Sweetsmoke Read Online Free PDF

business." His voice was loud and she was silent and Cassius backed
up so that he would not be observed. Weyman had told him the truth. "If
the North sees fit to tax tobacco, then I am but a damned fool if I do not take
advantage. People desire my product and dislike being taxed. Logue offers me an
excellent price, but lest you think me greedy, I have held back a portion of
last year's crop to satisfy Mr. Davis's government so that we do not incite
suspicion. And it is damned lucky I was able to make Logue's deal. You see the
condition of the crop. If we do not terminate this affliction, we will need
Logue just to see us through the winter!"
        "I
do not approve of you dealing with men like Gabriel Logue," said Ellen
quietly.
        "We
are at war, and this is man's business."
        "War
and man's business," she said derogatorily.
        Cassius
heard Hoke's chair scrape against the floor as he pushed himself back.
        "I
have summoned Nettle and we will attend to it. It is his fault we are in this
mess, I let him convince me to use the south fields for the third straight year
and the soil is played out. This winter we will clear cut the parcel I took
from Buffalo Channing's grandson. I cheated him out of that one, at
least."
        "Is
the Produce Loan from the government inadequate?"
        "Will
you leave man's work to men, Mrs. Howard!?"
        Cassius
listened to the ensuing silence. If the Howards sold property to pay debts,
life would change irrevocably. His carpentry skills could transfer to a new
master, but would a new master allow Cassius to rent himself out? Would a new
master allow him to retain his saved money? Cassius might even be sold to a
cotton state. At that moment, life seemed not unreasonable in Sweetsmoke.
        "Was
there word from Jacob?" said Ellen.
        "Nothing
today, my dear, but do not fret, your son has never been a regular
correspondent. Remember that in March we received a collection of his letters
in a bundle."
        "Does
he not understand what it does to me?"
        "You
must consider that, with Sarah…" His voice trailed off.
        "Yes,
he married a ninny, which does not excuse him from communicating with his
mother."
        "Hush
now, lest she hear through the floorboards."
        Cassius
glanced up at the ceiling. Pretty Sarah Greenleaf had been a sickly thing well before
Jacob had taken her as his wife. She brought him one son, Charles, and in the
ensuing ten years had yet to recover from childbirth. Not long after Jacob
announced he would be joining Ashby's cavalry, Sarah was rushed to her bed with
an undisclosed illness. Her husband, expected to remain behind to nurse her to
health, had instead ridden away sooner than originally planned. Her illness
persisted and she remained in her bed to this day.
        Pet
crossed to the Old Master's study and pushed open the door, entering as if she
was but a gust of wind. Cassius now saw Ellen and
        Hoke
standing in opposition, but then Pet closed the door behind her and he heard
the latch click.
        The
knot in his belly tensed. A slave never closed a door. It was difficult to hear
through a closed door.
        A
moment later, Pet opened the door, Ellen emerged and marched past Cassius
without making eye contact. Pet nodded that he should enter the study. Cassius
did not move. Pet followed her Missus Ellen to the stairs, and spoke rapidly.
        I
don't know if this be the time, Missus Ellen, said Pet, but I was thinkin that
if Missus Sarah was goin get herself a personal servant, ain't no one better
than Tempie.
        "Do
not say 'ain't,' Pet."
        Sorry,
Missus.
        "Tempie,
now who is this Tempie?" said Ellen.
        Why
surely, Missus Ellen, you know her, Tempie Easter, she the one wear them nice
clothes and such?
        "I
will have to consider that, Pet. I have yet to meet with John-Corey's people,
and they were in his house."
        Oh
but Missus Ellen,