As promised, here is the first chapter of my first novel. I will not be sharing the rest of the novel on this blog. I am continuing to edit it as I look for an agent and a publisher. I hope that you enjoy the beginning and that you will want to read the rest of the book.
1867
Chapter I
Savannah heard arguing out in the
store. She sat on the edge of her chair
and cocked her head. The sounds stopped
so she returned to the account books that she kept for her father. Suddenly, she heard a loud crash and she ran
toward the sound. As she entered the
store she saw the new tool display strewn across the floor. She also saw a fearsome man dressed all in black. He had a terrible scowl on his face. She noticed that Jacob, her father’s main
shopkeeper, had turned ashen as he attempted to be heard by the man, “Sir, I
will check on your carriage. You are
right it was due in today.”
The man cursed loudly then Savannah
spoke softly, “Sir, may I be of assistance?”
The stranger stopped as he surveyed
her up and down momentarily forgetting his anger as the thought of bedding this
beautiful vision crossed his mind. “Damn
if I need help from this stupid shopkeepers whelp!” he hissed. “Get out before I turn you over my knee or
worse.”
Savannah inhaled deeply suppressing
her own anger. She paused very
calculatedly as she smiled sweetly and thought how much she hated
carpetbaggers. She then replied very
softly, “Sir, this is my father’s employee Jacob a very capable man, but if you
would like someone else to serve you perhaps I can help. I am Savannah Charleston Morris daughter of General
Beauford Morris owner of this store and the nearby plantation Golden
Light. However, if you would prefer
assistance from the owner himself you are free to ride out to see my
father. He is in the north field
checking on the cotton.”
“My apologies Miss Morris,” the
stranger replied as he bowed in a deeply exaggerated manner. “Reginald R. Ryan at your service. My apologies for the coarse language. I think I will ride out to meet your father
and share my wishes with him. I will see
you again.” At that he turned and
brusquely left the store.
The hair stood up on the back of
Savannah’s neck and she shivered.
“Oh, Miss Savannah your father is
going to be so angry,” Jacob moaned as he began righting the tool display. “Do you think he will can me? I need this job so bad.”
“Now, now Jacob you know how much my
father relies on you and needs you. I am
sure that everything will be just fine.
What a terribly disgusting man.
Papa will handle him! I’ll tell
papa what happened so you try not to worry.
But I am afraid I will not be able to put my head back on figures this
morning, so I will see you after dinner.”
Savannah left through the front door
and rounded the side of the large new frame building. The store had to be rebuilt after the war as
the old one was burned by the Yankees when they came through Charleston Bend. She untied and mounted her horse, Tessa, and
galloped faster than usual toward home.
She was trying to run the unpleasantness of the encounter out of her
mind.
Savannah rode to the back of the
plantation near the kitchen door and as she dismounted Andrew the youngest and
only surviving son of Jacob ran toward her.
“Can I brush down Tessa and feed and water her Miss Savannah?” he asked.
“May I,” Savannah reminded him, “and
yes you may. Thank you Andrew. Then wash up for dinner. April probably has it about ready.” Savannah liked that since the war dinner was
served informally in the kitchen where the slaves used to take their
meals. Now, with just family and a few
paid staff things were very different. With so many dead all the survivors kind
of clung together and made up a whole new family doing things like eating
together without regard to former stations.
Not all people did this but she was glad that her family did. She was also conscious that Golden Light had
only survived because the Yankees had used it as a field hospital and for
general quarters.
“Oh no, Miss Savannah won’t be no
eatin’ in the kitchen this day. You got
big company and April is fit to be tied!
I’ll be eatin’ in the kitchen, but not you! Real big doin’s an’ goin’s ons roun’ here
today,” Andrew informed Savannah.
Savannah was so startled that she
didn’t think to correct Andrew’s grammar.
Instead, she hurried into the kitchen.
“Savannah, thank goodness you came
in early today. Your mama wants to see
you upstairs right away,” April informed her as she was scurrying around the
kitchen. “Quick, go now.”
Savannah ran to the back stairs
yelling as she ran up them, “Mama what’s wrong?”
“Girl,” her mama said, “must you act
like a wild uncouth roughneck? Remember
yourself. You are a southern lady.”
“Oh, Mama, those days are long
gone,” Savannah replied.
“They are not for you,” her mother
sternly replied.
“Mama, what is going on? What is the matter?”
Rhonda Morris didn’t answer but
lowered her head. Then, being a true southern
lady, she quickly composed herself and replied, “Savannah honey, go to your
room. Myrtle is in there and she will
help you bathe and dress for dinner.”
“What? Help me bathe and dress for dinner? Mama you act like it is 1860. No one helps me bathe and dress for
dinner. We don’t bathe and dress for
dinner anymore. Sometimes we dress for
supper, but now we all have to work!
There was a terrible disruption at the store this morning and I am way
behind in my work. I want to get a quick
bite then go back to the store.”
“Savannah, please do as you are told
and as quickly as possible. We are
having important company for dinner.” Rhonda
momentarily suppressed a sob, “Your father has an important announcement to
make.” A large tear rolled down her
cheek.
“Mama, what’s wrong? You are scaring me.”
“Honey, just please go do as I
ask. I have to get ready too.”
Savannah went to her room and was
surprised to see every female on the place there fixing her a full bath and
fussing about every detail of all of her best clothes. Wordlessly they all assisted her and she
complied.
©Patty F. Cooper, Elizabethton, Tennessee July 11th, 22014
All Rights Reserved
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