Breaking Matthew Read Online Free PDF Page B

be, anyhow. I got just as much Percy Calhoun’s blood in my veins as Chester.”
    I couldn’t help but see the caramel-skinned little boy I’d first met years before sitting at the table with me, scarred from years of beatings dealt out by Chester Calhoun. The first time I’d met Samuel, he was stealing a chicken to feed himself and Hannah. I’d covered for him, but I’d seen the way Chester tormented him. So much of Samuel’s anger and suspicion of me made sense once I’d learned about the abuse Chester was doling out on both him and Hannah. I’d felt his wrath myself, and I’d never forget it. I still suffered occasional headaches from the concussion Chester had given me.
    “Samuel,” Hannah said, covering his hand. “God made you in His own image, so you ain’t half of anything. You’re all His. Can’t nobody take that from you. And you’re going to grow up to be the man He wants you to be. Maybe He never meant you to be colored or white. Maybe He meant you to be the glue that’s gone hold things together. So you don’t let nobody tell you who you are. You ain’t half Calhoun. You ain’t half colored, or half white either. You’s all Samuel.”
    I wasn’t sure her words sank in, but I sure hoped they did. Underneath all that anger and mistrust, was a boy who loved his mother something fierce. I prayed God would give him peace and keep him from stirring up trouble with the Calhouns. I wanted to reassure Hannah, but I shared her apprehension. I’d have to keep my eye out for Samuel whenever I went to visit James and Emma Rae. Maybe he’d listen to me, if not his mother.
    I was certain no good could possibly come from his being anywhere near that farm.
    And I was right.
     
    Monday morning, long before sunup, Dr. Fisher woke me from a deep sleep. We’d learned pretty quick that early morning calls put Ms. Harmon in a bad temper for the rest of the day, so I’d installed a little bell attached to a string that ran out of my window and down the side of the house. He’d only had to use it a few times. Most early morning calls he just handled without me, but he knew I’d never let him hear the end of it if he didn’t bring me along when it was time for Emma Rae to deliver. So when I heard the bell’s light jingle, I jumped out of bed and dressed quick as lightning.
    Dr. Fisher met me on the porch with a lamp. “Got a call from the Calhoun farm,” he said. “Sounds like we best hurry. James says Emma Rae’s progressing pretty fast.”
    That was all well and good, but Dr. Fisher didn’t have a hurry-up bone in his body. He still drove the same ambling pace down the road, no matter what the emergency was. Sometimes I fussed at him, but it didn’t do a lick of good. So I bottled up my frustration as he made his way down the dark roads.
    By the time we reached the Calhoun place, I could make out the dim edge of dawn outlining the horizon. I’d hoped we were heading to James and Emma Rae’s house, but Dr. Fisher parked the car in front of the big house. Putting aside my discomfort, I followed him up the front steps, across the front porch, and through the open door.
    Mr. Calhoun stood just inside holding the door open for us. Our eyes met, and like always, I felt a shiver go down my spine as I saw an older version of Chester looking back at me. It never once failed. In one instant, I’d see his face contort into Chester’s snarl, hear his gravelly voice swearing and threatening, feel the splitting pain in my head. But as quick as I’d see it, I’d close my eyes and turn away from Mr. Calhoun. That had been our greeting for the past four years.
    James appeared, and ushered us up the stairs to the bedroom where Emma Rae was being tended to by her mother. Mrs. Calhoun jumped up from her chair beside the bed and pushed a tangled mess of auburn hair away from her face. “Oh, thank the good Lord you’re all here now. Ruby, why don’t you take little Abner and keep him outta the middle of things.