“My God…” Charles muttered stunned.
“And know this…no man, or woman for that matter, will stand between us. I would gladly crush anyone, who dare try. I cannot lose her, I cannot live without her.” They both stared at each other again in silence. Charles absorbing it all with stunning clarity. Shaking his head he finally looked away, peering down the bar. “Percy!! Another round!!”
Manny stood waiting with a lifted brow. Percy worked his way back to them placing their drinks before them. Charles picked his up with a sigh, “A toast… to - Princess Ceś alena and dreams… well…may all yours come true!” Lifting his glass he smiled at his long time friend waiting. Manny chuckled and raised his drink. “Amen to that, to Princess Ceś alena!”
Their glasses clinked again and both men swallowed down their brandies.
The man who stood directly behind Manny trembled with fear. Sweat popped from his forehead and ran down his grimy skin, catching on scabbed over scars on his face and neck. He had overheard the majority of the conversation and was for once glad he’d bided his time before speaking too soon. He’d come into the bar earlier than the two, raging on and on about nigger slaves and the hell they’d put him through that day. He had sat in the corner, drank a bit and was playing a hand at cards when one of the men at the table drew his attention to the two gentlemen dressed sharply at the bar.
“That there gentlemen be Maynard Webster hisself.”
“Well ya’ don’t say, I think I’ah go have a word with him then.” He withdrew from the game and sauntered up to the bar, ordering himself another drink as he waited for the two men to stop their toasting; finding himself drawn into listening to their conversation. Now that he had, and because of what was on his mind, he was contemplating slipping from the bar un-noticed.
If he could get his frozen feet to move, fearful of drawing attention to himself. He couldn’t believe his bad luck; this situation was going from bad to worse. He had almost choked on his drink when he heard this man, Maynard Webster, confess to being in love with his negro slave. ‘No wonder his wife so upset, insistin’ I do things the way she want.’ It hadn’t occurred to him to believe the slaves, well they would do and say anything to keep one of their children from being taken from them. And the overseers there backed her up…so how was he to know. ‘Godalmighty! I been used…used for revenge…no wonder she made the offer too good to turn from! She wanted to be rid of the boy!’ He chanced a glance over his shoulder at Manny and quickly turned back thinking. ‘Jeeeee-sus! Why didn’t I listen…why didn’t I listen?... greed…plane ol’sinful greed! Cause you a damn greedy fool! I swear Lord…get me out’ah this, an’ I’ah turn over a new leaf…no sa’! I swear I’m done with the peddlin’ of flesh, sellin’ negras, just as soon as I rid myself of this batch! I swear Lord…I swear.’ He prayed gulping and thinking of an escape. Flashing in his mind and making him more panicky was remembering how he beat her.
“Chester! You wantin’ another drink?!” Percy asked raising his head as he cleaned glasses near to where Manny and Charles stood laughing about something. His question sent Chester’s heart to his throat. “N-no, um, I - no…no!”
“Standing right there beside you is, Mr. Webster. Weren’t you lookin’ for him earlier?”
Manny heard and stood from leaning on the bar turning his attention from the mention of his name. “Who was looking for me?” He asked Percy, eyeing him, then down at the perspiring man next to him.
“N-no…no - I - n-n-no - no…” Chester shook his head stammering.
“Chester Sands here, he was looking for you earlier. He a slave trader ‘round here. He say something ‘bout slaves-…”
“Perceee - Percy!! Can I get a goddamn drink or not!! Hell!!-…” Someone down the bar yelled at him, cutting him off nd he was gone, leaving Manny and Charles standing there looking down at Chester Sands, who looked as if he would melt on the spot. Beads of sweat gathered rapidly on Chester’s nose and upper lip, running from his hairline over his one good eye. The other was black from an obvious fight. “You lookin’ for me for some reason?”
“Um…-(gulp)- …umm, I just - umm wonderin’…if umm, you be interested in buying - some slaves…ummm, b-but I run into someone earlier…he - he buy’em all, so…so um…no - no.”
Manny eyed him listening wondering at the man’s nervousness? Charles was standing back a bit from Manny to look the guy over as well. Both thought his behavior peculiar.
“Glad to hear it. I’m not interested in buying. Things are just the way I like them at my plantation. Thank you anyway.”
“Y - y - yes sir. Good - g-good then. Well, I be headin’ out now.” He nodded quickly then made his escape. Both men stood there as he shuffled around those blocking him, and out the door.
“Strange character that?” Charles commented.
“I guess you’d have to be, for the business he’s in.” Manny answered, still watching the door, even though the shifty character had long since departed through it. “Even now that it’s illegal, it amazes me how such a thing still goes on, capturing and selling.” Charles shook his head. “Well what’s next my friend?” He asked, having already put the man from his mind.
Manny stood unable to answer… something in his stomach was building to a nag…his hand lifted and stroked there.
“Manny?”
“I think I’ll be heading home now.”
“Tonight?”
“Yes…hell Charles, I’ve been gone for weeks. My son is probably stir crazy waiting for me.” He chuckled. “Come on, it’s too late to be traveling the roads, why don’t you just stay in town till morning with me, and ride out first thing?”
