Through the Storm Read Online Free PDF Page A

memory, and since she had no way of disputing the claim, she gathered up the bag and set out once more.
    It came to her that maybe the bracelet would be safer hidden on her person than in the bag. Who knew what lay ahead? When Otis and Opal were planning their escape, they’d told her they were going to join the hundreds of other escapees who’d attached themselves to the Union army. That was Sable’s goal too. But she was not so naive as to believe she would find the camps overnight or arrive there without incident. War was raging. Sherman’s straggling troops, called “bummers” by the locals, were reportedly everywhere, stealing, poaching, and terrorizing. There were also hungry and desperate Confederate deserters trying to reach their homes. Sable looked around. Once again making sure she wasn’t being watched, she cautiously raised her skirt and tied the bracelet into the frayed strings of her muslin drawers. She pulled the tapes tightly, then set out once more.
    The road Sable was following led north to Atlanta. She’d traveled it many times with Mavis and Sally Ann. By carriage the journey took a full day. On foot, the trip would take infinitely longer, but the determined Sable walked on. Atlanta had fallen to the Union two weeks ago, on the first day of September. There were reports of many runaways who had joined the conquering Yankees. Sable had no way of knowing what she might find upon her arrival, but the prospect of an unknown freedom won hands down over the known reality of being a slave.
    When dusk began to settle, she sought a place to sleep for the night. About a half mile further, she came upon the old Dresden place. The family had once been social acquaintances of the Fontaines. When the war broke out, Mr. Dresden, a teacher, had enlisted on the side of the Union. After his departure, his wife had been so ostracized and harassed by neighbors, she and the children had gone North to live with her mother. Last fall someone had set fire to the vacant house. Only a shell remained, but Sable hoped it would be safe enough for one night.
    As she walked cautiously into the burned-out hulk, an old woman stepped out of the shadows and scared Sable half to death by saying, “I’ve been waiting for you.”
    Once Sable got over her initial fright, she studied the smiling, dark-skinned woman. The aged face was round and unremarkable, and a colorful bandanna covered her hair. The dark eyes holding Sable’s were intelligent and powerful, eyes that reminded Sable of Mahti’s.
    “Who are you?” Sable asked.

    “That was going to be my question to you, my dear, but introductions can wait. Come on now, I’ll bet you’re hungry.”
    Sable hesitated, trying to determine what to do, but the woman gave her such a commanding look that Sable followed without comment.
    She led Sable outside and down into the Dresden cellar. Sable was surprised to see the stub of a candle and a mound of bedding on the earthen floor. Did the old woman live there?
    As if having read Sable’s mind, the woman offered, “I’ve been waiting for you for two days. I was just about to give up on you ever coming.”
    Confused to say the least, Sable asked once more, “Who are you?”
    “Araminta is what my mama named me. Owner named me something else. The good Lord named me Moses. And you are?”
    “Sable. Sable Fontaine. How could you have been waiting for me if you don’t know me?”
    “Dreamed about you.”
    Sable stared.
    The old woman handed Sable a tin plate. On it was half a spitted rabbit, a helping of dandelion greens, and a slice of bread. “Here. Eat,” she instructed. “We got a long walk tomorrow.”
    Sable was torn between wanting to devour the food and asking a dozen questions, but her starving stomach took priority over her curiosity.
    Sable ate robustly but politely, and noticed that the woman watched her the whole time. “Something wrong?” Sable finally asked.
    “Just admiring your manners. Raised in the house,