had any idea we were related. Turns out my mama used to live at Rosewood and Katieâs uncle fell in love with her during his visits there. But Katieâs father had sold my mama to another plantation without telling Templeton where sheâd goneâor that she was expecting his child. Anyway, once we knew that we were cousinsâthough it plumb caps the climax of anything weâd ever expected!âitâs made us closer than ever. Itâs made us all the more a family at Rosewood, and made my papaâs leaving again all the harder.
As the man rode up, he glanced over at me from up on his horse with a look of disdain, like I was a dog or something. He continued straight on toward the house, dismounted, threw his reins over the rail as he paused to glance around at the house and barn and grounds, then slowly climbed the steps to the porch and knocked on the door.
As I usually did when Katie had to talk to someone, I tried to stay as close as I could without arousing too much suspicion, so that I could hear what was going on. Katie often said, ââStay close to me, MaymeâI might need you.ââ She always talked like I was the brains of the partnership, but she was the mistress of Rosewood now, even though she was only sixteen, and all the rest of us knew it.
Katie came to the door, opened it, and looked out to see a man standing there she recognized. Even from where I stood I saw her eyes widen and her face go white.
ââI see you recognize me,ââ he said gruffly.
ââUh . . . yes, sir . . . hello, Uncle Burchard.ââ
ââYouâre Kathleen, I take it.ââ
ââYes, sir.ââ
ââYouâve grown some since I saw you.ââ
ââYes, sir.ââ
ââI came to see your daddy.ââ
ââHeâs not back from the war yet.ââ
ââNot backâthe warâs been over almost two years.ââ
ââYes, sir.ââ
ââI heard that your father came back and then left again to work in the North.ââ
ââOh . . . yesâuh, thatâs what I meant . . . that he wasnât back to stay. He just came for a few days before he left again.ââ
ââWhat about your brothers?ââ
ââTheyâre not back yet either.ââ
ââWhere in blazes are they?ââ
ââWe donât know, sir.ââ
ââAll right, then,ââ he said in a frustrated tone, though it seemed like what he had expected to hear all along, ââgo fetch your ma. I need to talk to her.ââ
ââSheâs not here either, Uncle Burchard.ââ
ââWhat!ââ
ââSheâs visiting a sick neighbor, sir.ââ
ââI see,ââ the man said, then paused and looked about, rubbing his chin for a moment. ââWell, tell her I called and that Iâll be back.ââ
ââDo you, uh . . . want to come in, Uncle Burchard?ââ said Katie. ââWould you like something to eat or drink?ââ
ââNo, donât bother. Just tell your ma Iâll be back to see her.ââ
ââYes, sir. When, Uncle Burchard?ââ
ââI donât know, maybe tomorrow.ââ He turned to leave.
ââAre you going home now?ââ asked Katie.
ââNo, of course notâitâs too far.ââ
ââDo you want . . . uh, to stay here, Uncle Burchard?ââ
He paused, seemingly surprised at Katieâs offer of hospitality. Not half so surprised as I was! What if he said yes!
ââNo, thatâs all right,ââ he said after a few seconds. ââThanks anyway, but Iâll make my own arrangements.ââ
He continued on down the steps to his horse, threw me
As the man rode up, he glanced over at me from up on his horse with a look of disdain, like I was a dog or something. He continued straight on toward the house, dismounted, threw his reins over the rail as he paused to glance around at the house and barn and grounds, then slowly climbed the steps to the porch and knocked on the door.
As I usually did when Katie had to talk to someone, I tried to stay as close as I could without arousing too much suspicion, so that I could hear what was going on. Katie often said, ââStay close to me, MaymeâI might need you.ââ She always talked like I was the brains of the partnership, but she was the mistress of Rosewood now, even though she was only sixteen, and all the rest of us knew it.
Katie came to the door, opened it, and looked out to see a man standing there she recognized. Even from where I stood I saw her eyes widen and her face go white.
ââI see you recognize me,ââ he said gruffly.
ââUh . . . yes, sir . . . hello, Uncle Burchard.ââ
ââYouâre Kathleen, I take it.ââ
ââYes, sir.ââ
ââYouâve grown some since I saw you.ââ
ââYes, sir.ââ
ââI came to see your daddy.ââ
ââHeâs not back from the war yet.ââ
ââNot backâthe warâs been over almost two years.ââ
ââYes, sir.ââ
ââI heard that your father came back and then left again to work in the North.ââ
ââOh . . . yesâuh, thatâs what I meant . . . that he wasnât back to stay. He just came for a few days before he left again.ââ
ââWhat about your brothers?ââ
ââTheyâre not back yet either.ââ
ââWhere in blazes are they?ââ
ââWe donât know, sir.ââ
ââAll right, then,ââ he said in a frustrated tone, though it seemed like what he had expected to hear all along, ââgo fetch your ma. I need to talk to her.ââ
ââSheâs not here either, Uncle Burchard.ââ
ââWhat!ââ
ââSheâs visiting a sick neighbor, sir.ââ
ââI see,ââ the man said, then paused and looked about, rubbing his chin for a moment. ââWell, tell her I called and that Iâll be back.ââ
ââDo you, uh . . . want to come in, Uncle Burchard?ââ said Katie. ââWould you like something to eat or drink?ââ
ââNo, donât bother. Just tell your ma Iâll be back to see her.ââ
ââYes, sir. When, Uncle Burchard?ââ
ââI donât know, maybe tomorrow.ââ He turned to leave.
ââAre you going home now?ââ asked Katie.
ââNo, of course notâitâs too far.ââ
ââDo you want . . . uh, to stay here, Uncle Burchard?ââ
He paused, seemingly surprised at Katieâs offer of hospitality. Not half so surprised as I was! What if he said yes!
ââNo, thatâs all right,ââ he said after a few seconds. ââThanks anyway, but Iâll make my own arrangements.ââ
He continued on down the steps to his horse, threw me
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