by: Delilah Kelly

New Year 1864

Rosco’s leave was over. He had to go back to his regiment, to war, to death. Katrina was desperate to see him go away – maybe forever. They had spent their last night together like two lovers, making love, giggling, talking, making love again… The whole week had been like a dream for the Coltranes. Rosco had deepened his relationship with his son and the little boy was very proud to have a father both a Sheriff and a Confederate officer. When Katrina was not hanging at her husband, MaryAnne would hang at her elder cousin and Rosco did not spend a single minute alone, so much his relatives and his friends were around him.

But he had to leave on this forlorn morning of January. He had bid goodbye to his sister, his mother, to MaryAnne and to Katrina. Once more, Katrina had sewn him a brand new uniform with grey fabric Boss Hogg had managed to find only God knows where. The Coltranes did not bother how he had found the fabric – though the ladies suspected it was through some more or less illegal business of his. The only concern was that Rosco would not be cold wherever he could be during war. Mrs. Coltrane sewn the patch of the Hazzard Regiment she had taken on the old ragged uniform Rosco was wearing when he had come back. Katrina added few more stitches for the captain rank he had reached. Rosco did look much more like a Confederate officer when he left rather than when he had arrived.

MaryAnne had checked his equipment. Her heart was heavy and she still had a very bad feeling about that war. This time, Rosco had been lucky, he had come back for one week’s permission alive and relatively unscathed. But how long will it last ? She crushed her anxiety inside herself mercilessly and compelled herself to have positive thoughts. She wanted to give her cousin the image of a courageous woman – while she felt she had nothing left thereof.

Katrina was no better than her cousin-in-law. She had cried silently but very much like MaryAnne, she had tried to keep her smiling poker face on. She had had the same reasoning as MaryAnne : she wanted to give Rosco the image of a brave girl. She did not want to distress her little boy either. She knew she would have to explain Rosco Lee about his father’s departure. Father and son had gotten along very well and the kid inside Rosco had resurfaced all the most easily with his little boy, when they had been playing on the living-room carpet at night, interrupting the sweet atmosphere distilled by the ladies sewing or reading, with their giggling together.

But these times of happiness were already gone – too fast. Katrina and Rosco went out of the house to bid goodbye once more. MaryAnne was ready with the family buggy to drop her cousin at the Hazzard railway station where he would take the train for Atlanta where his regiment was. She was waiting in the driving seat, in her Deputy Sheriff attire. Rosco had a proud look for her. He knew all too well that his cousin would try to drown her sorrow in work.

But for the time being, Rosco was still in the house. Katrina was checking his uniform a last time, an opportunity for her to touch her husband once more. Rosco took his son in his arms and caressed his cheek. “Rosco Lee, yer the man of the house now. Promise me you’ll take care of all these women, yer grandma, Auntie MaryAnne and yer mama, of course.”

The little boy only buried his head on his father’s shoulder. Rosco realized that the little Coltrane was not fit for the job yet and he had soothing words for him. He ruffled the boy’s dark hair. But when he wanted to put the child down to the ground, Rosco Lee resisted and remained hooked to his father’s neck. He did not want to leave the man that had become his best friend lately. He was even pleading his daddy to take him with him to war.

Katrina felt things were getting out of hand and she told her husband to give her the boy. Rosco Lee left his father’s arms for the safe haven of his mother’s grip. Katrina went to the kitchen, where Mrs. Coltrane was sitting. Rosco heard his wife ask his mother to take care of the boy for few minutes. He heard a child whining too – his own son – and his heart felt oppressed in his chest. Will he see his son again one day?

Katrina came back few long seconds later, alone this time. Rosco read in her eyes her distress for her little boy, her own angst for him, her desperation over separation. She rushed into her husband’s open arms. Rosco held her tight against him. He felt himself pretty anxious but he had sworn in himself not to show it. He took her chin in his hand for a kiss that became quickly amorous and passionate. Then Rosco broke the kiss and parted from his wife’s body a bit hastily. He wanted to put an end to the painful moment of separation – quickly. He readjusted his hat on his head and walked out. But before opening the door, he glanced at his wife.

“I love you, Katrina,” he said gently, a soft grin on his lips.

The young woman had understood intuitively his behavior – avoid each other more pain thanks to a quick departure. She managed to smile at him through her tears. “I love you too, my beloved Sheriff !”

Rosco smiled at her frankly this time, revealing the regular, white teeth that gave so much charm to his grin. Then he walked out and in minutes he was away. Katrina had not had the courage to follow him outside. She only posted herself nearby the window and just watched him go like that, tears now rolling down on her cheeks.
Few weeks later, Katrina realized she was once more pregnant. But this time, she felt anxious. She did not resent the fact she was to have another child. She only thought sadly this one might not know his father. Moreover, she was feeling more and more concerned as to what the future had in stock for her and her kin. The Confederacy’s economic situation had worsened over the weeks. Daily necessities of life were more and more difficult to find. Some folks were now in dire straits either because they could not draw enough income from their own activities, like the planters, either because they were depending on other people to buy their products. The Evanses and the Dukes were more or less in that situation. Fortunately for them, they had farms on their own where they could grow enough food to feed their families on. To top it all off, the Confederate Army needed food and they took it whenever and wherever they could find it.

The Coltranes were not farmers by trade and the situation threatened to get worse. Few weeks after her son’s birth, Katrina had come up with the idea of doing what her own parents were doing on their own lands. She had grown up in a farm. She knew what could be done. She had talked Mrs. Coltrane and MaryAnne into it and the three women had agreed on it. It proved to be a sound idea as food supplies were more and more difficult to get. At least, the family would not starve. Katrina could have also relied on her own parents but transportation became hazardous even throughout the County and she did not want to endanger anybody’s life. Trips were limited to the strict minimum. Only MaryAnne was allowed to travel around the County – she had a Sheriff’s star to protect her, though Katrina and Mrs. Coltrane agreed this was a rather thin protection especially for a lady.

