Cottonwood Whispers

by Jennifer Erin Valent

  “Dogs!” we whispered to each other.

  The flurry of activity that followed was a blur. We gathered up Mr. Poe, bleary-eyed as he was. Gemma was alert in a flash, and she immediately started gathering supplies the minute I told her what was happening. I helped her pack as many things as we could carry, and we met Luke and Mr. Poe at the door.

  Luke’s pistol was very evidently sitting at his waistband, and I worried he might have cause to use it. He caught my gaze and held it for a moment, a look that told me just how serious our situation was.

  “Sounds like a lot of them,” I murmured to him.

  “We should head for Rocky Creek,” he said. “They’ll have a hard time trackin’ if we cross it.”

  “If it’s been rainin’ this hard up the hill, that creek’ll be flooded by now. It’s always spillin’ over.”

  Gemma came up behind us and hung a bag of supplies on my arm. “We’ll just have to hope it ain’t.”

  Luke turned to help Mr. Poe down the steps, and I reached out to grab Gemma’s hand for support.

  And then we set off into the mud.

  After half an hour, we had walked only half of the distance we might have covered in better conditions, and we were all worn thin.

  In the distance, the howling kept pace with us, and I was beginning to feel hunted like a mangy fox. I sidled up next to Luke and tugged at his shirt to get his attention. “They’re gettin’ closer. I don’t think Mr. Poe can make it fast enough.”

  The uncertainty on Luke’s face said everything I was thinking, and it made me shiver inside even more knowing he had as little hope as I did. We continued on wordlessly, with Gemma in the lead, and as we went, I prayed as many things as I could think of to pray.

  The dogs were so loud, I wondered if God could even hear my whispered prayers, and the gray skies were nothing but dampers to our spirits. With the eerie cries of the dogs in the distance, fear seemed to be chasing us right along with the posse behind us. And both were gaining on us.

  Another half hour went by and we were managing less and less distance on our wobbly, worn-out legs. The howls were echoing behind us now, and Luke was fairly dragging Mr. Poe along as he had lost strength altogether.

  I was losing any faith in prayer, and the words that I sent heavenward were expressing more and more doubt that He was even listening.

  By the time the dogs were within seeing distance, we had reached the creek, and the rumble we heard through the trees told us it had flooded as I’d feared.

  “Creek’s up, all right,” I called to Luke.

  Luke pulled up short of where the water roiled below us and let Mr. Poe lean against him. He turned to gaze behind us, fatigue written all over his face. But there was determination there too, and he shielded Mr. Poe’s body as though he could keep anyone from touching him. And that’s what Gemma and I did as well.

  We all knew we were only minutes from being discovered, and there simply was nowhere to go. If we’d only been able to cross the creek, we were just minutes from our farm, and I was sick at heart to be so close to home but so far from the security it offered.

  I crept as close to Mr. Poe as I could and said, “I’m sorry, Mr. Poe. We ain’t caused you nothin’ but trouble.”

  With an energy that belied his age and situation, he stood up tall and put one shaking hand under my chin. “Miss Jessie, ain’t nuthin’ you done fer me but help and care. Ain’t nuthin’ anyone’s done that God ain’t in control over, neither.”

  “But I’ve been prayin’, Mr. Poe. I’ve been prayin’ and them dogs are still on our heels, and them men still want you to pay for somethin’ you ain’t done. I tried to help, but God ain’t hearin’ me. I don’t think He cares much.”

  “Oh, He cares, Miss Jessie. It’s jes’ sometimes His plans’r plans only He understands. That’s sure ’nough.”

  “But that ain’t fair!”

  “Aw, Miss Jessie,” he said with a shake of his head. “But He’s God.”

  For the first time in my life I saw a completely coherent Mr. Poe. There was no dreaminess about him, no rambling speech. He was more focused and in control now than any man with all his wits about him, and I couldn’t stop the tears that spilled down my cheeks.

  And as we stood there in a circle around Mr. Poe, the only blockade to the dogs and angry men that were fast gaining on us, Mr. Poe was the one who stood strong among us.

  He swiped two thumbs across my cheeks, wiping at the tears. “Don’t you cry, Miss Jessie. Muh God’s got a place for me.”

