Out From This Place by Joyce Hansen Read Free Book Online Page A

slavery time talk,” Julius corrected him. “Call him Mr. Reynolds.”
    George waved his hand at Julius. “It all the same.”
    Melissa and Sarah would share a cabin with Easter, Rose, and Jason. The two families each had a cabin, and the single men shared one.
    â€œWhat kind of freedom is this? I never live in a slave hut,” Easter complained.
    â€œNeither did I,” Rose said. “I sleep in a shed, and you sleep on Master Jennings’s kitchen floor. Least this hut be our own.”
    â€œAnd I slept in the big house. Had my own room in the servant’s quarters,” Rayford reminded Easter. “And I ain’t complaining!” Rayford left them and went with the other men to look at his new home.
    â€œI just glad to have a roof over my head,” Sarah said quietly.
    But when they opened the cabin door Easter felt like crying. It was worse than she’d thought. “The Jennings kitchen better than this,” she moaned.
    Jason looked outraged. “This place nasty!” he yelled.
    Melissa grimaced. “Come on, Sarah. We go get some water so we can clean that floor.” They put their bundles on the floor and left.
    â€œThe first thing we have to do is daub those chinks with clay and sweep out this room,” Rose mused, scanning the floor and walls. There were two pallets on the floor, three beds hanging on pegs and folded against the wall, a fireplace, and a bench. Easter lay her rug before the fireplace, and Jason immediately sprawled on it and fell asleep.
    â€œI help you clean in here, but me and Jason can’t stay long, Rose.”
    Rose dropped her sacks near Jason’s head. “Easter, where you goin’?”
    â€œI have to find Obi.”
    â€œThat ain’t possible. You don’t even know where he is. You can’t go runnin’ all over the place lookin’ for somebody with this war goin’ on. Never know when there be a battle right here. Don’t think them Rebels ain’t go try and get these islands back.”
    Easter crossed her arms defiantly. “I run away from my master and mistress. I run away from the Rebels, and I run again if I have to.”
    Rose reached into one of her bundles and removed several wooden plates and a small pot. “You can’t make things the way
you
want them to be. Obi might not even be thinkin’ ’bout you.”
    Rose’s words were like the lash of a whip across Easter’s back. Tears welled up in her eyes.
    Rayford entered the room. “That place we have is worse than this. We don’t have enough beds,” he said to Rose.
    Rose found a broom near the fireplace and started sweeping around Jason’s head. “Easter don’t want to stay.”
    â€œI have to find Obi,” she explained.
    â€œWhere will you go? How will you live?”
    â€œThat’s the same thing I ask,” Rose said.
    Rayford sat on the bench. “We stay here and work and we’ll have something of our own when the war’s over. You can look for Obi when the war ends.”
    â€œWhen it be over?” she asked. He didn’t answer her.
    â€œYou act like you ain’t got all your senses!” Rose shouted, pulling out her quilt and shaking it furiously.
    â€œRose is right. You were lucky before. How you and that boy getting from island to island? Who’s going to protect you? Him?” Rayford asked, pointing to the sleeping Jason.
    â€œGod protect me,” Easter replied.
    â€œGod protect those who know how to protect themselves,” Rayford muttered.
    â€œGive me one of them guns. I learn how to shoot, then I protected.”
    â€œI ain’t giving you anything. You better stay with us.”
    â€œEaster, don’t be so hardhead,” Rose said.
    Why can’t they understand,
Easter thought to herself.
    â€œAfter you find Obi, then what? What you think Obi doin’ if he still alive? Workin’ on a