And now with that child to come… how are we gonna make it ? Katrina thought. Of course, she was happy to have this child. Rosco’s child ! She remembered the nights they had spent together during his leave. She softly smiled at herself, thinking of it. They had both made love every night. And now, that was the outcome. She was happy but at the same time, she was afraid for the future. Prospects were grim. The Coltrane household had only Rosco’s and MaryAnne’s income as Sheriffs, to live on. Now Rosco had left his position, income had dwindled. Captain Coltrane was paid irregularly. Boss – under good Lulu’s pressure – was still giving a small allowance to the Coltrane women as Rosco had not resigned officially from his position as County Sheriff, and because Katrina was helping the Sheriff’s Department by doing writs and summons. But he could not give her full wages as a lawman, as Rosco was not there to carry out his duties as such and she had not been sworn in, not even as a Deputy. And the County was getting poorer and poorer, Boss had to admit.

Katrina felt suddenly ashamed. They were living virtually all on MaryAnne’s wages as Deputy. And now there would be an extra mouth to feed. She decided to keep it secret for the next three months. She may lose it after all. No need to alarm the whole household. But Katrina knew the little one would hang on. Coltranes were a tough lot. Besides, it was Rosco’s child and there was no way for Katrina to wish to lose it and even less to get rid of it. She knew also that she had had a lot of milk for her first child. This would allow her to feed the baby for few months – provided she still had milk then. She also hoped she would not be very much sick either, so that she could hide her pregnancy as long as possible. But she knew her mother-in-law would be difficult to cheat as Mrs. Coltrane had born several children in the past. The old lady knew what pregnancies were all about.

Katrina was thus happy to have set up the vegetable garden and she was very proud of the products she could grow on a nice plot of land she had noticed, not very far from the house, half way between the homestead and the forest bordering the Coltrane property. With Spring coming, she worked harder and harder to grow vegetables and feed her kin her own way. It allowed her to let go off her guilt for having another child. Mrs. Coltrane was giving her some help, especially in the kitchen. While Katrina was sowing, gardening and picking up the vegetables, Mrs. Coltrane was washing and cooking them and making preserves thereof, while keeping an eye on a turbulent Rosco Lee when the little boy was not with his mother.

Katrina’s day was not over with the vegetable garden being tended to. She was also still helping MaryAnne a lot with Sheriff’s business, as before. It had become really a routine, though activity on this part had also slowed down too. The Confederacy was getting disorganized and it was really difficult to enforce law. MaryAnne came back at night clearly exhausted. In fact, all three women were exhausted. Katrina had to take care of her child too and she took him with her as much as possible so that he would not bother anybody around. He was only two-years-old and was not much of a help. But her son’s presence was something good for Katrina as Rosco Lee was a constant reminder of his father. The young woman was sometimes smiling at the sight of her son : he was so much like Rosco in his gestures, his looks, his grin – though he had not known his father that much. He even giggled like his father and he was a constant source of joy for everyone in a world falling apart.

But after almost three months of pregnancy, Katrina fainted one day in the vegetable garden she was working in. Fortunately for her, Rosco Lee was there and he quickly ran to the house where he was sure he could find his grandma. Mrs. Coltrane understood something wrong had happened and she went with her grandson to the place where Katrina had collapsed. She managed to take care of the young woman who confessed her then the reason why behind her fainting.

“And for how long have you been pregnant ?” Mrs. Coltrane asked, though she knew the answer beforehand.

“I’ll be three months along in about ten days…” Katrina had a sheepish look on her face. She sighed and a tear rolled on her cheek.

“Katrina, you’re not going to cry. I know you’re braver than that !” Mrs. Coltrane said in a joking tone.

“That’s not the reason, Mrs. Coltrane. It’s only… we don’t have much for ourselves already, MaryAnne’s doing everything she can to feed us all and now… I impose another mouth to feed !” She sobbed frankly this time.

Mrs. Coltrane gathered what lied at the core of her daughter-in-law’s distress. “Now, you’re not gonna have this kind of thought, Katrina Coltrane. Not yer fault if your husband – my son – has made ya pregnant. This is our lot, my pet, to us wives. You can’t go against nature no more than you can’t go against yer husband.”

Katrina had to admit that the elder Coltrane was speaking out of experience. She sighed again. “All the same… how are we gonna do ? There’s already Rosco Lee, now this one… I feel so much like a burden to y’all…”

Mrs. Coltrane made Katrina sit and she sat on the ground with her. “Now, little girl, listen to me. First, you’re not a burden. On the contrary. Yer doing everything possible to help MaryAnne and I can tell ya, she really appreciates it, all that Sheriff’s business yer doing for her. Second, I’ve rarely seen someone as hardworking as ya, Katrina. You feed us with that vegetable garden yer growing,” she said while showing the plot of land around them. “Think of that, but it’s not with what MaryAnne’s paid that we could eat decently. Not with these Confederate bills she’s given.”

“But… I feel so much… ashamed !”

“For having a husband ? For carrying his child ?” Mrs. Coltrane replied. “I for one am very happy to have a daughter-in-law such as ya, Katrina and a marvelous grandson like Rosco Lee. And now another child to come… that’s a bit of joy in this world of madness, think of that.”

Mrs. Coltrane’s words were soothing Katrina’s consciousness. “But what MaryAnne’s gonna say ? She might be angry after me for bringing another mouth to feed into this world.”

“Katrina Coltrane, look at me,” the elder Coltrane replied firmly. “MaryAnne’s gonna say nothing because she’s more intelligent than that. You don’t give her enough credit ! She’s not married but she knows what it can happen to a woman with a husband… above all with a husband like Rosco, so much in love with his wife. She’s no more a little girl, ya know. She won’t say anything. She’s too much concerned about our safety to us all in the County to brood over a child to come in her household. Now, let’s come back home. You need rest, won’t do you any good to work like a slave here. Rosco will have our hides, mine and MaryAnne’s, if he knows you had a miscarriage.”

