{"id":16245,"date":"2021-03-30T18:20:03","date_gmt":"2021-03-31T00:20:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/riwaslibrary.com\/story\/?p=16245"},"modified":"2021-03-30T18:20:03","modified_gmt":"2021-03-31T00:20:03","slug":"a-mothers-wrath","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/riwaslibrary.com\/story\/?p=16245","title":{"rendered":"A mother’s wrath"},"content":{"rendered":"

They were searching the countryside for a Union soldier suspected of having been wounded in a recent battle. Reports had filtered in indicating he was trying to make his way north. There was concern he might be a spy. Then the sightings stopped. An intense search was initiated in the area of the last known sighting.<\/p>\n

On the Tucker farm not too far away Gwendoline peeked out of the potato cellar at the movement of the men approaching her parent\u2019s property. Her father was off to fight and had not been heard from since. Her mother ran things with an iron hand, mostly because it had been forced upon her.<\/p>\n

The daughter had been hiding the Union soldier for several days, sneaking food out to him every chance she got. She\u2019d also done her best to nurse the man\u2019s wounds. But during the last few days she\u2019d found herself falling in love with him.<\/p>\n

Gwendoline was the one who went to the potato cellar whenever her mother needed any of the supplies stored there. As long as she went by herself, the soldier was safe. She\u2019d not told anyone of his presence, hoping he would heal soon enough to continue his journey northward.<\/p>\n

She ducked back inside and told him of the approaching soldiers. He said it was dangerous for him to remain on their property. Gwendoline assured him she would sneak him away once the sun went down. Then she would see him safely on his way while her mother was fast asleep.<\/p>\n

Gwendoline climbed out of the potato cellar and returned to the house. Her mother looked out the window. \u201cSoldiers are comin\u2019. Fetch some vegetables from the cellar. We must make sure they\u2019re well fed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, mother,\u201d she said. Then she headed back out to the potato cellar. She stole another kiss from the wounded man before taking onions and potatoes back into the house.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not enough,\u201d her mother scolded when she looked at what had been brought inside. \u201cRun down the road and fetch some flour from the Grandy spread. Tell \u2018em we\u2019ll be having some of our boys over for dinner.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gwendoline hesitated. She wanted to remain in case the Union soldier might need her help. Her mother scowled at her.<\/p>\n

\u201cGwendoline, is there a problem?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, mother.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen git a move-on!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, mother.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gwendoline headed out back toward the Grandy place. It was only a mile down the lane. Before the war the households had often helped each other out. Only the women remained, but that Southern generosity was still in operation.<\/p>\n

Gwendoline arrived, only for Mrs. Grandy to urge her to have a seat. She was given a glass of lemonade. Then one of the Grandy daughters was sent to fetch the needed flour.<\/p>\n

Gwendoline fidgeted as she waited for the daughter to return. She was worried about the soldier hidden in their potato cellar. What if the soldiers found him? What would happen to him then? Was there anything she could to do help him should his location be revealed?<\/p>\n

The daughter finally returned with the flour. A container was produced to carry it back home. Gwendoline quickly finished her lemonade, anxious to get home.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you for the hospitality, Mrs. Grandy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnything for a Tucker, my child.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHave you heard from your husband Seth or your son Thomas?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot a peep, child? What about your father?\u201d Gwendoline shook her head.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou best be running along, child. Your mother needs to treat our boys right.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, ma\u2019am.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gwendoline took the flour and headed back up the lane. But the closer she got, the more anxious she became. What if those soldiers had discovered that wounded soldier she was hiding and was desperately in love with?<\/p>\n

She was less than a hundred yards from the back of the property when she heard a loud male voice proclaim, \u201cREADY\u2026 AIM\u2026 FIRE!\u201d There was a volley of shots. Gwendoline screamed in horror.<\/p>\n

She dropped the four and ran as fast as she could despite the flowing dress she was wearing. She was rounding the corner when she heard a single shot. Fear gripped her heart.<\/p>\n

When she came into view she caught sight of a squad of soldiers. A body was lying dead on the ground in front of a tree. Several of the soldiers had spades in their hands and were digging.<\/p>\n

She let out a cry when she saw the body was that of the wounded Union soldier. \u201cNOOOO!\u201d Then she rushed to be by his side.<\/p>\n

