Chapter 23

Instead of puzzling over the meaning of it, he shook his head and muttered, “Otter…Otter.” A note of stricture hid in his voice. “Son, you more than all of us feel your red blood. Except Matthew, of course. Your Ma…and I…have worked to make the townspeople see you as white. It has been hard because you have more of me in you than your mother. Her blood shows in Alex and the girls but not in you. That means you are at greater risk than your brother and sisters. You must be careful.”

Swallowing disappointment over his disinterest in my vision, I stared at the ground. There was silence between us until I remembered to mention the men watching the Morrow farm and my confrontation with Sheriff Landreth.

His interest piqued, he asked me to repeat what the Sheriff and the Rev. Berglund had said. Then he breathed what seemed to be a prayer. “I hope James and Otter are careful.”