Thump In the Night

The little girl rode contentedly inside of the covered wagon alongside her little brother who was playing with a wooden horse that his father had made for him. She tried not to think about the savages whose land they were going through but the task was easier said then done. Despite her father’s reassuring words that the passage was safe for travel, the girl kept a knot in her stomach. They were heading out west to Oklahoma, the government was promising free land and her pa just couldn’t pass up an opportunity like that. Ma of course raised no objections to the venture nor did her brother who was all too anxious to see the ‘wild west’. Alexandra on the other hand, was full of questions and concerns. She had tried her best to dissuade her father. As a last resort she had even run away from home but her folks found her before night fall holed up in her friend’s cellar. So here she sat with her little rag doll listening to her parents prattle on about their plans for the new home.

The next thing she knew she was thirteen, sitting at a wooden table snapping peas. Dreams have a funny way of jumping around melding one’s entire life into mere seconds. Alex grinded her teeth together in response to the unwelcome image in her head for she knew all too well how the dream would play out.

“Alexandra, can you please take your father his lunch? He’s out in the fields today.”

“Yes, ma’am.” She eagerly took the basket containing the food and scurried out the door breathing in the familiar scent of earth and livestock.

Hidden under the protection of the trees the girl watched as her father was shot down in cold blood. Sinking to her knees she covered her mouth with her hands to keep from screaming tears streaking down her face unchecked. Once she felt certain that the men were gone she ran to the figure lying in the dirt. Collapsing to the ground at his side she threw herself across him and cried not caring that his blood was staining her dress.

Alex began to thrash about in her bed on the floor causing the blankets to twist around her. A light sweat now covered her body.

She sprinted all the way home, her braids flapping behind her. She didn’t know how her mama was gonna handle the news but she knew that she had to tell her. Being the eldest of the three children, it would be Alexandra’s responsibility to take up the slack around the house until her brother was old enough to do a man’s work. As she rounded the bend she was startled to see the sky glowing orange. A sickening feeling came over her and she slowed her pace not wanting to see the source of the eerie light. The sight from the knoll made her vomit on the spot – her home was completely engulfed in flames and there was no sign of her mother and siblings. Scanning the area for the perpetrators she carefully worked her way down to the side of the barn. Her heart skipped a beat as deep voices issued forth from within.

“I don’t see anybody else around, Blake”

“I guess that’s all of them then. With no survivors, the land is free and clear for the taking. The boss will be pleased.”

“I don’t like burnin’ that woman and her kids up like that, Blake. She would have givin’ us the land once she knew that her husband was dead.”

The sound of a gun went off causing Alexandra to jump she bit her lip to keep from screaming. “Anybody else not like the way I do things?” There was some incoherent murmurings. “All right then, let’s get out of here before the neighbors come snoopin’ around.”

That’s when Alex got a good look at the men. She saw their faces for a mere second or two each but that was all it took for them to be forever imprinted in her mind like a brand upon a steer.



* * * * * * * * * * * *


Nelly sat at the little table in the kitchen having a cup of tea with Ran when they heard the thumping from upstairs.

“Gracious, Nelly, what is that?” asked her startled guest.

“I’m afraid that’s the poor girl. She seems to be plagued by terrible dreams.” Replied Nelly looking warily up at the ceiling, “some nights are worse than others.”

“Should we wake her?” Ran jumped as another loud thump reverberated off the walls.

“I wish I could but she keeps her door locked. I take that as meaning she wants to be left alone.” Taking a sip of tea the older woman tried to ignore the thrashing sounds being emitted by her tenant.

Feeling awkward with the situation, Ran decided to call it a night and let herself out the back door. She was already feeling anxious due to the break-in that night, her nerves wouldn’t be able to take all of that racket. Slipping in the side door of the neighboring house, she blocked out the sounds of the young girl’s distress.

Nelly placed the teacups in the sink and tiptoed up the stairs stopping at Room 3. Placing an ear to the door she could hear moaning and crying from within. Nelly wiped away a tear that ran down her cheek. “Poor dear,” she muttered. Feeling helpless, she reluctantly retired to her bedroom across the hall. Upon closing the door she went to her knees in prayer on behalf of the girl.