Chapter 2, Bushwhackers Summary

Bess, the older of Jeff's two sisters, slips out through the front door of their house to sound the alarm. Jeff hustles home, guides the mules into the corral without removing their harness, and hurries to the house. Jeff sees his father limping toward their back porch coming from the garden. On the porch, Jeff's mother stands with two dirty, unshaven strangers carrying sawed-off muskets and wearing blue ribbons on their hats. The men attempt to impersonate Union Home Guards and ask Jeff's father for something to eat. Emory Bussey flat out calls them liars but also tells them that he never turns away the hungry.

Emory invites the men inside and the ladies begin to prepare a meal. Jeff's father tells his son to go back and unharness the mules. Jeff obeys his father's command even though he fears for...