Daughter of Twin Oaks by Lauraine Snelling Page B

were being told to put her hand into flames. Jesselynn dug in the chest of drawers for a camisole and petticoat and handed them to the shaking woman beside her.
    “Come now, you and I used to play dress-up together, remember? You’ve worn my clothes before.”
    “I know, but dat was playtime. This for real thing.”
    “Just be glad I’m not making you wear that corset.”
    When June finally stood dressed in the black silk dress and a white apron, Jesselynn looked at her with eyes slitted. “You fill it out far better than I do.” She motioned to her chest area. Taking the straw hat off its peg, she clamped it onto June’s head. “Sure do wish now I’d worn a sunbonnet. That way no one could see your face at all.” She stepped back and, hands on hips, nodded. “Go ahead, look in the mirror. What do you think?”
    June fingered the material of the skirt. “I think I done gone to heaven, dis here stuff feels so fine.” She smiled at the woman in the mirror. “Pretty dark for a nigger like me.”
    “Don’t use that word, June. You are a beautiful free woman who is doing Twin Oaks a big favor.”
    Tears pooled in June’s eyes and one slipped down her cheek. “Thank you, Miss Jesselynn, from de bottom of my heart.” She smoothed the silk over her bosom and down to her waist. “I do my best till you gets home again.”
    Several hours later, Jesselynn was wishing Lucinda were half so cooperative. She breathed in wind for a sigh big enough to blow the woman down and let it out slowly. “Lucinda, no matter what we all think and want, I have to take the horses to Uncle Hiram’s in Missouri like Daddy said. I promised. You know that.” While Jesselynn thought this discussion had been taken care of in the kitchen, she was learning otherwise.
    “Oh, lawsy, my baby get herself kilt fo’ sure.” Lucinda threw her apron over her head.
    “Lucinda, please get the scissors.”
    One dark eye peeked over the white hem. “Why?”
    “Just get them, please.”
    Jesselynn had tried on two pairs of her father’s boots before Lucinda heaved her bulk back up the stairs. By stuffing the toes with cotton and wearing two pairs of socks, it looked like she had footwear more in keeping with her new life. Now for the hair. She pulled out the seat to her mother’s dressing table and sat down.
    Handing Lucinda the comb, Jesselynn sat with her eyes closed. “Cut it off short like a man’s.”
    Lucinda took the scissors and comb, all the while muttering and shaking her head. She stepped back. “I can’t do dis thing. Hair like dat, no way, Missy. Lucinda won’ be party to such goin’s on.”
    Jesselynn’s eyes snapped open. She straightened her back and narrowed her eyes, sending sparks bouncing off the mirror and catching her mammy full force. “Will you help me or won’t you? I have to save the horses, for without them we will have nothing after the war is over. You know what marauding soldiers would do to a young woman traveling with fine horses like ours.”
    “Laws, Missy, I can’t cut yo’ hair.” Tears bubbled from her dark eyes and tracked down her cheeks.
    Jesselynn spun on the bench seat and reached for the scissors. “I’ll do it, then.”
    “Den yo’ look like, like …” Lucinda shook her head. “I do it.” Tears flowing, she cut the heavy tresses off at the neckline, then lifted it in sections with the comb and snipped some more.
    Jesselynn gritted her teeth against the hurt as she watched her hair fall to the floor. John had loved her hair, said it reminded him of shimmering silk in the moonlight. All her life she’d had one vanity, and now it lay in pools around their feet. She closed her eyes, pretending it was her mother standing there as she’d done for so many years, combing her daughter’s hair and telling stories of when she was a young girl.
    Oh, Mother, if only you were here now to tell me what to do. I’ve needed you so these last years . Immediately she felt guilt jab her in the ribs.