The Sun Rises (Southern Legacy Book 4) by Jerri Hines Read Free Book Online Page A

shallow water across the creek. The dogs’ bark heightened as if they had trapped their prey. Climbing up the muddy bank, she tripped, but it served only to deter her momentarily. Ignoring her scratched, stinging hands, she made her way through the briars and bushes.
    Abruptly, she halted. “Oh, my God!”
    Riding up beside her, Syms said, “Mrs. Montgomery, I tole ya it would be best if ya returned to the carriage. I’ll take care of this.”
    Shaking her head in disbelief, she steadfastly refused. “Call them off! Call them off now!”
    “Mrs. Montgomery…”
    Breathing hard, she shouted, “Now! This is atrocious! If you are a Christian man, call the dogs off the boy!”
    His color was high; his face contorted. With the greatest reluctance, he whistled. The dogs’ barking ceased. Behind him, four blacks ran up and grabbed the hounds.
    Deeply disturbed, Jo ran forward toward the frightened child. The small, light-skinned child looked up at her. Good Gracious! He couldn’t be any more than five or six!  His terror-filled eyes widened as he recoiled from her touch. He wore only tattered pants and no shoes. Despite being covered in dirt and mud, she saw clearly his chest and arms were covered in bruises and wounds.
    Jo wanted to wrap her arms about him and comfort him, but he had soiled himself badly. Instead, she offered him her hand. “Come with me. Trust me. No one is going to hurt you.”
    He said nothing, but the whole of his body trembled.
    Turning, she shooed the dogs and men back with her hand. “Be gone. Obviously, he’s not the one you are looking for…” As she looked into their faces, her words faded. “Surely not.”
    Syms dismounted and walked toward the boy. “I told ya, ma’am. It’s best you go back to town and leave him to us.”
    She looked at him, and then back at the child. “I’m not going anywhere, not until you tell me what in Heaven’s name is going on.”
    “His momma is the one who caused the whole revolt. Killed herself and babies. Got ole Willy all worked up. Can’t have the likes of ’em around.”
    Aghast, she whispered, “He’s a child.”
    “His daddy was sick in the soul. Ain’t no cure for that. Ya look at the youngin’ ’em eyes. He’ll grow up and slit your throat...”
    Interrupting him, she declared, “Don’t you take that tone with me! I will tell Mr. Whitney what I have seen and he will deal with the likes of you.”
    He laughed, a coarse, hard laugh. “Ma’am, who do ya think gave me my orders?”
    Her face fell; she felt nauseated. Oh, God in Heaven! That despicable man was lying. He had to be, but he would not shut up.
    “The master retaliated against these niggers for the deaths they caused. Went on a rampage. Don’t think ’em burnt down ’em own homes and trampled their own gardens. Wants anyone associated with ole Willy execu…punished. They hid that one…until ’em stupid niggers figured out that Tome boy would be the death of ’em. That he was a spawn of that she-devil. Began throwing rocks at the boy to keep him away. Ain’t even wanted by his own kind.”
    As she looked down at the boy, he raised his head. His frightened eyes shone back at her. Oh, good Lord, she saw Gillie reflecting in them.
    She straightened her shoulders back and held out her hand for the boy, giving him no choice but to take it. She whirled around and stared at the sadistic face of the white man. “I don’t believe a word of what you said and if you think I’m leaving this child with you, you are sadly mistaken. If it is as you said, you can tell Mr. Whitney I have the boy. But I can assure you of one thing—nothing…nothing is happening to this child.”
    She made her way through the men and dogs, holding tight to the boy’s hand, almost dragging him along. They did not stop until they reached the carriage and rode back to town.
    * * * *
    The morning after the incident, Jo had not left her suite at the Camden Inn, where she had sought refuge to think.