River Bend

by Barbara Shepherd

  “My, this is fine coffee,” Amelia said. “How did it get way out here, Trader Jake?”

  “Stephen ordered it,” Jake said, “and I brought it to him from Brazil.”

  “Brazil,” Amelia said, “sounds exotic and dreamy. It would be nice to travel all over the world with you, Trader Jake.”

  He shrugged and drained his coffee cup before swooping up Johnathan in his arms. “Caught you. You ran too close to me this time.” He tickled the child’s ribs, receiving giggles for his efforts, before putting Johnathan down to run and play.

  “Old Bailey,” Belle said. “We’re going to retire to the parlor.” When he came her way, she held up her hand. “No assistance needed. Please gather everyone and finish off this fine wedding feast.” She watched his engaging smile and Johnathan snatching more tea cakes before he skipped up the steps to the front porch.

  She turned to her guests. “Come in, ladies and gentlemen, I have gifts for the brides to open.”

  Before she closed the front door behind her guests, Belle peeked out to see a throng of slaves surround the tables. The wonder on their faces pleased her, but she worried for them when she noticed Phineas stomping off toward his living quarters.

  Chapter Forty-Three

  Complementing the oversized chairs of chestnut-brown leather, six lolling chairs ringed the cold fireplace in the parlor. Delicate lines inlaid on mahogany arms and legs of the chairs and their patterned upholstery invited guests to sit and visit.

  “Never saw a chair like this one,” Benjamin said.

  “That canted back,” Jake said, “keeps you from sitting at attention.”

  “Sure does,” Margaret Campbell said. “These are nice.”

  Jake, Samuel, and Burcham relaxed in the leather chairs while the others found seats. When The Eagle Speaks and Laughing Maiden chose to sit on the floor.

  Too excited to sit, Belle carried in two large packages, each wrapped in an embroidered pillowcase and tied with white ribbon. She presented the packages to Catherine and Amelia who opened them to find a matching pillowcase and a bed quilt.

  Both new brides jumped up to hug Belle for their gifts. Mrs. Burcham and Margaret assisted the brides in unfolding the quilts, a medallion and an appliqued one.

  “What tiny stitches you make,” Amelia said. “I could never make anything so precise. It’s lovely.”

  “I feel the same way,” Catherine said. “Quilting and embroidery stitches this small could never come from my big hands. These are too pretty to use.”

  “Oh, no,” Belle said. “Thank you for the compliments, but you’ll need quilts to decorate your bed and, come winter, to keep you warm.”

  “Does get mighty cold in Texas winters,” Burcham said.

  The men started to discuss weather which dominated the conversation for a while.

  When Old Bailey appeared in the doorway, Jake gave two soft claps of his hands, and the old servant disappeared. In a few seconds, he returned with two new brooms. Jake rose, took the brooms, and presented them to the brides.

  “Wedding presents,” Jake said. “But they’re sturdy enough so husbands can also sweep with them.”

  Samuel and Benjamin gave him a sneer, and everyone laughed.

  “These are well made,” Catherine said. “I’m grateful to you, Trader Jake.”

  “And I,” Amelia said.

  “You’re welcome,” he said, “however, I can’t take all the credit. They were made here on the premises by a couple of our talented workers.” He paused. “There’s something else.”

  Old Bailey appeared with two more brooms, much smaller and decorated with flowers, ribbons, and shells.

  “These are cowry,” Belle said.

  “Indeed,” Jake said. “I gave a bag of them to Stephen for the slaves. These came from Fiji instead of Africa, but their significance remains the same.”

  Belle glanced at her guests and saw she was not alone in her confusion.

  “This bridal broom,” he said, “is used in a ceremony and has spiritual importance. When waved over the heads of the wedding couple, it symbolizes sweeping away single lives and past wrongdoings. It also removes evil spirits. Jumping over the broom shows the wife’s willingness to keep the house clean. If you are keen on this, I thought we might incorporate this ceremony into your wedding day after the dance.”

