Several times he had seen Annie watching them. She might have heard what they were saying if she had made an effort, which Tommy now thought she had.
âTell what?â Tommy asked, trying to sound innocent.
âYou know.â Annie looked back at the church as if the building itself were guilty.
Tommy looked too, half expecting to see the devil standing at the door.
âAnnie, there is nothing to tell.â Tommy was sure he sounded guilty.
âTommy, we are at war, and we cannot have Yankees parading around as Confederates. If you donât tell, I will.â
Her words hit like a hammer. She whirled around and started up the steps.
âAnnie, wait. I have a deal for you.â
She stopped. âWhat kind of deal?â
Tommy thought quick. âA good deal.â
âWhat kind of good deal?â
Tommy was silent.
âTommy, you donât have a deal. You are just stalling for time.â
âMaybe I am, and maybe Iâm not. Maybe I have a really good deal, and you donât know it.â
âAll right. Iâll give you till tonight. And the deal better be good, or Iâm telling.â She marched up the steps and into the house.
Samson had found a bone and was working on it by the steps. Tommy sat down beside him.
âSamson, weâre in trouble. We have to come up with something to keep Annie quiet. And on top of that, Iâm not even sure we should help Red.â
Samson abandoned his bone and gave Tommy his full attention.
âRemember when the war started? Everyone said how bad the Yankees were.â
Samson stared at Tommy.
âI thought Yankees were bad, too. Maybe some are bad, but I donât think Red is. All he wants is freedom for people like Henry. And to tell the truth, I like the idea of Henry being free.â
Samson gave his bone a sideways glance.
âIf I were Henry, Iâd want to be free,â Tommy said.
He picked up the bone and handed it to Samson, who anchored it between his paws and began working on it with his back teeth.
âIf we donât help Red, he might go to prison. But helping wouldnât be easy. And itâs against the law, so Iâm not even sure we should.â
Samson paused from his work on the bone.
âWhatever we do, Samson, we need to keep Annie quiet. And I think you just might be the answer.â
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Annie sat on the sofa fluffing out her dress, like she was the queen and Tommy was her subject.
âPleeeease donât tell,â Tommy pleaded.
âTommy, you heard Father last night. We are on the verge of losing the war.â
âOne Yankee is not going to matter,â Tommy said.
âIâm not so sure about that.â
Samson came in. Sensing the importance of the conversation, he sat erect between the adversaries and followed the conversation with his head.
âJust promise you wonât tell, at least until tomorrow.â
Annie refluffed her dress. âI cannot make such a promise.â
Tommy said, âYes, you can. Open your mouth and say, âI proâââ
âTommy, stop it. You said you had a good deal. Now, letâs hear it.â
âIâll let Samson sleep in your bed,â Tommy said.
Annie stopped fluffing. âFor how many nights?â
âOne week.â
âA week? Hmm.â
âAnnie, Red has a two-year-old little boy, and he hasnât seen him in a year.â
Annieâs brow wrinkled.
Mrs. McKnight came in. âIâm sorry to be late. More refugees came in today. And as if that werenât enough, I was on the other side of the tracks and had to wait for a train to pass.â She removed her bonnet. âYour father has a meeting tonight, so he will not be here for reading. Annie, I believe it is your turn.â
âI donât feel like reading,â Annie said, giving Tommy a sideways glance.
âYou love to read,â Mrs. McKnight said. She eyed her children.