Part One, Chapter Seventeen
Siege
...
The skies rained Death... For thirty-five days a battered Atlanta hung grimly on, hopinf for a miracle...
Then there fell a silence... more terrifying than the poundinf of the cannon...
...
A man was riding down the dirt road. Courtney saw him and ran out of Aunt Dawn's house towards him.
"Stop!" Courtney called with desperation in her voice. "Stop, please stop!"
He did as he was told once he reached her.
"Is it true?" Courtney pleaded. "Are the Yankees coming."
"I'm afraid so, ma'am," said the man. "The army's pulling out."
"Pulling out of Atlana?" Courtney gasped. "Leaving us to the Yankees?"
"Not leavin', ma'am, evacuatin'," said the man. "We've got to before Sherman cuts the McDonough Road and catches us."
"It can't be true!" Courtney exclaimed. "It can't be true! What'll I do?"
"Better refugee south right quick, ma'am," said the man. "If you'll excuse me, ma'am."
With that, he rode off. Courtney turned around and ran towards the house.
"Katie!" she called. "Katie, come here!"
She reached Katie.
"Go pack my things and Miss Zoey's too," said Courtney. "We're going to Tara right away. The Yankees are coming!"
"Yes, ma'am," said Katie as she followed Courtney up the steps.
Courtney ran to her room, but before she opened the door she heard Zoey cry out, "Courtney! Courtney!" That made her run into Zoey's room.
"Zoey, we're going to-" Courtney stopped when she saw how frail and weak Zoey looked.
"Zoey!" Courtney gasped in shock.
"I'm sorry to be such a bother, Courtney," said Zoey weakly. "It began at daybreak."
"But, but..." Courtney stuttered. "But the Yankees are coming."
"Poor Courtney," said Zoey. "You'd be at Tara now with your mother, wouldn't you, if it weren't for me? Oh, Courtney, darling," Zoey reached out her hand, "you've been so good to me. No sister could have been sweeter." Once Courtney grabbed her hand, Zoey pulled her in. "I've been lying here thinking, if I should die, will you take my baby?"
"Oh, fiddle-dee-dee, Zoey," said Courtney. "Aren't things bad enough without you talking about dying?"
Courtney stood up and walked to the door.
"I'll send for Dr. Meade right now," said Courtney.
"Not yet, Courtney," said Zoey. "I couldn't let Dr. Meade sit here for hourse while, while all those poor, wounded boys-"
"Katie!" Courtny called. "Katie! Katie! Come here, quick!"
She ran out of the room to find Katie. She opened the door to her room and opened the door as Katie came out.
"Go get Dr. Meade!" Coutney said urgently. "Run quick!"
"Yes, ma'am," said Katie. Then she added with wonder, "The baby!"
"Well, don't stand there like a scared goat," Courtney snapped. "Run!"
Katie began making her way downstairs.
"Hurry!" Courtney yelled. "I'll sell you South, I will! I swear I will!"
...
Courtney was in Zoey room. It was hot, so Courtney was fanning Zoey.
"Where's that Katie?" Courtney muttered.
Courtney stopped and walked over to the window.
"This room's like an oven already," Courtney said, "and it isn't noon yet.
Courtney looked out the window but didn't see Katie.
"Oh, don't worry Zoey," said Courtney. "Mother says it always seems like the doctor'll never come." She added to herself, "If I don't take a strap to that Katie!"
She sat down for a second, but got back up.
"Oh, Zoey," said Courtney. She walked over to the jug of water and wet a towel. "You know what I heard about Samey Merriwether? You know that funny looking beau of her's. The one with a uniform like ladies' red flannel underdrawers."
"You don't have to keep on talking for my sake, Courtney," said Zoey as Courtney wet her arms and chest. "I know how worried you are."
Courtney heard something from outside and went to the window to see what it was. She saw Katie walking up the path to the house. She was singing."
"Oh, Zoey," said Courtney, "I'll just go and fetch some cooler water."
She picked up the porcelain jug and left the room. She walked halfway down the stairs and met up with Katie.
"You're as slow as molasas in January," Courtney said. "And where's Dr. Meade?"
"I ain't never seen him, Miss Courtney," said Katie.
"What?" Courtney gasped.
"No, ma'am," said Katie. "He ain't at the hospital. A man, he told me the doctor's down at the car shed with the wounded soldiers-"
"Well, why didn't you go after him?" Courtney almost screamed.
"Miss Courtney," Katie said, starting to cry. "I's scared to go down there to the car shed. There's folks dying down there and I's scared of dead folks."
"Oh, you go sit with Miss Zoey," said Courtney. She started walking down the stairs. "And don't you be upsetting her, or I'll whip the hide off you!"
As she reached the bottom of the stairs, she put the jug down and grabbed a staw hat with a green ribbon.
As she left, Katie started singing again and went up to Zoey's room.