Liza was bitter with sadness, but with four boys to take care for, it was easier to smile as the days wore on. Their antics kept her busy and Mary thought that the children sensed their father and grandmother needed them to lift the sadness that hung over them all. Bethy helped Liza to care for the boys.
The six men who had attacked the farm had been left to rot several miles up the road, as a warning to any who thought to raid the property. A sign had been left with the bodies, “TRESSPASSERS WILL BE SHOT”. Their rotting corpses a testament to that fact.
Life went on, though no word had come from either Todd or Theo. The slaves made their way to the fields each day to toil in the warm brilliant sun. Word came by way of rumors and letters as to how the war was going. Many of the surrounding plantations had lost vast numbers of their slaves due to starvation and runaways.
It was late May, when Theodore Drake Anderson returned home, in the back of a wagon. Mary heard the bell that sent the alarm that strangers approached. Dark Henry and Gabe left the smithy house and walked down the lane to meet the wagon. Henry ran ahead to tell his master that his beloved son was home at last.
Mary helped John down the steps of the porch. He had weakened alarmingly after the marauder’s raid and seemed on the verge of death many times. His thin legs were shaky and each step was painful to watch. John held onto Patina with one arm, and his other arm wrapped around Mary, who held Victor on her hip. Victor was busily gnawing on his fist, unimpressed with the commotion around him. He was a handsome baby and sweet natured, favoring his father in looks and temperament.
As the wagon pulled up to the house, Gabe helped the young master from out of the wagon bed. He grabbed a duffle bag, that had all of Theo’s belongings. Theo stood gaunt and pale, but alive before his father, both looking hauntingly similar in stature and presence. Mary was taken back on the change in Theo. Patina sucked in her breath, shocked.
Theo stood in the dooryard, looking at the people in front of him. The wagon pulled away, several other men were in the back, being delivered to their respective homes. Theo stood silently looking at his father. He was stunned, he had left his father hale and hardy, but now, before him stood the husk of the man he knew and loved. His eyes began to tear up, blurring the frail image of his father and Theo bit down on the sorrow and valiantly pulled himself together.
His eyes moved to Patina, her face as beautiful as ever and his heart flip flopped in his chest. His eyes moved to Mary, who was holding a baby. Then to Henry, his childhood friend. He had wanted to be home so badly, but the infection in his arm had kept him weak and he’d nearly died three times. He moved to his father and gathered the old man to him with his single arm and held on.
To say John was stunned would have been a colossal understatement. Had he not known that it was his son standing before him, he would not have recognized this wretched ghostly man. Theo was nearly skeletal, his body emaciated and wasted with fever and sickness. His left arm was missing, cut off near the shoulder. His gaunt features reflected the horrors he had witnessed and derisory medical care he’d been forced to endure.
John’s spine straightened and he pulled his son into his arms, surprising Theo with his strength. His son was home and that was all that mattered. John knew that Mary and Patina would take good care of Theo and when Theo saw his son, John knew deep down that it would heal Theo more than anything else could.
Mary was moved by the deep love she saw in both men’s eyes. She knew that her master would be alright, now that his beloved son was home. She hoped that Theo would be alright, especially when he was introduced to Drake. She looked when she saw Cookie inside the door, a huge smile on her face. Mary knew that Cookie had babied Theo when he was younger. Mary knew that Cookie would feed Theo, no, stuff Theo. She smiled at the thought. Cookie wouldn’t take no for an answer. That boy was getting fed and Mary saw the calculating gleam in Cookies eyes as she disappeared back into the house.
Father and son sat on the porch, watching the sun as it began its descent, its luminous rays turning the cloudy sky to lavender. The cool evening breeze brought laughter drifting up from the slave quarters. Word had spread like heat lightning of the young master’s return. It was a time for celebrating. The slaves made their way up to the main house to give their respects to their young master.
Once the slaves had gone back to their homes, Patina came shyly to the porch, Drake in her arms, sucking his thumb, his large blue eyes watching his father warily. She was nervous, wondering how Theo would treat their son. She had been shaken when she had seen Theo. He was so thin and his missing arm made him clumsy and off balance. It