  Benjamin cleared his throat before he spoke. “Grizzled, old trappers like us are about ceremonied out.”

  “You’re not grizzled today.” Catherine gave Samuel a sultry look. “A fresh shave and haircut made you two look like men from a genteel environment.”

  “Hogwash.” Samuel ducked his head.

  “I have no objection to this broom thing,” Amelia said. “Figured when I said I do, my duty as housekeeper was confirmed.”

  “Speaking of dance,” Belle said, “is the dance floor ready, George?”

  “Ready and waiting for everyone to shuffle their shoes,” he said, and they all adjourned to the site of the new barn.

  Daylight faded as vivid orange streaked a purple sky. Slaves hung candles to light the dance floor, candles made at River Bend of beeswax from hives near the orchards.

  Wincing, Jake hopped up on the floor of new wood and encouraged the bridal couples to join him. When they stood beside him, he introduced them to the crowd surrounding the structure that would become the plantation’s barn. Everyone who attended the wedding knew them, but all the slaves had been requested to appear. They stood a distance behind.

  After Jake completed his introductions, he made a bold statement. “With your help, ladies and gentlemen in attendance, we are going to celebrate a wedding tonight. These two brides and grooms invite you to dance and watch them jump the broom when the dance ends.”

  Silence covered the crowd until Belle clapped her hands and yelled, “Let’s dance.”

  “Bring out your music makers,” Jake said. “Let’s play some tunes for these people to dance to.”

  About a dozen slaves turned to leave.

  “And bring your drums,” Jake said. “I know you have them. Bring them out and make music.”

  The slaves hesitated a moment and left.

  “Before I came to America, I read a lot, and slaves can’t have drums,” Mrs. Burcham said. “Was that a misprint?”

  “No.” Jake returned to stand beside her and Belle. “Some slave owners banned drums, some other instruments and songs as well, because slaves concealed codes in their music. Codes for planning escapes.”

  “I see,” Mrs. Burcham said. “And you?”

  “River Bend’s slaves are pretty loyal,” Jake said. “Stephen treated them well but always maintained his position as master.”

  Slaves returned with fiddles and homemade music makers, including banjos, gourd rattles and a variety of drumming instruments. They began to play and sing which encouraged everyone to dance, although the slaves danced away from the barn floor.

  Breathing hard, Phineas rushed up to Jake and grabbed his arm. “Slaves are out of control! Get a gun and help me quell them. There’ll be an uprising. They’ll turn on us.”

  Peeling the overseer’s fingers away, Jake glared at Phineas and spoke, his voice low and menacing. “Unhand me!”

  Phineas relaxed his grip and let his hand drop. He took a step back.

  “The plantation,” Jake said, “is reacting to my orders, and everything is under control. You may join the festivities or remove yourself from the area. Your choice.”

  Phineas spun around and walked away while Belle whispered to Jake. “He looked like he could rip your tongue out.”

  Jake chuckled, picked her up in his arms, groaned in pain, and deposited her on the dance floor. Holding her close, they danced until the night sky turned inky black. He led her to a milk stool Old Bailey had brought for her to sit on and made sure she had water to drink before he whistled and motioned for the music to stop.

  When the dancers stood still, they moved aside for him to stand in the center.

&n
bsp; “Jump the broom,” he said. Repeating it several times, everyone joined their voices to his until Old Bailey brought out the decorated brooms.

  Jake gathered the newlyweds around him and motioned for a black man in a dark-blue suit to join them. “River Bend,” Jake said, “allows its workers to attend services on Sunday. Meet our plantation preacher, Reverend Zebulon Perot, who came to us by way of Versailles Manor in Louisiana’s Delta.”

  Reverend Perot held one of the brooms up for all to see. “The straws of the broom,” he said, enunciating well but with a French accent, “are the roots of the family. The handle is the strength of our Almighty God, and the ribbon represents the tie that binds these couples together as man and wife.” He laid a broom on the floor in front of each couple.

