I listened anxiously to the weather report on TV. A major snowstorm was forecast for all of Kentucky with accumulations up to a foot for Lexington and the surrounding central Kentucky area overnight. I paced back and forth waiting by the phone; Hank had gone missing and we’d been searching all day without any luck. Suzanne and Hank got into an argument Monday night after Thanksgiving. The school had called Suzanne about Hank’s skipping classes and she confronted him. He was crying and very upset that night and said he was going to quit. Suzanne told him that he couldn’t drop out because he was too young and she was responsible for making sure he went to school.

Suzanne and Ben drove to the police station in Carlisle. Mrs Watts asked if she could help and volunteered to come over and stay with Bella. We ran out of clues. His bicycle was still in the shed. We checked all the buildings and called the neighbors, but no one had seen him. Sam went along with Arnie checking the neighboring farms. I looked over at Bella who was sitting on the couch with Ethel.

“Bella, do you know if Hank has any friends at school?”

She looked at me and said, “Hank never had any friends at school. Nobody likes him. He told me he hates school.”

I looked out the window again. “Damn, this snow storm is getting worse. If he’s out in this weather, he could freeze to death,” I said.

Then Bella whispered something to Ethel.

“What did you say ,sweetie?” said Ethel.

“Maybe he went with that boy.”

“What boy are you talking about, Bella?” I asked.

“He made me promise not to tell.”  

We both looked at Bella. “Bella, if you know something you must tell us sweetheart. It is very important,” I said.

“This fall, when me, Mom, and Hank were out picking blackberries around the farm, I followed Hank down the fence row just past the little stream next to the woods. I saw him talking to some strange boy on the other side of the fence. I asked him who was the boy he was talking to, and he made me promise not to tell anybody.”

Ethel put her hands to her chest and looked pale, “Oh my God! The woods!”

Her words made me feel ill. I ran and grabbed my jacket. I hurriedly tugged on my boots that sat beside the front door in puddles of melted snow. “You two stay put. Try to call Suzanne. If you get in touch with her, tell her to get back here fast.

I could hear Ethel saying, “Oh dear Lord I hope Hank’s not in the woods.”

I burst out the front door with Buddy running ahead of me all excited. The wind was slicing through my hair and my ears felt the biting cold. The legend that Ethel told of the phantom boy luring the neighbor boy into the woods came back again to torment me. I felt a bit queasy and a knot formed in the pit of my stomach.

I crossed the length of the snowy field past the barn. Large flakes of snow silently fell from the sky and were starting to accumulate. The snow was up to my ankles. I stood facing the woods that lay just beyond the fence. I had not ventured to go back since my frightening encounter last March, but I tried to push those thoughts from my head, and kept moving forwards. I climbed over the barbed wire on top of the fence as Buddy crawled through the gap between the wire and the ground. Even though the trees were bare of leaves, there was still a thick undergrowth. A few feet into the woods, past the tree line, I crossed the small stream.  On the other side, the trail continued up a hillside. The wind picked up and the snow got deeper and deeper. The woods felt desolate and lonely. I had second thoughts. Surely the kid would not be hanging out here on such a snowy day.

Buddy ran ahead leaping, trying to keep his head above the gathering snowfall. It was hard to walk through the woods when the snow obscured the trail. Everything darkened from white to blue-grey. The trees were covered in snow even the tiniest of branches were grabbing the big flakes. It was a wet, heavy snow, making my jacket wet as well as my pant legs. I worked up a sweat, but the weatherman had warned that the temperature was expected to drop twenty degrees or more during the night after the main front pushed through.

Buddy ran back to me shaking the snow off his back and looking at me as if he were asking for directions.

“Go find Hank! Go find him, boy!”

Buddy darted off again always looking back. It seemed that Buddy had no idea where Hank was either. I was not familiar with this part of my property. Walking was difficult because of the briars and thick underbrush, but there appeared to be a slight trail made perhaps by a deer. Buddy easily shot through the trail, but I had to tramp back the thorny briars that grabbed my clothes. I tripped and fell as I reached an opening in the thicket. It widened into a more manageable trail. Buddy ran, then stopped suddenly and his ears shot up. He froze in his tracks staring intently at something up the trail. I came around the turn to see what buddy was staring at. 

Lying face down in the snow just off the trail appeared to be a body of a man or boy quickly becoming covered in snow. He was not moving. My stomach felt queasy. I started to panic and felt moments of despair.  Was I too late? Buddy growled at something moving, but then I saw it too. There was something else there, crouching like a scared and hungry beast. Its eyes deep set in its skull and it’s arms wrapped around the body lying prostrate upon the snow. It appeared somewhat human, but it blended too well into the background like a blur. It moved slowly rubbing it’s bony fingers together. Its wide eyes gazed at me and it seemed not sure if it wanted to pounce at me or flee into the dark undergrowth. I was afraid to move forward, so I lightly called out to Him.

“Hank, Hank can you hear me?”

The human figure clutched tighter to the unmoving body. I walked closer and Buddy started a low growl, but backed away as if he were expecting it to attack. My heart was beating a mile a minute. I was afraid, yet I needed to help Hank. “Hank! Hank!!” I yelled at the top of my lungs and the creature hissed like a cornered cat.

All of a sudden Buddy burst into wild hysterical barking, growling and snarling. I’d never seen him act like this before. His eyes became wild and his teeth were bared. He glared at me and shook his head flinging snot from his nose as if he were mad. He focused on me again and growled.

“Buddy what’s wrong?”

Suddenly Buddy sprang through the snow snarling and running straight towards me. I reached up with both hands grabbing the scruff of his neck to keep him from biting my face. There was rage in his eyes. His teeth snapped at the air just inches from my face. He tried to bite at my hands and almost got my wrist. “Stop it! Stop it, Buddy!” I screamed. I was desperate. I didn’t want to hurt Buddy, but also I didn’t want him to bite me. Buddy jerked and pulled to the left and right trying to shake me off of him, but I held on. Then my left hand slipped loose and Buddy latched on to my right forearm. In that moment of pain, I felt time slow down like it did before I started taking my meds. It was happening again as the blackout was coming and time was slowing down almost painfully. I wanted to move away, but it felt as if I were trying to move through air as thick as peanut butter. As this was happening, I noticed a light glowing from the strange symbol that was branded into my left palm. I reached out and placed my palm across Buddy’s eyes and his jaw dropped, releasing his bite. In slow motion, I rolled to face the creature, who at this point had moved away from the body. Just as it was about to flee into the woods, the light shot out and froze the creature dead in its tracks, like a deer caught in the headlight. Everything now was frozen still. The snow, my breath, Buddy, the creature all hung motionless like a snapshot and then… the world faded to grey and soon darkness.

