Where the Wild Geese Go

By Nancy Glenn Powell

The author engages readers in the Civil War era from the opening pages of this book, vividly depicting the challenges faced by its characters. The story is filled with historical context and fascinating relationships that evolve with depth and authenticity.
The book's exploration of societal norms and women's rights during the period adds an intriguing layer to the plot. The resilience and kindness exhibited by the main characters make them endearing protagonists. The narrative beautifully captures the essence of a community coming together to overcome adversity with heartwarming moments and tense action scenes. Reading this novel gives a compelling glimpse into a tumultuous time in American history while celebrating the enduring spirit of human connection and progress.
Sarah Harper and Jacob Clark have been neighbors since childhood. The Confederates forcefully took Sarah's pa the day her mama died during childbirth, leaving twelve-year-old Sarah and Josie, a freed slave woman, to care for Sarah's baby sister, Rose, and Josie's infant, Lilly. Her pa never returned after the Confederates took him away to fight in the war.
Sarah is sixteen when the war ends. A man comes to her house and tells her he is a cousin and will take over the farm because a woman cannot own property. Jacob and Sarah get married, so the cousin cannot take her home but agrees the marriage is in name only until Sarah turns eighteen or falls in love with Jacob.
Birdie is an Indian girl living alone while her pa has gone to war. Two men take Birdie's horses and chase her with wolfdogs. Jacob and Sarah help her and capture the men. Later, she finds other outlaws in her cabin. They attack her, and she falls, hitting her head and causing a concussion. Jacob and Sarah take the outlaws to the US Marshal in Fort Smith, and Birdie to the hospital.
Jacob and his younger brother take a job cutting wood for the stable owner in Fort Smith. A tree they are cutting falls with a limb, ripping a gash in Jacob's arm. Sarah sews up his arm and helps cut wood until Jacob heals.
The couple helps a doctor who became an alcoholic during the war, and they take two homeless boys into their home. One of the boys kills a man who assaults Sarah and tries to kill her. They receive a reward for capturing criminals and use it to help build a school and church.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Oct 17, 2023
• ISBN: 9798350927047

Book preview

© Nancy Glenn Powell 2023

Print ISBN: 979-8-35092-703-0

eBook ISBN: 979-8-35092-704-7

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Book Cover Design by 100 Covers

Table of Contents

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Acknowledgements

I want to thank my family and friends, especially Evelyn Brown, for help and encouragement.

Dedicated

To David Powell, my husband, for inspiration and support.

Where the Wild Geese Go

~ 1 ~

Twelve-year-old Sarah Harper leaves the schoolhouse with tears in her blue eyes. Her teacher dismissed the children, saying, Since the war moved into Arkansas, the school board thinks it’s unsafe for children to walk to and from school. I hope the war ends soon so you can resume learning. Maybe it will.

The older boys, including Jacob, stopped coming after hearing that the Home Guard took boys leaving the schoolyards. Jacob walked with her to school before the war.

Thoughts racing through her mind, Sarah turns at the road to walk toward her home. No girls live near her, but two boys, new in the area, live past her house. They walk ahead of her, laughing and talking loud. Sarah listens.

The teacher let us go early. Pa and Ma are not expecting us, so let’s explore that cave above the creek where the wild geese land. We might find arrowheads.

Yeah, let’s go. I’d like to find a hatchet. I found two arrowheads on Pa’s old farm.

Sarah’s pa gave her an arrowhead he found in his field. She loves it, and the thought of seeing more intrigues her. She hastens her step to walk closer to the boys. Can I go with you? I like Indian things.

The boys turn to look at her and shrug. The largest one says, You can if you keep up. We’re not going to wait for you. Do you know the location of the cave?

She nods. I know. Pa pointed it out from the creek but told me never to go there alone.

He chuckles. You’re not by yourself. Come on.

Sarah hurries to keep up with the boys, having to hop every few steps not to get behind. The oldest is probably thirteen, almost a foot taller than Sarah, and chubby. His younger brother is slim, like Sarah.

They pause at the creek crossing before jumping from one stone to another. The youngest boy slips and falls with a splash into the rippling water. He quickly stands and walks to the bank without bothering with the rocks. His brother laughs. Sarah does not. She is concentrating on not getting her skirt wet.

The boy who fell pulls off his wet shirt and hangs it on a bush. The skin under his shirt is as white as a catfish belly, much like Pa’s when he pulls off his shirt.

