Princess Ces'alena (Webster Fields)

by Mercedes Keyes

  She came to some stairs and rushed down them, hoping and praying as she ran that she was not discovered. She came to a door that opened up to an alley. One end was a dead end, the other led to a street. Lena in her haste ran out, and was almost trampled underneath a horse and carriage. She screamed as the horse, whinnied rearing back to avoid her. She spun in alarm around it and out into the street, as others as well had to reign back their horse and carriage for her blind flight to freedom. Riders and drivers yelling and cursing at her for her careless crossing. As she ran through the bustling city, an alarm was shouted.

  “Fire! Fire! Fire at the docks! Fire!”

  Now more afraid than ever, Lena did not stop running, dodging and ducking people and doors along the crowded boardwalk. Running and looking back behind her afraid of being followed, she began to notice something else.

  This town was very different from home, very different from Mississippi. Since being at Webster Fields, she’d only been to a few other places when Manny had taken her to the fair along with other slaves. Nowhere she had been, looked like this. Everything seemed so big. Buildings were so tall, and the streets so crowded with lavishly dressed people. Many of them turning to look at her as she sped past them on the street.

  Trying to ignore the growing stitch in her side, and the burning in her chest, Lena knew she had to put distance between her and the burning warehouse. She turned one corner after another…moving ever onward and away. After she felt herself at a comfortable distance, she was forced to stop…she couldn’t breathe.

  With one hand she leaned against a building trying to catch her breath. As she sucked in several gulps of air, she looked back around the building, and in the far distance, the night sky glowed gold and orange from the fire she’d started. Bells were sounding, activity was frantic at the docks to put the fire out, afraid that it would spread to other buildings until the whole city was alight.

  “Oh my God…what have I done.” She fretted over the raging fire.

  Taking a few more lungs full of air, she knew she had to keep moving. Somewhere, she would ask someone to help her. There had to be a quick way back to Jackson, but again… the time factor haunted her.

  Pushing away from the wall with her hand to her stomach she started off, this time walking at a fast pace. She tried to figure in her mind how long she’d been away from Jackson, away from her Hope. ‘I couldn’t be that far away, maybe a few days?’ She whimpered so afraid. “Oh Manny…Manny, find me…please find me.” She cried as tears rolled. “I can’t be that far away, I just can’t. He’s probably back now, and has Hope, and is looking for me. I know he is.” She convinced herself.

  Not far from the docks, four men sat at the table of Craco’s Restaurant, smiling and toasting with the raise of their glasses.

  “I call a toast, to Princess Ceś alena!” Urged Pearson.

  “Cheers!” Casey added grinning. “Here here, I second that - but to King LuMaden!” Derek Greyson chuckled, tossing back his head, swallowing down his drink in joyful celebration.

  “So…” Nigel Franks, captain of the ship they would sail carrying Lena to her father, opened. “When do we leave for Makia Island?”

  “First thing tomorrow morning! All business is finally in order. We sail back to Makia, deliver the kings daughter, and collect our reward. It’s been a long journey men, and one through patience and determination has proven a success! Make sure she is well tended to, fed and unmarked. The last thing we want to do is make the king think we’ve abused her in any way.”

  “Here here…” Pearson agreed. Derek Greyson shook his head, he was still trying to get over the fact that they’d actually found her, and to his surprise, of all places, where they’d found her, belonging to whom! To hear that the very man who owned her, was his shipping competitor, Ramsey Shipping and Passage’s - Maynard Ramsey Webster, was too much to imagine. To think the man held a treasure right in the palm of his hand and didn’t even know it. He smiled swirling his drink about in his glass, ‘And I’ve taken it right from under your nose.’ He thought slyly.

  “Anyway men, hurry and get back to her with food and drink.”

  “No problem, Seamus is watc-…”

  “Fire… fire … fire!!!" A young man shouted. "Fire at Greyson warehouse!! Fire!!” A young boy ran into the restaurant shouting, then darted back into the street to call out to all, hoping many would respond in helping put it out. Greyson shot the men at his table an angry glare. Who at the same time were turning pale as the blood drained from their faces.

  Suddenly all four men sprung to their feet knocking their chairs back, some to the floor as they ran for the door along with the other patrons in the restaurant, pouring into the street for the same reason…the fire. The moment they stepped outside, the acrid smell of burning filled their noses.

  Black billowing smoke filled the air and area as the heat and flames swelled and licked at new surfaces to ignite. Around the corner they ran as a water wagon pulled by a team of Clydesdales came whipping around with its bell ringing. The crowd stood back and watched as many men pitched in to help put out the growing flames. Greyson stood and watched as his merchandise went up in smoke. They could hear murmurs among the crowd floating their way. Upon reaching them, the word was that a Negro woman was seen running from the alley of the warehouse in a panic, almost getting herself run over right before the building started burning. Greyson turned to the men beside him and through his tightly clenched jaw, stiff with anger, bit out.

  “Find her, or…find a place to hide!!”

  Lena was now wandering about a residential area in the city. It was fully dark and she was far from the fire she had accidentally started. Every joint of her body ached, as she wrapped her arms about herself looking at the different homes she passed. Never had she seen such dwellings as these, and with every step she took, her fears began to mount and take over, despite her determination to keep them at bay. She was lost with no idea as to where she was. Where she was going. Or how she might get there. Was it Monday night? Tuesday? Saturday or Sunday?