                     Thursday May 4, 1865

As I woke up, my mind felt groggy. Had I just dreamed? I vaguely remember being in some deep woods during a blinding snow and being attacked by a werewolf. I lay on my bed clutching at my down pillow. The bright sun started to pour through my window. The rooster crowed, but I just stretched and yawned wide. It felt so good to just lie there in my cozy bed beneath sheets that felt cool and slick against my feet. The dream seemed so important, but it was escaping me until I barely recall it. There was a knock at my door and then I heard my mom calling out to me.

“Jacob, Jacob, don’t you think its ‘bout time you got yourself up ’n ready ta go? You been talkin’ ‘bout goin’ tuh town all week. Your Grand daddy aint gonna wait all day on ya.”

“I’m gettin’ up right now. Christ!” I said pulling up the covers.

Ma walked in the door wagging her index finger. “I don’t want ya takin’ da Lord’s name in vain in dis house. Your Pa would take da razor strop to yah if’n he heard what yah just said.”

“I’m sorry, Ma.”

“ I know y’ar honey. It’s hard not havin’ your poppa here.”

“Yah think he’s ever comin’ back?”

“Don’t yah be talkin like dat. He’s a comin’ back, I’m sure of it.” She looked at me intently and I knew I’d said too much. “Go on, now git your clothes on. Grand daddy’s been waitin’ and he done et his breakfast. I got some grits ‘n bacon left on the stove. Ya need ta get that hawse hitched up to the buggy before it gets too late.”

Ma closed the door and that’s when I got up. I didn’t want her looking at my hard on. I’m sure she’d holler at me fer catching me doing that too. Preacher says that boys my age is particularly vulnerable to the wages of sin and perversion of the flesh. Seems strange that all the stuff that feels good is supposed to be so bad for you. I don’t know if I believe all that stuff, but I know my Ma sure does.

I put my pants on and ran out back to the outhouse. My feet got all wet running through the grass still covered with dew. It was hard to pee with my dick all hard. The outhouse stunk of stale piss and shit moulding in the ground. And I could hear the wasps buzzing up in the roof. I was careful not to upset them. I sat down stroking my hard cock, imagining what it would be like to touch a girl down there and feel the jiggly weight of her breasts cupped in my hands. it didn’t take long. “God damned mercy!” I grumbled as I shot after a few strokes. “Whew! now I can go get some stuff done. Can’t be walking around trying to hide my hard on all morning.”

I walked back into the kitchen and Ma told me I better go wash up or else my breakfast would get cold. I fixed me a small plate of grits and put some bacon on top. It was still warm. Ma had made some sassafras tea. There wasn’t much food to be had. The war had made it hard on everyone. Ma came in with a small cloth bag.

“Jacob, I want ya to take your pappa’s fiddle ‘n see if’n you can get a fair price fer it.”

“Ma, that’s Pa’s fiddle. He’ll be wanting ta play it when he gets home.”

“Your papa will understand, now do as I say, boy.”

“Yes, Ma’am.” 

I gobbled my breakfast down fast, took the fiddle and placed it in the buggy, then ran out to the barn and got old Jasper. He didn’t seem to be in the mood to go.

“Come on, Jasper. I ain’t got all day ta wait on ya ta get in the mood.”

I tugged at his rein. I petted the side of his neck and whispered in his ear.

“Yah gonna be a good boy, Jasper, so we can take a little trip to town?”

He seemed to cooperate and I led him towards the buggy house.

“Boy, its ‘bout time we got started don’t ya think?” said Grandpa dressed in his best Sunday clothes. “I’m hoping ta borrow some money from da bank. Gotta look your best when ya deal with bankers. Dey always looking ta find fault with ya.”

I hitched Jasper up to the buggy. Grandpa climbed into the passenger seat waiting.

“Sure ya don’t wanna drive grandpa?”

“No boy, my eyes ain’t what dey used to be.”

“Maybe ya need ta get ya some spectacles.”

“Nahhh, I’ll be fine as long as you drive.”

“Suit yourself then.” I snapped the whip and whistled through my teeth then Jasper took off. I loved the sound of his hooves clapping and clumping along the dirt road. We drove past our neighbors farm. It seemed to be in disrepair after being abandoned by all the able bodied men who went off to fight the yankees.  I looked over at my grandpa as he stared forward, eyes on the road.

“I heard the war was almost over. Do ya think papa will come home soon?” I said.

“Hard ta say. I try ta believe that he’s alright. Maybe he’s in a prison or perhaps wounded. He ain’t been heard from in over sixteen months ‘n that damn fool Frederick says he plans ta go a lookin’ fer him,” said grandpa.

“He been askin’ me to go, but I tells him Ma needs me ta stay home ‘n take care of da farm. If’n he’s alive, shouldn’t he be on his way home?” I said.

“I don’t know Jacob. Alls we kin do is put our faith in the Lord that your daddy will come home soon.”

We rounded a bend in the road coming down a big hill towards the bridge that crosses Beaver creek. I noticed a flock of crows scattering from the big white sycamore tree that leaned out over the creek near the bridge.

“What spooked dem thar crows, grandpa?” I said putting my hand up to shade the sun from my eyes.

Suddenly a band of four men on horseback rode out from under the bridge towards us at full gallop.  Some were dressed in blue Union uniforms, but others were in regular duds. They looked like they were up to no good. I was scared and stopped ole Jasper. Grandpa grabbed my arm looking straight ahead.

“Don’t ya do nothin lessun I tells ya to run fer it, ya hear me boy?”

“What ‘bout you grandpa?”  

“Just do as I say boy,” he said solemnly.

I was shaking all over and it felt like I was about to shit my pants. Those men, a rough looking bunch, came up on all sides of the buggy. One of the horses was close enough that I could feel his hot breath on my face.

“So whats we got here? Perhaps we got ourselves some confederate spies,” said the tall dark haired man with a full beard, big black hat and a noticeable scar cutting across the lower left side of his face.

“We don’t means ya men any harm. I’m just a weak old man and dis is just a young lad,” said Grandpa.

“What ya’ll got up under that bin?” said the short, younger, thin guy with a missing front tooth.

“Please sir, I beg ya to leave me and the boy be.”

“First, ya’ll let me see what you got hiding ‘n that dere bin,” said the guy with the missing tooth.

Another guy rode up besides me and said, “Gimme da damned bin!” he said whacking the side of my face with his rifle. It stung like hell.

Grandpa jumped up to protect me and grabbed the man’s arm. “Leave da boy alone!” grandpa yelled.

Then the man with the missing tooth smacked Grandpa on the back of the head with his rifle. Grandpa fell forward, and as he tried to get back up, the other guy just shot grandpa in the stomach. I gasped in horror. The guy with the missing tooth started laughing. “Stupid ole fool, what ya gonna do now?” he said.

The man who shot grandpa grabbed the bin up under the seat and looked in the box.

“Ain’t nothin’ in here but a goddamned fiddle,” he said.