The second boy starts unbuttoning his shirt. Sarah, we’re on Indian land now. Pull your shirt off.

Her eyes open wide, and she steps back a step. No. I’m a girl. Indian girls don’t go without shirts.

The kids do. Take it off if you want to go with us.

No. She turns around and starts hopping back across the stones."

The largest boy follows and grabs the sleeve of her blouse, ripping it at the shoulder as she reaches the side of the creek. She screams, jerks away, and runs.

She recalls a woman at the store telling her mama about boys attacking a girl and almost killing her. The details rush through her mind, and a chill shakes her body.

The boy grabs her arm. Sarah fights, but he hits her with a fist, knocking her to the ground. Her head lands against one of the many rocks on the hillside. She shrieks and goes limp.

Jacob Clark, her closest neighbor and family friend, is hunting in the woods. Hearing Sarah scream, he runs toward the sound. He sees a boy trying to lift her and calling for his brother to help carry her to the cave.

The younger boy says, No, I’m going home. You’re the one who hit her. He runs along the creek and up the hill.

Jacob grabs the boy near Sarah by the back of his shirt collar, pulls him away, and throws him to the ground. If you lay a hand on her again, I’ll beat you to a pulp. Understand?

The boy tries to get up without answering. Jacob grabs him and shakes him. Answer me, you little slob.

He stutters, Yea, yea. I understand. I won’t touch her. Jacob lets go of him, and the boy runs through the woods, tripping over rocks and brush until he is out of sight.

Jacob wets his large, blue handkerchief in the creek and washes Sarah’s face and head, where a red knot forms.

She mumbles and tries to sit.

Sarah, those boys won’t bother you anymore. Sit here a while and wash your face. I’ll walk you home. Jacob is sixteen and much taller than the others.

Sarah mumbles, They go to school. I thought they were friends, and I wasn’t afraid of them. We were going to explore the Indian cave above the creek, but the tall one tried to make me pull my blouse off. I told him no and ran.

She trembles, her chin quivering as if she is going to cry. He grabbed my sleeve and hit me. Thanks for chasing him away. Pa and Mama will be awful mad at me. Pa told me not to go to that cave.

Sarah, maybe you could tell them you walked to the creek and fell, hitting your head. I won’t tell, and I’m sure those boys won’t say a word to anyone. That’s not a lie. It’s just not telling everything.

Okay. Pa will scold me, but that won’t scare Mama as bad. I won’t ever try to come here again. I thought they were my friends, but that boy’s mean. She trembles again and looks away.

Sarah now’s a dangerous time for a girl to walk alone on the road or in the woods. Evil men come into Arkansas, killing and stealing whenever they can, and sometimes neighbor boys do bad things. I wish you would stay home unless your pa or mama is with you.

The teacher dismissed us. I’ll be home from now on until the war is over.

A few days later, Sarah stands inside a wooded area at her North Arkansas home. Spring sunshine glows hot, but the dark shade is cooler under the oaks. Patting her neck, she fluffs her hair, sighs, and pulls a dead leaf from a bouquet of blue wildflowers she picked for her mama. Mama loves flowers.

She can see Pa trying to twist together strands of rusty barbwire. Twice within the last week, the cow escaped the confines of the skimpy fence to graze in the hay meadow. New wire is expensive and hard to find since the war started. Pa will make the old do for now.

Pa stops his chore to look toward the sound of approaching riders. Sarah steps back, deeper into the woods, peeking from behind a tree to see who is coming along the dusty lane. Her heart pounds with fear as men on prancing horses halt between Pa and the barn. Mama told her to hide when strangers stop because war often brings evil men.

A bearded man slides off his horse, Harper, we need you to help us fight Yankees.’ We got a report that a large troop is heading this way.

I’ll join you soon. My wife’s expecting a baby any time. I can’t leave her without anyone to help with the delivery. The doctor left last month, and there’s no midwife to call on.

The man grabs Pa’s rifle, left standing against a post. With a vulgar curse, he orders one of his companions to saddle Pa’s horse, grazing in the lot nearby. That baby will come whether you’re here or not. You’ll go with us or die where you stand.

Pa steps forward, pleading, My wife’s not a strong woman. Without warning, a rifle butt bashes the back of his head.

