Spake As a Dragon by Larry Edward Hunt Read Free Book Online

the old days.
    “ Now I’ve already told you
Granny Scarburg was full-blood Indian, I was told Pocahontas was
somehow related to her.”
    “ Poco...who?”
    “ Later, I’ll tell you
about Pocahontas, now I am going to tell about your Granny. I know
she did not want to leave her family in Virginia, but her father
said a wife’s duty was to be with her husband.”
    She explained that their father
inherited Scarlett from Thomas, their grandfather. Malinda told the
two girls when Grandfather Thomas died he had thirty slaves working
on Scarlett. Their father never approved of owning slaves, and one
of the first things he did after taking possession of the
plantation was to officially grant all the slaves their freedom. He
said God never intended people to be chained, beaten or
owned.
    “ Your Daddy and I were
married the 25 th of July in the year 1831. I was
seventeen and your Daddy was just eighteen. Robert was never
satisfied on the plantation. The slaves remained as freedmen, with
a working salary, but Robert could not shake off the guilt of the
many years bonded men worked to make Scarlett into the showplace it
was.”
    The bread is removed from the oven as
Malinda continues telling Mattie Ann about ‘the old days.’ “After
your father and I were married, we had lived on Scarlett for six
peaceful years before war exploded with the Indians of south
Alabama, south Georgia and northern Florida. The Indians were on
the warpath against the whites all along the southeastern section
of the United States. Your father thought it was his responsibility
to join the United States Army and go fight the murdering
heathens.
    “ I’m sorry girls, you have
never been told this. I believe it is one of the most-important
things that happened back then.” She told of Robert receiving his
army discharge in Hall County, Georgia. How he placed it in his
saddlebag and began the long horse ride from Georgia to South
Carolina. He was on the trail close to a week. Anxious to return
home he spent most of the trip in the saddle hesitant to even stop
and rest. I don’t believe he would have even stopped to sleep if it
had not been for the fact the horse needed rest.
    “ I remember the day he
returned as if it were yesterday.” Tears began to swell in her eyes
as she recalled those times and continued her story to Mattie Ann
and Lizzie. “Robert later said he rounded the last bend in the
road, nearing the long drive leading to Scarlett’s main house. He
knew he should be able to see the big main house sitting upon the
hill through the stand of oaks and maples growing near the entrance
gate. Glaring intently he could sense something was wrong. He could
not see our Scarlett.”
    Pulling on the reins, “Whoa Black
Magic, whoa!” His beautiful black stallion was motionless as he
stood in the stirrups trying to get a better look. The house was
gone. Spurring Black Magic he galloped up the drive to the charred
ruins of what once had been the pride of the Scarburg
family.
    “ Dismounting, the children
and I ran to greet him. He was astonished.”
    “ What...what happened?” He
asked.
    “ My father and mother,
Granny and Uncle Willie are dead!
    “ I told him how about a
month ago an Indian raiding party came through wanting food. Granny
Scarburg met them in the front yard, but after conversing with
them, something she said obviously made them mad. It may have been
the fact that she was Cherokee and those Indians were Shawnee.
Neither tribe had any love for the other. As Granny turned to walk
back to the house one of the braves pulled an arrow from his
quiver, placed it in his bow and swiftly released the deadly
projectile toward her.
    “ The arrow struck Granny
in her back killing her instantly. My father and mother ran to her
defense, and they both were also killed.
    “ The Indians went on a
rampage inside the house, grabbing what they could and smashing the
rest. They set the house ablaze then mounted their ponies and rode
off.