The leader looked at me pointing the rifle to my head and said, “Boy you git down off dat dere buggy.”

I looked over at Grandpa who was slumped down over his seat. Blood was pooling all around the floor of the buggy and dripping down upon the ground. As the men searched the buggy, grandpa jumped up and wrestled the leader to the ground.

“Run fer it boy!” yelled Grandpa.  He was trying to wrestle the rifle out of the leader’s arms as I ran into the thickets. I heard gunshots. My body was alive with speed. My heart was racing and my stomach felt funny. I ran headfirst into briars and thicket. It stung something fierce and my face was wet with blood, but I ignored it. I fell and landed with a thud. I lay very quiet for a second, then started to crawl. I could hear movement in the bushes well behind me. They seemed to think I’d run the other direction. Once I thought they’d gone, I got up and looked around. I saw nothing. I wanted to go back to see if I could help Grandpa, but I also felt the need to go back and warn Momma.  

I knew of a shortcut through a couple of neighbors’ farms. I dared not get back on the main road so I ran through the thickets, between rows of corn, climbed over fences and past grazing cattle. I ran so fast that my sides ached. Fear kept me running. I thought of Grandpa lying on the ground bleeding, but there was nothing I could have done. Just over the hill was our farm. As I crested the hill through the tall grass, I could see our house. It looked quiet. Maybe the men hadn’t come this way. As I ran towards the the house, I noticed the front door was open. My heart sank when I saw horses pawing the ground by the barn and a man standing guard. I dropped to my knees and crawled so as not to be seen. I heard screaming, and men’s laughter. I needed to do something, but didn’t have a weapon. I crawled closer through the tall grass. I raised my head a bit higher and saw someone lying face down beside the front porch in a pool of blood. I knew at that moment the body was that of my brother Fred. When no one was looking, I ran to the side of the house. I was so scared my heart pounded. I tried to look in the bedroom window without being seen, but I heard my mother’s voice pleading with them to stop. I searched the backyard for anything that I could use as a weapon. I ran and grabbed an ax lying on a log next to the woodshed. There was a man on the front porch guarding the door. I crept around the opposite side of the house and peeped around the corner. The young guy was standing there with his rifle. He kept looking in the front window.

“Hurry up guys, I want my turn!” said the man.

His brown hair was long and he had an unkept red beard and wore a blue yankee jacket. I picked up a rock and tossed it towards the rose bush in the front yard. The man pointed his rifle as he turned and walked towards the rosebush. I ran up behind him with the ax handle raised high over my head. Before the man could turn all the way around, the blade of the ax caught the man in the side of his neck. There was a startled look of horror in his eyes as he grabbed the ax handle with his left hand. Blood poured from his neck and he fell on me dropping the rifle on the ground.

“Arliss, don’t be fuckin’ ‘round out there,” said a voice from inside the house.

The man lay on the ground face down trying to mouth words, but just a hissing sound came out. I grabbed the rifle, cocked it and walked onto the front porch. I crouched down past the window and entered through the front door.  I snuck through the house towards the bedroom.

A voice from the bedroom said, “I told ya ta wait outside on the porch Arliss.”

I kicked open the door and startled the young guy with the missing tooth. He fumbled for his rifle, but I shot him in the chest. The tall leader had his pants down and was facing the opposite direction. I could see my mother’s blood shot eyes looking at me, but her mouth was covered by the man’s hand. He turned and grabbed his rifle just as I was cocking mine. I fired and got him in the shoulder. Just as he was about to shoot me, I swung the rifle and hit the man beside his head knocking him to the floor. My mom started to scream. The leader fumbled for his rifle and I shot him in the head. The other man was in the kitchen, but I could hear him running for the front door. I was furious and yelling at this point.

“Come back here ya fuckin bastard!”

I turned and ran towards the door. The balding fat man was going for the horses. I stood on the porch and cocked the rifle. I fired but missed, and the man rode off down the road. I heard a scream and ran back inside. The man with the missing tooth was standing over my mom with a big hunting knife dripping blood. My mom was lying on the bed with her throat cut, gasping for air.

“Fuck you! fuck you!” the man with the missing tooth yelled as he started to slump over.

I shot him again, but this time in the head. I looked in my mom’s terrified eyes.

“Ma! Ma! Ya can’t die!”

Her eyes closed. I held her hand until it went limp.

“Oh God, How can this happen!”

I punched the wall as tears poured from my eyes. I pulled the covers up to cover my mother’s naked body and I laid down on the bed beside her for the longest time.

Late in the afternoon my neighbor Mr. Stafford rode in on his buggy.  I heard him out front on the lawn.

“Oh my dear Lord, it’s Fredrick! He yelled.  “Is anyone inside!” He first knocked on the door. “Hey Mrs Marshall. Are you in there? Mrs Marshall?”

He pushed the screen door open and I could hear his footsteps coming towards the bedroom. He slowly pushed the door open and his eyes met mine. His eyes wide and concerned.

“Oh my dear Lord! Son, what’s happened here?”

I looked down and I just shook my head. He walked over to me and put his hand on my shoulder.

“What happened here Jacob?”

I looked up at Mr Stafford’s pleading eyes. “Deez Yankees came up out from da creek bed. Dere was four of ‘em. Dey surprised me and my pappaw ‘n dey shot ‘im. I got away ‘n ran back here through da fields ta warn Ma and Fred, but it was too late. Dey done killed Fred when I got here and dey were doing horrible things ta Ma. I killed ‘em. I killed ‘em all ‘cept one fat feller dat got away.”

Just days before the war ended, there was a big funeral for my kin. The entire town of Bridgewater showed up mostly because it was big news. The whole thing felt so unreal. I stood in the bright hot sun with Mr Stafford and his wife as Reverend Thomas gave a sermon. We were all dressed in black clothes- our Sunday best. I felt numb. People came and shook my hand and gave their condolences, but I just didn’t know what to say. It was like a bad dream and I wasn’t waking up. I wished my Pa was home, but deep down I knew that he wasn’t ever gonna come back. And now I don’t have no family to speak of except maybe some kin in some other state. I saw other people crying around me, but I thought something must be wrong with me cause I couldn’t shed one tear. As the Reverend finished saying, “Dust thou art and unto dust thou shalt return.” They lowered my papaw, my Ma, and my brother Fred’s coffin into the ground. I took a shovel of dirt and dropped it down on top of all three of them.

I got in the buggy with The Rev and his wife, and rode back to their house. The court saw fit that I should go live with Rev Thomas and his wife until I turn 18, and until then, the Rev has been appointed as the legal executor of my property. Just days after funeral, the war had ended. I hoped and prayed for my father’s safe return, but there was no word from him. I wanted him to rescue me from Rev Thomas. I hated living there, because they weren’t very friendly to me and I thought  it was because they never had kids of their own. I ain’t even been at their house two days and they start bossin’ me around like I was their slave or somethin’. I wasn’t even allowed to go barefoot or cuss. After what happened, the Rev told me that God had a reason for letting my whole family die around me. I think he was full of shit, ‘cause no god would be that mean to somebody on purpose.  