Her mother appeared from out of nowhere and stopped her, grabbing her by the arm.\u00a0 \u201cGwendoline, is this your doing?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMother, he was injured! Was it not our Christian duty to take care of an injured man?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was an enemy soldier! You hid him in our potato cellar??\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMother, he was injured!\u201d Now the tears were streaming down her cheeks.<\/p>\n

\u201cUngrateful child!\u201d and her mother slapped her hard. \u201cYou\u2019ve shamed me in front of these boys here! Lieutenant?\u201d<\/p>\n

An officer came over. The mother pointed at a small sapling. \u201cRight there will do. My property is on the other side of that path. I will not stand to have the blood of this spoiled child spilled on Randolph Jameson Tucker\u2019s land and despoil his good name!\u201d<\/p>\n

The lieutenant snapped his fingers. Two soldiers came and took Gwendoline over to the sapling. They tied her wrists behind it as the daughter stared in horror.<\/p>\n

\u201cM-Mother?? What are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou humiliated me, child, and I\u2019ll not stand for it! It\u2019s a good thing I went to get more potatoes or we might not have found him!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMother, this is your fault? You turned him over to these soldiers??\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat else was I supposed to do, you ungrateful cur!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMother; NO!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOfficer, do your duty!\u201d<\/p>\n

The lieutenant looked at the mother and nodded. He snapped his fingers again. Several soldiers gathered and stood in a line.<\/p>\n

Gwendoline began to pant anxiously for breath. \u201cMother, you\u2019re not going to let them do this to me, are you??\u201d Her mother snorted as she turned her back on her.<\/p>\n

Gwendoline stared at the soldiers in horror as they prepared to do their duty. Then she turned to look at the Union man lying dead on the ground. That\u2019s when she noticed two graves were being dug. Had her mother planned on her execution all along??<\/p>\n

\u201cMOTHER??\u201d and her heart began to race. The officer looked at her mother for confirmation. \u201cDO IT!\u201d the angry woman snapped back, refusing to watch.<\/p>\n

He nodded as he turned to the men standing in line. \u201cREADY?\u201d The rifles came up. \u201cAIM?\u201d The rifles zeroed in.<\/p>\n

Gwendoline stared in horror. There was not the slightest hint of mercy in the face of any of the men aiming at her.<\/p>\n

She opened her mouth to scream. \u201cFIRE!\u201d There was a volley as several puffs of smoke issued from each barrel.<\/p>\n

Gwendoline slumped forward, her dress perforated by little Minnie balls. The lieutenant prepared his pistol for the final shot. The mother saw the revolver in his hand, saw what he was about to do and snatched it away from him.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s my child! I\u2019ll do it!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, ma\u2019am.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gwendoline was barely breathing, her heart starting to slow. She heard footsteps in the grass. She did not have the strength to look up.<\/p>\n

Her mother aimed the pistol at her head. \u201cUngrateful child! This is for victory for the South!\u201d Then she pulled the trigger.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The gun went off. The slug penetrated Gwendoline\u2019s head and came out her upper back, severing her spine. Now she was reunited in death with her wounded Union soldier.<\/p>\n

\u201cBury \u2018em!\u201d she instructed the Lieutenant. \u201cAfterwards I\u2019d be honored if you and your men would join me for the evening meal.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, ma\u2019am,\u201d the officer nodded.<\/p>\n

The graves were finished, the daughter and soldier unceremoniously thrown in. Then earth was thrown in on top of them. The sun was just going down when the soldiers finished and went inside for a nice, home-cooked meal\u2026<\/p>\n

2019 (written for C. Mike Hunt Apr 24 \u201919 by riwa)<\/p>\n

(Inspired by his render.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A daughter hides a wounded Union soldier who gets discovered. Her mother is not best pleased. Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16245","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/riwaslibrary.com\/story\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16245","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/riwaslibrary.com\/story\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/riwaslibrary.com\/story\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/riwaslibrary.com\/story\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/riwaslibrary.com\/story\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=16245"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/riwaslibrary.com\/story\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16245\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16248,"href":"https:\/\/riwaslibrary.com\/story\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16245\/revisions\/16248"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/riwaslibrary.com\/story\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=16245"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/riwaslibrary.com\/story\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=16245"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/riwaslibrary.com\/story\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=16245"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}