Page 49 of Wherever My Heart Roams

"Before this war is over, many, many homes will be destroyed, and burned to the ground, mark my words."

"Oh Mother Cahill, I pray it stops soon."

"Let's get back to the boat, dear."

Beth hurried toward the boat ramp and pushed Mother Cahill up the ramp. She couldn't help looking over her shoulder at the billowing black smoke rising in the air. Was this one of the signs of war? The mere thought of it, sent a cold shill through her. One of the laborers saw them and stopped to help them.

"You two alright?" He asked. He was a black man.

Beth smiled warmly at him.

"We're fine, thank you."

"Let's get you aboard now." The man glanced at the smoke too, then at Beth. What she saw in his face told her that the war had most certainly begun.

He nodded and went back to work.

Chapter Twelve

Beth strolled along the deck with Wade but they were both very quiet. Only the familiar sound of the paddle pulling the water up and over broke the silence.

The moon shone against the water, making it sparkle.

"Something wrong?" He finally asked as they came to a stop.

"No…I mean…not exactly." She began.

"Did you and mother have a good day?"

She looked at him, in some ways it was wonderful. "We really enjoy each other's company, and we get along famously. I'm so glad. Because I worried about how she would accept me more than anything. But she's a real sweet woman. I worried that I might do or say the wrong things."

"Then what is troubling you, now?"

She hesitated, "It's hard to put in words. Just one word. War. Things are so…tense…the war an all. Today I saw the first signs of it all along the streets, in the people's faces."

"Don't fret about that, darling, there's not much you can do about it. Things are going to get a lot worse before they get better. Now, tell me, what did you see that upset you?"

"It more a feeling that seemed to build throughout the day. First we spotted soldiers in gray uniforms talking about how quickly it would all be over. They were laughing about it, and so bold. Then we witnessed a man hunt."

"A man hunt?"

"Well, Mother Cahill said he was a runaway Negro, and a mob of men ran down the street chasing him with clubs and guns. They liked to have knocked us over. And then before we could board again a fight broke out on the docks."

Wade turned her chin up so he could look into her eyes. "You haven't been in the big cities much, have you?"

"No, I suppose not…" she answered.

"Those kinds of things go on all the time, all but the soldiers at least. The slave trade in Natchez is one of the worst. I should have warned you about it."

"Maybe I overreacted." She cried.

He kissed her lightly. "You’re a woman, and those kinds of things would shake any woman."

"Even your mother was upset by it. That's why we cut the trip short. There seemed to be a vague tension growing."

"Mother hasn't been out in a while either." He smiled.

"I suppose you are right."

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