Katrina was too much exhausted to resist Mrs. Coltrane’s firm grip on her arm. But she thought she would hush up the whole matter to him, should a miscarriage happen. She let her lead her back to the house where she spent the rest of the afternoon in her bedroom. First a nap, then a bit of sewing and no writs to finish for the Sheriff’s Department, not so that much urgent. Mrs. Coltrane had promised her to take care of Rosco Lee, so that she could be on her own up to the evening.
News were definitively bad as the year elapsed. There had been months since Rosco’s departure and no letter from him had reached Hazzard. The Coltrane women were more and more anxious about him. Lulu was crying every time mention of her ‘baby brother’ was made. Mrs. Coltrane had retreated in silence, as if she was already mourning her son. MaryAnne was becoming more and more like her elder cousin but not for the better : always gruff, often impatient, sometimes bully with folks that dared infringe the law in the County. Katrina tried to keep up faith and appearances, first for her son, but inside herself, things were crumbling and she considered more and more she may end the year as a widow. Rosco Lee was more than ever asking for his father and sometimes, Katrina could feel her eyes were watering up.

Their material conditions had deteriorated considerably. The Confederate Army had depleted them with most of their food, to the point that Katrina and Mrs. Coltrane had decided to hide everything of value in the well behind the house. The silver crockery, the fine linen, jewels and the like, all found their way there, carefully wrapped and stored there. Katrina had also designed a place where they could hide food supplies from the Army’s greed, though she understood soldiers had to eat in order to fight a war – a war she deemed no more winnable at this stage.

Katrina’s precautions were justified. She had not minded giving food to the Confederate Army as long as they had something left for themselves. But this was less and less the case. Fortunately, Confederate soldiers were not raiding houses and they only took what was visible – and still very politely, almost apologetically. For some time, the food stored in the house basement remained untouched.

Katrina spent a lot of time trying to mend their garments. She had also trouble in getting fabric to make clothes for her growing son. The little boy was going around most of the time like one of these poor Whites… Katrina was ashamed of that situation as she had never imagined her son would be going around like that one day.

Her girth was growing too and soon she had to stay at home. Mrs. Coltrane was helping her as much as possible and both women went at day break to pick up vegetables before the heat became too strong. Fortunately, Katrina was young and in good health. She could endure many things but it became more and more difficult for her as her pregnancy approached its end.

July 1864 was witness of big battles in Northern Georgia. Rumors lasted all Summer about Atlanta on the verge of falling. MaryAnne had discussed the matter with Katrina and she was afraid that should Atlanta fall, all Georgia would be open to the Union Army. The Yankees would seek food for themselves too and they would not be as understanding nor polite in their requests as the Confederate Army was. After all, Georgians were the enemy… That meant they would search the whole house and find the food in the basement. Then Katrina came up with an idea: What about burying the preserves in the ground? All three Coltrane women rallied to this idea and they hid their preserves in the ground, scattering them around the house and planting flower-beds above – doing so at night.

Atlanta fell early September 1864 and soon Yankee troops were all spreading all over Georgia. By mid-September, MaryAnne received notice from neighboring Counties that the Union Army was on its way to Hazzard. She decided to warn her citizens. She took something to eat with her and left the Coltrane homestead early in the morning on her horse.

On that day, Katrina’s water broke and by the time she was well into labor, Yankee soldiers surrounded the house. They were numerous and they were searching for food and valuables to loot. They only found an old woman holding a little boy in her frail hand. A Union officer came to her and had asked her if she was living alone in the house. Mrs. Coltrane was about to reply when a piercing shout came from upstairs, soon dying out in a painful moan.

“Who’s living here with you ?”

“My daughter. She’s sick,” Mrs. Coltrane replied with dignity. “But don’t you dare go upstairs !” She did not want them soldiers see her daughter-in-law in childbirth. No lady worthy of that distinction deemed the matter to be discussed with a man, and even less with a stranger. No question for these Yankees to witness that !

The officer gestured one of his men to go upstairs to check. Mrs. Coltrane knew she could not do anything against that. These Yankees had no good manners nor decency at all ! She only held tight her grandson’s hand in hers, praying silently that nothing happened to an already exhausted Katrina.

The Yankee soldier came back quickly. “There’s only a woman upstairs and apparently… she’s with child… giving birth…”

The officer peered at Mrs. Coltrane. The old woman sustained his gaze with as much as dignity as possible. She felt ashamed that a man – a stranger, an enemy of sorts moreover – had seen her daughter-in-law in that condition. When Rosco knows about that… she started to think before realizing the vanity of her thought. And MaryAnne’s nowhere to be found… Oh my God ! Help us through that !

The Yankee officer broke the silence. “Your daughter’s giving birth…” he said while stroking his beard. “Mmmm…” His eyes showed he was brewing a plan regarding the house as his eyes were now looking around him.

Another shout from the bedroom upstairs. This time, Katrina was calling her mother. Mrs. Coltrane did not know what she could do. She only knew she had to go upstairs to assist her daughter-in-law. Maybe there was something wrong this time. She did not remembered Katrina shouting like that for Rosco Lee.

The officer looked at her again and somehow, he must have felt her uneasiness. Mrs. Coltrane decided to go upstairs as if everything was normal in the house. “Where do you go ?” the officer asked.

“Assist my daughter. She needs me ! Haven’t ya heard her calling and shouting ?!”

He looked at her again and summoned one of his men. “Go and fetch the doctor ! Tell him there’s a woman here with child ! Quick !” he snapped at him. “You may go, madam,” he told her gently. Mrs. Coltrane did not insist and she went upstairs, Rosco Lee in her wake.

