Spake As a Dragon Page 9

  Jed does not answer. He stops dead in his tracks, removes his hat, and stares at the ground. “What’s wrong there Blackie, cat got yer tongue?” Uncle Jed remains silent.

  LaPree removes his Colt revolver, points it at Jed, “I’m gonna ask you only one time, where is them boys?” He said firing a shot close to Uncle Jed’s foot. Jed jumps upon the other foot; LaPree laughs and fires again and again causing Uncle Jed to dance from one foot to the other. Six shots and the dance come to an end LaPree’s Colt is empty. LaPree pulls his second Colt and is about to resume his ‘fun’ when...

  The screen door opens and out steps Jed’s wife Sary with a double-barreled shotgun. “Now that’s ‘nuff, I’m fixin’ to blow you from that fancy saddle of you’rn you Cajun scoundrel.”

  “For shore there Mammy, you lift that gun, and you be good as dead. Drop that scattergun on the porch.” Pointing at Jed, “I guess this here white-haired slave is your husband, right?” Uncle Jed stands quietly offering no answer.

  “He ain’t no slave! We’s free. He be my husband all right, but hes is free.” Sary responds placing the shotgun down.

  “Fore true? A free black woman and a free black slave, huh? What’s this here world comin’ to? No matter, I still wants them white boys?”

  Sary will not respond, she stares at the man with hatred only a past-slave can have. She shakes her head from side to side.

  “So you two blackies think more of her boys than your lives, that ‘bout right?” Turning in his saddle to one of his men, “Throw yer rope over that big tree limb, then git down off yer hoss. Put this black, deaf mute on your hoss and led him over to that tree.”

  Meantime, some of LaPree’s men who were searching the place walk along the edge of the cliff overlooking Hog Creek, but they cannot see the cave hidden underneath the overhang. Stephen and Blaze can hear them talking. In fact, he is so close he can hear their voices and every word that is being spoken at the house also. He surely hears the gunfire. When the men are directly overhead, Stephen takes his thumb and index finger and inserts them into Blaze’s nostrils and pinches the skin together. He does not want the horse to whinny and give away his hiding place. Whispering into Blaze’s ear as he rubs her neck, “Shhh, shhh, easy girl, easy,” it works; Blaze remains silent and motionless. In a moment or two the searchers move on without discovering their hiding place.

  Back at the barn, Uncle Jed has been thrown upon the horse and is being led to a large tree with a hangman’s noose swinging from a lower limb.

  “What you think ‘Boy’? Your tongue got any looser? Where’s this woman’s two strapping examples of Southern manhood? This is to be your last chance.”

  Before Uncle Jed can answer, even if he has the desire, Jefferson runs from the barn brandishing a sharp pitchfork. “Let my Pappy go, or I’m going to fill you full of holes!” He said making a threatening move with the pitchfork toward the man leading the horse. LaPree raises his pistol and fires. Jefferson crumpled face down to the ground, his body motionless. He is dead.

  Uncle Jed quickly slides from the horse’s back and runs to his boy. Before he can kneel down to check on Jefferson’s condition LaPree fires again. The .45 caliber bullet finds its mark before Malinda hears the sound of the pistol. Jed falls to the ground with a thump, landing in the dirt beside his son.

  Sary stunned by the witness of her husband and son being shot falls to the floor of the porch, grabs the shotgun and wheels the barrel around to fire, but she does not get the opportunity, LaPree is faster and fires his Colt for the third time. The impact of the large caliber bullet carries Sary back against the screen door where she collapses into a heap upon the floor. A red stream of blood flows across the porch and drips from the wooden planks onto the steps.

  “I guess your house woman must’ve been tellin’ the truth or them slaves of you’rn would’ve fessed up,” said LaPree.

  With a stern look of determination, Malinda glares at LaPree, “As God is my witness I swear retribution on you LaPree. You won’t always be the man! If I cannot do it, someday someone I know will do it, you’ll get yours!”

  He looks at Sary and then to Malinda, laughing, “Un huh, talk big, we’ll see... we’ll see. You got to get money from somewhere or this place is going on the auction block, and I’m gonna be the onlyest bidder, yeh hear?” He pulls on the horse’s bridle and said as he turns to leave, “Don’t get too comfortable I’m gonna be back! And don’t ferget, my invitation to you still stands.”

