Lynching - Annick Press

Copyright Annick Press 2012
Pete and Tom did to our mill and to Gypsy, she would
have nothing to do with them. I’m happy to say that
at least Abigail is still my friend. Well, more than my
friend. I guess you would call us sweethearts.
Agnes has gone back to live with the Nooksack. As
for Joe, he talks about clearing the land around their
shack and becoming a farmer. Then in the next breath
he says he thinks he’ll cross the border into Canada
and go live in the wilderness, trapping and hunting
like his mother’s people have done for centuries. If
he leaves, we’ll miss him. We Gillies will never forget
how he came to help put out the fire.
Once in a while, if I’m walking through the woods
alone, I wonder if Louie Sam’s spirit might come to
me again. Joe says he could come as a raven or as a
coyote, you never know. I’ve thought a lot about what
I’d say to him this time if I had the chance. I’d tell him
that I thought he was brave the way he held his chin
up that night with all those grown men shouting at
him and calling him names. I’d tell him that I’m sorry
that I believed so quickly the lie that Bill Osterman
made up about him. And I’d tell him that I pray for
him to God, and to all the spirits of this valley.
274 275