She opened her son’s bedroom and saw Katrina in the bed, her green eyes exhausted with pain, embedded in a pale face. She told Rosco Lee to go to MaryAnne’s bedroom and stay there until further notice. The little boy obeyed, too much afraid of the blue soldiers. Besides, when his grandma had this look in her eyes, he knew he’d better obey. Then she rushed to her daughter-in-law.

“Oh Katrina ! What’s happening this time ?”

Katrina clamped her mother-in-law’s hand and had a poor smile for her. “I don’t know… ‘Tis terrible… I think… ‘tis gonna be much more painful this time than for Rosco Lee…” She screamed another time. Her other hand was clasping the bed head. “Do you think… it may not… come… normally ?” she asked her mother-in-law with anxiety in her eyes.

Mrs. Coltrane removed the bedcover and put her hands on the young woman’s belly. It did not seem to be the case. But it may be the case. But she suspected that Katrina was simply too much exhausted, due to the heavy works she had carried out during her pregnancy, and that must have made childbirth even more difficult and painful.

“Katrina… don’t worry… just know one thing… the Yankees downstairs… they’re gonna send a doctor fer ya…”

Katrina clamped her mother-in-law’s forearm. Her gaze was intense. “They’re here ?!”

“Yeah. They’re in our house. I hope they won’t…” Mrs. Coltrane bit her tongue: she did not want to alarm her daughter-in-law uselessly. “I hope they won’t find our food supplies.” She was about to say ‘I hope they won’t burn our house.’ She had heard stories reported by Boss Hogg and confirmed by MaryAnne. In some Counties, the Yankees had burnt houses to the ground.

“Where’s Rosco Lee ?”

“He’s safe in MaryAnne’s bedroom. Don’t worry. I don’t want him to see you like that. That’s not a sight for a little boy.”

Katrina approved with a nod. She felt better with her mother-in-law at her side. Mrs. Coltrane found a towel she wetted and stroked Katrina’s forehead with it. She remained with her, encouraging her, up to the moment when the Yankee doctor arrived.

He was welcomed with a shout from Katrina in the pangs of pains. Mrs. Coltrane had a defying glare for him, as if she wanted to tell him ‘Don’t kill her or else!’. He ignored it and just introduced himself. “Captain Latimer, military physician.” He went to Katrina’s side and put his hands on her belly, assessing the situation. Now, Mrs. Coltrane was watching him with a worried look. She wondered too if this doctor was not a physician in civil life.

“So, Doctor, what’s happening ?”

“Is it her firstborn ?”

“No, her second baby. She had an easy birth the first time. I don’t understand.”

The Yankee doctor put a gentle hand on Katrina’s forehead. The young woman was suffering so much now that she just did not care that the man wore a blue uniform. “Everything’s gonna be alright, madam.” He took her hands in his to examine them. The hands of a working woman. “You worked a lot lately, didn’t you ?”

Katrina nodded yes. She realized that this may be in relation with her present pain.

“Just don’t worry. I’m here. Everything’s gonna be alright. You’re just tired.” That was not the only reason. The woman he had in front of him was looking frail, a frailty most likely due to a poor feeding. The Union Army had met many undernourished folks, who had barely enough to eat.

“The… baby ?” Katrina whispered.

“The baby’s okay. It’s in a good position. It’ll just take a bit of time to be born. You’re not very strong for the moment, but you’ll go through it, don’t worry.”

His tone was most reassuring and Katrina relaxed a bit. Her features were less tense and she surrendered to the physician’s expertise. Mrs. Coltrane asked him what he may need and that she was ready to assist him. He smiled at the old lady and gave her instructions with a soft tone. He also looked at her petite frame and he told her she should not hesitate to ask one of the soldiers downstairs to help her bring things upstairs if she could not do so. Mrs. Coltrane disappeared and Katrina remained alone with the doctor.

“Doctor… help me… get me something… please…” Katrina showed him an object she gestured him on the nightstand. The physician looked over there and saw it. He was surprised by the object the young woman was showing him.

“This ?”

“Yeah.”

He took it. It was a shiny silver star engraved ‘County Sheriff’ on it. He put it in his patient’s hand. He had gathered that it may help his patient, like some lucky charm of sorts. “Is there a Sheriff in your family?”

Katrina nodded. “My husband… He’s our County Sheriff…”

“And where is he now ?”

“Don’t know… Haven’t heard of him for months… nine months…” A tear rolled on her cheek and the doctor thought that the childbirth was made difficult because of the anxiety over her husband she was feeling for so long. He wiped her tear with the wet towel. Exhaustion, poor feeding and conditions of living, angst, had made childbirth a process even more difficult that it should have normally been. The Yankee doctor gathered that the Sheriff was now enrolled in the Confederate Army too. He was probably dead by now. The woman was probably a widow now and her child would never know its dad. He did not like this war. That was the reason why he had jumped on the occasion to help a woman give birth, after all these wounded and dying soldiers he had tended to these last two months. Giving life was a change he welcomed most gleefully. And after all, there was no other emergency around – for the time being.

At dusk, the Coltrane homestead sounded with the voice of a new life. A baby girl was born to Katrina and Rosco. Katrina remembered a female first name Rosco was particularly fond of: Victoria. So she decided to call her daughter as such.

Now the young woman was sleeping in peace after breastfeeding her baby. Fortunately, Katrina had milk and this relieved her of the guilt she had felt since she had learnt she was pregnant. The doctor was very firm with her too : she had to rest for two weeks at least. Mrs. Coltrane was also told thereof and she approved the orders with some kind of relief. She promised the Yankee doctor she would see to it his instructions would be carried out to the letter. She went to fetch Rosco Lee for him to see his mother and his little sister. The little boy was tired and his grandma let him sleep with his mother in Rosco’s big double bed.

