The note was written in a scrawl
Chapter 23a) The auction house
He was a pragmatic humorous guy and could hardly wait to get to work in the morning. Eternally optimistic as you’d  expect an auctioneer to be, enthusiastic about the future. Exactly the kind of person Latchy would have as a friend
He was impressed that river boy seemed to know Latchy quite well.

The dark night
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The worries.
By the time Joel got home he was furious that some Nigro would tell him off like that
There was no way he was going take this he got that pulled in the back got out of the car open the garage door when you walk back to the car
Our way back to the car he was stricken his knees were shaking I can catch his breath‘s heart felt like it was bleeding out of his chest who is terrified that he was going to die right there laying in the back of the seat hey lady across the street trying to catch his breath his heart was pounding he thought he was going to die right there. I remembered his father died young only 50. Now he would never see his own children grow up I never find him laying out my car like that.
Thanking about father seem to calm him a little bit
It was a relief that it is feeling better but by the time we got up the house it was a back. He walked in route was in the kitchen and he laid down on the floor and said I feel terrible. Ruth screamed and Jody jumped up out of bed and ran down the steps and got to the kitchen is Ruth was on the phone calling Dr. Mason‘s office.
The office lady kept asking what are you doing what what is going on my husbands laying on the floor he can’t breathe, please send help. Jody set down the floor next to her father trying to rock him and crying. The lady on the phone set ask is he in pain, Joel are you in pain? Joe shook his head wasn’t like that
Joe what’s the matter she wants to know what what’s wrong
They sat at the dining room table for soup as the houseworkers were getting ready to leave.
A few minutes later the house was still, the overnight houselady withdrew to her room down the far hallway.

Dr Mason was agitated by the news of Reverend Diik, and then Bob getting killed. Then a deputy sheriff drove off with two men and never came back.
There were a lot of disturbing things at the same time.
He asked Latchy, what do you think?
She was concerned, but nodded and left it like that for the moment.
She noticed that Bohan didn't mentioned the murders in Blacktown. She wasn't going to say about it, but wondered why the story hadn't gotten around.
Of course the Negroes would be tight-lipped, but it was curious that Trinity seemed unaware. That meant the Klan wasn't aware either, odd as it seemed.
If they attacked Blacktown, it would terrible for Trinity.

Latchy asked Bohan, isn't there usually a fishing tournement each summer?
He said, yes, but it was raining so it was called off this year.
She said, maybe it would be good if the tournement was rescheduled in a couple weeks. Who's in charge of that?
This year it was Wilkerson over at the antique store. Who would guess that stuff he pulls out of old houses would be worth something, but you know people are coming from all over to buy from him.

She wanted to drop the  note and enjoy the feeling but had to read the next line where she saw her own vicarious detachment from the things that she loved.


dr mason visits latchy gray for the night .... the dark night causes them to concern for discuss the deaths and missing policeman
she doesnt mention blacktown murders ... the decide the anual fishing tourneyment would be perfect distraction...

the dark night brought out the men of blacktown


End of abandon....
 Latchy took up charity and entertained men from out of town. Many suited her favor and asked for marriage. She remained unattached for reasons of simplicity, yet wanted to find a new way. Unknown that she wanted release from the bedevilment of her intermingled past, she sought peace. Church could never allow a sinner to reveal without confession, but success at her own endeavor would restore her faith.



It was a dark and lonely memory that caused her to open the curtains and let in the light. It was the 3rd floor window where her husband used to stand and look at the town below. She kept the curtains closed after returning from Mobile and found herself there alone sometimes in the dark.

Not one for impulse and emotional outburst she looked out the window at the downtown church steeples and saw something new.
Trinity needed her
Joel and Ruth followed each other around from room to room trying to stay busy.
Joel finally broke the silence and asked, are you sure Joddie said the Negro was the father?
That's what she said. I guess were going to have another grandbaby.

Joel was in the Klan, of course he was. His father was in the Klan. Business leaders were expected to support society against Negro violations and imorality.
How could his daughter fall into that lewdness? But he had no way of knowing the depth of the depravity, and the choices in his daughter's life.
It was Joddie for all the men in town, and around the state. Whoever wanted the best wanted her, and she was a star.

Joel said, what are we gonna do? 
Ruth knew how the town would treat a Negro baby.
Joel said, maybe Dr. Mason can do something.
What do you mean?
Maybe he can stop it.
Ruth said oh no, how would Joddie feel?

Joel would have to tell Howard, and then how they handle the two small babies together?
Big Harvester might pull back their offer right in the middle of the big change. Maybe he could put it off telling Howard, but Howard would know that a Negro baby would stop a a lot people from doing business with them.

Joel said, well maybe we can send her away until the baby is born and then work things out.
Ruth said, no, we’ve waited for her to come home. She needs us. We can't send her out, not now. Bob just died. No, no, we're not going to do that.

Maggie overheard the conversation from the hall and was confused why her parents weren't happy about the baby?
She came in, and said why do you want to send Joddie away?
Joel looked down and shook his head.
Ruth answered, she told us a Negro is the father.
What? It's not Bob's baby?
Joel stepped in and added, the Negro brought her home. He stole a car and Howard and I saw him chasing after Joddie and Bob on the highway.

