It was hard to believe that Thomas had been gone for close to a year. Thankfully, when he left, the crops had been planted and the rains had come. In July, she and her small children harvested the vegetables and wheat. Thomas had also planted tobacco for Mary to sell. She hated harvesting the sticky leaves, but knew that if it was a good crop, it would provide her with money she desperately needed. So, under the scorching August sun, she and her small children left their beds as the sun was rising and made their way out into the fields.
The days were exhausting, but even so, Mary knew she had to do what was needed to keep her children fed and cared for. There were so many dangers that lurked around every corner. The one that frightened her the most was the possibility of a wandering soldier finding his way to her cabin. Thomas had taught her to use a gun and she had practiced killing a squirrel or rabbit for dinner, but she had never had to aim her gun at a man.
Thankfully, she had a neighbor by the name of Washington Duke who was less than a mile away. He had lost his wife in 1858 and was raising his children with the help of his wife’s sisters. Washington had made it a point to check on Mary when he could or send over his teenage son, Brodie to see if there was anything he could help her with.
Brodie was fifteen and tall for his age. One day in October of 1862, he had ridden a horse over to check on Mary when through the woods, a soldier walked up. Brodie was fixing a fence when the stranger approached. When Mary spotted the man, she called for the children to go inside and close the door. Brodie heard Mary and walked over to the cabin where Mary stood on the front porch with a hoe in her hand.
“Mam, I’m sorry to bother you, but I’ve been walking a long way and was hoping to find a little bit of food and a place to lie down.”
Mary wasn’t sure what to think about the man. Her instincts told her to be cautious, but she also knew that Thomas could very likely find his way up to a cabin and ask for help. What if this was someone’s husband, wanting him back home. Mary called out. “What’s your name?”
“Joseph. Joseph Miller.”
Mary stood up straight, giving off the impression of authority. “Where are you headed?”
“Greensboro.”
“Where did you come from?”
The man took a step forward. “You sure do ask a lot of questions.”
Brodie stepped closer to Mary, holding a rifle. “I suggest you keep on moving.”
“All I want is a little food.”
Mary thought a moment before speaking. “I’ll give you some vegetables and a piece of meat and then I want you to head out.”
“I guess that’ll do.”
Mary walked inside, retrieved the food and came back outside. Brodie was still standing on the porch staring down at the man. “Hand me the food, Mrs. Jones, I’ll give him the food.”
Mary handed the food to Brodie and then took her stance on the porch. The teenage boy walked toward the man and delivered the food. “Now, I want you to leave.”
“And what if I don’t.”
“Brodie took his rifle and pointed it at the man. “All I have to do is shoot this gun in the air, and my kin will come from all over. Now I suggest you get on down the road and don’t think about returning.”
“Okay. I don’t want any trouble.”
Brodie didn’t move. After a moment, the man walked back through the woods in the direction he had come. Mary’s shoulders sagged with relief.
“Mrs. Jones, I’ll be glad to stay in the barn tonight if you want. Pa has told me that if you need anything, that I’m to help you.”
“If you would stay for a couple of hours, I think I’ll be okay.”
“Are you sure?”
Mary shook her head. “Why don’t you let me fix you something to eat and we can make sure that man is gone?”
After several hours, Mary felt safe again. “Brodie, you can go home now if you like.”
“Are you sure? I’ll be glad to sleep in the barn. You never know about these men.”
“All I can think about is Thomas. What if he’s out there trying to get home?”
“I don’t know. All I know is that I’m glad I’m too young to enlist and Pa is too old.”
“Well, if you don’t mind. I’d greatly appreciate it if you do stay in the barn and keep an eye out.”
Mary barely slept a wink that night. All she could think about was if the man returned and tried to have his way with her. Toward dawn, Mary finally fell into a deep sleep, only to be awakened by an earth curling scream.
“And what if I don’t.”
“Brodie took his rifle and pointed it at the man. “All I have to do is shoot this gun in the air, and my kin will come from all over. Now I suggest you get on down the road and don’t think about returning.”
“Okay. I don’t want any trouble.”
Brodie didn’t move. After a moment, the man walked back through the woods in the direction he had come. Mary’s shoulders sagged with relief.
“Mrs. Jones, I’ll be glad to stay in the barn tonight if you want. Pa has told me that if you need anything, that I’m to help you.”
“If you would stay for a couple of hours, I think I’ll be okay.”
“Are you sure?”
Mary shook her head. “Why don’t you let me fix you something to eat and we can make sure that man is gone?”
After several hours, Mary felt safe again. “Brodie, you can go home now if you like.”
“Are you sure? I’ll be glad to sleep in the barn. You never know about these men.”
“All I can think about is Thomas. What if he’s out there trying to get home?”
“I don’t know. All I know is that I’m glad I’m too young to enlist and Pa is too old.”
“Well, if you don’t mind. I’d greatly appreciate it if you do stay in the barn and keep an eye out.”
Mary barely slept a wink all night. All she could think about was the man lurking in the woods, only feet from her house. Toward dawn, Mary finally fell into a deep sleep, only to be awakened by an earth curling scream.
