The Gallant South- Part Two

Chapter XII- May 6-20, 1913

        First thing in the morning, when the sun had barely started to rise, Cora jumped out of bed and hurried down to the mailbox to get the paper, not even bothering with shoes in the balmy morning. She got the paper and looked at it right there at the front gate. Sure enough, everything she'd told Mr. Sherman was right there in the headline. And to her surprise, so was Colby being in the Klan, and even the murders, though the murders were only listed as claims.
        I guess they found evidence of him being in the Klan, Cora thought as she skipped back inside giddily. She showed the paper to everyone as quickly as she could, and everyone was pleased except for Eveline and Masterson, who usually weren't.
        "This isn't going to end well for Alice," Eveline said.
        "But it will in the long run," Cora replied optimistically
        "Let's hope so. For her sake," Masterson said.
        Just a few minutes later, Alice let herself into Cora's house, and she was fuming mad. She had the newspaper in her hand and a black eye.
        "What the hell were you thinking?" she exclaimed.
        "Of getting him back. Everyone believed it, did they not?" Cora asked.
        "Of course they did! Why do you think I look this bad? You've just destroyed his reputation as a kind and benevolent person!"
        "Well he just destroyed my facade and any chance of peace around here," Cora replied. "You know we've gotten stoned three times already? We had to call the police."
        "So you do to him what he did to you?" Alice asked.
        "He won't get killed for abusing you or being in the Klan, unfortunately," Cora replied. "Any of us could get lynched for everything we've done. Like Mary-Ruth."
        "So you're afraid you'll end up like her?" Alice asked. Cora shrugged. "I don't think anyone wants to end up like her. I plan on living a long life."
        "Then maybe you shouldn't have affiliated with these people," Alice replied.
        "I'm not just going to abandon everyone else to keep myself safe!" Cora cried. "I'd make all of these choices over again if I had to!"
        "I know you would, you don't have to say it," Alice replied.
        "What's Colby doing right now?" Cora asked, changing the subject. Besides, she really did want to know how Colby was taking it. If Alice wasn't enough evidence.
        "Trying to undo the damage. Also, he thinks you broke into our house and stole his Klan uniform to give it to the reporters. I did that," Alice explained.
        "So that's why him being in the Klan is in there," Cora replied. "I told the man about it, but he said he couldn't print it without proof. I told him that Colby killed Renee and Nellie Markson and all those people, too."
        "Well hardly anyone in this city is going to believe that even if they wanted to," Alice replied. Cora nodded. "I figured."
        Cora walked through the house and out to the backyard, Alice following behind her. The sky was warm and the air was sunny. There was a light breeze that blew loose strands of Cora's hair around, and blew leaves across the porch.
        "Wish I had a backyard like this," Alice said, looking up at the mountains.
        "Maybe you should spend some time up in the mountains. They're magical," Cora said, leaning on the wooden railing.
        "That sounds silly," Alice replied.
        "Well it isn't. They really do seem to be healing. Especially up at the top, you can see for miles and miles. I can see the whole city."
        "Can we go?" Alice asked. Cora nodded and took Alice's hand, flying through the garden to the back gate. Cora opened it, and they were in the woods. She let go of Alice's hand and ran up the hill, Alice following behind and trying to keep up.
        "How much farther?" Alice asked, just as she saw the sky break through the treeline. They had reached the top. Cora was staring off into the distance, and when Alice climbed up and looked out, she gasped in wonder. The earth stretched out before her magically, the colors of the sunrise stretching across the sky. The city lay below, tiny beneath the mountain. The wind carried Alice's loose hair and birds flew past above. Mist covered the part of the mountain below her, mixing in with the watercolor sky.
        "This is...it's beautiful," Alice gasped.
        "See?" Cora asked. "The mountains are healing."
        "They...they truly are. By God, I really do feel better!" Alice exclaimed in disbelief.
        "We're closer to God up here. A lot closer. Can't you feel him?" Cora asked, spreading her arms out. "All around us. He ain't in a church, or up in the clouds. He's all around us."
        "I never thought of it that way," Alice said.
        "Well now you will," Cora said, inhaling the warm, humid mountain air. There was truly something magical about it. She felt as if there was nothing in the world she couldn't do. It was the most incredible feeling in the world.