Page from a Tennessee Journal (AmazonEncore Edition)

to fall off the tongue of humankind in the history of the world.
    Only the sudden knock on the porch door at ten o’clock in the morning stopped her body from sliding from the kitchen chair to the floor.
    “Mornin’.” Ben Roy stepped through the back door. Eula barely noticed her brother.
    “Mmm.” Alex’s curt response glanced off her ears without leaving a dent.
    She paid no mind when Ben Roy walked right past her husband and stared at the black cast-iron skillet she had set out last night. Only the rustle of a go-to-town skirt hovering near her told her that Fedora must have followed Ben Roy through the open door. Why these two were paying the McNaughtons a morning visit took second place to Eula trying to stop her kitchen from spinning. She put a hand to her head and leaned heavily on the table. She felt Fedora lay a hand on her shoulder. She had no strength left to even wonder at the why of it from a sister-in-law who had never expressed any fondness for her.
    “Took Fedora over to Bobby Lee’s this mornin’.” Ben Roy kept staring at her skillet.
    She thought she had cleaned it good last night, but for the first time in her life, she didn’t care. Fedora’s hand dug into her shoulder. Even though she sensed anger coming out of Alex, she didn’t have the will to look at him.
    “Uh huh.” There was an unmistakable eagerness in Alex’s voice to get his brother-in-law out of the house.
    Ben Roy still stared at her skillet like it might throw itself off the stove if he didn’t keep a close eye on it.
    “Talked to Bobby Lee this mornin’.” Ben Roy kept his eyes gripped on the skillet.
    “What can I help you with, Ben Roy?” Alex sounded impatient.
    Ben Roy turned halfway around to face her husband.
    “Bobby Lee knows of some niggers that can help you out.”
    Fedora’s fingers dug deep into Eula’s arm. She lifted her head toward the two men standing on her kitchen floor.
    “I already got enough hired hands to work my acres.” Now Alex sounded annoyed as well as impatient.
    “You gonna need mo’ help on the mid-forty.” Ben Roy puffed out his cheeks.
    “Don’t you worry none, the mid-forty will be all right.” Alex stared down Ben Roy.
    Fedora’s fingers dug in so hard that Eula squirmed away from the pain.
    “Bobby Lee was up in Clarksville way early this mornin’. He saw that nigger, John Welles, pull out on the eight ten train.” Ben Roy slipped a hand into a pant pocket.
    “What?” Alex drew the word out long, but at its end, Eula was sure she heard pleasure and relief.
    Ben Roy gave a fast and strong shake of his head after shooting a quick glance toward Eula.
    “Welles is gone? He left town?” A smile started across her husband’s face.
    “Took the whole damn family with him.”
    “What?” Alex shook his head, his eyes blazing. “What you say?”
    “Even his wife.” Fedora aimed each word at Alex.
    “Took every damn one of ’em.” Ben Roy spat out an imaginary stream of tobacco juice on her kitchen floor. “Took his fo’ kids and even that old woman—Rebecca.”
    Eula’s eyes moved to Alex. Nothing on her husband moved. Even his eyes had gone numb.
    “Nigger must have stole him some money ’cause he bought one-way tickets fo’ all eight of ’em,” Ben Roy added.
    “Eight of them,” Fedora repeated.
    “Welles, his fo’ kids, Becky, the woman, and…” Ben Roy stopped.
    “Bobby Lee’s wife said the woman just had a baby two days ago. Colored,” Fedora clucked. “Don’t even allow their women proper lyin’ in time, but then, I don’t reckon a colored woman needs much of that anyway. Birthin’ comes easy to them.”
    Ben Roy turned toward Eula. “I reckon Welles wanted to get his woman and the new baby away from that man who was botherin’ her…that hired hand from last harvest. What was his name, Fedora?” Ben Roy kept his eyes on Alex.
    “Harris somethin’ or other.” Fedora’s hand stroked Eula’s shoulder.
    Eula stared at the floor and wondered why it was fast rising to meet her face. Ben Roy’s arms wrapped around her. Her brother sat her back on the chair. Fedora laid a wet cloth across her forehead.
    “It’s a damn lie.” Alex exploded across the kitchen.
    Eula’s closed eyes flew open as the tornado that was her husband brushed roughly past Ben Roy and stormed onto the porch. Through the open door, she heard kettles, supply barrels, water pails, metal-tipped leather straps, and nails, all crashing and clanging