The Price of Freedom

by Every, Donna

  “Is that all you’re going to say?” he taunted her. “Surely you’re glad to see me,” he mocked. “A welcome home kiss would not be amiss either,” he added laughing.

  Deborah drew herself up. She would not let William intimidate her any longer. She was a free woman, she no longer belonged to his family and he had no control over her life.

  “May I help you with anything? Some soap as a gift for your mother and sisters perhaps?” she asked ignoring his comments.

  “I’ll pass on the gifts but there is something else you can help me with.” A familiar predatory look entered his eyes as he drew closer to her. Deborah was glad that there was a counter between them but even so she forced herself not to retreat in fear as William leaned over the counter and caressed her plait suggestively. She pulled it from his grasp and was about to demand that he leave when a concerned voice interrupted.

  “Deborah, are you alright?” She almost sagged with relief as she heard Richard’s voice. She eagerly sought his gaze as he strode purposely into the shop, looking big and powerful.

  “Yes, thank you Richard,” she assured him, although he could see the relief on her face. He turned to look at the tall, lean man who had been leaning over the counter. He looked somewhat familiar but Richard could not place where he may have met him. Women would probably consider him handsome but his eyes were cold and flat.

  “I feel as if we’ve met before,” Richard said politely offering his hand although he instinctively wanted nothing to do with the man.

  “That’s unlikely since I’ve just returned from England after two years. I’m William Edwards of The Acreage,” he added haughtily.

  Richard’s blood heated in his veins as he recognized the name and the anger that he had felt when Deborah told him that he had raped her threatened to erupt. This sorry excuse for a human being was his cousin. He clenched his hands at his side and barely managed to restrain himself from putting him on the floor with a well placed blow.

  “I am Richard Fairfax.”

  So this was the favored nephew that his father had referred to as a fine young man and his mother had been so pleased to have visit when he was away. This was the one who had slept in his bed and probably bedded his slave in his absence. Hatred rose in him. He wondered what he was doing back in Barbados and why he was regarding Deborah with such possessiveness.

  “Then you must be my cousin from Carolina. What a small world. I thought you had returned to America.”

  “Barbados had a great pull on me and I found I could not stay away. I have decided to move here and run our shipping agency.”

  “Wonderful!” said William, lying. “Anyway I must be off. I have not even been home as yet as I only arrived yesterday.”

  Turning to Deborah he said, “When I heard you had moved to town I had to come and see you. I’ve known Deborah all her life,” he told Richard. “I know we didn’t have much chance to catch up on old times before we were interrupted Deborah, but rest assured that you haven’t seen the last of me.” He smiled slightly at them both before heading for the door.

  The promise sounded more like a threat to Richard and as he looked at Deborah’s pale face he knew that she saw it as one too.

  She quickly lifted up wooden partition at the end of the counter and flew into his arms, uncaring whether any customers might come in and see them. Richard held her close and was concerned to find her shaking. William’s visit had served to bring back the disturbing memories of her past and left her badly shaken.

  “Don’t worry, he can’t hurt you anymore.”

  Deborah nodded but she was not convinced. Her mother had told also her not to worry days before William had taken her innocence.

  December 1, 1696

  The Acreage Plantation

  The Royal palms lining the driveway seemed to wave their greeting to William as the wind disturbed their long fronds. The welcome sight of them made him smile and he felt a new surge of appreciation for the plantation he had left two years ago. As the coach strained to get up the driveway, laden with his trunks, he looked around to see what changes had been made, but apart from some new flowers everything looked much as he had left it, even his mother sitting in her favorite rocking chair on the patio flanked by his sisters.

  Elizabeth saw the coach coming up the driveway and knew that William had come home. Lifting her skirt in one hand she ran to it as it came to a halt and William hastily climbed out.

  “Oh William, I’m so glad you’re home. I missed you so.” Tears of joy poured down her cheeks as they hugged each other.

  “Mother, it’s so good to be back. I never thought I would miss this place so much. I don’t plan to go anywhere for a long time.” He turned to hug his sisters who had joined them demanding that he tell them all about England and asking what he had brought for them.

  “I’ll get one of the stable boys to get your father. He’s probably in the distillery.”

  William was not as eager to see his father. He could never seem to gain his approval and he wondered how he would measure up to the fine young man who was on the plantation just months ago.

  Flopping into one of the rocking chairs he answered as many of their questions as he could, even as he soaked in his surroundings with contentment. A new slave girl brought them drinks and said, “Welcome home, Master William.”

  “Thank you…?”

  “Hattie,” she provided with a flirtatious smile.

  “Thank you Hattie,” he continued with a sly smile of his own. His father had not lost his taste in beautiful slave girls, he noticed. Well he certainly shouldn’t have any objection to him having some fun with Hattie.

  He was surprised to see his father hurrying towards the house followed by the stable boy. Could it be that he was actually glad to see him? William stood up as his father reached the patio and held out his hand to shake his father’s, only to be stunned when his father ignored his outstretched hand and folded him into an embrace. Maybe he had mellowed in the two years he had been away.

