The Land by Mildred D. Taylor Page A

boys.”
    â€œWaverly?” I questioned. “Percy and Christian?”
    â€œThey the ones. Came home from school with Robert two days ago.” Her eyes narrowed as she looked at me. “Ain’t Robert told you they were coming?”
    I shook my head. “I haven’t heard from him for a spell.”
    My mama sighed. “Well, anyways, they here.”
    I was puzzled. “Now, why would he bring them home? He doesn’t even like those boys.”
    â€œWell . . . things change,” said my mama. “Robert wanted to invite them here, and your daddy thinking on them losing their mama this year, he gone ahead and invited their daddy and that younger boy too. Gonna be a lotta menfolks round here this Christmas.” She looked pointedly at me. “Hope Robert can find time for you.”
    â€œNow, what you mean by that?”
    My mama started to speak, then turned away to busy herself with something. “Go on and look for him if you want. That’s what’s on your mind.”
    That was what was on my mind, so I left my mama straightaway and went to find Robert. I ended up running into Mitchell instead. “Heard you was comin’ home,” he said.
    â€œJust got back. How you doing?”
    â€œSame as always. How long you here for?”
    â€œThrough the New Year.”
    â€œWell, that’s probably longer than me.”
    â€œWhat you mean?”
    â€œI’m finished with this place. I’m movin’ on.”
    â€œYeah?” I said, somewhat surprised. No matter what Mitchell’s and my differences, no matter how my thinking had begun to change over the years, I still figured this land was home to both of us. “So, where you going?”
    Mitchell shrugged. “Don’t know yet. Just figure t’ go.” At that point Mitchell turned, looking a ways off, and I noticed there was a swelling on the side of his face.
    â€œYou been fighting again?” I said, not fearing to speak my mind to Mitchell any longer.
    Mitchell looked back at me. “Could say that.”
    I grinned. “Other fella look worse, I expect.”
    â€œNaw,” said Mitchell. “I ain’t even hit him.”
    I didn’t say anything to that. Mitchell looked at me in an understanding. It was no secret Willie Thomas, too often to my figuring, took a whip to Mitchell. He was known to put a whip to his other seven children as well, and even to his wife. Though I had no love for Mitchell, I had asked my daddy once if he could put a stop to Willie’s beatings, but my daddy said no. “That’s their business,” he said. “Before the war, maybe I would’ve gotten into it, but now I figure I’ve got no place in a man’s private affairs. Willie’s a good worker and I’ve got no quarrel with him. He runs his family and I run mine.”
    â€œWell, I’ve got t’ get goin’,” said Mitchell, turning his back to me.
    â€œI don’t see you tomorrow, have a good Christmas.”
    â€œYeah . . .” said Mitchell, glancing over his shoulder at me. “You too.”
    When I first started looking for Robert, it was about midday, so I figured Robert and the Waverlys would be back to my daddy’s house for dinner, but they weren’t. My daddy was there now, and Mr. Waverly and Jack were with him. I greeted my daddy, then waited on the veranda for Robert. When dinner was served without him and the other two Waverly boys, I went looking for him again. I finally caught up with him, Christian, and Percy walking on a road off our place headed toward home. They had the Appaloosa with them. The Appaloosa’s head was bent, there was foam on his coat, and he was breathing hard. Christian held the reins. I didn’t even speak to Robert as I hurried over to Appaloosa. “What happened?” I said. I tried to pat the Appaloosa’s head, but he reared back, and Christian dropped the reins. I