I was living with the preacher and his wife for about four months. I’d get beaten every-time they’d catch me smoking or cussing. But one night the preacher’s wife caught me masturbating when she walked into my bedroom. She told Rev Thomas and he came to me and told me I needed to be punished for my sins. He took out his razor strop and beat me till my back bled. They forced me to go to church and beg God for forgiveness for my fornication. And from then on, I acted all nice and polite around them, but I couldn’t wait till the day I could leave them for good.  

That was around the time when I started hanging out with Elmer and Tim Frisk, two neighbor boys who lived across the railroad tracks. They lived with their dad who was the town drunk and who made moonshine up in the woods in back of his property. He really didn’t care what they did. I started skipping school and went smoking and drinking with them at the local pool hall. I acted all polite and stuff around the preacher and led prayers at the dinner table all for show until the teacher called on Rev Thomas asking why I was being sick so much.

On Halloween night just a few days after my 15th birthday, Elmer, Tim and I got drunk and broke into the Methodist church. I thought it would be funny to draw pictures of dicks and people fucking on the walls. Tim started hollerin’ and throwing hymnals around, and then he squatted and shat right up on the front pew. Oh man we thought it was funny! Apparently someone had reported hearing noises at the church and the sheriff showed up and caught us. I guess I didn’t think we’d get caught. The sheriff hauled us all to the jail and Rev Thomas showed up saying I had blasphemed before God and that I was bound for hell. He said I would not be coming back to live with them, but instead they sent a message to my next of kin, uncle Horace, who lived in Kentucky, and determined that I was to go live with him. He was my father’s brother who I had never met. After I got released, the Reverend put me on a train bound for central Kentucky.

It was around the fifth of November that I showed up at the train station in Lexington. I had all my worldly possessions in one suitcase. I was wearing my good wool britches, a clean white shirt, a wool jacket and my wool tweed cap as I stood outside the station in a cold light rain. The last of the leaves had fallen and the rain hitting the dead leaves made soft tapping sounds. I felt miserable as I waited for hours standing on that porch getting cold and wet. One of the older guys working at the station eventually let me come in out of the rain. He was well into his 60s, tall, thin with a grey mustache, and wore a blue train worker’s uniform. He stood looking me over like I was a piece of meat.

“So what’s a nice lookin’ young feller like you doin’ all by your lonesome on a cold rainy night like tonight? Don’t you have someone pickin’ you up? A relative or something?”

I looked up at him and wiped the wet hair out of my eyes, “My uncle’s s’post ta be meeting me here, but I guess he ain’t made it yet.”

“Boy, if you stay out there you are gonna freeze to death. I tell you what. I can get in trouble for this, but I just can’t let you stand out there all night. You best come over here and curl up under the front desk and be real quiet. Nobody has to know anything, …Okay?”

“Sure thing, Mister.”

“My name’s Graves, Mr Timothy Graves ‘n who might you be boy?”

“I’m Jacob Marshall from Bridgewater Virginia, sir. I ain’t got no family left ‘cept my uncle Horace, ‘n I ain’t never seen ‘em.”

I took off my wet jacket and curled right up under the desk and fell right to sleep.

The next morning I woke up all stiff and sore, but the floor inside was much better than the cold wet ground. The rain stopped and the sun came out, but it was a cold wind blowing from the north. I got up and Mr Graves said that his shift was almost over. I thanked him again for letting me sleep on the floor. I went looking for something to eat, but first I took a piss out back. I walked a bit and found a tavern. I didn’t have much money, but the tavern owner let me have some eggs and grits for a fair price. The waitress seemed to be flirting with me and it got me to feeling good about myself. I finished and walked back to the station and I sat on the step for a couple of hours. I looked up and saw a man riding an old wagon pulled by a sorry looking horse. He was a hard looking man in his 40s wearing dirty overalls and a big beat-up hat with a wide brim. He had a big chaw of baccer in his mouth and spat. He pulled up on the reins and stopped in front of the station.

“Hey boy! Are you Randall’s kid?” he said in a raspy voice.

“Yes, sir,” I said feeling somewhat disappointed. I was hoping he’d be more like my Pa, but…

“Well get your ass up here then. I ain’t got all damned day. We got lots of work to do,” he said spitting again.

I climbed up on the buggy and sat quietly not saying a word. We rode past rolling hills with baccer barns and horse farms. He just looked straight ahead. A while later he broke the silence.

“Sorry to hear about your Ma, pappaw and brother. These are hard times, but don’t be thinkin’ I’m gonna give ya any slack. You gonna have ta work hard if’n you plan ta stay with me boy.”

“Yes sir,” I said with my head down. It was then I knew things would not get better.

I spent the next three years with my uncle Horace.  He had a small farm on the lower Jackstown road just on the border of Bourbon and Nicholas County. It was a rundown little farm house on 12 acres of land. We raised pigs and grew a small crop of baccer and a vegetable garden for ourselves. Uncle Horace was a firm, angry man. As long as I did as I was told, I was fine. He worked me long hours on his farm. I figured that once I turned 18, I could leave that godforsaken place and go back home to Virginia and get my farm back. That was the only thing that kept me going. My uncle didn’t let me go to school; he said it was a waste of time, but I was strong and could do any sort of farm work, and was real good with horses.

My uncle had me pitching hay for some man who lived on a farm in Nicholas County one day in July 1868. It was damn hot and I was all sweaty and sticky and I had my shirt off. I’d gotten all dark from the sun, and in the summer, my hair would get bleached yeller by the sun. That afternoon we were busy cuttin’ down a whole field of hay and was stacking it with pitch forks. I was right thirsty and headed to the cistern to get a drink of water. It was there that I saw the most beautiful girl not much older than me sitting on the front porch drinking tea. She had long blond hair waving in the breeze and a sky blue dress. She weren’t wearin’ no shoes. I pumped the handle a few times and cupped my hand to drink the water. I glanced up just for a second to get a better look and her gaze caught my eye. I quickly looked away hoping I had not been caught, but then she called out.

“Hey boy! What’s your name?” she said smiling and swinging on the porch swing kicking up her feet.

“Jacob, what’s yourn?”

“Evangeline. So you live ‘round here?”

“Not too far I guess. I live on the other side of Carlisle head’n towards Millersburg.”

“Oh yeah, so how come I ain’t never seen you in school.”

“Cause my uncle never allowed me ta go ta schoo. He got me working all da time.”

“All the time? You sure you ain’t got time to talk to someone like me?” she said patting her hair and winking.

“Would you be want’n ta talk to a boy like me?”

“Well, I’m talking now ain’t I?”

