In His Eyes(64)

Of course she did. She would continue to portray the lady of the house, and, as such, it would not do for her to be unaware of what happened on the lands supposedly left to her tending.

Why, she should just march right on down there and make it known that she knew they lived a prosperous life and that she was glad of it. They need not fear her trying to take anything away from them.

Ella straightened her dress and took one step forward when a shrill whistle stilled her progress. The man on guard lifted his weapon and spread his feet. The women halted their work, and the children gathered close to the adults. Ella froze as restless energy swarmed about the people, so tangible she could nearly see it slithering among them in the form of crossed arms, ducked heads, and perked ears.

Ella pressed closer against the tree, trying for a better look while still attempting to remain hidden. Good thing she hadn’t stepped out from the trees. From the way these colored folks acted, coming up upon them unannounced could prove dangerous.

The settlement’s inhabitants moved toward the man standing guard, gathering behind him with their eyes trained on the horizon. She followed their stares and saw a team of mules appear where the land met the sky. She frowned. They were bringing a wagon through the field?

Mesmerized, Ella watched as the wagon, followed by two more, pulled closer to the cottages, the beasts straining against their load. The progress was slow, what with the wagon wheels lurching and dipping in the rutted ground as they moved across the fallow lands.

As the caravan neared, Ella could distinguish several young black men leading a string of livestock that appeared to be tied behind the farthest wagon. There were two cows, not exactly healthy-looking, but certainly not starved, and was that…?

Ella gasped. A goat!

Could it be a female that might provide her with the milk she needed for Lee? She clutched the fabric at the front of her dress. Even if the major said she could stay, it would be prudent to make other arrangements. Train Lee to take the goat’s milk so that if for any reason she needed to leave, they would not be dependent on anyone.

The three wagons rolled to the settlement and came to a stop, their heavy loads covered with great canvases that concealed whatever lay underneath.

Now what could they possibly have….

“Miss Ella!”

Ella yelped and stumbled backward, tripping on a root and landing on her backside. She looked up to find Basil wringing her hands.

“What is you doin’ here?” Basil whispered, her eyes darting back to the quarters behind Ella.

“I was looking for you.” Ella climbed to her feet and brushed leaves from her skirt.

Basil grabbed her wrist and started to tug. “You gots to go, Miss Ella.”

Ella planted her feet. “I will not.”

“Miss Ella,” Basil’s eyes grew round, “did any of ’em see you?”

“Why, no, I was just watching…”

Basil tugged harder. “Then you gots to come wit me. Now!”

Ella relented, but only because the fear in the girl’s voice made her wonder if the child would face some kind of punishment if Ella were discovered. She allowed Basil to tug her through the trees and back across the dead cotton field to the creek.

“Basil, are you going to tell me what’s going on?”

Basil allowed Ella to pull free from her grasp. She studied the mud on the toe of her shoe.

“Basil?”

The girl sucked air. “Miss Ella, you don’t know nothin’ about how dangerous it be.”

Ella lifted her eyebrows. “I happen to be quite aware of how society has crumbled and men now run amuck as lawless bandits.”

Basil watched Ella, her dark eyes seeming far too old to be set in such a young face. “Don’t mean them deserters.”

Ella crossed her arms. “I’ll have you know that Major Remington has invited me to stay at Belmont.” Though they had not openly discussed it, Ella knew what had transpired in her room the night of the storm had been real. “Now, I want to know what is going on.”

Basil fidgeted. “Ain’t for me to say.”

“Very well.” She hoisted her skirts and leapt across the creek much more gracefully than her first attempt. She turned just in time to see Basil’s surprise before jutting her chin at the girl and stalking toward the house. As she suspected, Basil was soon on her heels.

“Now don’t go gettin’ sore at me, Miss Ella. Ain’t my fault.”

“Of course not. You’re only a child.”

Basil’s face clouded.

Ella knew she’d prodded the girl unfairly, but kept her features passive. “But since Sibby has sent for you, then you can explain to her what’s going on.”

“That don’t make no sense,” Basil groused. “She already know.”

Ella’s lips turned up. “Precisely as I thought. And as soon as I take you back into the house, then both of you can tell me what’s happening.”

Basil quickened her steps and came in front of Ella. “No ma’am. That ain’t—”

Ella stepped around her, undeterred. “Then perhaps we shall wait for the major to return.”

Basil gulped.

“I’m certain he will wish to know if anything out of sorts is happening on his lands, don’t you think?”

Basil made some funny noises and Ella kept going until she reached the back door and wrenched it open.