The squirrels were reduced to a stack of bones on the rough table, and James felt fuller than he had been since he had stopped at the Caldwell house. The two men leaned back in a pair of crude chairs. Shipman lighted up a long, black cheroot. James eyed him with curiosity.

“Shipman, you said yourself you don’t especially like me. You could get somebody else to help you. Why’d you ask me?”

Shipman took his time, and when he spoke it was not a direct answer. “How’s that good-lookin’ sister of yours?”

James decided that was direct enough.

XII

ANNIE’S HEART was in her throat as she watched James swim the bay horse slowly across the river while the soldiers fired at him from a rapidly decreasing range. She was encouraged to see him leave the water and set the horse into a hard run toward the timber while the soldiers struggled with the swim. By the time the troops reached the north side, James had put a considerable distance behind him. She turned and grabbed Isaac Blackwood by both arms, thinking he was Andrew.

“I believe he’ll make it! I believe he’ll make it!”

Isaac smiled thinly through his surprise. “I do hope you’re right, ma’am.”

Annie’s face flushed hot as she realized the mistake she had made in the moment of excitement. “I’m sorry,” she said quickly. “I was so relieved I didn’t know what I was doin’.”

Michael’s grim expression dashed her sudden exuberance. She knew he was remembering another time, other soldiers, and a race that had ended in the murder of their father. Michael said, “I don’t count him free till I know he’s in Louisiana.”

Andrew pointed out. “He’s got a good lead on them, looks to me like.”

Michael grimaced. “It’s a long ways to the Sabine.” He turned toward his horse, then thought better of it and came back. “If they don’t catch him, they’re liable to come here huntin’ for somebody to take it out on. I reckon I’ll stay a while.”

Isaac said, “I’m in no hurry to go home, either.”

Michael gave him a curious glance. “It ain’t none of your fight, Isaac. He’s our brother, not yours.”

“There’s times us Tennessee folks have got to stick together.”

Annie felt her face warm again as Isaac’s gaze momentarily touched her. She knew Isaac was not staying out of concern for Michael or Andrew. She said, “Your brothers may be wonderin’ where you are.”

“They’d be just as happy if I never came back.”

Annie could not quite understand that, for she had known only the eternal closeness that existed among members of the Lewis family. True, she sometimes spoke sharply to James, but it was out of a wish to point him in better directions. It was out of love. Love must be a stranger in the Blackwood family, she thought, feeling sorry for Isaac. She sought out Petra with her gaze. “We’d best be fixin’ some supper, don’t you think?