The man who saddled Pa’s horse lifts him onto it and ties his hands to the saddle horn. As the men ride away, leading Pa’s black horse, the collar of Pa’s shirt is bright red with blood leaking from where the man slammed a rifle against his head.

Terrified, Sarah stands until the men are out of sight. Unconsciously dropping the blue flowers, she dashes toward the house. Her bare feet barely feel the rocks and briers along the way.

Sitting on the edge of her bed with tears streaming, Mama reaches to take Sarah in her arms. Honey, I watched those men from the window. Pa may be gone for weeks or months. I guess you’ll have to deliver the baby.

Sarah stiffens—panic showing on her face. I can’t, Mama. I can’t! I don’t know how to deliver a baby!

Mama wipes tears on a handkerchief pulled from her apron pocket. You’ll have to unless Josie, that slave woman staying at Jacob Clark’s house, will come to help. Go over there right now and ask her. Catch the bay mare and hitch it to the buckboard. Josie’s baby is only two weeks old. She shouldn’t walk that far with a baby so young. Ask if she’ll come to stay with us for a while and help, at least until after the baby comes. Tell her we’ve got plenty of food. Pa made sure of that before the war began.

Sarah stands trembling with wide eyes. What if she won’t come with me?

Beg if you have to. Tell Josie we need help badly and right away. Mama frowns with pain and holds her protruding stomach with both hands.

Sarah catches her breath. Are you alright? Is the baby coming today?

Mama forces a smile, but Sarah notices her hands quivering and another frown as she leans forward, holding her breath before releasing it with a low groan. God will help us. Go on and bring Josie back. She’ll know what to do.

Running through the garden, Sarah yanks a carrot from the ground, knocking off loose dirt as she dashes to grab a bridle from the barn. Luckily, the bay mare was grazing behind the barn where the soldiers couldn’t see her. She lifts her head as Sarah approaches, whinnies, and steps toward the carrot.

Sarah slips the bridle over the mare’s head and leads her inside the barn. While Bay munches the carrot, Sarah hitches her to the buckboard. Without hesitation, they race along the road, the buckboard bouncing and rattling.

Stopping in Jacob’s yard, Sarah jumps off the seat and runs to the house, leaving Bay to graze. The door stands open, allowing the entry of a possible breeze. Sitting in a rocking chair nursing her baby, Josie says, Come on in, child. What’s got you in such a hurry as to run your horse on a hot day like this?

Mama sent me to get you. I think the baby’s coming today, and some men took Pa away. Josie, can you come home with me? Please, you’ve got to help Mama. I don’t know anything about helping a baby to be born. Mama said she wants you to stay with us for a while. We’ve got plenty of food.

Goodness, child, sit here and rock Lilly while I gather some things. I might need to stay a few days ‘till your mama gets back on her feet. I don’t reckon Jacob and his brother will mind. They’re gone most of the time, and those soldiers’ took their pa.

Josie sets a laundry basket full of diapers, blankets, and baby clothes on the buckboard and ties it to the seat with a rope Pa left there for such purposes. Before leaving, Sarah writes a note for Jacob and props it on the table with a book.

Sarah drives carefully on the way home but doesn’t allow the mare time to nibble at grass along the way.

When the buckboard stops in front of the house, Josie steps down, places her baby on top of the things folded in the basket, and starts toward the house. Sarah, I’ll see to your mama. You put the buckboard in the barn and the horse in the pasture before you come inside.

The second Sarah steps inside the house, Josie says, Girl, put a kettle of water on to boil, get me a stack of clean towels, and bring me a pair of scissors. Quick, child, hurry.

When the water in the kettle starts to boil, Sarah takes it along with a clean pan to Josie. She has already given her the scissors and towels. Walking over to Lilly, she pats the baby and shakes the basket to stop her whimpering.

Josie demands, Take Lilly to the other room, change her diaper, and walk outside with her. If she goes to sleep, you can sit on the porch. I don’t need you in my way, so don’t come back inside until I call you.

Sarah, shocked at Josie’s harsh words, leaves the room with a frown. After changing Lilly’s diaper, Sarah walks around the yard, past the barn, back to the house, and finally sits on the porch. When Lilly starts to cry, Sarah walks her around the yard again, bouncing with each step. The moon rises like a giant gold nugget, and stars twinkle, but the grass is dark. Sarah fears she might step on a snake in the yard but walks back and forth on the porch as the hungry baby cries louder. Lilly will no-longer stop her wails for bouncing or singing.

