President Lincoln issued his Emancipation Proclamination abolishing slavery on January 1st, 1863. 13-year-old "Luli" Holcomb lived in Texas on her family's ranch with her Pa, Ma, Brothers Gabe and Grandville and Ruth "Sis Goose." Many people in Texas did not agree to "freeing" slavery, even Luli's family kept the secret, they scolded the Proclamination as a false rumor, opposed to knowing the truth. Luli's "Pa" fell sick, leaving her mother to help run the ranch, her brothers Gabe and Grandville then took Luli under their win. Most ladies were raised to be a "Southern Belle," but not Luli. Gabe, who was soon to enlist in the Confederacy, taught her how to shoot guns, ride horses, and survive in the wilderness in order to protect the farm …show more content…
"Sis Goose" whose mother died during childbirth, is in fact a person of color, born into slavery. Her white father, who was a boat captain, living up to a standard, had to give her away. He immediately gave her to Sophie, Luli's Aunt, who in turn hands her over to Ma. Sis Goose was considered family; she lived a lavish life, shared a room with Luli an education right alongside. 3-years-older than Luli and treated as a dearly cherished daughter, the two became unofficial sisters and best friends. Even though Sis Goose was not treated like slave, on orders of her parents and Gabe, Luli must lie to her best friend and sister, for her own protection. Even though the lie hurt her to keep, she knew it was the only way to survive, and keep their family safe. If their slaves knew they could leave the family's crop would never be harvested let alone the innocent people that would be killed due to racism. She knew one day the truth would arise, soon enough Pa had to announce to their slaves that they were free. Shortly upon the announcment, in June 1865, Union soldiers came and revealed the truth, the truth that would tear their family apart, and their lives would never be the same. The Union informed the Sis Goose slaves had been freed since