Dark Henry holding little