I swallowed hard. I looked down and smiled.

“Oh my! I think I made you blush,” she said.

I stood up and ran my wet hands through my hair and the breeze cooled my face. “So would ya want ta talk to me again sometime?” I said a bit braver.

“Sure, but how will I ever see you again?” she said.

“Well do ya ever get into town?”

“Sure, I ride into town on the weekends with my momma. I’m supposed to go this Saturday.”

“Well then, you can meet me down by the feed store ‘round two in the afternoon if’n ya want ta see me again. I have ta go there every Saturday ta pick up stuff fer my uncle. I’ll be wait’n fer you,” I said winking.

“Well I might just do that, handsome.”

“Uhhh, well, I better get back to pitchin’ hay er else my uncle will go off on me. Bye, Evangeline! That’s a mighty pretty name.”

“Bye Jacob.” she said as I walked back with a big grin on my face.

That Saturday I rode into town with the wagon. I told Horace I needed to pick up a few supplies. I got to the feed store a bit early and took my time getting stuff. I kept watching the clock to see if she would show up.

“Boy are you just gonna walk around looking at stuff all day or you planning to buy something?” said old Mr Curtis adjusting his bifocals. “You been acting squirrely all afternoon.”

“Well, I do plan ta buy a few things, but I ‘spost ta meet somebody here.”

“Oh yeah? And who might that be? Maybe I seem him.”

“Ummm, well it’s not a him.”  

Mr Curtis adjusted his specks again. “Oh yeah? So you waiting on a girl? I figured a fine looking boy like you to have a girlfriend already.”

“Nah, I never have time ta meet no girls. My uncle Horace keeps me real busy on da farm ‘n I never gets ta meet any girls my own age up till the other day.”

“So what about school or church?”

“My uncle don’t let me go. He says he ain’t got no use for either one.”

“Well that’s a shame. So does your uncle know about this girl?”

“No, not at all. Please don’t tell. He’d be all mad.”

“Hey boy, it ain’t none of my business. I won’t say nothin.”

I hung around in the back and then I heard the front bell jingle as someone was walking in the door. I rushed to the front of the store and saw the silhouette of Evangeline surrounded in light, standing in the doorway dressed in a long sky blue dress. She looked so beautiful and a bit nervous looking about. I fumbled up to the front door wearing my overalls and a straw hat.

“I’m mighty glad ya could make it here, Evangeline,” I said all nervous.

“I told you I’d come silly.”

“I’ll be back a little later on ta pick up da chicken feed Mr Curtis!” I yelled back.

“You two kids have fun.”

It was a most wonderful July afternoon. We decided to take a walk through the cemetery. It was hot and humid as we sat under the shade of a big ole maple tree. We talked for a long while and I learned that she has an older brother named Daniel and a younger sister named Ellen. Her father owned a fair amount of property in the area. I told her that I was the only one left alive from my immediate family and that I had a small farm in Virginia. She said she had a pleasant afternoon and wanted to see me again. There under the big maple she took my hand. I was all sweaty and nervous and was a loss for words, then she leaned over rubbed my hair and kissed me. The first girl to ever kiss me. I was so thrilled that it gave my goosebumps. She said she had to hurry back or else her mother would get worried. I asked if I could see her again and she said yes but didn’t want her parents to find out.

I walked her back towards the courthouse. She waved her arms goodbye as I stood watching the most beautiful girl walk away. I was so excited I ran towards the feed store with a smile so big I couldn’t hide it.

During the summer we met every Saturday afternoon. I always found an excuse to go into town. For once there was something in Kentucky that I looked forward to besides my birthday when I could leave the state for good.

One Saturday in late July I rode into Carlisle. I had it in mind to surprise Evangeline with a picnic lunch. My uncle had gone to visit a relative in Flemingsburg and would be gone until Sunday. I decided to fry up a chicken and make some corn bread and meet her on the road to town. It was a hot humid summer day. The ground was baked dry and cracked. The dry grass had turned a golden yellow and was soft. Grasshoppers were everywhere. I sat on the wagon beside the road waiting for Evangeline to pass by. Finally I saw a buggy rising up over the hill. A tall man was driving and Evangeline was sitting beside him. I wanted to get a better look at her father. As the buggy came closer, I saw a stern looking man with a long dark beard driving. As he rode past he yelled out, “Are you okay there, feller?”

Evangeline glanced over at me as if in shock and then looked forward as if she didn’t know me.

“I’m fine, sir. Just waitin fer my uncle.”

The man looked straight ahead and headed towards town. Evangeline looked back and made a face to me.  I waited a bit, then proceeded into town myself. I saw their buggy parked in front of the Courthouse. Her father walked inside leaving Evangeline sitting in the buggy. I hitched up the mule to the hitching post and walked over to where she was sitting.

“Howdy miss Evangeline.”

She turned with a shocked look on her face. “What do you think you were trying to do back there?”

“I just wanted ta get a look at you with your Pa.”

“You crazy, boy?” she said looking all angry.

“So,…I was wonder’n. Would ya care ta go on a picnic with me today?  I went out of my way ta make some fried chicken ‘n cornbread. I would be so honored if’n ya could accompany me.”

She looked at me and smiled, “What about my father? I can’t get away for that long.”

“Make up a story… I know, Tell ‘m that you’re goin’ ta visit with one of your schoo friends. Don’t ya have girl friends here in town?”

“Yes, but…”

“Well, Miss Evangeline, if’n you want some of this wonderful chicken. I’ll be waitin’ over by da feed store.” I waved, unhitched the mule and said, “Gettyup!”

I didn’t know if she would show up or not. I waited nearly a half hour and was almost ready to leave when I saw her running towards me lifting up her yellow dress as she ran.

“We can’t be all afternoon. I told my Pa that I wanted to visit with my cousin Isadora and he said that is was fine, but I have to be back by 4 pm.”

“Well, we best be going then Ma’am.”

She climbed aboard my buggy and said, “Jake, we need to get off the main road. People can’t see me with you or they might tell my father.”

“Let them tell. I ain’t ashamed ta be seen with ya.

“Please Jake, do it for my sake.”

“Well only because ya want me to, but someday I’ll meet your father ‘n ask ta date you properly.” I said gettyup to the mule and whipped the reins. “I know a place dat’s perfect. Here put dis here blanket ‘cross your waist ‘n put on dis ol’ straw hat. Dere’s an old work-shirt up under da floor board. They’ll think you’re some old lady with dis on. There’s dis farm jist down the lower Jackstown road a bit dat nobody lives on. It’s jist used to raise t’bacca.”