  I stared into his eyes and saw nothing but peace. Luke looked at us both and put one strong hand on Mr. Poe’s shoulder and one on my arm. The two of us exchanged a desperate glance.

  And then they were upon us.

  Gemma had her arms spread out in front of our group like a shield, and all I could hear was my heartbeat. The dogs seemed to bark soundlessly in slow motion, and I watched as we were circled by men with shotguns at the ready. I was filled with indescribable hatred as Joel Hadley made his way to the front of the pack, a rope coiled around his shoulder.

  Instinctively I jumped in front of Gemma so Joel couldn’t lay one of his filthy hands on her, but he didn’t care much who he manhandled. The fact of the matter was, his life was on the line if the truth ever came out, and the fear of that happening was written on his face, coloring it with determination.

  “Best get out of my way, Jessie,” he growled. “I ain’t got me a lot of patience today, and I’ve had a hankerin’ to teach you a lesson a long time now.”

  Luke catapulted forward and dragged me behind him, every muscle in his torso tensed for a fight. “Get on outta here, Hadley,” he said through clenched teeth. “None of this is your say.”

  Joel’s smirk spoke a million words, and all I wanted to do was slap it off, but Luke’s hold on me wouldn’t let me budge. I could only stand on my toes to peer over his shoulder.

  “Way you’re holdin’ that girl makes me think things ain’t as innocent as you pretend they are,” Joel said loudly enough so the crowd could hear. “Her daddy know what’s goin’ on between you two when he ain’t around?”

  I could have sworn Joel was begging for some broken bones, and I lowered down onto flat feet just in time for Luke to leave me behind and plant his fist in Joel’s jaw. When Joel steadied himself, there was enough blood dripping down his chin that I wondered if he’d bitten his tongue off.

  “He broke my jaw!” he yelled incredulously, blood spitting out with every painful syllable.

  I was surprised by his shock since he’d deliberately egged Luke on, but I was more surprised by the gunshot that brought all of us to attention.

  Sheriff Clancy stood there at the back of the crowd, pistol in the air. Next to him was my daddy, and for the first time in my life I wished he weren’t there. Angry men with guns didn’t add up to much good most times, and I had enough worry about Mr. Poe, Luke, and Gemma. I didn’t want to worry about my daddy too.

  “You all right, Jessilyn?” he called out in a voice that mixed rage and fear together.

  “Yes’r,” I called back. “Just now, anyways.”

  “Gemma, Luke?”

  “Yes’r,” they hollered back.

  Sheriff Clancy took one almost-imperceptible step forward. “All you boys are in danger of breakin’ the law, here,” he called out in a tone that bordered on laziness. His expression was far from lazy, though; I could see he was trying to play down just how dangerous the situation was. Even with the help he’d called in from Richmond, he and his deputies were outnumbered by a dozen. “Now, this here ain’t your job. It’s mine. I’ll just take the prisoner back into custody, and things’ll all get worked out. You boys can get on your way now I’m here.”

  “Now you’re here, why don’t you do your job and arrest Talley?” Joel said, his words jumbled by his already-swollen jaw. “He broke my jaw!”

  The sheriff made his way to the front, his pistol still at the ready. “You got proof he did it?” />
  “’Course I got proof,” Joel argued. “Got seventeen witnesses!”

  Sheriff Clancy let his eyes roam over the vigilantes. “Well now, all I see is a posse. Since they’s likely breakin’ the law somehow, I reckon they ain’t such fine witnesses.” The sheriff was clearly willing to ignore the red knuckles Luke was flexing repeatedly, and the look he flashed me promised an ally in a place I had never expected to find one.

  But we were still overwhelmed in number and passion, encircled as we were by such angry men, and I took a handful of Luke’s shirt for support. The creek behind us continued to roar, but there was a moment of silence amid our weary group. We were pensive, all of us with eyes that roamed about trying to determine who would make the first move.

  It was Nate Colby who made it, and my heart withered at the sight of him, his whole body wrapped up in hate. His rifle stuck out like an extension of his arm and pointed straight at Luke, who still stood guard in front of me, Gemma, and Mr. Poe. His movements were mirrored by the men behind him, and I clung to Luke with both hands, so fearful for his life I couldn’t breathe.

