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"That's just how your husband sees it. He's a mighty fine man, ma'am. But I guess you would know that, wouldn’t you?"
"Yes, we know it well." Beth smiled at Mother Cahill.
The third day out, they ran into southern troops across the Texas and Louisiana border. The commander seemed put out with them and especially not happy to see a freed Negro escorting them.
"Cahill, I've heard of that name before," The Colonel said as he studied them.
"My husband is not in the service, sir." Beth announced proudly.
"Why not?"
"He owns a steamboat on the Mississippi."
"Oh, that's where I've heard the name. Everyone has a business before they go to war ma'am. That's no excuse for not joining up."
"Perhaps, but your soldiers and equipment have been transported close to the northern lines thanks to my son sir." Mother Cahill explained.
"Is that a fact. Exactly where are you headed now, ma'am?"
"Into Texas sir, to my folk's farm." Beth explained.
"If he's transporting men and machinery, that's probably a wise place for you to be. Well, I don't have time nor men to spare for your journey."
"We aren't asking you to, sir. We'll be on our way." Mother Cahill advised him staunchly.
The Colonel barely acknowledged her, but tipped his hat to them and turned away.
John led them away. He'd hired a buggy now that they were inland. Another three days and they would be there.
But a day and a half later they came upon the burnt out ruins of several farms.
"Who could have done this?" Mother Cahill cried seeing some bodies still lying about without a grave.
"Comanche ma'am. They are raiding all over these days because our country is at war and the forts aren't being manned. I don't know if Little Buffalo is responsible, but I wouldn't put it past him. He's getting a pretty big name in these parts." John told them as he began to dig a grave for a woman and her children that still lay on the ground.
Beth tried to distract Mother Cahill from the chaos.
"It would seem the whole country is at war with someone." Mother Cahill cried out.
Beth walked about the ruins, picking things up and then laying them down, as though they were too sacred to touch.
This made Beth more than anxious to get home and make sure everyone there was safe. She'd always thought of home as one place that would never be bothered but from the looks of these three burnt out farms, she might be very wrong. It looked very much as if they had traded one disaster for another now.
Chapter Seventeen
When Beth and Mother Cahill arrived at her home, there was a lot going on. Her father was patching the door and windows, the barn had a lock on it and the kids weren't playing outside.
Digger ran up to her and ran circles around her yelping and licking at her fingers. Beth bent to pet him and smiled, "Good to see you too, boy."
Her father saw her but returned to his work.
"Father…" Beth called when she saw him on a ladder trying to repair what looked like arrow holes in the shudders.
"Beth," He hollered and came down from the ladder.
"What going on father?" She asked as she stepped out of the buggy and took the wheel chair out of the back of the buggy. John picked Mother Cahill up and set her in the chair
"Just a little repair work is all. What are you doing here, child?"