I turned off the main road down a dirt path. It was bumpy as hell. I parked the wagon in the shade, unhitched the mule, and walked him down to the creek to get a drink of water. Then I hitched him to a tree in the shade. I went back to the wagon for the picnic basket then Evangeline and I walked down the huge grassy empty field towards the huge elm tree right dab in the middle. It was a sunny dry day with a gentle breeze. No one was anywhere around. We laid our blanket down on the dry grass under the shady tree and I sat the picnic basket out on the blanket. Evangeline looked around in every direction and hopped with glee clapping her hands.

“Oh Jake, this is perfect. It is so beautiful here.”

“I thought you might like it. When I baled hay here last summer, I thought it was sorta magical.”

We sat down on the blanket together and ate the fried chicken. I watching as dappled sunlight and shadows from the leaves played upon her face and body. We kicked off our shoes and spooned side by side after lunch. I closed my eyes feeling her warmth and the coolness of a gentle breeze against my body. I felt blissful lying next to her. I realized lying here that this was the woman I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. I drifted off to sleep thinking wonderful thoughts.

I felt a tug at my shoulder.

“Wake up Jake! Wake up!”

Startled, I jumped up to find Evangeline rushing about and it had become late afternoon. “Jake you have to get me back. My father will wonder where I had gone.”

I looked at my pocket watch and it said 3:40 pm. “Run let’s hitch up the mule. We ain’t got but twenty minutes to get ya back.”

Evangeline put on the old shirt and straw hat, then placed the old wool blanket across her lap. I climbed up on the wagon and yelled, “Gitty up! Yahh!”

We sped across the dusty field kicking up a cloud of dust behind us and we were bouncing in our seat as we hit bumps and rocks. We got on the main road and slowed down to a normal pace. As I got to the edge of town I pulled around to the back of the blacksmith’s shop.

“Get out here where nobody can see us. You’re only ‘bout five minutes late.

“Thank you Jake.”

“When can I see ya again Evangeline?”

“Next Saturday?” she said smiling.

“Yes my darlin’.” We had a brief embrace and she waved and ran around the corner.

The next Saturday I waited and waited for hours, but Evangeline didn’t show. I waited until it nearly got dark then wandered back home to my uncle. I felt depressed. I imagined that her father wouldn’t let her go out. When I pulled up to the front gate of my uncle’s farm, he was waiting for me. I could tell by the look on his face that he was mad as hell.

“Where in the hell were you boy?” Uncle Horace yelled and spat on the ground. “You go unhitch that damned mule and git your ass in da woodshed!”

“Sorry sir, but I met a girl. I want ta ask her ta marry me”

“A girl? Not under my roof. Who said you could go ta town in the first place? You was s’post to clean out da horse stall. Now unhitch that damned mule.”

I unhitched the mule and walked towards the wood shed. He was waiting there for me with the razor strop. He had me take off my shirt and hold on the the post and bend over. A fury rose in his face.

“So you think you can just sneak off ‘n meet some girl huh? You little ungrateful bastard. You will not see that slut again.” Whack!

“She ain’t no slut!” I said as he whacked me again.

“What did you say? How dare you sass me boy!” Whack! I started to cry. “I never should’ve agreed ta take you in. You’ve ain’t been nuttin’ but trouble since you came here. My brother shoulda never married a slut like your ma.”

“When he said that, my anger flared, “Don’t you ever talk about my Ma like dat you old bastard!” I turned to face him and he tried to hit me again. “I ain’t done nutt’n but work like a slave fer ya ever since I came here! Dis is da last time you’ll ever hit me again.”

I grabbed the strop and wrestled it out of his hand and shoved him to the ground. Uncle Horace looked shocked that I stood up to him. I suppose I had grown a bit since I came to live with him and the hard work made me strong.

“I want ya outta here tonight ya bastard,” said Horace yelling. “You no account nephew. I never wanted ya here ‘n the first place.”

I left the woodshed in shock. The reality of the moment started to sink in. I had nowhere to go. I didn’t own anything but some clothes. I walked back to the house and packed what little clothes I owned into the old suitcase I came with three years prior.

That night, I walked to the field that Evangeline and I shared a picnic and slept under the stars. As I lay there in that field, I had some time to think what I wanted to do. I needed to work and save up some money so I could travel back to my farm in Virginia. I also had it in my head to ask Evangeline to marry me and move back to my farm.

The next day I wandered into Carlisle and walked into the feed store. I saw Mr Curtis behind the counter.

“Sir, do ya know where a fella like me can find a job?”

“Why are you asking me for Jake?”

“Well my uncle got mad ‘n told me ta leave ‘n never come back. I ain’t got no wheres ta go. I needs ta get me some money so I kin get back to Virginy wheres I got me a farm a waitin.”

He raised his bifocals and looked at me all sad like, “Boy, you got anywhere to stay tonight?”

“No sir, I slept ‘n a field last night.”

“Well I got a little room in my barn if you don’t mind sleeping there. I can fix you up with a little cot.”

“Thank ye so kindly sir. I’ll pay ya once I finds me a job.”

“Well go check with Mr Lawrence, the blacksmith. I heard that he was looking for some help.”

I walked down Market Street to Mr Lawrence’s blacksmith shop. I heard his hammer clanging against the anvil as I got closer to his shop. He was a tall thick imposing man, balding with a big mustache. He was shirtless except for a big heavy apron. He looked up when he saw me coming.

“Hey boy. What business do you have here today?”

I stood there holding my suitcase, dressed in my old farm clothes. I looked him in the eye and said, “Howdy Mr Lawrence. I was told by Mr Curtis dat ya might be looking fer help.”

He looked me over up and down. “Hmmm, I might be. You look kinda strong. What can you do boy?”

“Well I an’t got much schoolin’. My uncle made me work on the farm. He said dere weren’t no need for schoo, but I kin plow a field, mend fences, fix wagons, but I speck I kin do ‘bout anythin ya ask of me.”

“Well I don’t know…” he said stratching his chin and looking about the place.

“I’ll work hard sir. No slackin with me.”

“Hmm you have any problems cleaning out stables?”

“Not at all.”

“So you have any problem starting right now?”

“So do I get da job?”

“Lets see how you do with the stables I have round back.”

“Thank ye kindly sir. I’ll do a really good job sir.”

He smiled and winked. “Well get to it then boy. I’ll be back later to check up on you.”

Things seemed to be going well. Mr Curtis set me up with a little room in his barn and let me eat dinner with him and his wife. They seemed to like me a lot. Mr Lawrence was teaching me little things about being a blacksmith. He was keeping me busy and said he’d pay me a nickel a day.

One crisp sunny day in October while I was shoeing a horse in the stable, I looked up and saw Evangeline getting out of a buggy. She was all dressed up in a bright purty pink dress and wore a big flowery hat with a wide brim. My heart jumped. I had not seen her in a couple of months since that day of the picnic. I let down the foot of the horse and ran briskly towards her until I saw this tall thin well dressed boy around my age take her hand and lead her into the dress shop. My enthusiastic run turned into a walk. Then I stopped and stared. I wanted to run up to her but wanted to wait until she was alone. I walked back to the stable and watched. I mumbled and cursed to myself kicking at the dirt with my shoe. I felt my temper rise. I rushed through my work constantly watching for my chance. About 20 minutes later I saw her walking down the street with another girl. I bolted from the stable and ran across the street. Evangeline and the other girl stopped in shock.