  Sheriff Clancy lowered his gun to appease the men who’d trained their guns on Luke. “Nate, don’t you go doin’ somethin’ we’ll both regret. This here ain’t your fight.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong. This here’s more my fight than anyone’s.” Nate took two more steps and jabbed the barrel of his gun into Luke’s stomach. “Now get out of my way, boy. I don’t want to hurt you, but I will.”

  Joel waved a hand at two men, and they scurried over to the lawmen to remove their weapons. Luke’s gun was in his waistband, and I watched hopelessly as it was stolen away.

  Then Mr. Poe moved forward, his body weary but a lightness touching his face. Gemma reached out to stop him, but he shook his head and patted her hand gently. “It’s okay, Miss Gemma. Ah got tuh do it, is all. Don’t you worry none.”

  “Mr. Poe,” I said in what came out as a frightened wail. “No.”

  But there was nothing we could do to stop him. He turned to look at me and smiled. “A body don’t never say no tuh his God, Miss Jessie.” And then he left us and stood in front of Nate. It took only a second for Nate to switch his gun from Luke’s gut to Mr. Poe’s. I felt Luke take a long inhale, filling lungs that had been starved for air while he’d held his breath in expectation.

  Tears spilled down my cheeks, and though Luke’s limbs were shaky, he found the strength to wrap an arm around me. “They’re gonna kill him,” I cried out to Sheriff Clancy. “Do somethin’!”

  But I knew as well as anyone there was nothing we could do. We were unarmed and outmanned, and we all stood helplessly by as Joel tossed the rope to Cole Mundy and ordered him to string up Mr. Poe.

  “Can’t do it yourself, can you?” Luke spat out. “Coward!”

  “You won’t get away with this, Joel,” Sheriff Clancy yelled before someone jabbed a rifle in his gut to take his breath away. He bent over, gasping for air.

  Gemma was behind us crying out, but she wasn’t demanding justice, she was praying in a voice that shook with emotion.

  They dragged Mr. Poe to the cottonwood tree that spread out over the creek and stood him up beneath a sturdy branch. Mr. Poe had his eyes closed, a sweet smile on his face, and I couldn’t decide if I should hide my face to spare myself the memory of what was to happen or keep my eyes on Mr. Poe in honor of his courage. Luke decided for me and tucked my face into his chest. But it took only moments for me to lift my head again. Not knowing was worse than seeing it with my own eyes.

  It all seemed to come too slowly, Cole’s stubby fingers muddling through the job of tying a suitable noose. A thought rambled through my mind that a Klansman such as Cole should have been an expert at it. The men around us had their guns and eyes trained on all of us, sneaking occasional glances at Cole’s progress.

  Gemma’s prayers got louder by the second, and I hoped if God wouldn’t hear her, maybe the men would and it would prick their consciences. But there was no movement of surrender, only the painstaking inadequacy of Cole’s fingers. I could hear Luke’s breaths coming in ragged gasps, and it sparked such fear in me to know his desperation that I turned my head to dull the sound.

  Joel tired of waiting for Cole and grabbed the rope from him. “Ain’t you ever tied a knot before?”

  It was then that I caught a sudden movement by Sheriff Clancy, pulling something from beneath his pant leg.

  The sound of the shot that followed rang off the trees and echoed in my ears. Startled men ducked and threw themselves out of the way, but none of them effected the tragedy that Joel Hadley did.

  Sheriff Clancy’s aim had missed Joel but startled him, and as he toppled sideways toward the angry waters, his hands grasped for something to hold on to.

  The only thing he found was Mr. Poe.

  I watched in disbelief as the two tumbled over the side together, disappearing into the muddy rapids. My screams seemed to come out all on their own, but they mingled with the shouts from everyone else. Gemma, Luke, and I all ran to the creekside, but the foaming water looked like prisms through my tears, and I squeezed my eyes shut for a second to force them out. Luke was on his stomach in the mud, reaching over the side, and I did the same to see what he was seeing.

  There beneath us was Joel Hadley, his hand wrapped tightly around a bush that grew from the side of the bank. The water licked at his legs ferociously, and it was all he could do to hang on.

  His was the last face I’d wanted to see. I’d only wanted to see Mr. Poe, and for my thinking, Joel Hadley could be washed downstream and I wouldn’t shed a tear.

