He took off his uniform coat, rolled up his shirt sleeves, picked up the shovel, and started digging.
"Why didn't you bring along Primus to dig for you?" I asked. I knew he and Primus had a special bond. Most of the negroes had feelings for him that went beyond common charity—Bench and Tumble, Cyrus and July, to name just a few. And Cannice, the "best cook this side of the Mississippi," as Teddy called her, mothered the boys by giving them special late-night treats in the kitchen, by overseeing the perfect laundering of their shirts, by listening when they wanted to talk.
"I didn't tell Primus," he said.
You didn't even confide in Primus? This must be important. But I knew better than to say anything.
I did ask, "Can I know what's in the box?"
He stopped digging. He'd already dug a respectable hole. He took out his handkerchief, wiped his brow, knelt down, and pried the box open.
Inside was a heap of silver. It glistened in the sun. It was made into necklaces and bracelets, rings and armbands, all hammered with intricate designs.
I'd never paid mind to the silver shop Louis had set up in a simply built little cottage he and Primus had made in the line of outbuildings in the quarters a distance behind the house. He spent hours there sometimes. Pa had said, "Leave him be. He needs time alone to practice his hobby. Viola likes to paint, doesn't she? And doesn't Teddy like to hunt with a bow and arrow? And what do you like to do, Leigh Ann?"
"Read," I'd answered, "and gather sweetheart leaves to perfume the lye soap. Sometimes the servants let me mix them in. Teddy is teaching me to use the bow and arrow. And to swim in the stream."
He frowned. "I hope you wear clothes."
I laughed. Pa had taken a fancy, recently, to swimming naked in the stream. Teddy had caught him at it a couple of times and scolded him severely and made him put on some small clothes.
"I wear my chemise and pantalets. Viola says that's sufficient."
So I'd never bothered Louis when he worked on his silver. And, this, this is what he'd been about all that time. Like Sequoyah, the Indian chief.
I stared at him across the box of silver. "Can I touch it?"
"Go right ahead. It won't melt."
I did so. Gently, respectfully.
"Would you like a sample? A gift? On the occasion of my going off to fight for the independence of Georgia?"
"Not if you're giving it to me in case you don't come back," I told him.
He bit his bottom lip, trying to hide his feelings. "I'm coming back, sweetie. I promise you. Now go ahead, pick out a piece of jewelry."
"You pick one out for me. Was there any piece that, when you were making it, made you think of me?"
He started moving the jewelry around. "Matter of fact, there was." He drew out a medallion on a silver cord. The head of Sequoyah was in the middle. "I thought of you with this, yes."
Tears came to my eyes as he draped it over my neck.
"Can I wear it in front of the others?"
"I'd like to see anybody try to take it away from you. I've got these special Indian powers, remember. I can do some bad things with smoke and prayers."
He smiled innocently. I think he is one of God's angels, I told myself. Never mind the Indian business.
"Now we've got to bury the box." He stood up. "Can't waste any more time. The family will be wondering where we are. I've got a confab with Teddy tonight. We leave tomorrow."
"Why are we burying it?"
He talked while he worked. "It's worth lots of money, Leigh Ann. And we're going away, Teddy and I. And so, here's the favor I need from you. I want you to remember where it is and use it if it is needed in an emergency to help the family. Only you know it's here. You mustn't tell anyone. No matter what happens. Do you hear me?"
"Not even Teddy?"
He hesitated a moment. He rubbed his nose. "Only if things get real bad do you tell Teddy. If he's here. If things are bad and Teddy isn't here, get Primus to dig it up for you. And then use it. To save the family."
I didn't like all this desperate talk. It bespoke matters I could not contend with.
"And if I'm still ... well ... write to me. You understand?"
"Yes, Louis. But why didn't you ask Viola to do all this?"
He stamped the earth down over the hole with his boot, not looking at me. He put the turf back down and stamped it, too. "Viola is sweet, and smart, and I love her dearly, but she talks too much." He put his jacket on, brushed his hands together, and picked up the shovel.
"I have one more question."
"Have at it."
"If you're the oldest, why don't you want to be in charge of things? Why do you leave it to Teddy?"
He just smiled. "I guess I thought Teddy would do a better job of it than I would. It's a terrible responsibility. Ties a man down. I'd take you if he'd let me. But he won't. Said I'd spoil you. Said I'd likely take you west and let you ride bareback and learn the Cherokee alphabet. Besides which, I'm not up to the fight that's coming with Mother for ownership of everything. Teddy's not going to get off scot-free, you know. But he can outwit her. Does that answer satisfy you?"
"Yes, Louis. But you wouldn't spoil me."
He shrugged. "I can't stand to see you cry. Teddy can."
He leaned over and kissed me. "I love you," he said.
"I love you more."
"I knew you'd say that."
We walked back to the house, singing the country song: "We are going down to Georgia, boys, To see the pretty girls, boys, We'll give 'em a pint of brandy, boys, And a hearty kiss besides, boys."
The sky was clouding overhead. Tears were coming down my face. Louis and Teddy were leaving tomorrow.
He never looked down at me, but before we went up the verandah steps Louis leaned over and wiped my tears away. "Remember, I can't stand to see you cry," he said.