AllFreeNovel
Share Us
After renting a buggy, they drove around some of the famous homes in the area. "You know Beth some of the richest people in our country live here."
"Really, I don't doubt it. I've never seen homes like these. So big you could put several families in them."
Around noon, Mother Cahill directed Beth to a small café and they ate. There were a lot of customers as Natchez was a busy city. Finely dressed women with beautiful hats and lovely clothes adorned the café.
People were all muttering about the war and its outcome. The way they talked this war wouldn't last a month. That was a relief, Beth thought.
But Mother Cahill shook her head. "They are all day-dreaming. This is a serious matter and Lincoln won't rest until he has all the states back in the Union. They are wrong Beth. This war will be long and bloody and you and I must do everything we can to help. And as divided as people are, fathers will be fighting their own sons in this war. I hate to see it come to this, but there is no stopping it"
"Oh I wish you were wrong Mother Cahill but I feel the same way…"
"Wade has been so watchful of the news."
"Don't fret now. There's going to be many perilous times before this is over."
"It's unfolding pretty quickly, too." Mother Cahill murmured as she looked around the café with interest.
The food was divine and after they ate they visited several shops. Wade had given her an allowance to spend as she wished and Beth picked out a present for Mother Cahill, and a few things for her family, and one beautiful dress that Mother Cahill insisted was made for her. Then Beth found a beautiful pocket watch and showed it to Mother Cahill. "Isn't it lovely. Do you think Wade would like it?"
Mother Cahill eyed her a moment, "I thought he gave you money to spend on yourself. You've bought things for everyone else."
"I can't just spend on myself. I have so much already, Mother Cahill. Why, I've got more dresses now than I ever had in my life. Besides, my family might never get up this way and I want to take them something…for when we return for a visit."
"You are a very unselfish woman, Beth. I truly am proud to know you. I often thought Wade might latch on to some woman who was frivolous and selfish. I'm so glad he found you."
"Why thank you Mother Cahill, that means a lot to me."
Gathering their purchases, they took the buggy back and then went slowly back to the boat.
But they were nearly knocked down by a bunch of white men chasing a Negro. There must have been twenty of them, all armed with clubs and guns. What were they after in such a hurry?
"What on earth was that?" Beth grabbed her chest.
Mother Cahill shook her head as she stared after them. "A Negro trying to escape his owner more than likely. This goes on all the time, whether there is a war or not. And it will until the war is over."
"What will they do to him if they catch him?"
"Beat him and put him back to work, I'm sure."
"Oh dear God…" Beth gasped. "But why would he run away in the first place then?"
"I can see you haven't been around a plantation. They work these poor devils until they can't stand up. They beat them if they refuse to work, or run away. They sell them out from under their own families. They are poor souls, lost in a pool of sin. The sin of greed for these wealthy plantation owners."
A fight was going on close to the dock and two pirate looking men were beating each other to death. No one stopped them.
"Oh, we've got to get to the boat," Beth cried.
About that time there was a loud boom and everyone stopped what they were doing. Looking about they saw smoke and lots of people began running. Some were yelling. The young soldiers on the street were no longer there. Beth looked for them.
"It's started I suppose." Mother Cahill snorted. "That was a long way off."
"They'll think twice before they destroy this city though."
"Oh, why is that?"
"It's full of rich influential people. Both sides know that."
"It would be a shame to destroy such beautiful homes."