  “The cowry shells,” he said, “stand for wealth and prosperity.” He paused before saying, “And fertility.”

  A soft “woo” came from the crowd.

  “Hold hands,” he said, “and jump at the same time. Whoever jumps the highest is the decision maker.” He laughed and said, “Men jump the highest.”

  Benjamin jumped quite a bit higher than Amelia and gave her a kiss before he turned her hand loose. Samuel jumped very high, but Catherine topped him. She gave him a bear hug and a peck on his cheek.

  Music and dancing started up again, but those who had attended the wedding sat out several sets. One by one, Belle encouraged them to return to the main house.

  In the parlor, she served them glasses of Regent’s Punch, named for George IV when he was a prince regent.

  “Could be,” Burcham said, “the name should have changed to King’s Punch once he became a king.”

  “This tastes divine,” Amelia said. “What’s in it?”

  “Green tea from Trader Jake, of course,” Belle said, “loaf sugar, and sweet cream. I had to raid the wine cellar for claret and champagne.”

  “It was worth the raid,” Catherine said. “Show me how to make it, will you?”

  “Of course, I’ll show you how to make a tea punch or anything else you’d like. I love to cook.”

  “And entertain,” Jake said, looking smug. “You’re a grand mistress of this house.”

  “I’m a cook in a grand house,” Belle said.

  “We’ve had a lovely time here,” Catherine said, “but we should leave for the hotel.”

  “Oh, no,” Belle said. “Rooms have been readied for all of you to stay the night.” She pulled a wide, needlepoint rope. No sound came forth, but house servants appeared in the doorway.

  “These kind people will escort you newlyweds to your bridal suites we’ve prepared for your wedding night. You will be the only ones in the north wing in order to afford you privacy.”

  “You have thought of everything,” Jake said. “Is my room next to yours?”

  She ignored him. When she stood, Laughing Maiden and When The Eagle Speaks expressed their appreciation, said their goodbyes, and left for their home. Jake walked them out and returned.

  When the Campbells left for their cabins and everyone else retired for the evening, Jake ushered Belle outside. They sat in the long line of rocking chairs, the sound of gospel songs coming from the cabins, soothing in the starry night.

  “I leave for the gulf tomorrow,” Jake said. “Will you be all right while I’m gone?”

  “I’ll have to be. If something were to happen, you would be miles away—continents away. How could you help?”

  “True, Belle.”

  Does the man not realize how capable I am? Let him plan a double wedding and two receptions during rendezvous!

  “Is there anything that troubles you, Belle? Something we should address?”

  He doesn’t give up. “What troubles you, Jake?”

  “Not a thing,” he said. “I’m going to the stable to check on my horse.” He disappeared into the night.

  Phineas rounded the corner of the front porch and glared up at Belle from the lawn. “We can’t have that jumping over the broom nonsense. Slaves aren’t allowed to marry. You know that, I reckon.”

  “I do,” Belle said.

  “They can be bought and sold any day. Not allowed to have families to be separated from or run off with.”

  “How many have run off, Phineas?”

  “Thousands. Run off plantations every day.”

  “How many left River Bend?”

  He hesitated. “One. Don’t know why Owens let him stay in town and work at the hotel.”

  “I don’t believe we have any worries. As Trader Jake told you, this is not the day for such talk. Goodnight.” She went inside to go to bed, leaving the overseer standing on the lawn, cursing.

  Chapter Forty-Four

  Trader Jake and the guests rode out before the sun climbed high in the Texas sky. The flurry of housekeeping and extra linens to launder kept the house staff busy. Without that bustle and its accompaniment of noise, Belle would have felt pangs of loneliness again.

  Bracing herself for a verbal assault from the overseer, she walked down to the new barn. Daniel and George had cleared the remains of the previous night’s festival and prepared more logs to build the sides of the structure.

  “Sure is quiet today,” Daniel said.

  “Yes,” Belle said. “The only ones left are those who now live here.”

