[Measure of Devotion 03.0] Measure of Peace
Page 27
“Nothing. I just realized why it’s named P and C. It’s for Perdana and Calea, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is. You didn’t know that?”
“Don’t give me that look. I never thought about it before. When a man gives you a company and then tells you that company holds your title, you don’t stop to analyze the name.”
Jason shook his head and kissed Kale’s lips. “We need to get some sleep. We have a big day ahead of us.”
Kale placed the writ on the bedside table and turned off the lamp. Many more would join his by the end of the day.
* * *
Excitement had made breakfast difficult to swallow. Kale hadn’t expected his stomach to be in knots over their day’s plans. Jason must have felt the same, because he ate just as little and finished just as fast as Kale. As soon as the plates were cleared away, John joined them at the table to discuss how the day would unfold.
“We’re going to bring the slaves in one by one and talk to them. Any slave who wants it will be granted freedom. Any freed slave will have the option to remain in their current position either for a wage or for a stake in the business,” Jason explained to John.
“A stake in the business?”
“Yes. They’ve put more into this place than I have. For years, they’ve labored here without compensation to make this ranch what it is. If they’re willing to continue to throw their lot in with ours, they’ll reap the benefits of it. The shares given to freed slaves will come from mine. If they decide they want to leave, they’ll be paid a sum from my personal accounts.”
“Fair enough.” John nodded.
Jason pulled out the writs of manumission and set the stack on the table. He slid one to John. “I’d like you to fill them out while I talk to each slave and then pass it to me to sign. It’s pretty straightforward. You just have to write in their name and then the last name they’re adopting. I’m offering all of them the Wadsworth name if they want it. Of course they’re free to choose whatever they like, but they’re responsible for building what the Wadsworth name stands for and may lay claim to it.”
Jason had discussed it with Kale. For some reason, he’d thought Kale would mind sharing their name with so many people. Nothing could be further from the truth. Kale was honored, not only by the name, but by the incredible man he shared it with.
“Do you have any questions?”
“Nope. Let’s get started.”
Kale opened the door to the dining room. A line had formed outside, and he admitted the first person to be freed.
* * *
“Billy, do you understand what all this means? Even if you choose to be free, you’ll still have a place here. We’re not going to turn you out.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Do you want to be free?”
Billy nodded.
“All right then. What do you want your last name to be? You can pick anything you like, even Wadsworth.”
“Like you?”
“Yes, Billy, just like me.”
“That’s what I want, Master.”
“I’m not your master anymore.”
“Yes, Ma—Mr. Wadsworth.”
* * *
“Darlene, do you want to keep working here? We’d love to have you.”
“Child, if I left, the lot of you would starve within a week. What have I ever done to make you think I’d let people starve as long as there is breath in my body? Don’t tell me you thought you were going to let anyone else in my kitchen without me there. And I’ll be taking the last name Wadsworth as well.”
* * *
“Demetri?”
“I’ll take my freedom, sir.”
“Are you going to stay here?”
“With all due respect, I think it’s time I make my own way. It’s too hard being here. This was always the master’s dream, not mine. There’s too many memories. Everywhere I turn, I see him. I need to move forward.”
“Do you know what you want to do?”
“Honestly, no. I tried not to think about it too much. I didn’t want to get my hopes up if the law didn’t pass.”
“Well, you’re welcome to stay here as long as you need.”
“Thank you. I appreciate it.”
“Do you know what last name you want?”
“Roberts. Demetri Roberts.”
* * *
They’d freed every single Wadsworth slave by lunchtime. It was the best day’s work Kale had ever done.
They gathered in the study with John, Thomas, Ellen, and Demetri after lunch to enjoy a glass of champagne to celebrate their freedom. Soon, they would be going out to the family plot to unveil the monuments to Robert and Adele. They had arrived months ago, but Kale and Jason had decided to hold off returning until matters with the law were settled one way or the other.
“Jason, I have something I want to give you before we unveil the memorials.”
“Why do I get a present?” Jason’s bewilderment was so adorable that Kale couldn’t resist kissing the tip of his nose.
“Because I want to give you one.” Kale’d had John bring it into the study earlier, so it would be ready. He’d shipped it to the ranch before they left on their vacation. Kale opened the crate and withdrew the painting. He removed the packing material and examined it before turning it around so Jason could see. “And for making me and your father proud.”
