Princess Ces'alena (Webster Fields)

by Mercedes Keyes

  “Hush about that now, I know. Looks like, this one here, and you – are all I have left. Going, I should have taken you with me. No matter, tell me about that day, everything that happened. Tell me about my little girl. Tell me what has been going on since I’ve been gone.”

  Leon did.

  He spent the rest of the day by Manny and Hope’s side. Manny ignored everyone else, but kept Hope and Leon with him. They went back to the barn, cleaning it as Hope helped, and then saddled two horses.

  Manny stopped as he looked at Mike’s stallion. “Whose been taking care of him Leon?” He asked. “We all have, been exercisin’em everyday. I ride’em every now and then.” He admitted.

  “Well, you ride him from now on. He’s yours.” Manny stated.

  “Me wan’orsie.” Hope announced. Manny laughed, “Oh do ya’now? You hear that Leon? She’s startin’ already. Demanding women…I think it’s given to them at birth.” He joked.

  Leon chuckled, in spite of being choked up at Manny’s gift to him. “I think you right. ‘specially ha’. She thank she a princess or somethin’, how she act sometimes.” He replied grinning.

  Manny nodded. “That’s because she is Leon. Her mother is Princess Ceś alena, and her grandfather - King LuMaden. When I’m done with her, no man will be worthy of her. Because with every action I take, it shall be to indulge her, spoil her, set her on high. Daddy’s little girl.” Manny chuckled, “What man will match all of that?” He announced saddling his horse, looking back and forth from what he was doing, to glance down at his daughter with the eyes of a proud and protective father. Happy, Hope was content to play in the clean hay, not far from her father and looked up at him with bright gold eyes and the face of an angel.

  Leon smiled shaking his head, going to the stallion that had once been Michael’s and now, it was his.

  As he saddled, he heard Manny test his daughter’s name. When they were both saddled up, Leon led his horse out, and Manny picked up Hope, placing her in the saddle as they led them out of the barn. Climbing up behind her, and settling her comfortably in place, with Leon climbing onto his, they started a slow gait towards the miles of fields belonging to Webster Fields, and that is when Manny first announced his daughter’s name out loud.

  “You are my Hope, my Golden Hope. Golden Hope Webster, wait until Charles sees you.” It was that, that Kayleen knew about him and the reason she worked so hard to keep Hope hidden – he had no grasp of the concept that his mulatto children were only the pride of himself and the people that loved them – mainly speaking, the slaves. The three were as father, son and daughter. They toured the fields to check on the cattle. He visited the overseers, and met their daughters, wives and families. Doing what all knew he would, proudly displaying his daughter.

  Realizing that she would soon be hungry, he and Leon made a small fire and camp next to a stream and caught fish for their lunch. There they sat and talked, Manny telling Leon about his adventures at sea. Showing him his wounds and how he ended up fighting pirates.

  Leon was enthralled.

  Hope was in heaven.

  She was in the company of her two favorite men, Leon and her father.

  As they fished and kept an eye on her, she chased butterflies, and picked wild flowers, giving them both a crushed bouquet. Leon made her a little crown from the flowers to wear in her hair, and Manny observed them both. His mind once again, on too many thoughts at once.

  Lena and Thomas; his son; his life; Katherine and what to do about her; his merchant business; Kayleen, Jordan, and once again back to Lena. His mind replayed everything from the past. From the first time he ever saw her, to the first time he lay with her; her round with his sons. The fights they’d had. The hell they’d suffered; and now … his daughter that she kept from him. He was calm now…on the surface – but building underneath was the anxiety of her return. Playing in his mind, was the thought of saddling a horse and going looking for her. What would she do, Thomas do, if he suddenly showed up where they were? Manny knew, he could not. With his current state of mind, to show up where she was now, Thomas would try to intervene – Manny despite it all, did not want to end up in a fight with him - for things to go too far. He knew the man’s purpose for being there, it was a worthy purpose. He had to keep things as they were, between himself and Lena.

  This was about them – no one else.

  Having made up his mind on how to deal with it, still and yet, he continuously thought about her being alone with Thomas. After tonight…that little union would end – he would see to it. At the present, his baby girl was chattering away about something, he only caught bits and pieces of. Sometimes he understood her as plain as day, then other times he could only wonder at her words. Spoken so seriously with ever changing expressions; he would look to Leon for an interpretation, he only shrugged without a clue, offering, “You get use to it. Just em hm, and always agree…you be fine.”

  Manny nodded following his instruction, laughing with wonder at being a father to a daughter. She was tiny, delicate, fragile and lovely. It amazed him how different having a daughter made him feel from having sons. As Hope went on trying to talk to him, he did catch and understand little bits about the Indian village. He realized there was someone called, “eh co.” Manny hadn’t a clue that she was trying to tell him about, Red Crow; because she was unable to pronounce his name. She showed him her little necklace with its leather string and copper piece hanging from it. “What is this?” He asked Leon. Again Leon shrugged. “I’on know, but Ms Lena say, you try to take it off her, she throw a fit.”

  Manny let go of the rough jewelry, because Hope was so proud of it.