  “William my boy, I’m so happy to see you.”

  “Thank you, father,” he said awkwardly.

  “Sit down and rest. You must be tired.”

  “I’m fine. What’s been happening on the plantation?” asked William.

  “We had a very good crop this year and the rum is doing well too. I had some help from your cousin Richard and he’s just moved back to Barbados as well. You should meet him next time we’re in Town.”

  “I met him yesterday.” Too late William realized that he should have kept that to himself.

  “You did?” Thomas asked in surprise. “Where?”

  “At Deborah’s shop,” admitted William reluctantly.

  “What were you doing in her shop?” asked his mother sharply.

  “I came across their shop almost by accident,” he lied, “and Richard came in as I was there.”

  His father looked at him suspiciously and announced, “Well I’m glad you met. Richard plans to marry Deborah.”

  “What?” Elizabeth spluttered into her drink. William swallowed some of his the wrong way and began to cough.

  “My nephew plans to marry that colored woman?” she shouted in disbelief. Now she understood why he had returned to Barbados without his fiancée and the reluctance Thomas had shown in explaining to her what was going on.

  “There’s no law against it, Elizabeth.”

  William could not believe that his cousin was planning to taint their blood lines by marrying Deborah. Why would he buy the cow when he could get the milk free?

  December 15, 1696

  As it grew closer to Christmas, Sarah and Deborah’s shop began to get very busy with an influx of customers wanting clothes from Sarah and soap and perfume from Deborah. They took delight in decorating their house and shop with greenery and dried flowers and looked forward expectantly to Christmas day, their first as free women where they would not have to get up at the crack of dawn and serve the family. They could choose to do whatever
they wanted. Such a thought gave them great joy and this year they had an even greater appreciation of Christmas since it celebrated the birth of Jesus.

  It was only Williams’ threat that prevented Deborah from fully enjoying the season. She kept expecting to see him appear in the shop and had become quite anxious. When she confessed her concerns to Richard, he advised her to carry a knife in her pocket and to make sure that Jacko was around as much as possible. He was spending many hours working with the agent before he left to return to England and she barely saw him except on Sundays. Sarah chaperoned them to make sure, as Richard teased her, that they stayed on the straight and narrow. They had set their wedding date for the last day of the year since they wanted to start their new life and the New Year at the same time.

  Thomas came to Town and visited with them one Sunday and let them know that he had told the family about their impending marriage. Deborah said nothing about William’s threat since she didn’t want to cause any more trouble between them. She only hoped that now he knew that she and Richard were getting married he would leave her alone.

  Nevertheless she did not intend to be caught unaware by him so the knife that was constantly in her pocket gave her comfort that she would be not be defenseless if he ever tried to attack her. She was certainly not going to let him violate her again without a fight and she was prepared to use it if she had to.

  December 23, 1696

  William watched Sarah leave the house with her slave woman from his seat near the door of the White Hare. Good. He had spent hours in that seat since he came to Town on Friday surreptitiously watching the house up the street. His father had wasted no time in assigning him duties on the plantation and he had surprisingly found himself enjoying the challenge of taming the land and the slaves who worked on it.

  Speaking of taming slaves, he was long overdue in paying a visit to the one across the street. All he could think about as he slept in his bed was that Deborah had willingly entertained his cousin on that same mattress while she had rejected him. Worse than that, his father had told him that Richard wanted to marry Deborah. Fool! Who would marry a slave, even if she had been freed? She had obviously bewitched him.

  He had not seen Jacko leave the house, so he knew he was around somewhere but he had not seen him go upstairs when Sarah went out so he would most likely be in his own quarters. Anyway what could he do with only one hand?

  Pushing back his chair he left the tavern and glancing up and down the street to make sure that no one was coming he walked quickly up the road and climbed the stairs leading up to the house.

  Deborah heard a knock at the door and opened it a crack thinking that it must be Richard since she was expecting him. She cursed herself for not asking who it was when she saw William. She tried to pull the door closed but he yanked it from her grasp before quickly stepping over the threshold and closing it behind him. The sound of the lock turning froze her blood.

  “Hello Deborah, that was rather careless of you. Don’t you know that you should ask who’s there before you open your door?” He smiled as she backed away. “I know I told you that I would come and visit you but I’ve been very busy.”

  “What do you want, William?” She tried to stop her voice from shaking even as she eased her hand closer to her pocket, thankful that she had gotten into the habit of keeping the knife in it even when she was at home.

  “Do you really have to ask that? I believe we have some unfinished business.”

  “We have no unfinished business William. Please leave my house and don’t come back,” she ordered bravely.

  “Do you think I’m just going to walk out now that I’ve got you alone?” he asked coming closer.

  “Stop right there,” she commanded slipping her hand in her pocket and feeling the comforting hilt of the knife.

