Sumner was barely able to contain himself as he dismounted his horse on the walkway to his uncle's front door. He released the reins not even bothering to tie the lively mare. Gun in hand he went up the walk way and climbed the steps. Pushing open the door he was greeted by an empty foyer. He hadn't rang so no servants would be coming.

As he walked deeper into the house past the vases and imported tapestries he could hear his uncle's voice getting louder. He heard another voice along with him then the two men laughed. He paused outside the library then slowly pushed open the door.

He saw the back of his cousin Charles' head as he sat talking jubilantly with his father about married life as the mice ran around in their cage on the table. He pulled back the hammer and the click silenced the room.

Charles turned around and smiled. "Sumner, good morning! Pull up a seat."

Sumner raised his shaky arm and pointed the gun dead at Solomon Christenson. "Charles, get out."

"Sumner, what are you doing put the gun down!" Charles shouted. "Sumner, Sumner listen to me."

"I said get out!"

Charles looked from his cousin to his father who was frozen to his chair, starring at the gun aimed at him. "Sumner, you don't look too good, you should lie down."

Sumner turned the gun on Charles. "I'm feeling fine! Now, do as I say and leave the room while I deal with this killer."

Charles turned to his father. "Pa? What's he babbling about."

"Tell him, Uncle Solomon," Sumner said returning the gun's focus to his original target. "Tell him what you did to Talbot Montgomery. Tell him what you did to your sister Eden."

"Is that what this is about?" Mr. Christenson laughed. "You've come here on this fine day threatening to shoot me over the death of some darkie?"

Charles turned back to his cousin. "Sumner, what has gotten into you? Is this really about some colored man?"

Sumner felt his face heat like a struck match. "That colored man was my father!" he boomed. The looks that came to his uncle and cousin's faces almost made him laugh. "That's right, the man that raised me didn't carry out your orders Solomon. You told him...when I was born to drown me. But he wasn't like you. Good God there is truth that the good die young and seeing that you've lived to a ripe old age..." He aimed the gun again.

"Sumner, for Pete's sake put the gun down, you're spewing madness!" Charles shouted. By now the commotion had attracted the attention of the house servants who were doing their best to keep Mrs. Christenson away. "Father, tell him."

Mr. Christenson glanced at his son and slowly stood. "That no good Woodrow lied to me. And to think all these years I have supported you, fed and clothed you and kept you in school. You worthless little scoundrel!"

"You killed Talbot Montgomery and you almost killed my mother!" Sumner said. "It is because of what you did that she withered away. You broke her heart and I'm not letting you get away with it." The gun went off with bang and one of the servants screamed as Mr. Christenson fell to the floor."

"Pa!" Charles screamed and dove after him. He helped him sit up and searched for the bullet wound. When no sign of injury appeared they looked up at Sumner who slowly pulled back the hammer. "Sumner, please, don't, stop!" Charles begged. "Your anger."

Solomon, Solomon don't do it please, stop

"My indignation is righteous."

"Mr. Woodrow."

Sumner turned at the sound of his name. Among the servants stood Ezra Fairchild. He felt his body start to tremble. "He killed him," he said, limply pointing the gun at Mr. Christenson.

"And do you really want to make yourself like him?" Mr. Fairchild asked. "Killing out of anger? Your uncle may have hurt you, but ask yourself, what has your cousin done? Does he deserve to lose his father?"

Sumner looked down at Charles whose eyes were still wide in fear.

"Listen to me, Mr. Woodrow," Mr. Fairchild said. "Put the gun down and come with me. Everything is going to be all right. No one is going to hurt you."

Sumner felt the fire inside him slowly simmer out and he lowered his arm. He backed up slowly until he reached the servants then he turned and walked through them as they parted. Mrs. Christenson was finally let into the room and she ran to her husband and son among the scattered glass of the mouse cage.

Sumner walked absently out of the house and back to his waiting horse. Bowing his head he rested on the horse's shoulder. "You're the only one I've got in this mean old world, girl."

/

Paint splattered onto Selene's face as she ran the brush up and down the wall. At the sound of footsteps on the front porch she turned to see her father coming up. "Good afternoon, Papa," she said. "I didn't think you'd come by here after work."

"I thought I'd ride home with you girls this afternoon," he said as he looked around. "She's looking real nice."

"Ladybird suggested warm colors," Selene said.

Ezra picked up a brush and took a spot next to Selene. "Selene, I worry I haven't been entirely fair by you—"

"You've been fine, Papa," Selene said. In her heart she hated his choice but she didn't want to talk about it. "There are hard lessons out there to be learned for all of us."

"Afternoon, Papa," Miriam said as she came up the hall. "What do you think?"

"It looks beautiful, Miriam," Ezra said. "I would have regretted not letting you continue working."

Miriam smiled. "It certainly makes me feel better since the school burned," she said. "I was thinking that we could hold classes here as well. There are plenty of rooms and only two are large enough to use as studios."