“Evangeline! How’ve you been? I missed ya!” I said huffing and puffing having just sprinted.

She looked shocked and maybe frightened. “Jacob! What are you doing here?”

“Uhh… well, I came ta see ya.”

The other girl rolled her eyes. “And who might this rough looking boy be?”

“I mean, you can’t be seen with me Jacob. My father found out about you from some people in town and he forbade you to see me again.”

“What? I wanted ta formally introduce myself to your father, but ya said ta wait.”

The other girl looked at me and said, “Evangeline already has a suitor and he should be back shortly.”

I glared at the other girl and Evangeline took my hand and said, “Excuse me for a moment Leona.” She led me around the side of the building and said, “Jacob, I don’t think we can see each other again.”

“Why’s that? I thought we had a great time together and I love ya, Evangeline. My heart has pined fer ya since dat picnic under da big Elm tree. Tell me now to my face dat ya don’t love me ‘n I’ll leave ya alone forever.”

I saw the grief on her face. She couldn’t speak. “I..I..can’t.” Tears poured down her cheeks.

“I knew ya still loved me! I have a farm in Virginy. We kin run away ‘n elope. Next month I’ll be eighteen ‘n da farm will be turned over ta me. I’m savin’ up money here at da blacksmith shop ‘n we can travel back on dat. Please say yes!”

She looked around to see if anyone were watching. “If my father finds out he’d kill you.”

“I don’t care. He don’t have ta find out. We kin leave secret messages fer each other until da time ta leave.”

“Jacob I have to get back.”

“On the Upper Jackstown road, deres ‘n ol Hedge-apple tree dats at a fork in da road jus before ya come into town on your right. Dere’s a rock wall dere. You know da one?”

“Yes I think so.”

“Well I’ll leave messages fer ya in a tin box. I’ll put it dere fer ya under dat dere tree. Please Evangeline, tell me dat you’ll do this.”

She gave me a hug, “Yes I will Jacob. I promise.”

I smiled and jumped with joy.” She waved and ran back to her friend. I ran back to the stables feeling elated.

Everyday I wrote a note for Evangeline and left it under that tree. I knew she passed that way to and from school. My writing wasn’t the best. My highest level of schooling was the 8th grade, but I was able to write legible letters. The next day I would find a letter addressed to me all flowery and sweet.

On Saturday, Halloween, it was a cold clear night and there was a full moon in the sky. I left the stables before dusk, walking down the Upper Jackstown road to check to see if my love had left me a letter under the Hedge-apple tree. On the way there I heard the sound of hoofbeats charging down the road towards town. I ducked off to the side of the road in the shadow of tall trees cast by the moonlight. Flying down the road at full gallop were five horsemen dressed all in white with tall white hoods covering their faces. It was a  terrifying sight. I continued to walk down the road until I came to the fork where the hedge-apple stood. I removed the rock and the note read.

”My dearest Jacob,

I want you to meet me next Saturday. There is this tiny log cabin in the woods on my father’s property. There is an old trail from the main road that leads to this cabin. No one ever goes there. It has been abandoned for many years. I discovered it when I was a little girl. I will be there waiting for you.

Evangeline.”

The note looked somewhat different. I guessed she must have written it in haste. It wasn’t as colorful and flowery as she normally writes me, but I just dismissed it. It seemed as if she needed to see me. I took out a paper and pen and wrote.

“My sweet Evangeline,

I miss you so much. I think meeting at the cabin is a good idea. I just turned 18 on the 29th of this month and legally I can take over my family farm. Pack your bags and meet me at the cabin and we can elope. I have saved enough money for us to travel to my home in Virginia. I can hardly wait to see you my love.

Your devoted beau,

Jacob”

I folded the note and placed it carefully in the tin box and put a big rock over top of it. Soon I thought my dream of returning to Virginia with Evangeline would come to pass. I smiled thinking of a bright future as I walked back to my room in Mr Curtis’s barn.

As I got closer to town, I saw a fire blazing in the distance. A cross was burning in the front yard of a colored family who had recently bought the property. I saw a man lying near the road moaning in pain. I recognized that it was the colored man named Amos who had been beaten and bloody. I reached down.

“Amos! Amos! Are ya okay? Dis here’s Jacob. What happened here?” He looked up at me a yelled “Ahhhh”and covered his face. “Amos, it’s me Jake. Who did dis to ya?”

“It be spooks, ghosts in white sheets ridin hosses. Dey came up to my house ‘n threw rocks through my winder. My misses, she say, Amos you can’t go out dere. But I had ta go out cause dey would’ve come in ‘n got my misses and chillins. Dey tell me I has ta move out or next time deys gonna kill us all.”

“Is your family okay Amos?”

“Yes, dey jus wanted me dis time.”

“You needs ta go ta a doctor.”

“No sir. I ain’t gots no money to pay fo no doctor. If you be kind enough jus to help me home I be fine. Thank ye Jake. Yous a good boy.”

I helped Amos back to his house and knocked at his door. His wife answered. “Who be dere?”

“It’s Jacob ma’am. I got your husband Amos with me. He’s hurt purty bad.”

She opened the door and screamed and hugged Amos. “Oh my lord! Look what dey has done ta ya Amos. Here help me get em to da bed.

“I be alright now Bessa. I jus needs rest.”

“What if’n dem men dressed as spooks come back?” I said.

“Dey won’t be back here tonight, but dey did say they’d be back if’n we don’t leave.”

“You folks need to call da law. Can’t have people running ‘round the countryside dressed as spooks trying ta kill people.”

“Jake, the law ain’t gonna help people like us. Dey jus gonna look de other way,” said Bessa.

“You needs ta be gettin back home boy. If’n dem spooks catch ya here, deys gonna be after yo ass also,” said Amos.

“Ya gonna be okay?”

“Yes. Ya best be going, ‘n thanks boy.”

That night I crawled under my blanket thinking about the evil men running around. It reminded me of the men that killed my own family just three years ago. Well the one good thing is that I’ll be leaving with Evangeline a week from tonight. I fell asleep with that one good thought on my mind.

The next Saturday came and Mr Lawrence asked why I was all happy. I told him that I had me a girlfriend. He asked if he knew the girl and I said that for now it had to be a secret until things got straightened out.

”Well, as long as it don’t interfere with your work, then it is fine by me.” he said.

I didn’t have the heart to tell him that I was planning on leaving. He had been so kind to me, but I couldn’t afford it if Evangeline’s dad were to find out. I could tell him later tonight after I done brought her back here with me. Then we could safely take the train away from here.

