Free The Sharecropper Prodigy by David Lee Malone Page B

have killed her.”
                  The doctor looked at Ben, wondering what his mental state must be right now. His own father had just raped and brutally beaten the young lady who was better to him than anyone else on earth. Doc Killian knew about how Rachel had always cared for Ben and spent her own money to buy him books. She had confided in the doctor and questioned him on how a young negro boy, who had everything working against him, could retain knowledge so effortlessly and had such a burning desire to learn.
                  “When can I take her home? George asked.
                  “I’d like to have the ambulance take her to the hospital in Gadsden and have some x-rays done just to make sure she don’t have any broken bones or internal bleeding. I’m pretty sure she has neither one, but we need to be sure. They may want to keep her a day or so. That will be up to them. I had my nurse call and they are sending an ambulance now. They should be here almost any time.” The doctor paused for a moment. “George, she’s gonna need somebody with her almost all the time around the clock for a few days. I know you’re a busy man, so you might want to get one of the ladies from the church, or else hire somebody to help you.” He lit a cigarette and continued, “I know you want to punish the man who did this to her. But you need to concentrate on bein’ there for her right now. Let the sheriff handle that. My nurse has already called him and told him what happened. He’s on his way now to the place Ben said he had him restrained.”
    *****
                  Ben rode with George Winston to the Holy Name of Jesus hospital, about twenty miles away in Gadsden. Not a word was spoken between them for the first few miles. Ben was looking out the window, watching the trees and power poles go by. He turned to George, “Mr. Winston. I would sure appreciate it if you would let me be the one to stay with Miss Rachel. She’s been better to me than anybody on God’s earth, and I want to watch after her.”
                  “Son, you saved her life. That’s payment enough. A woman is probably what she needs to…….”
                  “I promise, sir, there ain’t no lady in the world, black or white, that will take better care of her than me. As for payment, I could never live long enough to pay her back for all she’s done for me.”
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER EIGHT
     
     
                  Rube Evans wrists had deep, bloody gashes where he’d struggled trying to free himself from the bondage his son had put him in. He had almost been like one of those animals caught in a steel trap that chews its own leg off. The back of his overalls were worn almost completely through from pushing himself up and down against the rough bark of the red oak tree. By the time the sheriff found him, he was worn completely out and his mouth felt as dry as a box of powder.  Sheriff Tucker and one of his deputies held their pistols on Rube as another deputy cut the blood soaked rope from his wrists.
                  “Now, Rube. Don’t you try to give us no trouble,” the sheriff said. “If you do, we’ll shoot you ‘fore you have time to blink. You understand me?”
                  Rube didn’t speak. He just nodded his head. A head that was pounding from two hard blows from a thick hoe handle made of seasoned hickory. Rube’s daughter, Nellie, was standing a few feet behind the sheriff. She had come with them to show them where the old shack had once stood. Nellie had ambivalent emotions about the sight of the man before her. On one hand, she was glad he was going someplace where he’d never be able to bother her again. But at the same time, he was her papa, and her mama’s husband. As a father, about the only