  In the time he spent with her and Leon, watching her play once they’d returned to the plantation, he’d laughed more than he had in years. She talked his ears off and he loved every minute of it.

  He sat at Lena’s cabin and watched her play with Mazie’s children that she’d brought over. Jamie and Nia, Jamie being the surrogate baby who was used to trick him. ‘So you’re the little one they used to send me insane.’ He thought as he sat watching them. He shook his head in wonder, ‘Why didn’t I know? Why didn’t I see through the lie?’ He suddenly smiled and chuckled at Hope, he was seeing a part of her that made him laugh. The more he watched her, the more he realized that his beautiful daughter was a smart, bossy, spunky, spirited little brat – wanting to have everything her way, just like her mother.

  Instead of correcting her as he knew he should, he chuckled with a warning to her, that he would not let her get away with such things in the future, but right now, he did not have the heart to scold her. Instead, he scooped her into his arms and walked off talking to her until she cooled her little temper, ‘and boy is it a doosey.’ He thought.

  Something also told him that she was needing a nap, and took her into the mansion, to his room and laid her on his bed, where she could take one. There beside her where she sure enough, fell asleep while he stroked her hair, staring down at her soft delicate features. Such a pretty babies face. Suddenly he was choked up as tears came to his eyes.

  With his fingers he traced the gold arch of her brow, so much like Lena’s. Her tiny button nose, and pert full lips, such a dark pink… shaped as well like Lena’s. She was amazing to him, so incredible that all of this time…Lena had hid her from him.

  All the traveling, running, fighting and killing he’d done to escape and erase a hurt that didn’t have to be; the unbearable pain that forced him to drink himself into oblivion sometimes. He was dwelling too much again, and couldn’t help but whisper the question. “Were you ever going to tell me about Hope? How long did you plan to carry out this charade?” Still stroking his daughter’s head, he leaned over and kissed her brow. He stayed that way, his face right up to hers. “You’re mine. As sure as water is wet, and pain does hurt. You are mine…and so - is your mother. I will not lose you… and somehow little one; we will be a family. By God I swear it - I will see it through, before I leave this earth. Or I will
die with the trying.”

  That night he, prepared her bath in Lena’s cabin, bathed her, and readied her for bed. Once more, she talked and talked, telling him many things he did understand, one, “I luf’you m’daddy, m’mommy luf you too.”

  “She does?”

  “Em hm, her do.”

  “How do you know little chicken?” He asked brushing her hair.

  “’Cause, I do-o-o, mommy say, luf’yo’ daddy too.”

  “She say that?”

  “Em hm, m’mommy luf’me, my mommy luf’you.” She informed him in a matter of fact way, yawning more and more as he finished dressing her for bed. Doing so, he noticed everything was still as he remembered it. He was further elated to see that his robe still hung in the same place. Having gone through his daughter’s night dresses, he noted that they were all cotton. He decided from then forward, she would wear silk against her delicate skin. With lace, always lace. Sitting in his chair, he held her, talked to her, told her stories until she fell asleep in his arms. Satisfied with his day and his night, he carried her to Kayleen’s cabin where he knocked on the door.

  When she opened it, she was surprised.

  He stood in the door silent, taking a deep breath, he asked softly, “Please…may I leave my daughter with you tonight?”

  “Get in here with her.” Kayleen directed stepping back to let him in. Hope was already asleep. “Lay her on’the bed.” She instructed closing the door. He walked over doing as she told him. Kayleen’s cabin was not as extravagantly done as Lena’s, but it too was not as one would expect for a slave. This cabin had not been his doing, but his mother’s. Yet everything within it spoke loud and clear of how her sister loved her.

  Manny stood shaking the bed so that his daughter would fall back to sleep, after stirring from laying her down. Kayleen watched him. She could only wonder what this night would bring when Lena returned. Finally he slowly withdrew his weight from the bed, and stood gazing down at her. Quietly he said, “I’m sorry Kayleen. For all that has happened…because of me.” He then looked over at her. “I don’t always, do what I should - but -…” He was getting choked up again. “Come here chile.” She beckoned him. “Sit right here.” She patted the seat she stood next to. He obeyed sitting next to her.

  “Manny…I love your mama, with all my heart. She was my best friend, and my sister. You know that don’t you?”

  He nodded looking up at her.

  “I too – might not’ah done right. I love that baby. I love my Mikey and I love you. You - and your babies…” She stopped about to cry. “Yah’ll the only blood family…I got. If I lose you - ha’.” She nodded towards Hope laying there sleeping, quiet for the moment as she gazed. “I don’t know what I’m gon’ do. If Royal was here, none of this would’ah happen. But she gone, and I have to do my part to protect you all. All I could think of to do… was make you turn away from us, and stick with yo’ own kind.”

  “You are my own kind Kayleen! The blood that flows through your veins, flows through my own! I cannot be something I’m not. I’m my mother’s son. And I’m in love - with - Princess Ceś alena. I cannot live without her. God knows…I have tried.”

  Kayleen sighed and pulled him into her breasts and held him there as she hugged him. “What we gone do? What is - we gone do?” She wondered out loud as he held onto her.