  ‘Hope…I’m sorry…mommy didn’t leave you. I didn’t leave you. But I don’t know where I am…or how to get back to you? Janis did you go and see about her? Did you get a hold of Josey? Oh please Manny, please…please have our daughter, please God…let him at least find her. I know he has…I know it.’ She thought surely as she walked. Her stomach began to churn with pain at the thought of Hope being lost as she was. “No! Don’t be stupid…Manny has her. They found her alone, and Janis sent for Josey, and Josey has her now…even if Manny isn’t back yet.” She stopped and closed her eyes feeling herself on the verge of a sob. “Manny please…” She whimpered. Then looked around at the houses that stood behind her. They were built close together, and some had wrought iron fences around them.

  She turned a corner, winding aimlessly, feeling herself grow dizzy once again. An occasional carriage would drive by with its side lamp burning in the night. She rubbed her arms, it was growing cool. Suddenly, on the opposite street at a corner from where she stood, a couple was on their way about to cross towards her. With tears in her eyes, she waited for them. Praying to God they would help her. She would ask them how far she was from Jackson. As they crossed over, almost on her side of the street, she cleared her throat and reached out to them, “Please…excuse me…please…forgive me, I’m - I’m lost, and I was hoping… you wouldn’t mind helping me, please – I beg you.”

  She implored them in a voice soft, so tired.

  The couple looked at her a moment, then at each other with a smile, the man spoke up first. “Sure, if we can. How may we help you?” Lena stared a moment dumbfounded, having expected them to ignore her and walk on by, or shun her approach.

  “I was stolen from my master’s plantation. I was able to get away and I don’t know where I am. I need to get back to Jackson. If you would please, help me get back there, my master will reward you…he will. I just need…to get back there.”

  They looke
d at each other confused, then back at Lena.

  She was nervously wringing her hands, praying that they would help her. “Have you no knowledge of Jackson, or maybe Vicksburg? My master owns a very big plantation there? Webster Fields, his name is Maynard Webster? His father is Morris Webster? Or maybe you’ve heard of Harvest Gold plantation? It’s the - the - the biggest in the area?”

  Lena was breathing deeply on the verge of a breakdown as tears slid from her eyes. “Please…can you help me?”

  “What is your name?” The man asked sympathetically.

  “Lena…my name is Lena…and I don’t know - I don’t know where I am, because these men…they - they took me - I don’t - I don’t know-…”

  She began rambling while the tears continued to flow.

  “Lena…listen to me. First you must calm down. You are obviously frightened and alone, why don’t you come with us-…”

  “No! I have to get back to Jackson! Please understand …that is where he’ll come looking for me…he’ll - he’ll be there - he will… I have to be there - when he comes.” She explained trying to talk through her tears. “I’ve been gone… maybe - I don’t know … a week … maybe more … yeah … maybe more … yes more – but not – much more. I have to get back.” She spoke with increased urgency, obviously shaken and misplaced.

  “Here now, you’re upsetting yourself. We want to help you, but we have no knowledge of this place…Jackson? We are not from this land.” The woman spoke.

  “Sweetheart, she is talking about the South. I have heard a great deal about it, I think we have a case of slave snatching here. Look at her, is it no wonder.” He whispered softly to his fiancé.

  “Where am I?” Lena asked.

  “You are in New York.” The woman informed her gently. Lena’s expression grew even more worried. “Ne-New York? How far is that from Jackson?”

  “We are unfamiliar with this Jackson.” The woman answered.

  “If it is in the South, it is pretty far, we are talking a long journey.” The man inserted, having more knowledge.

  “Real far?” Lena asked, “Surely not that far, what day is this?”

  “Tis the tenth day of the month.” The man answered.

  Lena looked at him as her brows drew in. “The tenth day?” She parroted.

  “Yes, tis the tenth day in October.”

  “Noooo! It cannot be! Nooooo! Pleeease – it cannot be!” Lena stared at them shaking her head, “It cannot be!” Her heart pounded in her chest so hard it shortened her breath.

  She was in New York! Not Mississippi! No where near Jackson, or any plantation for that matter! No where near Manny. ‘He’s come already!! I missed him! I’m not there!! I’m not there!! How will he find me? Oh God – how will he find me?!!’

  “Lena? Come now, you must calm yourself! We’ll help you to somewhere safe, calm down.”

  “Oh – God, nooo - nooo.” She moaned, dropping to the ground as the man charged forward catching her in time.

  To be continued…

  Amber Swann Publishing Inc.

  Webster Fields

  Book Two

  Gold Raven

  Book two continues the family saga of Webster Fields. Questions such as, what happened to Michael Ramsey Webster? Will be answered. What of Red Crow, son of Chief Long Bow and Red Dawn? (Josephine O'Brien) And last if not least of all, what happened to Lena & Golden Hope Webster?

  All these questions will be answered. I invite you to travel further with them in their journey to reunite a proud family torn asunder.

  Lawrence James - the editor and collaborator of Webster Fields book one... Princess Ceś alena, will be joining me in the final draft and clean up of Book two, for which I am very thankful. I could not have gotten through this one without his diligent input, research and direction. As for me, I'm Mercedes Keyes...and I thank you dear reader for choosing to go with Amber Swann Publishing Inc. for your choice in quality IR fiction/drama literature!

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