But the baby’s birth had an unexpected consequence too. The physician had made a report to the Yankee officer that had summoned him and who was now sitting in the lounge downstairs. He pleaded that the young mother could not be moved. The officer agreed to that. He had first planned to burn this house but he changed his mind when he heard the physician’s report. One house more or less, what importance to him, after all ? Besides, there were only this young woman with her newborn baby, an old lady and a little boy. The physician had also said nothing about the position of the house’s owner: a County Sheriff.

Katrina, her mother-in-law and MaryAnne would never know it. Thanks to the newborn baby, the Coltrane house would be still up on the day after…
Atlanta’s fall in early September had launched Sherman’s march through Georgia, the infamous ‘march to the sea’ which would lead him and his troops up to Savannah. Hazzard County was in the Union Army’s way and not to be spared. Few days before, MaryAnne had intercepted several news from different people, news informing her that once more, the Yankees were about to invade the country, even more ferociously than they had done so two months before. Despite no system of official news was set up, accounts were circulating about Sherman’s army and their exactions. Terrible accounts. These folks are bad news! BAD NEWS! the young Deputy could not help thinking. She had to do something – and quick. She was the only person responsible now in the County for her citizens’ safety.

MaryAnne was patrolling in the County when she saw them Yankees. First she was seized with terror. Then she realized that she was most likely the only Hazzard citizen to witness the entrance of the Union Army in the County. She made a snap decision. She spurred her horse and left in a gallop towards the nearest plantations and farms to warn the folks there that the Yankees were coming. She went to the Davenport farm, the Partridge plantation, the Duke farm, the Avery plantation, the Strate farm, the Evans farm and also made her way to her own home. During her quick patrol, she had drawn the Yankees’ attention and several bullets were fired in her direction – none of them to reach her though.

Once at home, MaryAnne instructed her kin to hide everything of value – that included food. Mrs. Coltrane decided to lead the buggy horse and the goat to the swamps nearby. Katrina told her cousin-in-law that all the silverware and other values were already hidden in the well. The preserves were still buried where they had been two months ago. MaryAnne grinned at her and left the house.

“Where ya going, MaryAnne ?!” Katrina exclaimed, worry could be heard in her voice.

“Gotta go warn other folks !”

“Be careful !” Katrina shouted. But MaryAnne was already gone. This girl’s gonna get herself killed ! Katrina sighed. Rosco’ll never forgive me that, letting her go like this…

Mrs. Coltrane left quickly for the swamps. She was also carrying jewels on her as well the property titles in her petticoats. She used to joke about it, explaining that paper was an efficient way to keep warm. Katrina promised to follow her there soon with the baby and her son. Rosco Lee was too much afraid to even think of going with his grandma.

Katrina checked the house and the dependencies in case something valuable had been forgotten. The well was closed and even if the Yankees wanted something, they would have to find a way to bring everything back to the surface as MaryAnne and Katrina had struggled almost a whole Sunday to make the hauling mechanism ineffective. The item was missing now – in fact carefully hidden somewhere in the barn.

Katrina quickly came back upstairs to pick up her baby. She had few dollar bills and coins she was hiding in her baby’s diaper when she heard noise outside. My God ! The Yankees are already here ! She made it quicker and hid her wedding ring and other jewels she was wearing, a necklace and her earrings – a wedding gift from Rosco – inside the diaper. She took her baby with her and went downstairs in a composure as dignified as possible. A lady’s dignity was sometimes a convenient way to hide fear.

Katrina reached the last step downstairs when the Yankees entered the house. They all met in the lobby. She felt her son gripping her large skirt, searching for her legs. She realized suddenly that she was alone now in the house, alone with a baby in her arms and a frightened little boy at her side. Katrina felt terror overwhelming her slowly but surely this time.

A officer with harsh grey eyes entered the house. His eyes fell on the woman and the two children. He came closer to them. Katrina was frightened but she remained steady on her feet, motionless. If I move backward, I’m lost ! She did not want them Yankees to see she was afraid.

“Are you alone here ?”

“I am,” Katrina replied with an icy tone that amazed her.

The officer was watching her intently. Apparently, he had a soft spot for lovely ladies… Katrina felt it and she emphasized her ladylike, dignified composure.

“These are yours ?” he asked while pointing his fingers at the children.

“Yeah. My children.” Her tone was still very icy. Katrina realized that her children’s presence may protect her after all.

The officer barked orders around, dispatching his men all over the house. She could hear furniture being moved, mattresses being turned upside down, things being thrown away and crashed to the ground. She tried to remain unflappable at the damage being carried out. She held tight her baby against her breast and her hand searched her boy’s head, both to feel him and reassure him.

The Yankee soldiers came back. “There’s nothing here, Captain !” they reported.

“Nothing ?”

“Nothing, Captain. No food to eat, no value, no money, no jewels, nothing. Most likely the fury we saw running on a horse musta raised the alarm !”

Katrina thought that was MaryAnne and hoped nothing had happened to her. Rosco would never forgive her for such a thing. The thought of her cousin-in-law gave her a bit more courage. The look in the Captain’s eyes showed Katrina that he was here to plunder. She suddenly felt afraid for the whole house. They may burn it down to the ground out of despite. Her gaze crossed the man’s grey eyes. His gaze on her became cruel.

“Take her children from her !” he barked at two of his men.

“NOOOOO !” the unfortunate woman screamed. “Leave my children alone !” A third soldier came behind her to seize her by the arms as she was opposing some kind of resistance. A look of terror appeared in her green eyes. Katrina was afraid – for her children first. The baby started to cry while Rosco Lee opposed a fierce resistance, yelling like mad, hitting the man who was carrying him with his little fists and feet.

The commotion lasted for one or two minutes. Then the Captain came to her. “Is that all you have then ?”

