title: Leah's Story
author:  C. M. Huddleston 
description: <i>Leah's Story </i>tells of a girl born on a rice plantation, who grows up to serve her rich owners in Georgia. Her life, like so many others, could have ended there were it not for emancipation and education, which give her and her children new opportunities to revise their lives and dreams.<br /><br />C.M. Huddleston is a historian and retired archaeologist whose background lends to a story that draws from both imagination and a real-world historical mystery, presenting Leah's saga in chapters arranged chronologically by year to reinforce the changing times, from 1827 to 1903. <br /><i></i><br />Huddleston discovered Leah's narrative in a small traveling trunk hidden in a corner of a museum attic, and here reproduces her own words, as written down by the equally mysterious 'S.B. Elliott'. <br /><br />One notable aspect of this story is its dialogue which is crisp, real, and involving, personalizing the diary and experiences of Leah<i>: "Now, Miss Elliott, don't take my words wrong. Daddy William and me, we was happy. We had good food each and every day and nice clean clothes. I could read and write, though Mistress Martha had suggested I not tell anyone 'ceptin' William I could. Most white people didn't hold with teaching coloreds to read and write. Figured it made them more likely to escape and go North."</i><br /><i></i><br />Where fictional approaches might miss some of the subtler nuances of Leah's times, the journal chronicling her life captures its daily politics, joys, heartbreaks and intricacies - and this, combined with the overlay of the mystery about her life, makes for a powerful story indeed, highly recommended for history readers and especially for collections strong in documents about a slave's move to freedom during tumultuous times.<br /><br />D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Reviews
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  Leah’s baby was nestled protectively in the crook of Devon’s arm.
  
  In the golden firelight, his expression appeared grim. The neck of his shirt
  was open, the sleeves rolled up. With a soft gasp of mother love, Leah reached
  for her child. But Devon’s deep, silky voice stopped her.
  
  “Who is the baby’s father? And do you love him?”
  
  She froze. Her mouth went dry. Her heart pounded in her chest.
  
  He waited.
  
  A part of Leah wanted to run. But she’d never been a coward. Through sheer
  strength of will, she raised her chin in defiance, her gaze not leaving his.
  
  “Where is he now?” he demanded.
  
  There was an edge to his voice. One she’d not heard before. One she didn’t
  trust. “I want my baby.”
  
  “And you shall have him, when my question is answered.”
  
  She could have challenged him, told him she didn’t owe him explanations. But
  in truth, she did…
  
  * * *
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  A SCANDALOUS MARRIAGE
  
  CATHY MAXWELL
  
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  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents