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“I doubt it. They are long gone now, left a trail of death and destruction. Headed for the north country.”
Lee stared at the girl. She was probably right, but it didn’t help her brother none to tell him so.
Lee firmed his lips and tried to ignore her. But there was something about her that made him keep looking. The arrogant way she tossed her head, the untrusting glances she sent his way.
Problem was, she was to the point of beautiful, he noted then scolded himself silently for thinking it. She had a round, sweet looking face. Her lips were full, her nose flaring, but it was obvious that she was just as aware of him as he was of her. She didn’t hide the fact that she looked him up and down.
She was older than Sam and close to leaving childhood behind her, but as far as he was concerned, she was a kid and a Negro and he had no right going there. It wasn’t that he didn’t like Negroes. The truth be known, he did, but it wasn’t healthy to let others know that, not where he came from at least. Still these two were just kids and he needed to find someone to care for them.
“Hattie, is that your name?” he asked gruffly.
“Yes sir,” she answered after giving Sam a hug and smile. The smile transformed her death-like features into radiance and again Lee had to caution himself from responding. Made him realize her youth. What was it about her that had him thinking of her as a woman? She was a kid, that’s all. Still the gentle sway of her hips as she moved about told him she was also aware of her age. No little girl walked with that kind of sway.
“Is there any more of you?” Lee asked in a low whisper.
“No sir, I reckon me and Sam is all.” She stood majestically proud and erect, unaware that her breasts puckered against her dress.
“I see, well then, you get behind Sam and hang on. I’ll take you into town tomorrow,” Lee ordered, trying to pry his glance from hers.
“What for?” she asked suspiciously, her voice full of mistrust as she frowned up into his face, coming closer.
“Well, see’n as how you have no folks, to find someone to take care of you.” Lee heard the exasperation in his own voice.
“We cain’t stay here, they burned the house down.” Sam looked at her.
“How do we know we can trust this man? He’s white too.” She shot Lee a quick glance.
Lee saw the girl eye him and thought it good that sh
e was skeptical. However, there was something more in her eyes than mistrust. She challenged him with every glance.
“He buried Pa!” Sam pointed to the grave. “And said some words over him, and he’s God fearin’.”
“I seen that, anybody could do that,” she protested, as though she had some choice in the matter.
“Either get up or stay here, it’s your choice,” Lee admonished her. He had no time to play games. He told himself he didn’t care whether she came or not, but secretly he hoped she would if for no other reason than her brother.
“How old are you?” she asked as she followed Sam and jumped up behind him on the horse.
“Twenty. How old are you?”
“Sixteen,” she mumbled.
“You look like fourteen…” he mumbled to himself.
“I’m sixteen, I jest hadn’t come of age yet. Mama said I’d get breasts soon.” She put her hands on her hips and stared mutinously around Sam at him.
Lee stopped the horse, and turned sideways to look at her, a frown lining his face. “Look here, don’t talk like that.”
“Why not? It’s the truth,” she fussed.
“He’s tryin’ to tell ya it ain’t lady-like.” Sam snickered.
Her eyes rounded on them both now. “The men…they took my sisters.”
Lee’s expression changed to one of sorrow, wishing he could block it all out for her.
“That’s why I was determined to run off from them, I didn’t want them doing the same to me as they did my sisters.”