Silence fell on them all. The man holding Victoria seemed to be gentle and obviously used to hold babies. It crossed Katrina’s mind in a flash that the soldier was a father. She glanced at Rosco Lee and saw that the little boy was not manhandled though held back firmly. I have to be brave otherwise they’re gonna be even more frightened than they already are! she quickly thought. The sight of her children gave her courage and she retrieved her coolness.

“Your armies paid us a visit already, two months ago,” she coldly replied. “They took everything then.”

“Oh, I see,” the Captain said with a smirk. “But not everything yet,” he ended with a cruel smile. He suddenly grabbed her shirt and tore it open, enough to discover her petticoats and her white, soft skin. Katrina was now too much in control of herself to scream. She was lucid like she had rarely been ever before. She was well aware what her fate could be at the hands of these men. She closed her eyes and swallowed hard. If it can keep my children alive and the house intact, so be it !

She opened her eyes when she felt the Captain’s fingers on her skin. She could not refrain from moving backwards then. The man had his fingers in her corset, almost between her breasts.

“How interesting !” he snarled when retrieving an object Katrina had preciously kept under her garments. “Since when does a woman bear… a Sheriff’s star ?!” His tone was mocking.

Katrina remained silent. A Sheriff’s star was made of silver and could be worth stealing. But that was an object she did not want to leave to them Yankees. But she did not know how to explain her having this star. She bit her lips and lowered her gaze to the object between the Union captain’s fingers.

“Answer me !”

Katrina felt she was on the verge of crying. I won’t surrender. They can burn the house, I’ll stay in the house, they’ll have to burn it with me ! As she was still silent, the officer slapped her face.

“Hold her tight,” the captain said “I’m gonna teach her a lesson !” His eyes were cruelly gleaming. Katrina was terrorized but she managed to show nothing of her terror.

“You have children, where’s your husband ?” the captain asked suddenly.

“I don’t know…”

“Serving in the rebel army, I suppose ? I’m gonna show what Northerners are made of !”

The soldiers around had understood the words and they leered at her. Katrina felt her blood icing in her veins. She was now well aware of what her fate was going to be shortly. She had a thought for her children, especially Rosco Lee. The little boy was old enough now to remember things and she did not want him to be a witness of that.

The captain was very close to her and Katrina could feel his breath on her neck when he put his hands on her waist. The other soldiers leered and she gathered they would like to get their share of her after their officer did.

Suddenly, there was some noise outside. Katrina did not record the fact up to the moment she heard another voice.

“Captain Dunham !” a deep male voice called from under the porch. Katrina gathered this was the name of the man about to rape her. The officer released her and she raised her gaze to see who had just interrupted her ordeal.

A middle-aged man with piercing brown eyes and a graying beard entered. He was obviously of a superior rank, at least above the captain. “Captain Dunham, what’s happening here ?!” he asked harshly.

“We found a rebel here with rebel children too. Moreover, she was bearing this,” he told his superior officer while showing the Sheriff’s star to him.

The high-rank officer took the shiny object in his hand and checked it for few seconds. It was indeed a Sheriff’s star and though he did not smile, his eyes were gleaming with an unexpected interest. Katrina could have sworn it.

“Where did you get it, madam ?” he asked her with a civil tone.

Katrina would have remained silent in front of the captain’s brutality. But she was more willing to answer now. She could not have told the reason why she was feeling more confident with that man. Anyway, now she was willing to answer.

“I didn’t steal it. It belongs to our family.”

“Your family ? Is there a Sheriff in your family then ?”

Katrina lowered her eyes and nodded. “My husband… But don’t ask me where he is ! I don’t know… Haven’t heard of him for almost one year…” She felt her heart oppressed in her chest and her eyes welled up. She realized she may have to consider Rosco lost forever. The silver star was everything left to her from her beloved husband – beside the two children.

“Your husband’s a Sheriff…” the officer said thoughtfully. He looked around him as if to assess the house in a glance. “And these are the Sheriff’s children, I suppose ?”

Katrina nodded. Her eyes were still set on Rosco’s star in the officer’s hand.

“Colonel, what should we do for the house ?” Dunham asked. His eyes were glinting with the prospect of another house burning. He would take care of the woman later…

The Union colonel did not answer. He only looked at the two men holding Katrina’s children. Then he approached the young woman. Katrina compelled herself to sustain his gaze. Contrary to the captain, the colonel did not look cruel. He still had the star in his hand.

“Is your husband the County Sheriff or a Deputy ?” he asked with a soft tone.

“He’s our County Sheriff. He…” Katrina felt a big lump in her throat. “Oh Colonel, that’s probably all that’s left of him for my children ! I wanted to give it to my little boy…”

Tears were now frankly rolling down her cheeks. Katrina had just admitted in herself that Rosco might be dead by now.

“Look at me, young lady,” the man said while taking her chin in his fingers. But his gesture was gentle. “I’m a Sheriff too, in my county in Michigan.” When he was sure he had Katrina’s attention, he took her hand in his and put the silver star in it. “From one Sheriff to another. Your little boy can be proud of his father.” He closed Katrina’s fist on the star, gently, and kept her hand in his for a while. His hands were warm, his grip reassuring.

Without a glance at the men around, he gave them orders. “Give her back her children !” The soldier holding Rosco Lee released him and the little boy rushed to his mother. Katrina felt his tight grip on her skirt, searching for her legs. The Yankee colonel released her hand. She knelt down to her boy to reassure him with a hug. “Rosco… take this… your daddy’s Sheriff’s star… ‘Tis precious, love, be careful.” The little boy looked at his mother and saw her crying while she was pinning the silver star on his garnment. For a second or two, Katrina could see her own husband in her little boy’s features – he was indeed the spitting image of his father.

She stood up to take her daughter. The other soldier carrying Victoria put the baby back in her arms gingerly, with a grin. Katrina read in his eyes that he missed his own children somehow and few seconds she hoped this Yankee soldier would make it home anyway, so that he could see his children again. She whispered a ‘thanks’ to him as he had been careful and the baby had not cried while in his arms.