After the sun got low in the sky, I took a horse and rode it towards the Waverly farm. I was grinning ear to ear thinking about our new life together on my farm in Virginy. By the time I got there it was dark. Most of the leaves had fallen from the trees and it was a rather chilly night. I could tell there would be a frost. I found the woods and after searching for the longest while, I found a small overgrown trail that led through the underbrush. I crossed a little creek and went upwards. It was dark and spooky and I couldn’t imagine that Evangeline would come to such a place at this time of night. I had no idea the woods were this thick and dark. Finally, in the darkness, I stumbled upon the ruins of an old cabin. It had seen better days.

I whispered, “Evangeline, Evangeline, are ya here?”

I pushed upon the old, rotten, creaky door and there was a lone candle lit on the floor of the cabin. Something felt terribly wrong. I turned to go out the door, but standing in the doorway was a tall figure dressed all in white and wearing a white hood. He blocked the exit.

“So boy, you thought you were just going to run off with my daughter? You thought you were being clever and could outfox us, huh? Well you little bastard, you ain’t doing no such thing.”

The man shoved me against the wall. I tried to get up but he kicked me in the head and knocked me down.

“You ain’t gonna leave this place at all.” He yelled.

“Help!!! Help!” I screamed in vain.

He tried to kick me again, but I grabbed his leg and he fell backwards against the wall. Somehow I managed to get to my feet and ran for the door. As I was opening the door, I felt something sharp stab me in my back as a warm wetness filled my shirt. I sprinted blindly through the woods and bumped into a tree and fell.

The man was right behind me and said. “Time to meet your maker, boy.”

He picked up a big rock and bam. I felt a sharp, throbbing pain to my temple and then darkness.

I awoke feeling the cold earth. I heard the sound of digging. Then he grabbed me by my foot and dragged me through the briars and tossed me in a shallow pit he had dug. I felt so cold and dizzy. As I lay there, I could feel the cold mud hitting me in the face and back. Covered with dirt, I was helpless to move. Soon it became harder to breathe. I sucked in dirt and then experienced blackness. I was in a dark dream. The one where I met these different boys and we were friends. Yeah, I remember now. The dream I had as a child. The wolf and the man. I…It was me. Suddenly all these memories came flooding back. I found myself standing over the body of a young boy lying in the snow. I remembered him being my friend Hank. A man and his dog approached me from a deer trail. It was the man from my dream. I realized that we were somehow the same person.

At that moment the veil had been lifted and the eternal nightmare was over. As my memory fully returned, I sat and cried tears of happiness.

Time had returned to normal and I was back in my body. Buddy stopped his attack and I ran over to Hank who was lying in the snow.

“Hank, Hank! Wake up boy!” I held him close to me. I felt a pulse and his breathing was rapid and shallow.

The figure stood and took on human form. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean ta hurt em.’

“I know you didn’t, Jake.”

“I’m Jacob Marshall. I’m from Virginy, ‘n I’m dead,” he said rubbing his head, “Evangeline ‘n all da people dat I once knew ‘er probably dead as well.”

I nodded at him and said, “Yes Jacob, I’m so sorry, but you died a hundred and thirty some years ago, but now you know.”

“Yes, you ‘n I, both of us were me. We was the same, wasn’t we?,” he said looking confused.

“Yes Jake, I was there with you,” I said.

Buddy was licking Hank’s face as he started to come to. Just then from the trees, a flock of crows descended upon Jake cawing and flying in circles..

“They’re calling me. Kin y’all believe it? They’re asking if’n I wants ta fly away with ‘em,” he said raising his arms to the heavens.

As he stood there with his arms outstretched, his eyes closed and smiling, the crows descended and flew past, and in just a blink of an eye, he was one of them and they flew away through the falling snow.

I reached down and gathered Hank up in my arms like a rag doll. I  lumbered through the drifting snow with Buddy jumping at my side. He sensed that this was something exciting. I waded back across the muddy creek and when I reached the fence I heard Hank coming to. I told him to hold on to my back as I climbed over the wire fence. I trudged back across the field and the sound of my boots clumped upon the front steps as I reached the front door. Bella’s eyes widened as she opened the door.

“Travis! You found him! You found him!”

Cody and Ethel came to the door. “Oh my God, Travis! Where did you find him?” cried Ethel.

I laid Hank down on the couch and said, “He was in the woods. Right now we need to get him warmed up.”

Ethel sat down on the couch with Hank. “Hank honey can you hear me?” she said feeling his head and face.

Hank turned his head and moaned. He was shivering and his teeth were chattering.

I thought for a second and asked, “Does anyone have an electric blanket?”

“I think mom has one on her bed,” said Bella.

“You want me to go check?” said Bella. As she ran up the stairs Ethel took Hank’s right hand and said, “His hands feel like ice.”

Bella came running down the stairs, “I found mom’s electric blanket. Is this okay?”

“You did good, Bella.” I took off Hank’s shoes and his coat. His thin body looked so pale. I put the blanket over him and plugged in the blanket. “You should be feeling warmer soon Hank,” I said.

Ethel got up and said she was going to make some hot cocoa. Cody looked at me and said, “I got a hold of Suzanne and she said they would be here as soon as possible. She said the roads were getting pretty slick and it might take a while to get there.”

A few minutes later Hank started to wake up. “What happened? Where’s mom? How did I get here?”

“Hank, you ran away. We were worried sick and looked for you everywhere we could think of. Don’t you remember?” I said.

“No, I just remember being so cold. And the crows. I remember dreaming about lots of crows. I’m so thirsty.”

Cody yelled out, “Ethel! is that hot chocolate about ready?”

“I’m coming.” She said carrying a cup in her hands. “Here honey. Be careful it is hot.”

Hank tried to sit up. He was still shivering and had trouble holding the cup.

“Let me hold that for you, Hank,” said Cody.

After Hank finished drinking the cocoa he drifted off to sleep. We sat around staring blankly at one another.

Bella looked at me and whispered, “Did you see the boy?”

I nodded and said, There was something crouching in the snow beside him. It looked like a boy, but I’m not sure what I saw.  My vision was clouded by the heavy snowfall. By the time I got to him, the boy was gone and Hank was covered in snow. If it hadn’t been for Buddy being with me I would never have found him. Bella I’m glad you told me about the woods and the boy, I should’ve looked there. You saved Hank’s life.”

“But what happened to the other boy. Couldn’t you find him?” said Bella.

I don’t think he was really there. I couldn’t find any tracks. It was like he just vanished.”

Ethel’s eye’s were red and weepy.“The same thing happened all those years ago when they found Teddy in the woods.  He disappeared during a heavy snowstorm in November of 1922 when I was just a kid. It’s like history repeating itself.”

“Except this time no one died,” said Cody putting his hand on his wife’s shoulder. “We have Hank back with us.”