  “SCATTERGUN”

  As LaPree gallops out the front gate, Malinda immediately runs to aid Sary. Kneeling down she can see her friend is still alive. The bullet from the revolver has entered the shoulder just below the right collarbone. Using her apron to thwart the flow of blood she can see the bullet passed directly through Sary’s body. A lot of the blood running across the porch is coming from the entrance wound, but just as much, if not more, is pouring out the exit hole in her back.

  Malinda knows if the flow of blood isn’t abated, and very soon, Sary isn’t long for this life. Running back into the house, she grabs a clean sheet and begins tearing it into strips before arriving back on the porch. Malinda applies compress bandages to both the front and back bullet holes and then runs to Jed and Jefferson, who lie in the yard.

  Jed has a .45 caliber hole that entered above his heart and tore a jagged hole under his left shoulder blade as it exited. Jefferson’s wound was squarely in the center of his chest.

  Using the cloth strips from the bed sheet, she applies a pressure dressing to their wounds, but she knows it is futile.

  “Mama! Mama, what’s happened, I heard shots,” said Stephen riding up on Blaze.

  “Jed, Sary and Jefferson were all shot by that scoundrel LaPree. Stephen take Blaze and ride to Doctor Crawford’s house and fetch him here – I need real medical help.”

  Running into the yard William and Isaac ask, “What’s going on! What can we do Mama?”

  As Stephen rides out of sight Malinda returns to the porch – Sary needs immediate attention. Malinda examines the entrance and exit hole, the blood flow has not abated, she knows it must be stopped. She also knows Sary cannot wait for the doctor.

  “Boys!” She yells, “Get back out here.” Both sons run from the house back to the porch. “We’ve got to stop Sary from bleeding, or she is going to die.” Speaking to Isaac, “Hurry into the sitting room and remove the iron curtain rod from the front window. Take it to the kitchen and stick one end into the hot coals in the stove – get it white hot – we have to cauterize these two bullet holes.” William picks Sary up and carries her inside, “I hope she stays un-conscious, this is going to hurt. Please make her as comfortable as possible, I have sent Stephen for the doctor.”

  Placing Sary on the sofa in the sitting room Malinda turns to William, “Run out to the barn and get Uncle Jed’s jug he keeps hidden in the tack room. That old cuss thinks I never knew about his white lightening. Come on don’t waste time, go get it!”

  Isaac and William return about the same time. Malinda takes the whiskey jug, removes the corncob plug, and pours the alcohol over both the entry and exit holes. “Hand me that hot curtain rod.” Taking the rod, she sticks it into the shoulder wound. Even un-conscious Sary winces. Before she has time to open her eyes, Malinda jabs the searing hot rod into the exit wound in her back. Isaac turns his head; he hears the flesh sizzling and smells the burning skin. Both the sound and smell are sickening. He thinks he is going to lose his breakfast, but he manages to get back outside for a quick breath of fresh air before actually doing so.

  Isaac, his face white as a sheet, anxiously asks from the door, “How’s she doin’ Mama? Is she gonna die?”

  “Boys, I’m not going to lie to you, she’s in a bad way. I don’t know if she will live or not, I’ve sent for the doctor, but Sary’s life is in God’s hands now. The Doc may not get here in time. You all get back outside, put Uncle Jed and Jefferson in the barn, take a couple of sheets and cover them up – they weren
’t as lucky, they are both dead.”

  A while later, the screen door flies open, Mattie Ann announces loudly, “Mama! Riders are coming up from the main road.”

  ‘Oh no,’ Malinda thinks, ‘I can’t handle more of LaPree right now.’ “Matthew get me that scattergun lying on the front porch, I’m going to put a stop to this right now. Mattie Ann take Margaret into the back room and no matter what happens you stay in there.”

  Shotgun in hand Malinda moves to the front porch with all the intentions of shooting LaPree as he rides up into the yard. The sun is beginning to set. In the twilight, she could not quite make out the riders. Within a moment or so she can see it is one lone horseman followed closely by a buggy. It is Stephen and Doctor Crawford. Doctor Crawford is a vet, but he served the community as both an animal and the people’s doctor too, there was no one else.