Then the Colonel turned his face to the captain. “I didn’t forget your question as to the house, Dunham.” He paused during seconds that were an eternity for Katrina. He set his stately gaze on her once more. Then he watched the boy. Maybe this is the future County Sheriff – in a few years, he thought. “This is a Sheriff’s house, Dunham. There won’t be nothing done here, no looting, no burning, nothing, do you hear ? We have to move on.”

The colonel ordered the men to evacuate the house. Dunham set his cruel grey eyes on Katrina a last time, as if to say ‘I’ll come back one day – for you only, no matter what’, which left a sour impression in the young woman’s mind. His lustful gaze would pursue her during her nightmares. Then he left. The colonel was alone with Katrina and he smiled at her genuinely. “The war should be over in a few months. I hope your husband’s back one day. For you, for your children and for the County.” He went out and few minutes later, silence fell all around.

They were gone. Katrina was alone again in the house, her baby in her arms, her little boy by her side, the house still intact and herself unscathed. For few long seconds, she had the odd feeling that she was to live the same event again and again, that the Yankee troops were about to enter the house, as they had few minutes before. Then she came back to reality. The reality was that, thanks to the Yankee colonel and Michigander Sheriff, she had escaped a horrendous fate, and the house was still up. What did he say ? This is a Sheriff’s house…

Katrina realized at this precise second that she and her children were safe and the house intact thanks to a little silver star now pinned on her boy’s shirt. She looked at it and suddenly, she remembered what Rosco had told her when he had entrusted it with her.

A token of my love fer ya. Besides, it’ll protect ya.

Katrina did not know whether Rosco had foreseen the future or not then. But he had been right on one point : the shiny silver Sheriff’s star had indeed protected her, her family and their house.
MaryAnne came back few minutes later. She found Katrina sitting on the steps, under the front porch, breastfeeding her baby, and Rosco Lee sitting beside her quietly.

She had been a witness of what had been going on. She was back home but when she had noticed the Union troops were there already. She did not know what to do then. She did not want to let them burn the house without an honest fight. But at the same time, she was well aware that they had seen her riding cross country to raise the alarm. They would consider her as a rebel spy and kill her on the spot. Wisdom had ordered her to back off and she had hidden in a clump of trees nearby the house, crucified as she could be by the prospect of seeing her kin being assaulted and her home burning to the ground – in total powerlessness.

But MaryAnne was not at the end of her surprises. She had thought that there was no Coltrane left in the house, that everybody had sought a better refuge elsewhere. Much to her amazement, she had first seen the Yankee troops leaving the property without burning it, and then Katrina and her children going out of the building. For a second or two, she had hoped nothing had happened to her cousin-in-law but apparently, no, though her shirt was torn apart. MaryAnne had decided to go and see her when she had seen her breastfeeding the baby.

Rosco Lee noticed the young Deputy first and he ran to her, letting no time to Katrina to warn him. MaryAnne knelt and welcomed her little cousin with arms open. The boy rushed into them and held her tight as if he needed to be reassured. And he did indeed ! Katrina was watching them and a smile appeared on her exhausted face. She hailed MaryAnne from the distance and waved at her. The Deputy scooped up the boy and noticed then only that Rosco Lee had his father’s Sheriff star pinned on his shirt. She grinned widely and congratulated him.

The two women were soon reunited and they hugged each other out of relief. Then MaryAnne asked Katrina what had happened that her shirt was torn apart and the house still intact. She was afraid of the sacrifice her cousin might have done… Katrina told her everything. Captain Dunham’s cruelty and want for her. The Colonel, a former Sheriff in Michigan, who had saved her from rape and had spared her house, on account she was the County Sheriff’s wife. “He told me… ‘From one Sheriff to another’ and he gave me back Rosco’s star. I had told him that…” Her voice became frail, lost in emotion. “… that… that was everything I had left of Rosco… that I kept his Sheriff’s star for my little boy…” She burst out in tears and MaryAnne hugged her against her in a tender gesture. She understood what her cousin-in-law meant. Almost one year with no news from Rosco. Not even a small note. MaryAnne feared her cousin may be right too. She was dead worried and had drowned her anxiety in work. She understood the reason why Rosco Lee was now wearing the Sheriff’s star. She had a sad thought for the boy. Will he see again his father ? Will I see ya again, Rosco ?

Both women remained as such for long minutes, Katrina weeping on MaryAnne’s shoulder, her tension slowly releasing, her baby girl still suckling her breast. Rosco Lee was clinging to his elder cousin.

“You been real brave, Katrina,” MaryAnne said softly. She meant it. “You saved the house. I’m proud of ya. Gimme the baby.” She took Victoria in her arms once the baby was done with suckling, while Katrina digged her petticoat from under her skirt and dried her eyes with the hem. Suddenly, MaryAnne felt something in the baby’s diaper. She undid it and found Katrina’s earrings, wedding ring, some coins and bills. She had a genuine laughter – the first in ages.

“Oh Katrina ! Only you can resort to this kind of ideas to hide valuables !” she managed to say eventually.

Katrina sniffled and looked at her cousin in amazement. MaryAnne smiled at her. She wanted to tell her she would tell Rosco everything but she refrained from mentioning Rosco’s name lest this may trigger off another outburst of tears. Katrina read all the admiration possible MaryAnne had for her. She blushed.

“MaryAnne… I don’t know if everything’s over… The colonel, he said the war should be over soon. But there’s another thing. The captain that was here, he wanted to assault me and I think… one day, he’s gonna come back, one way or the other.”

The words simmered down MaryAnne’s previous joy.

“You sure ?”

“Not really, but the way he was looking at me. He was real disappointed that his commanding officer ordered him not to burn the house. He could not have his way with me either.”

