Summary

In 1868, “Freedomtime” (89 – 97), the community became increasingly hostile towards Rue. She felt a bond with the similarly shunned baby Bean, who she worried about. Jonah was still kind to Rue when she visited, but full of praise for Bruh Abel. She offered a contraceptive solution to an unfriendly Sarah, who rejected it out of new religious scruples.

In “Slaverytime” (98 – 106), May Belle trained Rue in midwifery. Rue’s parents were passionate lovers, but her father could only visit on Sunday nights. After his death, May Belle stayed alive for a year but refused to touch mothers in labor, and eventually stopped coming out at all. She insisted on hanging rotten fruit up in the cabin, until the news of freedom came. Rue took on more responsibility, learning that women frequently required discreet abortions.

During “Freedomtime” (107 – 134), sickness was spreading and Bruh Abel’s popularity was growing...