Heart of a Hero (H.O.C. #3)

Chapter 8

1963

Home of Belinda Williams

"How was school today, child?"

"Good! I can't believe the slant they put on Kansas History, though. It's not even a second thought that the Colored population settled here and helped make the State."

"Yes, you're correct there, child."

"So tell me more about Titus. Why did he think Lottie was even remotely willing?"

"Titus, Sophie dear, was a bit confused. He's not out of the picture yet. But first, you need to do homework." Sophie groaned in displeasure.

"I know, Sophie-child. I think homework is an abomination, or did when I was younger; however, it helps you prepare for life and such. Get to work. We'll talk about Lottie, David, Titus, and all of that over dinner."

"Fine." Sophie loped off to her room; lack of enthusiasm evident in her gait.

*****

An hour later, Sophie emerged from her room looking a bit more relaxed. "It's all finished, Grannie B." Sophie, not willing to neglect the proper raising Grannie B. had given her by ignoring the unknown person in the room, greeted the new visitor. "Oh, hello."

"Sophie, meet your aunt Jess. She's actually my aunt." Jess stood on shaky legs with the help of her cane and hugged Sophie. Hugging relatives whether a girl knew them or not was a family tradition, and one Sophie liked most of the time.

"Did you know Nanny Lottie?" Sophie asked, wide-eyed with wonder and hope. She was anxious to get more information, and from anyone with a second or third account of Lottie and David's life would do.

"Did I know Lottie?" Jess looked at Belinda.

"I've been telling her Nanny and Pop's story. We're up to Titus Kirby."

Jess's face fell for a moment, then she appeared to be in deep thought, and finally, she smiled. "Yes, I knew Nanny very well. She raised me. Now, Titus Kirby started out as a friendly sort, but then..."

"He tried to get too friendly. Grannie B. told me that he kissed Lottie. We were actually up to David getting a promotion to Sergeant." Sophie interjected hopefully.

"Then the trouble started." Jess looked at Belinda.

"Trouble? They were already having trouble."

"As Lottie told it, she was pregnant with her first baby just over a month or so when he was promoted. Things got really tough at that point. As I recall, most enlisted soldiers weren't encouraged to get married; David being married to a Colored gal made his life even more difficult. It didn't happen overnight, Sophie, but when it did, things were not easy."

*****

1882

Fort Hays, Kansas

Lottie noticed the sunrise that morning as David rode off towards the fort. It was certainly beautiful that day. The wind was colder than normal, and frost now rested on top of the tall, brown prairie grassland. The animals seemed to be less and less about, no doubt burrowing down in their nests for the winter.

Lottie was thankful for the time she and David had taken to put up stores. From what he had explained, the winter could be out right brutal; the snow would bury one up to the knees, and that vicious wind would cut right through a body that was not properly clothed.

Heading inside, Lottie began her morning chores and cooking. She had resigned from working with Mrs. Dudley. She felt as if most people on the fort and in the town of Hays disapproved. Not that she minded, but she didn't want to make anything worse. Most of the colored women were polite to Lottie, but she'd learned prejudice could come from both sides, and those ladies felt as Titus did: A good colored woman was being wasted on a white man.