“God answered my prayers,” she finally said in a voice so low Victoria almost couldn’t hear her. “His answer wasn’t what I expected. It usually never is.” She set her shoulders and continued in a stronger voice. “One of the other assistant keeper’s sons was fighting for the Confederates and sent word that Ike and Tom had been captured and were sentenced to hang as spies.”
Victoria’s muscles tightened at the thought of Zelma’s anguish at getting the news.
“James rode off immediately for Petersburg, where he thought they were being held. But not long after he left, the assistant keeper’s son showed up in the middle of the night and told me Ike and Tom were being held less than two miles away. He put his own life at risk to tell me. I was grateful, but I had no idea what to do, especially without James.”
Victoria squeezed Zelma’s hand. “You don’t need to tell me any more, if it’s too painful.”
“It’s all right, dear.” Zelma patted her hand. “I moved as fast I could in the dark of night. But the ground was marshy and wet. And it was January. By the time I reached the Confederate encampment, I’d lost feeling in my feet. I had to wait in the shadows for another hour before I discovered where the boys were being held. By that point, I could hardly walk. But God continued to provide the strength I needed. I was able to cut Tom’s bindings loose. Unfortunately, the boys were both too weak to stand and make a run for it. So of course, Ike insisted that I take Tom. But Tom wouldn’t have anything to do with the plan, wouldn’t hear of leaving Ike behind…”
Victoria waited for Zelma to continue. But she didn’t say anything more.
“What happened next?” Victoria finally asked, her pulse pumping hard at the image of the dark, cold night and both Zelma and her sons’ lives in danger.
Zelma sighed. “I’ll leave the rest of the escape details for Tom to share with you. I think those are his to tell when he’s ready.”
“Obviously you and Tom made it.” Victoria wanted to know how, but she didn’t push.
“At first we didn’t think Tom would live,” Zelma supplied. “But he eventually recovered physically, even if he never did make peace with what happened.”
Perhaps that’s why he hadn’t told her about being a Jessie Scout. Maybe it brought up too many painful memories.
“As hard as the doctor tried to save me from losing my feet, they were too frost-bitten after being wet and cold for so many hours. He had to amputate them to save my life.” Zelma smiled, and there wasn’t a hint of anger or regret in her eyes. “God used my feet to save my son’s life. It was worth the sacrifice. I would have given up my entire life for him if it had come down to it.”
Heat pushed at the backs of Victoria’s eyes, and emotion clogged her throat. “You’re a remarkable woman, Zelma.”
She shook her head. “I don’t claim that it was easy learning to live without walking. It’s forced me more than ever to rely upon the strength and joy of the Lord.”
Victoria wished she could say that she’d be able to face future trials with as much courage as Zelma. But if she couldn’t muster enough courage to face just the thought of a trial, how would she do when a real trial came?
“The Lord has brought me to a place of peace and acceptance over all that happened,” Zelma continued. “But Tom isn’t there yet.”
“How do you know?”
“During the past ten years, his longest visit was only two days.” Zelma’s voice wobbled.
Victoria squeezed Zelma’s hand, hoping to lend her a measure of comfort, although she wasn’t sure there was any for a parent who’d experienced such heartache. “We’ve been here two weeks. So see, that must mean he’s on the mend.”
Zelma’s eyes were glassy with unshed tears. “You’re right. God’s doing something in his life. And I believe He’s using you to do it.”
“Me?”
Zelma nodded. “With you at his side, Tom can no longer run away from his fears. He has to stay and face them.”
Run away? From fears? Tom had once accused her of doing that very thing. Was he guilty of the same?
She stood, anxious to talk to him, to allow him to bare his soul to her. She’d wrap her arms around him and ensure him that