“If those freedmen were still slaves, like they oughta be, Joey Gordon’s pa wouldn’ta been killed by Yankees, and Joey would still be here.” Hiram glowered and strode toward her, his boots pounding into the earth. And they have just as much right to learn as you do.” Meredith raised her chin and repeated the words she’d heard her father say countless times. Hiram’s face scrunched up like a pumpkin that had started to rot. “Well, you’re a carpetbagger’s daughter.” “Yeah?” Hiram stopped skipping and glared at Meredith. Angry tears pooled in her eyes, but Meredith blinked them away. Even Anna Leigh, her desk mate and the one girl Meredith thought a friend. Meredith asked for help, but they just stood there smirking and whispering behind their schoolbooks. A group of girls came around the bend and stopped to giggle behind their hands. “Meri, Meri, quite contrary,” Hiram sang in a ridiculously high-pitched voice, skipping in a circle around her and swinging the lunch bucket back and forth. Probably because the land they bought used to belong to his best friend’s family. He’d had it out for her ever since her family moved to the area last spring. She thought she’d gotten enough of a lead today after school, but Hiram must have been watching for her. Why was she always the one to get picked on? Meredith stomped her foot in frustration. Meredith ricocheted between the two, never quite fast enough to get more than a finger on the tin. She lunged for it, but her hands met only air as the older boy snatched it away and tossed it over her head to his snickering brother. Did you want this?” His voice dripped sarcasm as he dangled the small pail in front of her. “Hiram Ellis! Give me back my lunch bucket this instant!” Ten-year-old Meredith Hayes balled her hands into fists as she faced her tormentor. You strengthen my stories, encourage my heart,Īnd corral my characters when they get out of hand. My eagle-eyed critique partners and beloved friends. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.Ĭover design by Dan Thornberg, Design Source Creative ServicesĪuthor represented by WordServe Literary Group

Names, characters, incidents, and dialogues are products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible

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Short-Straw Bride by Karen Witemeyer