“I don’t know…I feel, rather anxious to get home.” He thought of the fantastic news he had to tell Lena. The ship was almost done; it only needed to settle a bit, and the last coat of pitch to dry. She, the Princess Ceś alena, was a massive ship, costing him all he had in his savings …plus he’d had to extend the time he originally agreed to pay off his remaining loans.
But it was well worth it, especially, he thought, when Lena got to see it for herself.
“Okay my friend, come back to me from the land of Lena, Manny? Oh Manny?” Charles joked, snapping his fingers at him.
“Sorry.” Manny returned sheepishly.
“Come on, what difference is one more night gonna make?” Charles asked as they made their way to the door. Outside now, they stood on the worn boardwalk, leaning against one of the posts. “It is just that, well…Lena is far along with the babe. I’m sure she’ll be having it any day now. I really want to be there when she’s born.”
“She?”
Manny smiled. “Aye, Mikey is convinced that it is a girl. No doubt about it.”
Charles stood in the warm breeze of the evening air, looking at his friend. He was happy…truly happy…but, “Manny don’t you feel just a slight prick of guilt when it comes to Katherine? Just a little?”
“Actually…no. It is when with Katherine, that I feel guilt. In my heart, I knew I was betraying Lena. My only guilt with Katherine is that I married her. That I drew her into this, when I knew…I could never love her. Back then, I was still trying to be what everyone else expected. But no more…I am done with that. It has brought about too much heartache.”
“{{Wheeeooo}}” Charles whistled. “I see, I guess I know when to leave well enough alone. Anyway, I still insist, that one night will not make much difference. Come on, stay, we’ll have an early breakfast together and you can be on your way to Lena, Mikey…and your - little girl. If that is what you get this time.” He grinned. Manny still seemed to hesitate. “God’a’mighty man! Stay!”
“Alright, alright! I’ll stay the night, but I have to head out first light.”
“That’s fine with me. Now I can bore you to death with talk about Mildred Hastings and I.”
“Mildred Hastings! Well I’ll be! It’s about time too!”
“What?! What is that suppose to mean?”
J
ust then at the end of town, at the livery stable, Chester Sands led his team and slaves out of the coral. He climbed on and headed them straight for the exit of town. He wanted as much distance between him and Maynard Webster as he could gain. Good thing he gagged the boy, tying him up, before he’d left him to go to the saloon. He could only imagine the horror of the boy yelling out for help. For miles he’d had to deal with the boys yelling, crying and pleading. Once out of the area of the plantation, he’d had to tie and gag the boy to shut him up.
Now he was glad he had, it might have gotten back to Manny somehow, and he knew, something told him it was so…should that man get a hold of him, he wouldn’t survive the beating. Wth all his slaves piled into the back and a tarp over them to hide them, he snapped his reigns and high tailed it.
Charles and Manny stood watching as the wagon kicked up dust heading out of town, beyond the range of the burning street lights.
“Now why do you suppose he’s heading out so late?” Charles wondered out loud.
“I don’t know. Night travel is cooler, I suppose.” But again Manny found himself frozen and staring. Shivers coursed over his body as a nagging sensation plagued him, the source from which it came…he hadn’t a clue. But it hadn’t started until he looked into the face of that Chester Sands. “Hey?” Charles called him stopping now in the street they’d been crossing. “You coming?”
Manny didn’t answer…something gripped him, but because he had nothing solid to go on, he ignored the uneasy gnawing at his gut; yet he watched as the wagon was slowly swallowed by distance and darkness. Completely un-aware the instincts he felt, were instincts he should have acted upon. He stood watching as his gagged and tied son lay between two other slaves in that wagon, crying and praying with all his might, that his father would come and rescue him.
Finally, exhausted tears of hopelessness washed Mikey’s face. One of the slaves beside him, shushed his crying; moving the gag from his mouth out of sympathy. “You gots ta’be silent. Here, I moo’dis cover, you breathe…but stop yo’ cryin’. Yo’ daddy can’t he’p you now. Ain’t no body gon’he’p you.” He whispered. Mikey pressed his eyes tight…swallowing back sobs that shook his young body.
“Are you going to stand there all night?” Charles asked, finding Manny’s behavior peculiar. “What’s wrong?” He asked again. Manny felt an eerie chill grip him, and it wouldn’t let go. Goose bumps charged across his skin; he shivered so hard, his heart took off making him tremble. He took a long deep breath. “I’ve had too much to drink. I think you’re right…I need some sleep. Then first thing, I’m going home.”
Chapter Nine
“Kevin, just the trunk you see there by the door. Have you brought the carriage around yet?”
“Yes ma’am, sure did and it’s ready to go.” He answered aware of her reasons for leaving. Common sense and twelve years at Webster Fields told him all he needed to know. His things were rolled up, with his horse tied to the back of the carriage. Just as soon as he left Ms Katherine at her folks, he was heading out. James had taken off sometime in the middle of the night. ‘Coward!’ He thought, he’d had to do everything, tie up the three and whip them, with James standing by, flinching and shaking – wringing his hands, moaning and groaning scared Morris or Manny would catch them. He should have known the coward would run off, he thought - ignoring his own cowardly preparations to flee. He could just imagine Manny’s reaction when he returned, being honest with himself, his gut was tied up in knots of fear now as well.
