[Measure of Devotion 03.0] Measure of Peace

by Caethes Faron

  Jason was in the same spot Kale had left him in last night. It would have been easy to believe he had never come back to bed. There was a new addition to the room. A nurse sat in a chair on the other side of the bed. Demetri was in a chair at the foot and stood when Kale entered.

  “Good, you’re awake. I was going to send someone to knock on the door if you weren’t up soon.” Jason smiled up at Kale.

  “How is he?”

  “He’s woken up a few times. Never for very long. Sadie was able to get him to take some medicine, and we were able to feed him some broth. So far, he’s managed to keep it down.”

  “Good.”

  “I came back to bed.”

  “I know. You should come have breakfast with me.”

  “I’m fine here.”

  “You need to eat. It won’t take long, and it will give us a chance to talk.”

  Jason looked to the nurse, who said, “He’s right, you should eat. We’ll send someone for you if he wakes.”

  “All right, I’ll go, but only if a tray is sent up for Demetri, and he promises to eat everything on it.”

  Kale glanced between Demetri and Jason. This was a new development.

  “I promise, sir.”

  Jason nodded and stretched when he stood, joints popping in his back and neck. “I’ll be back soon.”

  The dining room wasn’t much brighter than Robert’s room. The sun was just starting to rise. The kitchen hadn’t known when to expect them for breakfast, so they waited a few minutes for the food. Jason looked like he was going to devour whatever was placed in front of him and dart back upstairs, so Kale was grateful for the time to talk.

  “I’m going to leave as soon as we’re done eating. If everything goes as planned, I’ll be back late tonight. Don’t hold dinner for me. I’ll ask Darlene to leave something out for us.” Us. Him and Thomas. The next time Kale sat at this table, Thomas would be with him.

  “I’m sorry I can’t go with you.”

  “Don’t. There’s nothing to be sorry for, Jason. Do you really think I’d let you come with me today?”

  “I suppose not, but you shouldn’t go by yourself.”

  “I can take a slave with me. It would probably make Thomas more comfortable.” There was no telling how Thomas was going to react to him. He probably wouldn’t even recognize him. Having a slave along could smooth the transition. Thomas would see that the slave didn’t fear Kale, and he’d have someone who he would assume knew Kale’s preferences to mimic. It was a great idea.

  “That’s not what I meant. You shouldn’t be traveling alone with that much money. It’s not safe. A slave can’t help if someone tries to rob you.”

  “If someone tries to rob me, he can have the money. I won’t put a slave in that position.” Kale shuddered. A slave would be obligated to protect his master, but would be violating the law if he struck a free man. Kale had once found himself in that impossible situation. Just another example of how ridiculous Arine was.

  “I’d feel better if John went with you. I trust him, and he always carries a gun. It would also be nice for you to have someone with you so Conroy doesn’t try to change the deal.”

  Kale didn’t know John very well, but based on the time he had spent with him, John seemed like a decent enough man. “I don’t want to intrude on his time. He has things to do.”

  “I’ll ask him.” Jason gestured to a nearby slave. “Billy, go get John for me, please.”

  While the slave was gone, another served their breakfast. Just as Kale had predicted, Jason ate so quickly Kale was concerned he’d choke. A few minutes later, the slave returned with John on his heels. “You wanted me, sir?”

  “I was wondering if you’d be available to go with Kale to Cooperville today. I was supposed to go, but I need to stay here with my father.”

  “I don’t see why not. Billy caught me just as I was saddling up to go check on the boys who are out with the herd. Let me go get someone else to do it, and I’ll be ready to go. Say, ten minutes?”

  “Sounds good.” Jason smiled triumphantly at Kale.

  “Thank you, John. I’ll meet you at the car.” At least the time would pass more quickly with a passenger. Kale was reluctant to discard the idea of taking a slave, but Jason had a point. If this kept Jason from worrying about him, then he would do it. It would be too crowded for such a long drive in the car to bring a slave as well.

  Jason finished his plate just before Kale did. “Be safe, Kale. If you get too tired to drive, get a room.”

  “I will.”

  “You know, you could take the train.”

