Hear the Wind Blow Read Online Free PDF Page B

a hold of Mama's hand, but she glared at the Yankee.
    Before Mama could answer the captain's question, Hicks gave a shout. "He's getting away, sir!"
    At the moment he yelled, I heard hoofbeats. Then breaking glass upstairs and a volley of shots.
    Mama clutched Rachel and me even tighter. Though we didn't look at one another, we all thought a miracle had happened. Somehow James Marshall had gotten to the barn and was riding away on Warrior. Surely he was safe now.
    Hicks came running down the stairs so fast he tripped and slid into the hallway on his backside. Leaping to his feet, he said, "Captain, he got out a window and down a tree, sir."

    "Did you hit him?"
    "No, sir, not in the rain and the dark. He's gone."
    Captain Powell scowled. "Get mounted, all of you, and go after him!"
    The men made a rush for the door. "You coming, Captain?" Andrews asked.
    "Somebody's got to keep an eye on the prisoners," he said.
    Mama squeezed Rachel's and my hands. She didn't look at the captain. I had a feeling she was praying hard, so I did the same. Surely the merciful God in heaven wouldn't let us come to harm, for we worshiped every Sunday and did our best to obey His word. Not that I always succeeded, but on the whole I lived a good life and stayed out of the worst kinds of trouble. Hardly ever cursed. Only smoked once, just to see what it was like. Never took even a sip of whiskey. Read the Bible every night. Said my prayers.
    While I was checking my conscience, Captain Powell looked at Mama and said, "You know there are penalties for sheltering a Rebel, ma'am, especially one of Mosby's thieving rats."
    Mama held up her head and looked him straight in the eye, but she said nothing. She reminded me of a picture at Grandma Colby's house that showed Liberty as a tall, queenly lady, full of courage. I was mighty proud of her.
    "Reprisals," the captain went on, "approved by General Meade his very self."
    When Mama said nothing, he looked around the hall and beyond, into the parlor. "Mighty nice home you have here. Clean, well kept, snug. Quality furnishings."

    He went into the parlor. Drawing his sword, he brandished it at the chairs before the fireplace. Mama's and Papa's chairs, we'd always called them, for no one else was ever allowed to sit in them, though Rachel had sneaked her fanny into them more than once. The sword made a swishing sound in the air, but the captain didn't touch even the tip to the chairs.
    Mama drew in her breath and bit her lip. I could feel the anger trembling through her body, but she stood just as tall and silent as ever.
    "Pictures of your parents, I suppose." He pointed his sword at the paintings over the mantel, swishing it like he'd done before. If Grandma Colby had seen him do that, she'd have scratched his eyes out. No one showed
her
portrait disrespect.
    "Pretty little china doodads—worth quite a bit, I reckon." He nudged Mama's precious shepherds and shepherdesses, the porcelain vase she treasured, and a variety of small pieces, some of which had belonged to her mother and grandmother before her.
    Still Mama held her peace.
    Finally, he toppled a dainty figurine to the floor. It smashed on the hearth, its head rolling one way, its body the other. The noise it made was unnaturally loud. Mama winced.
    The captain looked mournful. "Now, ain't that just too bad. It would be a terrible shame if I was to lose my temper. Why, there wouldn't be one pretty thing left."
    The only sounds were the frozen rain ticking against the windows and the wind blowing around the house, cold and lonely and full of sorrow. My heart rode with James Marshall through the darkness, but my body stayed close to Mama, fearful of what was yet to come.

    "If my men catch Marshall," the captain said, "I might leave you enough to get by till spring. But if the villain escapes, I'll see to it you have nothing."
    He paused. "Of course, I could find it my heart to be merciful, ma'am. I'm not by nature a cruel man. Indeed, at home in