  “Or you’ll do what?” he taunted.

  Deborah pulled the knife from her pocket with a shaking hand and gestured at him with it. “You don’t want to find out. Just leave now William.”

  He laughed and made a sudden lunge towards her. Deborah instinctively raised her hand to ward him off and the knife opened a two inch gash on his cheek. Blood sprang from the cut and began to drip down his face. William put his hand to his face in disbelief and stared at the blood that stained his fingers. Deborah froze at the fury that came over his face and she knew that only one of them would come out of this alive.

  “You cut me,” he said in disbelief and struck her across the face, knocking her to the ground. The knife flew from her grasp and slid across the room. She thought that he would kill her right there but he pulled her to her feet and dragged her against him. Her throat closed up in fear, cutting off her scream.

  “You will regret that,” he promised and dragged her into the small parlor. She closed her eyes in horror. Not again! She would prefer to die than let William violate her. She saw that the knife had landed near the doorway and wondered how she could get to it.

  William pushed her to the floor and ripped the front of her dress open. The reality of what was about to happen restored her voice and she screamed for Jacko before he could silence her. Deborah fought like a wildcat as he tried to raise her skirt. There was no way she would make this easy for him; he would have to kill her first.

  God where are you? Help me please, she prayed silently even as she tried to claw at his already bleeding face.

  The sound of the door being broken down penetrated her consciousness seconds before William was plucked from her as if he weighed nothing and tossed aside. Looking up Deborah saw Jacko who opened his mouth to ask her if she was alright. Fear for Deborah seemed to have given him supernatural strength.

  Before he could get the words out, William sprang to his feet and charged at him and the two men began to struggle. William had the advantage, having both hands, and years of being owned by the Edwards was ingrained in Jacko’s head and he was reluctant to fight with William.

  There was a clatter of boots on the stairs and Richard rushed into the room. He had been walking up the road when he saw Jacko running up the stairs and he had broken into a run. The sight of Deborah with the front of her dress ripped open stirred up a rage unlike anything he had ever felt before. He grabbed William who was attacking Jacko with furious blows, spun him around and did what he had wanted to from the time Deborah had told him her story; he smashed his face with his fist. William fell to the ground but managed to crawl over to the knife which was still by the door.

  Springing back up he swung the knife in an arc towards Richard. Deborah screamed but Richard jumped back and the knife missed him. As William brought the knife down towards Richard, he grabbed his arm and stopped it in its motion. Years of physical work gave Richard the greater strength and he was able to twist William’s hand until he dropped the knife.

  Picking it up quickly, he stepped behind William and brought the knife to his throat applying just enough pressure for a thin line of blood to appear.

  “Don’t Richard,” pleaded Deborah.

  “Give me a good reason why I should not end his miserable life?” Richard asked in a deadly voice.

  Go ahead, do it, urged a voice. No son. Let him go. I will deal with him.

  Richard struggled with himself for a minute before releasing William with great reluctance and pushed him towards the door. “Barbados is too small for both of us. You better head back to England or move to some other island because I can’t promise that I’ll be so generous with your life next time. Now get out!”

  William wasted no time in clearing out. The thin cut on his neck was burning from sweat and the gash on his cheek was aching badly but at least he had his life.

  Richard dropped to his knees and hugged Deborah.

  “Are you alright?” She nodded still shaking. “I’m so sorry I was not here to protect you. I will send word to my uncle about this and he’d better get him out of the island if he does not want him arrested. I’m sure that he won’t try anything again but I want you and Sarah to move in wi
th me until we get married so that I can protect you.”

  Deborah nodded in agreement. She could think of nothing she would like better.

  Epilogue

  December 31, 1696

  The Residence of Richard and Deborah Fairfax

  “I thought this day would never come, Mrs. Fairfax,” Richard said as they entered the master bedroom of the house he had purchased and closed the door behind them. It was a pretty two storey house situated a short distance along the coast from Carlisle Bay and was close to the homes of two families called the Needhams, who had a business in the same area as his.

  They had exchanged vows before the minister at St. Michael’s Parish Church only hours before with Sarah and Thomas as their witnesses while Jacko and Mamie watched from the back of the church with Cassie and Jethro, who had accompanied Thomas to town as a surprise for Deborah.

  Thomas had told Deborah how much he regretted William’s transgression against her which he was reminded of every time he saw the scar on his face. England had obviously not improved him so rather than send him back he had said that he would be in contact with some of the planters he knew in the other islands to see if one of them would employ William on their plantation.

  “Deborah Fairfax. I like the sound of that,” she smiled.

  “So do I,” he agreed. Looking into her eyes he said, “I love you with all my heart, Deborah Fairfax and I thank God every day that he brought me to Barbados.”

  “I told you that you were on a divine mission,” she reminded him. “I can’t believe that nine months ago I didn’t even know you. Now I can’t imagine life without you.”

  “I’m sorry that I forced you into my bed long before we made our vows.”