  “Nah, I prefer the car. I don’t like the thought of bringing Thomas back on a crowded train. I don’t want to overwhelm him.”

  “You do know we have enough money for you to hire an entire train car for yourself?”

  “Things are already set to take the car.” Sitting on a train with nothing to do would drive him mad. Driving would occupy him and not really take too much longer when the stops were factored in, and he wouldn’t have to a hire a cab at the other end.

  “I’m going to miss you. I wish I could be there to see the expression on your face when you see your brother again.”

  “I suppose it’ll be the same expression that’s always on it.” Kale hoped so at least. He knew his emotions were going to be overwhelming when the moment came, but he didn’t want to scare Thomas or make Conroy suspicious.

  “I look forward to meeting him. If I’m asleep for some reason when you get back, wake me. I’m excited for you, Kale.”

  “Thanks. I’ll try to call if I can find a place, but don’t worry if you don’t hear from me. Try to sleep whenever you can. You’re no good to your father if you’re exhausted.”

  “I’ll try.”

  Kale didn’t expect Jason would try at all. He wished he could be around to make him sleep, but he’d make sure Jason got caught up tonight.

  They stood, and Jason crossed over to Kale. He planted his lips on Kale’s, his tongue demanding entrance. Kale complied. As the kiss deepened, Jason moved his hand from Kale’s face to his back, crushing their bodies together. It was a marked change from the quick pecks and gentle caresses that had been so common lately.

  “I love you.”

  “I love you, too, Jason. You do realize I’m just going to be gone for the day? I’m not circling the globe or even leaving the country.”

  Jason stepped back. “I know. I should get back upstairs.”

  “All right. Don’t get too lost in your own head. I don’t like the thought of you sitting up there with nothing to occupy your mind. Take a book with you at least.”

  Jason nodded. “I will. See you tonight. Good luck.”

  “Thanks.”

  After Jason left, Kale entered the kitchen, not minding the shocked faces of the slaves. “Darlene—”

  “Thank goodness you stopped by. It saves me an errand. I wanted to give you this, and I just heard that John’s going with you, so I packed enough for three.” Darlene handed him a basket overflowing with fruit, bread, cheese, nuts, and dried meat.

  “Why is everyone under the impression I’m leaving for days?”

  “Hush. Now, I’d tell you to wake me when you get in so I could feed you and this brother of yours, but I doubt it’d do much good. I’ll have a pot of soup and some plates in the oven for you. If it’s not gone when I come into this kitchen to fix breakfast, there’ll be trouble.”

  “Thanks, Darlene. Could you also make sure Jason eats?”

  “Boy, it’s a good thing you’re free now, otherwise I’d whack you. Who do I look like? Do you think I let anyone in this house, slave or free, go without a meal?”

  “No, ma’am.”

  “That’s better.” Darlene winked at him before going back to her work.

  John waited for him at the car with several canteens. “You ready to go?”

  “Yeah, Darlene was just making sure we won’t starve to death should we get stranded for a week.”
>
  John laughed. “I figured. That’s why I got the canteens. You know she’ll check that basket when we get back.”

  Kale put the basket in the back seat with the canteens. It was a good thing he hadn’t asked one of the slaves along. With all the food and the valise, there wasn’t any room for a fourth person.

  “Are you sure you don’t mind coming with me? Mr. Wadsworth might need you.”

  “You mean Mr. Wadsworth might pass. No, Robert’s going soon, but not today. He’ll be here when we get back. Besides, we’ve already said our goodbyes, and he doesn’t like me seeing him this way.” John settled into the passenger seat.

  Kale took one last look in the valise to make sure the money was there along with his travel documents and pulled out of the driveway.

  Chapter Thirty

  “This is the fanciest car I’ve seen. If I were ever to get a car, this is the kind I’d want. None of those boxy things that look just like a carriage. This feels free, cutting through the wind, the same as a horse.”

  They were off Robert’s property and on the open road where Kale could accelerate. The sun rose at their backs, chasing the night chill from the air caressing Kale’s arms.

