Setting: Missouri, four years after the end of the Civil War.
Genre: American Historical Romance
Working Title: Reed Jackson
Set up: Conversation between former slave, Beulah Freeman and
wounded Confederate Officer Reed Jackson after finding a beaten
young woman.
© copyright 2006 Hollis Bush
Beulah looked out the window. "A crippled confederate
soldier, a former slave already accused of uppity airs and a half
dead white girl. Oh my."
"We're going to have to wake Henry. So he can go for Jim
Lowell," Reed said.
Beulah's eyes widened. "She can't stay here, Mr. Jackson.
We've got to get her far away from us and do it quickly."
Reed straightened the girl's tattered clothes. He knew Beulah was
right. But his desperation to keep this pitiful, broken, proud
woman beside him won. Reed used what he knew to be his only hope
with Beulah. Shame warmed him but he did not care.
"What if she were colored? What would you do then?"
Beulah faced him mutinously and Reed continued softly. "What
would your brother do?"
"You sink to new lows, Mr. Jackson."
Reed wondered if Beulah knew he was instead rising to new heights.
He knew Beulah was no coward, having survived years as a slave
with the wherewithal to make a new life and help others as she
did. A heretofore-silent conscience awoke in Reed as this woman
clung to life before his eyes. Had he yet earned or unearthed the
courage to do what was right?
"Don't let fear stand in your way." Reed repeated
Beulah's words and turned to her. "You said that, Beulah. My
mother begs the same of me. Mayhap this is where God leads
us."
Beulah rose and went to the door. "I will go for Dr. Lowell.
He has helped my people before. If we do this, help this girl,
will you be able to shoulder the consequences?"
Reed stared up at her.
Beulah bent down, placing her hands on the arms of Reed's
wheelchair. "I killed a man as he used me for pleasure, Mr.
Jackson. You may be driven from this place. I could be hung. God's
plans often lead us to a dark place. Do you have the faith, any
faith to let Him lead you to light?"
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