It’s 1924 in Branchville, South Carolina.
We are introduced to three strong, but very different women. Gertrude, a white woman beaten by her husband, living in a swamp with her four daughters in severe poverty. After a brutal beating that she wants to hide but can’t – her face is bruised and her eye is swollen shut – her daughter’s raging fever leads her make the difficult decision to save her children, and come to town to ask for a job from Annie Coles,.
Annie, the matriarch of a former plantation family, runs a financially successful sewing circle, offers Gertrude employment and a place to rent in town. When told she was to start in 4 days time, she turns to Retta, a first generation freed slave that works for Annie, to help the child with a fever. Agreeing to do so, Retta brings possible disaster on her community – a black woman taking charge of a sick white child that may die of hunger under her care is not safe. These women come to each other’s rescue – Annie saved Gertrude by offering a job, Retta saves Gertrude’s daughter’s life, and Gertrude protects Annie, and the town, from Annie’s husband.
While these women were from different social classes and races, the understanding of doing what is right for your children is universal. Helping each other survive is the human condition.
The Source 4 Books 