Maggie was lost trying to understand Joddie in Crooks Tail, that was bad enough, but now this?
And then wait, a Negro was chasing Joddie and Bob, and Joddie said Bob was hit in the head by somebody. Maybe the Negro did it.
She didn't dare say what she was thinking, maybe she should ask Joddie, but then remembered River Boy said he was trying to get Joddie out of Crooks Tail.
She needed to talk to River Boy first and find out what was going on.

Joel was watching Maggie, and knew immediately that she knew more about this that she was letting on.
Maggie caught her father looking, and tried to hide it, but too late.
Joel said, your friend River Boy probably knows something about this, doesn't he?
Before she could lie, Joel said, he lives in Blacktown doesn't he?
Maggie said, uh I think so.
That got Ruth's attention. She said, you have to tell us what you know.
Well yes, he lives in Blacktown, but I don't know where he is?
Joel said, that's it. I'm going down there tomorrow and talk with those people, and find out what's going on.
Ruth said, no it's too dangerous.
It didn't matter Joel had to do something.

Maggie was thinking she had to find River Boy in Trinnity. She hadn't seen him for several days, and wasn't sure he would be around. She would see him for sure next week when school started, if he showed up.

There was nothing more to say. Joel was mad and afraid. Ruth was confused. The afternoon's conversation laid around in every corner of the house. It was as if the old gloom was back. Maggie was sad that her family was stuck in this misery and just wanted to run away like her sister did.
The dinner table was quiet. Ruth and Maggie took a tray upstairs for Joddie while Joel sat alone.

An errieness began to drift outside as sunset came earlier each night.
Joel looked out the window and said, it looks darker than usual.
Ruth said, let me turn on some more lights, our family needs to stay together.
Joel thought about it for a while and said, you're right, we can't send Joddie out in the darkness. Never again, never. He began to cry, and Ruth joined him.
Maggie was in the other room and felt the same sadness.

+++++++++++++++++++

The same darkness fell upon River Boy and Grandpa.
They were heartened and happy that the repairs were easier than they thought. The old shack was made of barn timber, brick and metal. It was steady as a rock, oh yeah, a few busted shelves and a temporary door made from old sheet of tin, but their fishing rods and skillet were still right there, good as new.

The Upstate Boy solved the problem in Crooks Tail real fast.
Boy Johnson was in charge.
Crackling Green's man Spade caused the problem, so Crackling was done. He couldn't trust his own men, Boy Johnson was after him, Top Hat and his men were after him, so he disappeared.
That put Spade alone in Blacktown. He had gotten Billy to betray Top Hat and folks didn't know why ... but it didn't matter, the mold was already set with prints in the stone and the blood card was dealt again.

Big Mac found Top Hat and his men hiding at the old train depot. Top Hat's shoes had lost their shine and one heel while they were beating Jackle and Ammerson. Some of the boys were barefoot. All of them were hungry.
They already knew Crackling left Blacktown.
They had eyes out looking for Spade and found the people in Blacktown hiding up in the woods from the Klan. Spade wasn't with them.

Late that afternoon, one of Top Hat's boys spotted a smoldering fire behind a house that pointed to the hideout.
The men laid up a plan and waited until darkest night, then crept in and did the job quick before signaling Mac's car.
Big Mak, Top Hat and another big farm Negro rolled in fast, stopping in front of the house.
Two boys came out, opened the trunk and threw in a life sized bundle before the car twisted tires and dust as it leapt forward in the night going to a forever-unknown deep-hole black water swamp.
The alligators bellowed a tune they'd sung before.



dr mason visits latchy gray for the night .... the dark night causes them to concern for discuss the deaths and missing policeman
she doesnt mention blacktown murders ... the decide the anual fishing tourneyment would be perfect distraction...

the dark night brought out the men of blacktown

the dark night

End of abandon....
 Latchy took up charity and entertained men from out of town. Many suited her favor and asked for marriage. She remained unattached for reasons of simplicity, yet wanted to find a new way. Unknown that she wanted release from the bedevilment of her intermingled past, she sought peace. Church could never allow a sinner to reveal without confession, but success at her own endeavor would restore her faith.
She wanted to drop the  note and enjoy the feeling but had to read the next line where she saw her own vicarious detachment from the things that she loved.




The first time together she walked close, pulling out her shirttail, tying it up to reveal aspects of a narrow waist.
With the grasp of opportunity at hand, Bohaan tried to draw her shirt up further until she pushed his hands back.
He advanced.
She pushed away, and said, you can touch when I say.
He withdrew as a gentleman of caliber, owing her the utmost, or more exactly, a heaving upthrust, she gave him two minutes, after which no words followed the unzip and reveal of his own...in full stroke of the magic while she pulled her pants down slightly, revealing a perfect navel that she pushed into the excitement.
The fine doctor, skilled by his means was quite ready when she observed, it's getting wet, then ran her finger across, picking up a taste that she wiped into his sucking tongue.
My god, Bohaan moaned as the trashing of the dam found relief spilling across her navel.
She pushed his head down into the mess where his licked to satisfaction until she pulled him to her mouth.

The festivities continued into the evening without barrier.
The next morning, Dr Mason left before sun-up, always careful to avoid neighbors eyes.