  But Gemma was crying out next to me, words that sounded more hopeful than devastated, and I peered further over to see that Mr. Poe had a desperate grip on Joel’s leg.

  Luke reached out and gripped Joel’s wrist, straining to lift his weight. I grabbed on to Luke’s waist, for all the good that would do, and hung on to him with every bit of strength I had. Gemma joined me, fairly laying her whole body across his legs.

  Daddy tried to help, but there was nothing to hold on to but Joel’s slippery, wet arm. I could tell Luke was barely able to breathe, he strained so hard to hang on.

  “I can’t get them up.”

  “Too much weight with the two of ’em,” Daddy called back.

  Gemma wriggled up beside Luke to see over the edge. “Mr. Poe!” she screamed. “Hold on!”

  The men tossed out the rope they had almost used to hang Mr. Poe in hopes that it would now save him, but it was repeatedly swept away with the current.

  Then I saw Mr. Poe’s eyes find Gemma’s, and for a few seconds, he held her gaze in a way that went far beyond any words he could ever manage to speak. Gemma stopped screaming and lay still, and then I saw her nod slowly, tears starting to stream down her face.

  They may have come to an unspoken agreement, but I hadn’t, and I threw my arms over the edge, crying out with every bit of breath I had left.

  I was only in time to watch Mr. Poe let go of Joel’s leg and slip beneath the water.

  What happened next was a blur of grief and chaos. Without the weight of Mr. Poe, Luke managed to pull Joel back to solid ground, and then his arms were around me and he was whispering to me to calm down. Gemma knelt at my feet, telling me through her tears that it would be okay.

  But Mr. Poe was gone. And Joel Hadley was still here.

  Some of the men ran downstream, calling out for Mr. Poe, but I instinctively knew as I sat there by the swollen creek that it had claimed his life. Joel sat on the ground only feet from me, and worn through as I was, I still found the strength to push Luke and Gemma away and lunge for him. He put his arms up to shield himself from the fists I threw at him, but he took everything I gave him. There was a resignation in him I hadn’t expected.

  I sat back on my heels to stare at his face. “You killed him,” I spat. “Just as much as if you’d hung him from that tree, you killed him!”

  Daddy came behind me and
wrapped me up. “That’s all, Jessie,” he murmured. “That’s all.”

  Joel’s face was blank, and he sat with his shoulders humped, shivering.

  Not one man spoke a word. No one moved except Nate Colby, who had dropped to his knees at the side of the creek. “What’d we do?” he cried out suddenly. “We killed the man.”

  I gently peeled Daddy’s arms away and stumbled over to him, kneeling beside his crumpled body. “It weren’t your fault, Nate.” I put one hand on his back awkwardly. “You’re just all beat up inside. You didn’t know what you were doin’.”

  “He was a good man,” he said, his shoulders heaving with regretful sobs.

  I looked helplessly at the sheriff, and he and his deputies came together to lift Nate to his feet.

  I sat back on my heels, and Gemma knelt beside me, taking my hand in hers. “It’s all right, Jessie,” she whispered tearfully. “Mr. Poe’s with Jesus.”

  I shook my head vehemently. “He didn’t listen, your Jesus. I prayed, and He didn’t listen.”

  “He listened, Jessie. He just didn’t want the same thing you wanted.”

  “Then what good is He? What good’s a God who don’t care about people He created?”

  “’Course He cares. It’s just He knows more’n we do. Sometimes what we want ain’t really best.”

  “So takin’ Mr. Poe away’s best?” I argued. “How’s that best for us?”

  She gave me one of those looks that said I was a selfish girl, and I steeled myself against it, determined not to let her make me feel guilty. “Maybe it’s best for Mr. Poe,” she finished.

  I gritted my teeth to keep from saying what was on my mind because I knew Daddy would hear. And I knew it would break his heart to know what I was thinking just then. Amid the sound of Nate Colby’s cries and the rushing waters that had taken Mr. Poe’s life, I sat in silence, watching the current cut new boundaries.

  Raising my eyes to the rainy heavens, I silently disavowed the God who had ignored my pleas. A clap of thunder broke the silence as though He were speaking just to me, but my ears were closed to His voice.

  Just like I figured His were to mine.