  “I cannot change what I am – I will not. She is mine, has always been mine, from the moment I saw her. You knew that Kayleen, it is why you agreed to bring her to me.”

  Kayleen nodded, she had seen it in his eyes. She had never seen him look as he had that night, at anyone, she had known then – yes, he was right, it was for that reason, that she took her to him. “Do you realize the hell you askin’ for, loving her?” She asked.

  “Yes, yes and yes. Do you know the hell that has been mine, not loving her? For me, same difference.” All he could think of was getting Lena back. He couldn’t think of anything else. That was the dominant priority to him for the time being. “Does she, care for him Kayleen?” He had to ask it.

  Kayleen chuckled leaning back holding his face in her hands. She got a flashback to when he was a little boy, and would ask questions in the same way when he was afraid of something.

  “Chile, our Lena ain’t thinkin’ about that man. O’poppinjay!” They both chuckled at that. “He is kinda sweet ain’t he?” Manny added. Kayleen chuckled. “Now cut that out. He a man, I will say that for him. He just ain’t the man for her.” She returned trying to be fair.

  “You keep her here Kayleen. Don’t let Lena take her tonight, please.”

  “Now if she wanna take her, how I’m suppose to stop her?” She asked backing away as Manny stood.

  “Come on now. This is me you’re talking to.” Manny reminded her. “If you could talk her into what you have already, this will be a breeze. Please do this for me.”

  “Ah’right chile, I’ll do it. But you - don’t you hurt my Lena. She did what I told her. She did what she had to - to protect this baby.” Kayleen reminded him. Manny stared down at her and thought about it. “Do you think, I would ever — hurt her?”

  “No…I know you wouldn’t – but – I-…”

  “There are no buts – I would not.” He hugged her tightly, “Thank you.” He kissed her brow and quietly departed. He returned to Lena’s cabin and tidied it up. After that, he bent and put out the lamp, sat himself in his old chair next to her bed, and waited for her in the dark.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Lena and Thomas rode slowly back towards Webster Fields from direction of the West field. The night was dark, and the full moon lit their path home. She sat before him on the saddle, not wanting to lean intimately against him.

  “Ceś alena?”

  “Yes Thomas?”

  “How long will you make me wait?”

  “Wait for what?” She asked knowing what.

  “I want you as my wife. Have you thought about my proposal?”

  “Yes Thomas, I have.” She sighed in answer.

  “And?”

  “And nothings changed. I still cannot make up my mind.”

  “Because he is back?”

  “In all honesty - yes.”

  Thomas drew in a deep breath. “Lena, again I say…I want you as my wife. I love you, and I know I could make you happy. Hope likes me, and I love her. Just think, we could travel like this as often as you like. I could rent us a nice town house in Boston, or - we could go to my family’s home in Mexico. Hope could have beautiful clothes, and she could attend school and start living a normal life.”

  She was quiet, he could tell she was listening and considering his words, so he continued. “I’d hire that bounty hunter to find your son right away. Just say yes and I’ll make it all happen. Our marriage would take away all threat to Hope. I’d take you away from here where you could start anew. The longer you stay, the more you run the chance of her being discovered. Then what? It is bound to happen. Look how fast she’s growing, and with a stubborn mind of her own. Just give me a chance, and I can make you forget Maynard Webster.” He declared.

  She wondered how could that be when just the mention of his name stirred her soul, she closed her eyes visualizing him, and came alive within.

  “Remember this, and don’t forget Lena. He’s married to Katherine - till death do them part. Which keeps you, right where you are. As his bed wench, hiding Hope behind that concoction you put to her skin. Time is running out Lena, and I’m due to leave soon.”

  Lena finally leaned back against Thomas’s solid chest. His arms were about her as he held the reins to the horse easily. He was right. She was wasting time and her life for something that would never be.

  She had only been Manny’s bed wench, and that title she had always hated. Where as the man, she loved with a passion, as strong as the bond to her children. Even though he had made promises to her at one time, she had known even then, he would be unable to carry them through. Whether he loved her or not, that had all been be
fore Mikey was taken from her.

  After all he’d done to protect their son, he was still gone. Now, because of her unwillingness to leave Webster Fields and Manny, she was putting their daughter’s life in danger. Again the thought rushed in on her, that she loved him so much, she couldn’t see herself leaving him where he may never be able to find her again.

  ‘Oh Lena, why does it matter? It’s over. Take this step – as hard as it is – take it …and move on. It’s time. It is time to leave.’

  “Thomas.”

  “Yes.” He answered tiredly, again feeling he’d wasted his breath.

  “I - I will … I’ll marry you.”

  “What? What did you say?” He pulled the reins to stop their horse as he thought his hearing had surely played tricks on him. She turned within his arms to face him. “I said…I will marry you.”

  He looked down into her gently smiling face, and she nodded. Thomas threw his head back and gave a jubilant shout. “Oh Ceś alena! I’m going to make you so happy! You’ll see! And we’ll do everything together! Maybe even open up our own little school house, would you like that?”

  “Yes - I would.” She admitted.

  “Maybe - we’ll have you teaching an all girls class, and I’ll handle the boys!” He was already making plans.

  She chuckled. “Alright, whatever you say.”