Post 13 - Dead eye Sam

     As the war ended and the men started home, James and Tom knew LaFayette would die there, if left on his own, so they took him to southern Tennessee to their little hill farm, and slowly nursed him back to health. After a month of rest and James’ wife Sara’s good cooking, LaFayette was able to travel on to Talageda County alone, and was soon back at his old job, Marshal of Taladega, Alabama.

Author’s note: James Thacker (Actually Tucker) was also my great grandfather. Sara was my great grandmother, and Tenny was my grandmother. As a small girl, Sara was watching after the new-born baby one day, while her mother hung out the clothes. Sara became distracted; a large wild hog came in and got the baby. It could not be caught, and it ate the baby. Sara never was able to shed this guilt. This story was the basis for the name of my second book, Forever Cry. This all happened on their farm in Tennessee. True story. This story remains just under the surface in my family to this day. My mother and my wife Barbara were hanging out the clothes to dry one day. Mom was reminded of this story; she told it to Barbara, who told it to me. My mother never told me.

     James Thacker was happy to be back with his family. Sara was of strong Tennessee stock, and had kept the farm going as best she could with the help of Josh, age nine, and Tenny, age six. Josh had stepped in and bravely became the “man of the family” when the men left, and provided meat for the family while the men were at war. The squirrels he had killed, along with an occasional deer, had helped the family scrape by. Tenny was a perky red-haired tomboy. She had also been a lot of help for her mother, feeding the mules and Old Jersey, their milk cow. She fed the chickens, gathered the eggs, and was a big help in the garden.

Author’s note:  Tenny was the last red head in my branch of the family until the birth of my grandson, Christian, who is now a college student.

     It was now planting season. After a couple of days of homecoming celebration, James called his family together after supper.

     “It’s been a hard two years for all uv us. Now, we gotta get our farm back in order. Lots of sprouts to clear from the cropland.” Sara and the children had had no time to keep the croplands cleared, and the land was a mess. “ Plowing to do, cotton and corn ta be planted. Tomorrow, Tom can go into town and buy seed. I’ll start with the land clearing. It’s been hard, and will still be hard for all of us for the next month or two. But by mid-summer, we should be back to normal. Get a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow will be a hard day.”   

     Later that night, when all the young people were asleep, Sara softly called James to the door. He was easily persuaded. Sara and James had not really been alone since the wonderful homecoming. Fixing up another sleeping place for LaFayette had pretty well filled the small cabin.

     LaFayette appeared to be asleep, along with the children, but a smile played on his lips as James and Sara quietly pulled the door to behind them.

     Arm in arm, James and Sara strolled across the lush spring grass. The fields were majestic in the dim moonlight. When they reached the creek, James pulled Sara to him, and they kissed tenderly. Sara pulled him to her as if she would never let him go. James gently unhooked her dress, and it floated like a butterfly to the fresh green grass. Sara was where she had longed to be for so long. She was a hard mountain woman, all fire and determination during the day, but she turned into soft, melted butter in James’ arm after dark. She had him home with her, where he belonged, and she would never let him go.

     Later, as a pack of coyotes yipped farther down the creek, and an owl hooted back in the woods, they strolled back across the meadow. Sara stopped and turned to him. Tears were flowing down across her cheeks.

     “What’s wrong, sweet baby? What’s bothering you?” Sara laid her head on his shoulder, and sobbed. He quietly caressed her.

     Sara pulled away to arm’s length. “Oh James. There is something I’ve got to tell you, my darling. I didn’t want to ruin your homecoming days, but it can wait no longer. This is the most wonderful night of my life, but what I have to say to you, I must tell you now.”