  Relieved, but exhausted Malinda sat down in one of the porch chairs and let out an audible sigh of relief. In a while Doc Crawford came out on the porch, “Mrs. Scarburg, you did a good job. If you had not cauterized Sary’s bullet holes, I believe she would have bled to death before I arrived. As far as Uncle Jed and Jefferson, there is nothing I can do for them. I changed Sary’s bandages and left you some ointment to be applied later – I believe she might pull through. Grinning, “They told me about the moonshine, it really did the trick for Sary, it must have been 200 proof! Fast thinking on your part, now just let her rest. Oh, before I go, what do you hear from Robert and the boys?”

  “Not much doc, the last I heard from any of them was right before that big battle up in Pennsylvania, but I haven’t heard a word since. I got word from one of the neighbors, Mrs. Cleland, who said Robert and Luke were somewhere in Virginia, I think, with General Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. It worries me that I have never received a post from them.”

  “Don’t fret Mrs. Scarburg, General Lee is a fine commander. He hasn’t lost a battle yet. Where is Matthew?”

  “Mrs. Cleland’s husband is in Robert’s unit and she said her husband had told her Matt was assigned to Stonewall Jackson’s Brigade. I believe he was an aid or dispatch rider to him. After Stonewall was killed I don’t know what has happened to him.”

  “When you write to them give them my regards. Oh, by the way, maybe some good news for you, I did hear that Stonewall’s old Brigade was not at Gettysburg.” Fortunate for Malinda Doctor Crawford was not aware that the Stonewall Brigade had been re-assigned to General Johnson’s division and lost heavily in the fighting at Gettysburg. “Again, just put a little dab of that ointment on those bandages when they are changed. Call me if she gets worse.”

  “Thank you for coming Doctor Crawford. I’m sorry, but you know I don’t have nothing but worthless Confederate money to pay you with.”

  “I know, I know, my dear, if I’d gotten in this doctoring business to get rich I’d quit years ago, but this War surely cannot last much longer. Maybe then we can all get back on our feet.” Doc slapped Blaze’s flank as he rounded her to get to his buggy. “Stephen you still won’t sell Blaze will you? I’d give her a good home.” The Doc says walking around the horse admiringly.

  “Nah, thanks Doc, but I think I’ll keep her for a spell longer. She is part of the family.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  MOVE OUT

  It is still dark outside, a couple hours before the sun will pop up on the eastern horizon when Luke and his tent mates are hustled outside and told to line up. It is early August; however, this particular early morning around Washington is foggy, cool and damp after the heavy rains of the previous days.

  Luke and his father, both unaware of the other, are standing in the long line of soldiers boarding the wagons to continue their journey. The moon is full, but the recent rain clouds and fog obscure most of its light. Every now and then breaks in the clouds allow the area to be illuminated enough to see around. Robert stands about twenty-five feet to Luke’s right. As the clouds part Luke quickly glances to his left to see if he knew anyone. Not recognizing any of the soldiers Luke turns to his right. At that time, the clouds roll back over the moon again casting dark shadows all around. Luke thought, ‘Dadgum! I thought I’d see someone from my old Company who knew Father and Matthew.’

  As Robert climbs into the back of the wagon, he smiles and turns to look at the campfires off in the distance. ‘Stay here?’ He thought, ‘Right! Until these blue-bellies decide we need to be somewhere else, and I’ll wager it’s not going to be Old Capitol Prison.’ As Luke climbs into his wagon, Robert stands watching him. He thought to himself, ‘It seems I know that man... but from where?’

  “Robert? Are you all right?”

  “Yeah, I suppose, thought I saw someone I knew, how you doing?”

  Climbing in Ben answered, “Yeah, I reckon I’m fine too. Robert, where yer thank we’re headin’ this time?”

  “Don’t know Ben, but we’ll know more when it gets daylight and we see which way the sun comes up.”