Ezra sometimes forgot about the school. In fact it seemed like a long time ago to him. "Wonders never ceased."

They finished painting the foyer then Ezra and the twelve girls climbed into the wagon and Missy took them home. He only half listened at supper while everyone talked about their day. His mind was too deeply focused on what had happened.

"Ezra, what's the matter?" Grace asked.

Ezra looked at her and processed what she had asked. "It was a rough day at the Christensons'," he began and all faces turned to him. "Oh well, you might as well hear it from me because you are bound to before the end of tomorrow." He wiped his mouth with his napkin. "Sumner Woodrow tried to shoot his uncle." There were a few gasp.

"Why on earth would he do a thing like that?" Grace asked. "Is this something you only heard, Ezra?"

"I saw it with my own eyes," Ezra said. "He was intent on killing him."

"But why, Papa?" Taitiann asked. "Mr. Idris says he thinks Mr. Woodrow would hate to fail his uncle."

"Not anymore," Ezra said. "I don't know how much truth there is too it but Mr. Woodrow accused his uncle of killing his father."

"His papa died in a bank robbery," Grace said.

Ezra nodded. "Mr. Woodrow...that is Mr. Woodrow the second has been living a lie," he said. "He has been passing."

"Passing?" Miriam frowned. "Papa, I'm confused."

Ezra took a deep breath. "Mr. Woodrow is a colored man." The house went silent. Crickets could be heard outside in the night. "He must have discovered this for himself and now he believes his uncle murdered his father Talbot Montgomery."

"But Talbot Montgomery was lynched," Grace said. "I remember your mother saying how she told his mother when it happened. She even went to his funeral. But I never knew he had a child."

"No one did," Ezra said. "Not even Mr. Christenson. He only had Miss. Eden as a sibling. You can't let word of something like that get out. A woman like Eden having a child for a colored man?" he shook his head. "They covered it up. Mr. Woodrow said he should have been dead but he was spared and until now he has lived a lie."

"And he has enjoyed it!" Miriam said. "I'm sorry, Papa but I loathed him when he was white and I loathe him even more now that he is colored. It just proves that he chose to be that way. And the way he has treated us. I suppose he will see how it has all felt now."

"If he lives long enough," Ezra said. "He pulled a gun on Mr. Christenson and will be at the mercy now of every white man in town. He may not see sun up."

Miriam turned away so no one could see the shame in her face. He enraged her, yes but she didn't want to see him killed.

/

When Sumner returned home that evening he was not surprised to see Charles, Rothschild, Andrew and Cleve there.

"Where have you been, cousin?" Charles asked from his horse. "We looked for you at the fort."

"I wanted to be alone," Sumner said dismounting and taking Harlequin by the reins. "I don't want to talk right now."

"That's no way to treat your buddies who have come to your aid?" Rothschild said. "We came to make sure you hadn't shot yourself." He laughed.

"Who told you those lies about Miss. Eden?" Cleve asked. "They couldn't be true?"

Andrew laughed. "And why not, pray tell? Gentlemen go astray. So why can't ladies go astray?"

Sumner felt he had stepped outside of his body. He grabbed a rock from the ground and pitched it at Andrew striking him in the head and drawing blood.

Andrew hit the ground in pain. "Darn you!"

"I've been wanting to do that for years," Sumner said.

Andrew pulled out his gun and pointed. "Then you should have done it when you were still white."

Sumner quickly put his foot in the stirrup and climbed into the saddle. The gun went off with a powerful bang and Harlequin whinnied and fell to the ground quivering as it struck her down. Sumner rolled across the grass and hurried back over to the mare. He lifted her limp head nearly deaf to his cousin shouting for the other men to leave.

As they galloped away Charles came to his side. "Sumner..." In all their years together he had never seen his cousin cry this way before. "You know I still love you, right?"

"You couldn't possibly," Sumner said ripping his sleeve and pressing it to Harlequin's neck. "I...I need bandages! I..." he wiped his nose with the back of his hand as the fabric turned read. "I can save her!"

Charles looked at the mare. All Sumner could do was prolong her agony. He slowly took his cousin's gun and Sumner closed his eyes and laid himself over the mare. "Sumner..."

"No!" he shouted shoving Charles as hard as he could. "Go away! I don't want or need your pity! Your father hates everything that I am, Charles! So why are you still here?"

Charles knew it was best that he cut all ties with Sumner. The news was already spreading and that couldn't possibly be seen together the way they had in the past. He looked down at the gun in his hand.

"Give it to me," Sumner said. "She's my horse." He took the gun from his cousin for the first time amazed that such a little thing could end such a magnificent life.

Charles stood slowly and backed away mounting his own horse. Without another word he galloped off into the night.

Sumner turned his attention back to Harlequin and looked into her frightened eyes. "You saved my life," he said to her as he pulled back the hammer. "You've got a one way ticket out of here." He stroked her face and her mane. "I'm just going to help you get there a little faster." He aimed the gun and closed his eyes. With a deep breath he pulled the trigger.