Read Online A Secret Refuge [02] Sisters of the Confederacy by Lauraine Snelling - Free Book Online Page B

losing it. From what appeared to be blood on her shredded skirt, Jesselynn suspected the men had raped her more than once.
    If they weren’t already dead, I’d kill them myself . The thought made her stop stirring for a moment. She knew it was true. No one should ever be treated as these poor souls had been.
    One of the men opened his eyes and looked around. He rolled his head to the side as if he didn’t remember coming here during the night. He lifted his shackle-free hands and looked down at his feet. “Thank you, Jesus,” he whispered. “And you, Mi-Marse.” His brow wrinkled as if not sure which she was. “Kin I go outside?”
    “Yes, of course, but stay right near. We have to be cautious so we are not found out.”
    He pushed himself to his feet and staggered a bit before getting his balance, then limped outside, bracing himself on the wall with one hand. One by one the others followed except for the woman, who had yet to move. The men returned with Meshach herding them.
    “Breakfast ready?”
    “Yes. Call Jane Ellen and the boys.”
    “Dey wid Phelia down at de creek. Sammy hate him face washed.”
    “In that cold water, I don’t blame him.” Jesselynn filled wooden trenchers with the mush and the men dug in with their fingers. When she handed them each a hot biscuit, one stared at it as though he’d seen gold.
    “Thankee, suh.” The others chorused their appreciation, emptied their trenchers, and eyed the kettle.
    “As soon as the others eat, you can have the rest.” She chose to chew on a piece of dried venison. The sight of their hunger turned her off mush.
    While the family ate, she laid a hand on the sleeping woman’s cheek. Sure enough, she had a fever, and her breathing seemed labored. Jesselynn set Ophelia to boiling up some willow bark tea, and taking warm water and a cloth, she washed the woman’s face, shoulders, and arms. In one hand she found clenched a bit of meat from supper the night before.
    “What is her name?” She looked to the men who now seemed much more lively.
    “Sarah. Dey already have her befo’ me,” the light-skinned youth answered, and the others nodded.
    “Has she been sick long?”
    “Him kick her in belly. She lose baby.”
    Jesselynn didn’t want to know who him was. Once more she was grateful her men had done what they felt necessary.
    “When did that happen?”
    “Two, three days ago.” At least the boy knew that many numbers.
    “She too sick to walk, so we stay in one camp,” one of the other men added.
    Jesselynn and Ophelia exchanged glances and set to making things better for poor beaten Sarah. They fixed a pallet for her, bathed her, and dipped broth from a kettle simmering with the rabbits Daniel had caught in his snares. Her eyes fluttered open one moment, and a smile lit her face. She drank the broth and fell right back to sleep. They set Jane Ellen to tending the sick woman, and Jesselynn took the boys outside to play while the sun shone. The air crackled with cold, and frost still glittered near trees in the shade.
    “They bad sick?” Thaddeus shook his head. “Jesse, you fix.” He looked up at her with eyes full of trust as he took her hand. “Find catepiwar?”
    “Sorry, Thaddy—”
    “Joshwa,” he corrected her absently as he moved leaves around, looking for fuzzy caterpillars.
    “All right, Joshwa. The caterpillars have all gone to sleep for the winter in cocoons so they can become butterflies next summer.”
    “Butterflies?” He looked all around as if expecting them to flutter by.
    “No, not now. Next summer.”
    “Want butterflies.”
    “Sorry.” She chuckled at the look of intensity with which he glared at her. She shook her head. “I can’t help it. Many animals and insects go to sleep for the winter.”
    He planted his fists on his hips and with legs spread looked so like his dead father that she caught her breath. He was Joshwa all right. They’d named him perfectly.
    “Here, let’s build a house with these