  “That’s why I got it. You get the same thrill driving it that you do running a horse on a long stretch. It won’t take you as many places as a horse will, but it’ll get you to the places it can take you pretty quick.”

  “I bet.” John slid his hand across the leather upholstery on the door.

  “Have you ever driven one before?”

  “Nope. Never had much reason to. Like you said, a car can’t take me to the places I need to go. I have driven a tractor, though.”

  “Really? I didn’t know Robert had one.”

  “I know Jason thinks his father’s backward, but he’s not. He always keeps up with the latest tools to help his business. He just doesn’t see much point in spending money on luxuries. It’s the same thinking he had in the early days. He only likes to invest his money back into the business.”

  That sounded familiar. As much as Jason had wanted all the fanciest things when he was younger, now that he was a business owner, he watched his money. He wasn’t stingy, but he didn’t ever spend money on things just so other people could see them and know he had money.

  “Well, if you’ve driven a tractor, then you know how to drive a car. I’ll pull over in a couple of hours, and you can take a turn.”

  “Sounds good to me.”

  Kale blessed Jason. Bringing John had been a brilliant idea. The conversation was easy, and he didn’t have to worry about fatigue or being too tired to make it home tonight.

  * * *

  Kale was behind the wheel when they made it to Mr. Conroy’s. They had alternated so that John would take a turn after they got Thomas to allow Kale to spend some time with him. A plethora of stories about Jason and Robert, told by both men, had kept Kale’s nerves calm. Once they had made it into Cooperville, the conversation had gradually abated. This was the moment Kale had never thought would arrive.

  When he parked the car, he reached back for the valise only to be stopped by John. “Let me get that.”

  “It’s no trouble.”

  “I didn’t think it would be. It’ll just look better if I’m the one carrying it. You’re the man in charge, not the man who handles the money.”

  John made sense. It was a good suggestion. “Let me just get my documents out of it. That way he can take the whole thing.” Kale retrieved the papers and put them underneath the driver’s seat. It was a wearing necessity to carry them with him at all times in Arine. They were little protection should anyone truly wish him harm, but if they were ever lost or stolen, especially without Jason to vouch for him, there was no way for Kale to prove his identity. The old fear of being captured and sold still lurked in the recesses of his mind. It was ridiculous. No one had cause to try to steal them, but he still liked to keep them out of plain view.

  Mr. Conroy’s secretary led them into his study and shut the door, remaining inside, out of the way. Kale was glad he had John with him to keep the numbers even. Behind a giant oak desk sat Mr. Conroy. He was a stout man with a ruddy complexion and about as much hair in his sideburns as he had on his entire head. There wasn’t anything in his appearance to lead Kale to believe he was a pleasant man.

  “Gentleman, please, take a seat.”

  “We’re fine standing, thank you. This shouldn’t take long.” Kale was too on edge to sit. He wanted to hand over the money, sign the papers, get Thomas, and be gone in five minutes.

  “I’m afraid there’s been a change of plans. Upon further reflection, I can’t let Thomas go for anything less than fifty.”

  Kale took a step forward before he could stop himself. “We had a deal.” Kale was tired of disappointments, but his voice was pure steel without a hint of weariness. He was leaving with Thomas in the back seat of his car whether Mr. Conroy agreed to the terms or not.

  “I know, but I’ve been thinking about it, and there must be something I don’t know about this boy if you’re willing to pay so much for him.”

  John stepped forward and placed the valise on the desk. “Well, we have forty-two thousand cash for you as promised. That’s an awful lot of money. It seems to me you can take it and be happy at your good fortune, or you can decline it, in which case we’ll have ourselves a bit of a problem.” After John placed the valise on the desk, he brushed his coat back and put his hands in his pockets. Kale realized at the same moment Mr. Conroy did that this placed John’s revolver in plain view.

  Mr. Conroy eyed each man. Neither Kale nor John moved. John was taller than Kale and pure muscle. It wouldn’t be hard for him to intimidate anyone.

  “All right. No need to make a fuss. A deal’s a deal. Gereson, count this and make sure it’s all there.” The secretary opened the valise and started to pull the money out.

  “I don’t take kindly to being called a liar.” John’s voice was low.

