Everett's weaknesses

“How are you feeling Mother?”
     “I feel fine Everett. Susan and Abba are taking good care of the youngsters and I.”
      “I worry about you mother.”
      “You must not worry yourself dear.” His mother sighed
Mrs. Edwards chuckled before taking a sip of her tea. Caroline shot her a look and back at her twenty-year-old son. Since the last miscarriage two months ago she had been bed ridden every day. The sawbones came twice a week to check upon her. It had been her fourth miscarriage in a year and a half. Now the sawbones advised her not to get pregnant again or she will die.
      “I will stop worrying when father stops trying for another son.” Everett whispered.
      “Do you not have any manners young man? How dare you speak that way of your father?” Margot Edwards hissed.
      “Margot…leave Everett be…he is only speaking the truth.” Caroline whispered.
George did not take the doctors warning well. He became even more mean and determined to have another child. It made Everett’s skin recoil how rude and arrogant his father was towards his mother. Once in a while Caroline would have bruises on her face. Everett had grabbed George by the collar and threatened if he ever hit Caroline or one of his sisters again, he would kill him. Since then, he had never seen any bruises upon Caroline.
      “Father will be the cause of mother’s death if she gets pregnant once more. He does not need another son. I do not understand why I am not enough for him.”
      “Everett please. I do not wish for you to speak poorly of your father.” Caroline sighed.
      “You are not enough young man because you have a softness for niggers. How are you to run this planation when the niggers do not fear the master? You are a poor excuse of a southern confederate man.”
      “I will excuse myself before I saw something rash.” Everett whispered before he got up and left.
Marching outside to his horse he mounted and rode down towards the cottonfields.  He saw Susan helping Jen and Gail two young niggers beat out the rugs. He smiled and wave sat his sister who had seen him as well. He hated Margot Edwards more and more. She was an old hag who was married to one of the meanest slaveowners in Ericksville. As he stopped and looked over the cotton pickers pulling weeds all he could think about was enlisting into the war. Though he knew that would be foolish. He was needed here to protect his family. Suddenly a sweet voice interrupted his thoughts.
      “Good Afternoon Everett.”
Everett turned to see Hadassah a slave girl who was three years young than him. Her hair was tightly curled and hung to her butt. Her eyes were big and brown. Her face was heart-shaped and had a long-jagged scar on her left jawline. She was to him an awfully beautiful young lady.
      “Good Afternoon Hadassah.”
Hadassah smiled and began walking down the patch of cotton plants pulling weeds. The white dirty dress she wore showed her curves on her boney figure. Then she had a dark blue bandana upon her head keeping her dark hair out of her face.
      “You got a new bandana?”
      “Yes, mother made it out of one of Ellen’s old dresses. Susan told her it was alright.”
      “That is good, the old one you had was torn and no longer did it’s job.”
      “How is Miss Caroline doing?”
      “Mother is fine. She has been able to leave her bed the last month. As long as I can keep father from her.”
Hadassah looked at him confused then she nodded before going back to her chores. She knew about George and his infatuation of having another boy.
      “How is your mother doing?” Everett asked her.
Stopping her work, she looked up at him with sadness in her eyes. Dottie was one of the birthing mothers who was not doing well with her current pregnancy.
      “She can no longer leave the birth house.”
Everett looked down at the horse and bit his lip. He knew Dottie had been struggling and felt bad for even asking. Dottie and her father Orin were all Hadassah had.
      “I’m greatly sorry Hadassah...”
      “Everett! Let that Nigger get back to work!” His father hissed behind him.
      Hadassah jumped and quickly continued pulling weeds again. George rode up beside his son glaring at Hadassah. Everett looked up at him angrily.
      “That was unnecessary father.”
      “You keep jawing to that nigger and distracting her from her duties perhaps I should sell her.”
Everett heard Hadassah gasp and turn to see she was shaking. Turning towards his father he let out a deep breath before pointing his finger at him.
      “Naw, you can not do that. Hadassah’s mother and father need her here. Since Dottie is not doing well right now.”
      “Do not bulldoze me Everett! I will do what I want when I want!”
      “Leave her be! I will not let you sell her.”
George grabbed his riding crop and slapped it against Everett’s leg as hard as he could. Everett yelled out at the pain but lost grip of his horse’s reins. Target reared up sending Everett hard into the ground.
      “Keep your lip Hobbled boy!” George hissed before riding away.
Hadassah waited until the master was out of sight before she walked over to Everett who was staring at the ground.