MaryAnne sighed deeply. “I don’t know when this whole mess’s gonna finish. I hope it’s gonna be soon, I’m fed up. I’d like to have a normal life, ya know. Many folks here are exhausted. Exhausted and hungry. By the way, where’s Aunt Abby ?”

“Oh good grief !” Katrina exclaimed, unaware she had used one of Rosco’s catchphrases. “I think she must be hiding in the swamps. She was waiting for us there, she must be worried sick over us now !”

“Let’s go then. No, wait, got a better idea. You go and I’ll stay with Rosco Lee and Vicky. You need a good walk. I’ve got my gun with me, should I need to defend the house.”

“You sure ?”

“Go, Katrina. It’ll do you good to walk. Go.”

Katrina obeyed her cousin. MaryAnne was right : a bit of walking would do her good. She knew where Mrs. Coltrane was hiding too and she hoped she had not had the fits when she had not seen her coming.

She was not long before finding her mother-in-law sitting on a fallen tree trunk, the horse and the goat nearby, grazing. But she was not alone. Other folks were with her, whom Katrina recognized at first : her parents and their two slaves, Toby and Dulcie. They had a cow with a calf, and a donkey. The two Blacks held few chickens and two big geese in boxes. Mrs. Evans was carrying few things with her and she was crying. The sight was like a stab in her heart for Katrina. She ran to her father who took her in his arms.

“Papa, what’s happening ?”

She heard her mother and Dulcie sniffle. She understood that something terrible had happened but at least her folks were alive.

“They burnt the farm, my pet. MaryAnne warned us and we managed to salvage few things before… We tried to discuss with them but they didn’t care. They just didn’t care. They looted our place and after that… they set the house on fire ! We stayed there, but there was nothing we could do. We had sent Toby and Dulcie to hide in the swamps with some cattle. We both stayed at the farm but these Yankees… they’re merciless !”

Katrina thought of the mercy she had benefited herself and understood she had been real lucky. Then her father noticed her shirt torn apart. He peered at her for an explanation. Their eyes met in a mute question.

“No, I’m okay, papa. The Coltrane house’s still intact. Mrs. Coltrane, your house’s still up. They found nothing but it was real short. Fortunately, one of their officers had been a Sheriff in his home county in Michigan. He spared the house on account this was a Sheriff’s house.”

“Oh thank you, Lord !” Mrs. Coltrane whispered. “Listen, Martha, Joe, you can’t stay here. You come with us, as well as Toby and Dulcie. We must stick together.”

“That’s very generous of ya, Abby,” Mrs. Evans replied with a sigh.

“What about MaryAnne ? And your children ?” Mrs. Coltrane asked.

“Rosco Lee and Vicky are with MaryAnne now. She’s okay, she’s waiting for us to come back. She managed to warn many folks around in the County, but she needs to hide for a while, I guess. She had been spotted by the Yankee troops and she’s afraid they might come back to get her. She thinks they may consider her as a spy.”

“But she was only doing her duty as a Deputy Sheriff !” Joe Evans exclaimed. “There’s nothing as such as treason or spying or whatsoever. She was defending her county and her citizens !”

“I know, papa, but the rifles are now in the hands of people who don’t share your point of view specifically,” Katrina concluded with lucidity.

Evans looked at his daughter and agreed with her. She was right and he reckoned that she had become a real adult woman, looking more mature. Katrina took her mother by the waist to console her. Then they all left the swamps for the Coltrane house.

There, they found MaryAnne cradling the baby, sitting under the front porch. Rosco Lee was beside her, his head resting on his elder cousin’s lap. She grinned at the group when she saw everyone was alive and well. She had begun to worry over her kin.

Katrina took the baby in her arms, releasing MaryAnne who took Rosco Lee in her arms gently. Toby and Mr. Evans took all the cattle with them to hide them in the stables : horse, goat, donkey, the cow and its calf. Dulcie and Mrs. Evans released the chicken and the geese in the pen behind the house. Then everyone proceeded inside. The night was falling and the air was becoming chilly at this time of the year. Things had to be rearranged for the night. Mrs. Coltrane allocated one guest room to the Evanses and another one to Toby and Dulcie. She felt a bit more reassured to know there were two men in the house now. They would both go to the Evans farm on the day after to assess the damage. Rosco Lee insisted to sleep with MaryAnne, and he firmly refused to remove his shirt with his father’s silver star pinned on it. Katrina was too much exhausted to go against her son. She had already noticed the boy promised to be as stubborn as his father.
Life was slowly coming back to Hazzard County. Sherman’s march to the sea was like a hurricane and even more than that for many Georgians. Folks whose farms and plantations had been burnt to the ground were helped to find a solution for accommodation. The Evanses had found shelter at the Coltrane house. On the day after, Joe Evans and Toby went to the farm to assess what could be done. The house had been burnt to the ground. But the other buildings were still intact : the barn, the stables, Toby’s cabin. The Black man was very happy to see that he had not lost his home but he refrained from yelling out of joy in front of his master.

“You may take ou’ house, massa Joe,” he suggested.

Joe Evans looked at him with a puzzled look. He sighed. He had a talk with his daughter last night. She had told him what had happened to her and the way the Coltrane house had been spared. She had also reported to him what the Yankee colonel had told her. The war would be over soon and all the slaves would be really freed then – though slavery had been abolished one year ago, effective January 1st, 1863. Toby and his wife would need their house – and Evans knew he would need Toby and Dulcie to start up the farm all over again. He did not want them to leave. He made a quick decision.

“No, Toby. You keep your house. You’ll need it anyway. We’ll see with Mrs. Coltrane if we can stay in her home, time for us to rebuild our place.”

“But massa Joe, how will ya find da money to build da house ?” Toby asked.

“I don’t know yet, Toby. I don’t know. But I’ll work out a solution. I don’t want to think about it now. First thing is trying to start up farming and see if we could have a crop for next year.”