  “No offense intended. Business is business.” Conroy held his palms up in a gesture of helplessness.

  Gereson thumbed through all forty-two bundles of cash. “It’s all here, sir.”

  “Good. Then if you would just sign here, Mr. Wadsworth, Thomas will be all yours.” Kale scanned each copy of the bill of sale before he affixed his signature to them and did the same with Thomas’s title and registration papers. As soon as Kale finished, Conroy clapped his hands together. “Excellent. It was nice doing business with you. Gereson, bring the boy in.”

  It was then that Kale realized Mr. Conroy had sold him Thomas sight unseen. Kale didn’t mind. He hadn’t wanted his brother around for the money part of it anyway, but it did make him wonder at Conroy’s motivation. He was probably worried there was some mix-up, and Thomas wasn’t the slave they wanted. Either that or there was something wrong with Thomas that Conroy didn’t want them knowing about before he had his money. Kale didn’t delve down that path. It was simpler to assume that Conroy was afraid they wouldn’t want Thomas if it turned out he didn’t look enough like the brother Kale had told him P and C already owned. Kale would find out soon enough.

  The door opened, and Kale was awestruck. Before him stood a man where Kale had expected to find a boy. Thomas stood barely an inch shorter than Kale, or at least he would when his head was raised. His long, gangly limbs had filled out. The freckles on his nose and cheeks were faded.

  “Thomas, you’ve been sold.” A flutter of his downcast eyelashes was the only movement that betrayed his surprise. “This is your new master, Mr. Wadsworth.”

  Thomas began to sink to his knees. Kale’s stomach churned. He wouldn’t let his brother kneel to him. Instead he grabbed Thomas’s arm, perhaps a bit too gruffly, before his knees could hit the floor. “No time for all that. Let’s go.” Kale kept his voice low. It was the only way he could control it.

  Once out of Conroy’s office, Kale released Thomas’s arm and strode to the car, confident that Thomas and John followed. Kal
e climbed into the back and John got behind the wheel, putting Thomas’s papers under the seat to join Kale’s. Thomas moved to get in the front, but Kale grabbed his hand and tugged him into the back. The moment Thomas’s door closed, the car jerked forward.

  Once John had them off of Conroy’s property, Kale collapsed back in his seat and breathed easier. To his right, Thomas sat awkwardly on the edge of his seat with his head bowed and one hand limp inside Kale’s. He had no idea how to even begin to talk to Thomas. It didn’t feel right to just blurt out that he was his brother.

  Kale could imagine what was going through Thomas’s head. What he really wanted was to put him at ease. “You must have a lot of questions.” Thomas perked slightly at the words. “You’ve noticed my hands are rougher than any man you’ve served in a while. You would have seen the valise full of cash on the desk. You’re wondering what you did to get yourself sold. Was it something you said, a mistake you made? Or did the master just get tired of you? You’re right back at the beginning, having to learn new preferences and rules. John’s revolver is an unexpected variable. You haven’t been manacled, so are you expected to do something? How can you please someone who you’ve already upset merely by trying to pay the proper respect on your knees? I’m sorry about that, by the way. I didn’t mean to be rough with you. And now you’re wondering how any free man can know what you’re thinking so well. It’s a bit scary.”

  Kale lifted Thomas’s face. Thomas had inherited the soft curves of their mother’s bone structure. “Lift your eyes to mine.” The pale green eyes that met Kale’s were imprinted with a lifetime of experiences Kale had no knowledge of. There was a depth that hadn’t been there the last time Kale had seen them. The light behind the irises had dimmed. Slaves never really had innocence, even as children, but there was a certain spark, a hope, that had persisted in Thomas when he was young. Kale had envied it. When had it been extinguished? Had it been when Kale was sold? Or when Thomas was finally separated from his mother? It was time to bring some understanding to dispel the confusion clouding Thomas’s eyes. “I know what you’re thinking because it’s what I would have been thinking if I were you. It was the way our mother taught us to think.” There was a flicker of something on Thomas’s face, not quite recognition. “It’s me, Thomas. Kale. Your brother.”