  “Except for one,” George said. “Phineas.”

  Belle shrugged. “He’s probably in the fields, checking on the workers.”

  “No, ma’am,” George said. “He rode out before daylight, headed north.”

  “Hmm.” Relieved she could avoid the man, she skipped to Lizzie’s kitchen to brag on the old woman in charge of food for the reception.

  Five days later, the sound of repeated blows from a lash caught Belle’s ear. Rushing to the second-floor window, she looked down to see Phineas whipping slaves, one after another, each of the four men tied to the wheels of a buckboard. Securing her needle into the piecework she held, she laid it on the arm of a chair and dashed down the stairs. Once on the porch, she confronted Phineas.

  “Drop that lash.”

  He stopped whipping but maintained his menacing expression.

  “What’s the meaning of this?”

  “They’re guilty. Attempted escape,” he said, still holding his bullwhip. “Tried to run several times since coming off that auction block. Not going to hang them ’cause we need them.”

  “So, these are new slaves? You bought more slaves?”

  “Did. That’s one of my duties.”

  “I assume Trader Jake authorized their purchase.”

  “Not necessary. I am the overseer, after all.” He jabbed his thumb against his chest.

  He parked in front of the main house to make a spectacle of this. I want to puke.

  Keeping her composure and trying not to overstep her boundaries, she tried a different approach. “Without the previous owner’s guidance, we don’t know if we can maintain our present census. How are we going to feed four more mouths?”

  “We’ll make do,” he said. “They’ll go hungry before the mistress of the house does.”

  Ignoring his sneer, she turned to Old Bailey. “Get help to untie these poor souls from the wagon, feed them, and see to their wounds so the overseer will have sturdy workers to send to the fields.” With that, she knew Phineas could not argue. She marched back inside the house and slumped into the first chair she saw.

  “So, that’s where he’s been,” she mumbled. “A slave auction, but why?”

  When Old Bailey brought her a cordial of blackberry brandy, she refused. Upon considering what she had just experienced, she seized the glass and downed the liquid in one gulp.

  “Bring me Toby!” Taking the edge from her voice, she added, “Please.”

  “Yas, missy.” Old Bailey took the empty glass.

  Toby arrived within minutes and stood in front of Belle.

  “Toby, has the plantation lost any slaves over the last year or two, other than Absalom who works at the hotel?�
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  “No, ma’am.”

  “Did anyone get sick and die?”

  “No, ma’am.”

  “You’re saying we have the same number of slaves on the books since before the crops were ready for harvest last year.”

  “Don’t know cypherin’ ma’am, but three babes was borned.”

  “Well, then, we’ve lost no field hands or house staff, and our skilled positions are filled.” She looked at Old Bailey. “We still have a blacksmith, a tanner, and grooms. Are we in need of anything, or anyone, else?”

  Both men shook their heads. “Masta no go to auctions no mo’,” Toby said.

  “Thank you, men. You’re dismissed.” Watching them leave, she wondered why Phineas would add more men to the plantation’s workforce.

  The next week, Phineas brought eight more slaves to River Bend.

  Belle’s concern over the addition of new slaves was tempered the next day by another packet of cloth. While she inspected its contents, she let a momentary peace wash over her.

  By noontime, company rode in. Amelia and Catherine hopped down from a wagon while Samuel and Benjamin unloaded long pieces of wood.

  “Hello and welcome to you all,” Belle said. “What in the blue blazes have you brought?”

  “It’s a surprise,” Amelia said. “But you saw it before we could get it set up.”

  “Trader Jake had you a new quilt frame made, and we got to deliver it,” Samuel said, his beaming face showing as much excitement as Belle felt inside.

  “Come on in, all of you,” Belle said.

  “After we set it up,” Samuel said. “We thought you’d like it under that big tree over there.”

  “That would be perfect,” Belle said, “under the magnolia that Stephen said he worked so hard to grow. I’ll have plenty of shade for quilting, and Johnathan can play there at the same time.”