She had better get to what she was doing, or he’d be gone. The previous night, Morris had returned late, banging to get into the mansion. Katherine had locked it up tight where he couldn’t even get in. By the time she’d come to the door, that slave Kayleen had come running to him, telling him what they did. He’d screamed at them until he was hoarse for whipping the three slaves without his permission. Then he’d gone into the house and told Katherine off, telling her to be gone first light, and that he -(Kevin)- was to take her, and then disappear. ‘Damn glad to!’ He thought resentful.
He couldn’t believe Morris had raised such a fuss over whipping the slaves; after all, in his mind, they’d deserved it. But he had known Morris wouldn’t have allowed it, that’s why he waited until he left to do it. Morris had been up all night pacing, worrying over what to do; that Kayleen following him and crying, fussing that she wished she had died with Ms Royal.
“’Cause it ain’t never gonna be peace here at Webster Fields no more. Hell has come, and it’s here to stay.” On and on she had raged and Morris said not a word. Kevin shook his head. “Don’t get it…don’t damn get it?! Why these niggas got to be treated better than any others. They all can burn in hell for what I care!” He mumbled packing up the last of what was needed.
Katherine stood midway down the stairs fitting on her gloves, working her fingers in place. She had her parasol under one arm, and fan dangling from her wrist. All matching her soft green muslin, summer day dress, with white lace and her tied down flower and lace bonnet.
“Ms Katherine, you got to hurry up. We got to get out of here!” Kevin warned her, now starting to panic. He kept seeing Manny come down that lane, catching them there – he guts twisted because he knew, if he got his hands on him, he would kill him. She was acting as if she had all the time in the world.
The look she gave him, made him shake his head and stomp around the carriage. “I will return in a moment. And then we can leave.” He shook his head. “I needs t’just go! Leave without her. Just damn go!” He murmured.
With her skirts held in her hands; gracefully she strolled around the side of the mansion, heading for Lena’s cabin. It was early morning, with the light of day, barely touching the paling sky – early birds were singing. The grass was wet with dew, and the air was comfortable, but as the sun rose into place, another day of sweltering heat would follow. She approached Lena’s cabin slowly…feeling nervous and unsure. Bolstering her nerve she made her way up the three steps until she was right at the door. She’d been standing out on the balcony last night to hear the lusty cry of the newborn child, and now… she would see it. Having rid Webster Fields of one of his bastard’s offered some satisfaction, but here she knew…was another.
Her hand balled to knock, when the door came open and she stood facing Kayleen’s un-forgiving face. “Oh! You’re still here then. I thought I heard you back at the house last night.”
“You did…but slithering, low down, dirty snakes ain’t the only things that can move about without others knowing.” Kayleen bit out, barely controlling her hostility, as she stood barring Katherine’s way. Katherine stood a moment gathering her wits about her, something about facing Kayleen intimidated her. She wished she didn’t have to face her, but she’d come there to see the baby, and she wasn’t going to be turned away.
“You never liked me, did you Kayleen?”
“Had no reason to, got even less reason now!” She retorted bitterly. “What you want?”
“I’ve come to see that child! I know it’s born…I heard it crying last night. So unblock this doorway and let me through.”
“So sellin’ my Mikey wasn’t enough for you. Ya’ come to see and make plans for this one too? Well, don’t bother! You got nothin’ to worry about where this one concerned. Gone now, be about your way!”
“What do you mean, nothing to worry about concerning this one!? It is Manny’s isn’t it!?” Katherine felt her anger rising at her bold disrespect, and what exactly did she mean about the babe? “Unblock this doorway! I have come to see that child! Either let me through or I shall get Kevin to help me in!”
Kayleen stood a moment, feeling she had said enough of what needed to be said to plant the seed and idea. Grudgingly, she backed away and stepped to the side allowing her entrance. Katherine picked up her skirt and stepped into the clean, neat and expensively furnished cabin. She was shocked, and could not believe her eyes, it had been her first time even bothering to come to the cabins. She had no idea t
his slave had been set up in such grandeur. Heat once again washed over her; tightening her lips; clamping her jaw, she stepped in further, viewing the layout that looked nothing like the outside of the cabin. All that she saw was of the highest quality in furnishings. From the curtains on the windows, to the rugs on the floor; table clothes, bed linens, a white vanity and wardrobe with gold trim and floral inlay. Tall brass framed mirrors on the wall, and one standing for full length view across the room.
The vanity’s top was white and tan marble with a satin covered brass seat. Displayed on top were many expensive perfumes, the bottles of fancy design, flanked by fragrant soaps and powders; before them, an expensive vanity comb and brush set. Towards the end of the cabin was an extension of two more rooms. Her stunned anger would not let her look further beyond Lena’s bed. Where Lena lay amidst fluffly pillows, shams and a matching spread. The bed itself was brass, with tables each side of it, adorned with expensive lamps. On one side of the room, to the left of the bed, was a chaise lounge, and a rocking chair sat next to the bed.
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