“Have I ever tried to do so?” Edna replied in wounded astonishment. “I, my son? Why, I would sooner walk out of this house and live the rest of my days, which cannot be many, in one of the darky cabins than to interfere with any personal arrangement you wish to make. If you were to find a suitable woman and decide to marry again, I’m sure I should make no objection.” She sighed heavily. “I cannot live forever, and I understand that you will want someone to keep you comfortable. Of course, Doreen as yet shows no sign of marrying—and may not; and Rachel will soon be here as bride. I cannot imagine a finer future mistress of Oaks than Rachel Kendrick when she is Rachel Davis.”

“I have no plans to remarry,” Bruce said stiffly.

“Well, you must suit yourself as to that, as I have made clear.”

Bruce pushed his chair back from the table and stood. “They’re picking scatter-cotton in the high west field. They hate doing it, so I have to keep them at it.”

She nodded and pushed her own chair away from the table. “And I must help Doreen. We’re working in Bonard’s old room and intend to have everything fresh and new as a surprise when it becomes the bridal chamber.”

And so, although she was unaware of it, Lauretta’s hope of being mistress of Oaks was to grow no wings.

12

The following day, an hour after Floyd had ridden back from town bringing with him the day’s mail, having waited for it to be sorted at the post office when the train from Savannah had come and gone, Rachel rode forth from Beulah Land as fast as she could to Oaks. Arriving there, she stopped her horse and flew from his back as easily as a bird, ran up the steps and into the house calling, “Adam! Adam, you cannot go! Where are you?”

Doreen ran down the stairs and into the hall from what had been Bonard’s room, where she had been working with her grandmother. Edna, made curious by the clamorous arrival, followed Doreen more slowly down the stairs to learn what was the matter.

“It is this letter!” Rachel exclaimed, holding a page in one hand as evidence of what she spoke. “It tells of the fever in Savannah!”

“I’ll find Adam,” Doreen said as Edna arrived. Edna led Rachel into the small visiting parlor off the larger drawing room. “Calm yourself, my dear child. Whatever is wrong may always be set right again. Agitation only burns itself up and leaves a hard cinder. What is this letter, and who is it from?”