Jason gasped. “I don’t know what to say. It’s beautiful. I can’t believe you could do something like this.” Jason stood to get a closer look. Kale had painted a portrait of Jason as a man with his mother and father.
“It was simple. I know what you look like well enough, and I had a fresh memory of Robert. I used the painting you brought home of your mother as a model.”
“No, you don’t get to belittle your talent this time. This is really amazing, Kale.”
“It is. I didn’t know when you said you were an artist you meant like this. I thought you just did those sketches. We’ll have to have you do our wedding portrait.” Thomas wrapped his arm around a glowing Ellen.
“It’s a perfect likeness of him.”
“Thank you, Demetri. That means a lot coming from you.” Demetri didn’t speak much since Robert passed. Kale suspected Robert’s death had hit him harder than any of them could imagine. Jason had told him that they had been lovers for a time.
“Thank you, Kale.” Jason had misty eyes when he kissed him, but there was a smile on his face. Kale was amazed at how well Jason had recovered from his father’s death. He had kept expecting him to break down, but he hadn’t. Looking at him now, Kale saw a strength he didn’t think Jason had been aware he possessed.
At four o’clock, Jason entwined his fingers with Kale’s and walked with him outside to the family plot with the others following. They had bundled up in coats and scarves against the chill. Clouds threatened to obscure the sun, but there was still light for a while. Once everyone was gathered, John removed the canvas tarps that covered the monuments.
Kale stepped forward to run his hand along the granite of his mother’s memorial, barely registering Jason’s awestruck exclamation. Jason had let him choose anything. The only image he could remember clearly enough of his mother to replicate was her hands. They were vivid in his mind, so worn and yet so gentle. They were a perfect representation of the woman he had known. He had drawn detailed pictures of them cupped together, palms up, giving, open and supplied them to the mason. Before him was a perfect recreation of those hands, and under them was his mother’s name, Adele, etched in stone, never to wear away or be forgotten.
“Thank you, Jason.” Kale choked on the words.
“It’s an honor to have her memory here.” Jason placed a hand on Kale’s shoulder.
Kale collected himself and wiped the tears from his eyes before he stood. Robert’s memorial was a bust of him as he appeared in the family portrait painted when Jason was a toddler. “It looks just like him.” Jason marveled. Demetri murmured his agreement.
John cl
eared his throat. “I took the liberty of having something else installed as well.” He walked over to a large oak tree, and Kale saw another tarp. John lifted it to reveal a wooden bench with wrought iron arms and legs. “I thought it’d be nice for people to have a place to sit when they come to pay their respects or just to think.”
“It’s wonderful, John. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Jason took Kale’s hand and led him to the bench. Together, they sat as everyone else made their way back inside. They were each wrapped in their own thoughts, letting the silence go undisturbed. Little snowflakes began to fall, resting for a moment on the granite statues before melting. Kale didn’t mind the cold. He could feel the warmth of Jason’s hand through his glove. Kale gazed at Jason, admiring his profile. He was so damn lucky.
This was love. It wasn’t the sex, or the good times laughing with friends. It was weathering the storms. Love wasn’t passionate; it was peaceful. It was the peace of knowing at the end of the day, there was another man who understood him, who knew him, who would let him stand by himself and catch him if he stumbled and fell, someone with whom the word wrong had no meaning. Wrong would only be being apart. Whatever storm raged around them, they stood together in the eye, the peaceful center. Love wasn’t freedom. Kale had no desire for freedom. He was bound to Jason, as surely as Jason was bound to him. Love was the peace of knowing that he was all right, the security that no matter how dark the world around him grew, Jason would always see him. It was the peace of knowing that, no matter how ludicrous and illogical, Kale was as perfect for Jason as Jason was for him. It was the peace of two flawed men, joining their lives together, to create their own joy. Kale had known lust, happiness, and passion with Jason. Now he knew peace, and it was the sweetest of all.
* * *
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Caethes Faron
Measure of Devotion series:
Measure of Devotion
Measure of Strength
Measure of Peace
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About the Author
Caethes's writing is influenced by her observations of this imperfect world and the flawed characters who inhabit it. She's lived in seven states and is always looking for the next place to call home with her husband and dogs. She currently resides in Florida.
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Copyright © 2013 by Caethes Faron
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Contents
About Measure of Peace
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Also by Caethes Faron
About the Author
Copyright