23
Papa uttered a word that cut through the fog in her mind.
Rees
. Her eyes flew open and she held her breath, listening.
Papa told Mama about Rees and the order from the
General.
“I didn’t want to say yes, but Lord knows we need the
money.”
“There’s something else,” Papa continued. He told
Mama about Singleton and Kansas and the meeting.
“Nat!” Mama exclaimed. “It’s our dream come true!
You’ve always wanted a bit of land for your own, to farm.”
“That’s true,” Papa said. “But Kansas? That’s a long
way from here.”
There was silence for a time, and Hattie’s eyes grew
heavy. Then Mama laughed, a sweet sound that roused
Hattie into wakefulness once again.
“I have a bit of news of my own,” she said. “Another
one of our dreams is going to come true. In about six
months.”
Papa gasped. “Are you sure?”