At last, Josie comes out on the porch, takes Lilly, and holds the baby to nurse. Sarah, try to find more towels, sheets, pillowcases, or anything dry that will soak … She stops. The lamplight shining through the open door illuminates her large, frightened eyes.

Opening the screen door, Sarah runs to see her mama before looking for more towels. A tiny baby rests at Mama’s side, sucking on one of her fingers. As Sarah’s eyes grow accustomed to dim lamplight, she notices that Mama is almost the same pale shade as the pillow beneath her head.

Sarah, Mama says, I want you to promise you’ll take good care of little Rose.

I will. I’ll always love her and help you all I can. You’ll need to show me how to … Mama’s head falls sideways, and a rattling sound comes from her chest.

Josie! Sarah screams. Something’s wrong with Mama.

After checking for a pulse, Josie hands Lilly to Sarah. Take Lilly to the porch where it’s cooler. I’ll be out soon.

Lilly shrieks, shaking with each protest for milk.

After several minutes, Josie steps out on the porch, holding baby Rose in a blanket. She drops into a wide porch chair, uncovers both breasts, puts one nipple in Rose’s mouth, and reaches with her free arm for Lilly. Snuggling close, Lilly is eager to finish her supper.

Josie, is Mama sleeping?

Honey, your Mama’s gone to live with Jesus. She wanted to stay with you, but she lost too much blood. God took her to Heaven. She wants you to take care of little Rose. You won’t be able to see your mama for a long time, but she’ll always be watching over you and Rose. I told her I’ll stay here to feed Rose and help you.

Sarah runs inside and kneels beside her mama’s bed. Holding Mama’s hand, tears slide down Sarah’s cheeks as she sits talking for a long time before returning to the porch with Josie and the babies.

The next morning, Jacob and Daniel, his younger brother, arrive and dig a deep grave at the yard’s edge. Josie wraps the body in a quilt and ties a cord around it to hold it in place. The boys lower Mama’s body into the grave. Josie and Jacob say words from the Bible as Sarah kneels beside the grave with her head bowed, holding baby Rose.

~ 2 ~

The Harper and Clark farms are isolated between steep hills north of Fort Smith, Arkansas. It is inconvenient for soldiers to venture into the valley through thick forests of cedar and oak trees to forage on small fields of crops and gardens and too far for old neighbors to volunteer help.

Even though it is difficult, sometimes men find their way into the valley sheltered by steep hills and mountains. One winter day, a man walked into the barn where Sarah and Josie were cracking black walnuts. Immediately, Josie told Sarah to go to the house and stay with the babies.

Sarah started to protest, but the look on Josie’s face and her raised fist told her this was not a situation to question. Jumping up and running out the barn’s side door, Sarah escaped to the house.

When it got late, Sarah fed Rose and Lilly corn fritters left from breakfast and put them to bed. The sky was dark, with stars twinkling, when Josie came inside.

Josie said, "That man’s gone, but he didn’t take the bag of dirty clothes he brought. I knew they would have lice, so I boiled them and buried the bag. Don’t try to dig it up—you’ll get lice if you do.

After I boiled those clothes in the wash-pot, I hung them on the fence. I’ll bring them in tomorrow.

During the war, no one had money to buy clothes, so Josie started wearing that man’s shirt and pants to work on the farm after her dress got threadbare.

He was so sickly looking that Sarah wondered if he fell over dead, and Josie put him in the ground.

In those days, Josie got angry when questioned about anything she said. That night, Sarah didn’t consider asking or think about digging up that bag, but she had plenty of fears.

The following morning, Sarah did ask Josie, ‘Whose blood is on that grubbing hoe beside the barn door?’ Josie got upset, raised a stick, and yelled, ‘Little white girls, looking for things they shouldn’t see, often get hurt."

Afterward, Sarah kept questions to herself but was careful not to walk near that sunken place where Josie said she left the man’s satchel. Lice might crawl out—or a ghost.

Ghosts walked through Sarah’s dreams for weeks afterward. Often, Josie would wake her and calm her screams as Sarah slapped and clawed at invisible lice crawling over her body.

*      *      *

Josie gathered and saved seeds from the old gardens. Each year, they planted them in new rows. Pa had five good milk cows, and Josie knew how to make cheese and butter from the milk. They survived on garden vegetables, walnuts, pecans, the rabbits and squirrels Jacob brought, and the money from selling vegetables,