  Daylight arrived, it is overcast, but they could see the sky getting lighter in the east just before sunup. The wagons continue sloshing and miring their way through the mud. The mules pull with all their strength. The mud holes have not gotten any smoother, and the road is just as rough or rougher as the trip from Gettysburg was. All day the wagons roll, and by Roberts’s reckoning they are heading southeast. He still does not know their destination.

  Six wagons ahead Luke is doing the best he possibly can for his friend Jamie. After Jamie’s initial visit to Luke’s tent, he somehow, got himself transferred to Luke’s tent. This cool, damp morning they are standing side by side as the orders are given to board the wagons. The dozens and dozens of wagons and hundreds of animals have turned the ground into a muddy quagmire at least six inches deep. Luke slops through the mud and mounts the rear of their transport wagon, but Jamie looses his footing and falls into the mud as he is trying to board. One of the Yankees calls him a curse word and smashes his face with the butt of his musket. He is knocked unconscious. Luke and another soldier jump out and physically lift Jamie into the wagon, he now lies on the wooden floor moaning and groaning as the blood runs from a nasty cut on his head.

  Evening is nearing – they have been on the road all day – none of the prisoners have been furnished food or water. Fortunately, Jamie has remained motionless all day and did not have to endure the miserable ride southeast. Point Lookout! Luke knows Point Lookout is the only destination southeast of Washington. Good that Jamie is not awake to hear that depressing news!

  The wagon train stops for the night in the vicinity of a local tavern. Drinking water is not available, and the Yankees still will not provide any food. Once the men are allowed out of the wagons most fall down upon their hands and knees and drink water from the ruts and mud holes. It was dank and dirty, but it is wet and satisfies the thirst. Luke cleans Jamie’s wound the best he can manage under the circumstances. Luke knows the cut should have six or eight stitches to control the bleeding and, God willing, to heal properly.

  Luke can see the lights from the tavern and overhearing the talk of a Yankee guards finds out it is called Surratt’s Tavern. If he only could get there maybe, someone would give him the necessary medical supplies to help Jamie, or maybe he could break-in after everyone was asleep and ‘borrow’ what he needed. His dear old mother had always taught him not to steal, but Jamie thought this is a different situation and mother had never considered his current plight, maybe just this once, God would understand.

  THE STRANGER

  It is well-past midnight, Luke has gone over at least a dozen plans to slip from his wagon, somehow make his way across the field of mud and into Surratt’s Tavern; however, each had its drawbacks, and Luke knows if he is captured or worse – shot, Jamie will have no one to see after him and he will probably die. Whatever he does he has to get back to the wagon before daybreak.

  Suddenly, there is a slight tapping on the side of the wagon. Very faint at first, then there it is again, this time a little loude
r. Luke moves to the side of the wagon and lifts the canvas cover ever so slightly, expecting a rifle butt to his face. Standing between the wagon and a dim light still coming from the tavern is the dark outline of a man. Luke can see enough from the light of the moon to tell the man is tall, wearing a black, rain slicker and a black, broad-brimmed hat. He is no soldier!

  “Sesech!” Said the specter of a man. “I hear you have not had any food nor water, I brought you a small bit of sustenance to eat and drink.” He steps closer to the wagon, raises the canvas further, and passes two half-gallon syrup buckets through the opening to Luke.

  “Who are you Sir?”

  “My name is unimportant – just say I am a friend of the Southern Cause, stuck in this Godforsaken land of the Yankee enemy.”

  “Sir, we are mighty grateful for your kindness, but if you are truly a Southerner at heart might I ask a favor?”

  “Of course.”

  Luke tells the visitor how badly his friend Jamie is hurt. He asked if it might be possible for him to obtain the necessary medical supplies so he can dress and bandage Jamie’s wounds.

  The stranger offers no reply; he turns and walks back toward the tavern. Halfway back he is approached by one of the Yankee guards.

  “Halt, who goes there?”

  There is a muted reply, but Luke cannot hear what the man in black says to the guard.

  “Advance and be recognized,” the guard says loudly. The stranger approached, and the two men talk for a brief moment or two and then the stranger and the guard walk back to the tavern.

  Luke could not quite see all that was happening. He saw enough to know the helpful stranger had been caught. Was he telling the guard Luke was trying to seek assistance? If so, then Luke is in for a beating.