“And how does Broken Feather feel about all of this?” Seth asked.
“He is not taking it very well,” Vanessa admitted. “Now, I am afraid to tell him the truth about me, because then, we won’t know who the father of my child is.”
“Perhaps, eventually, I could talk to him and help him accept his fate. It was not easy for me to be around your mother all those years, and know I could never let you know I was your father. And even if the child is not his, he will have to accept it as his own now.”
“If I get my way, though, things will change around here. It will just take time, so until then, we will have to keep all of our secrets to ourselves. I will talk to Chandler and have the lawyers draw up the papers to sell you some of the plantation. You know the place best, so you can pick out the portion you wish to buy.”
“There is a plot that has a little sugarhouse on it. It was the old part of the plantation, when it was first built. When they built the bigger sugarhouse, the old one never got used again. I think I can convert it into a place to live, until I can afford to build something better.”
“Then we will call in a surveyor to draw up the boundaries to the plot we will remove from the original land,” Vanessa offered.
“It’s good to be home again,” Seth smiled.
“I felt the same way when I arrived back here. Now I think I have a lot more to look forward to. It seems like my friends and family has all converged here, and it is the way everything is supposed to be. Only my stepfather will never leave me the plantation if I am not married. That is something I still need to work on, before the truth ever comes out about my birth, and the birth of my own daughter.”
Vanessa escorted Seth to the door of the parlor, kissing him on the cheek, before opening the door, happy that she had at last discovered the mystery of her birth, and knowing she could not do the same thing to her own daughter, which had been done to here. Somehow, she was determined to find a way to straighten everything out.
As the door was open, they found Chandler standing outside the door, and Vanessa frowned. She hoped Chandler had not overheard their conversation.
“What have you decided?” Chandler asked anxiously.
“I will leave it all up to you and the lawyers to draw up the papers,” Vanessa smiled. “Mr. Smith will show you the portion of land he wishes to purchase, and I have agreed to allow him that plot. Once everything is in order, he will pay us and then we can start getting whatever we need to make sure the first crop of sugarcane is suitable for the market.”
Chandler gave them both a smile of approval, and walked out with Seth, as Vanessa watched, believing that her future was not going to be so bleak after all.
Several days later, all the papers were drawn up and signed. The border lines were drawn, and money exchanged hands. Then Seth hired on his own help to get the little sugarhouse livable and start preparing for the planting of his own crops. Vanessa was feeling very pleased with the new turn of events.
“This is wonderful,” Vanessa was saying as she watched Chandler leading the two new horses they had just purchased into their stalls. There would be some mules coming, by the next week, and Vanessa was starting to feel there would be light at the end of the tunnel once they got everything running smoothly again. Then she would have to confront her father, only she wasn’t sure how she was going to go about it.
Chandler smiled at her. She noticed that his limp wasn’t as pronounced as it used to be, and figured he had built up his muscles by being more active than he had in the past. He wasn’t even using his cane as he led the horses to their stalls.
“You seem to be in better health,” she mentioned, when he returned to her side.
“Being here and being with you, has made all the difference in the world,” he told her, looking down into her eyes.
“This has been quite a project,” she admitted, “and has taken a lot of work to accomplish.”
“Yes, everyone seems to be working towards the same goal, and they all get along with each other. I haven’t heard anyone squabbling over anything since we started this endeavor.”
“It is nice to have all our old slaves back working for something of their own,” she said.
“You seem to be extra cozy with both Zack and Seth,” he replied, looking a little disapprovingly at her.
“I told you Zack is an old friend, and Seth was a friend of my mother’s. My mother was always kind to the slaves, and she didn’t’ mind me playing with Zack.”
“Only now you are the head of the plantation, and playing favorites will only create problems in the future among the different workers.”
“Then they would be out of place, considering I am the head of the plantation and they would have no right to confront me, as long as they are all treated fairly.”
“I am thinking you need a partner to balance out concerns that a woman doesn’t consider. A strong male hand is required in running an establishment such as this is going to turn out to be. Your father is right to believe you need a husband before he will put the plantation in your name.”
“Because men seem to think that women are incapable of making important decisions, which isn’t so.”
“Regardless, the sugarcane buyers and workers would respect you more with a man by your side.”
“That isn’t going to happen for some time yet! I already had my taste of being married and I have to feel completely comfortable before I ever contemplate taking a husband again.”
“We seem to work well together. Don’t you feel comfortable with me? It is not like I am a stranger that your father is forcing you to marry. You’ve known me since you were young.”
“You are a very kind friend, Chandler, only I haven’t considered you in that way.”
“Why not, who else can you consider? You don’t even have time to have a social life to meet any suitable men. I have always been attracted to you, even when you were a child.”
“We don’t even think the same way, Chandler. I consider the black workers as my friends and you still seem to think they are our slaves.”
“The only difference is that they get paid for their labors, and right now, they don’t get paid anything. The plantation supports them until the crops start getting sold, which isn’t much different than when they were slaves.”
“Only they are free to make their own decisions and get something out of their labors, eventually.”
“You are changing the subject. I was trying to tell you how I feel about you and wanting our future to be together.”
“I can’t accept your offer, Chandler,” she murmured.
“If you don’t accept someone’s offer, you won’t even end up owning this plantation,” he reminded her.
“That is because my father wants to control me and is holding it over my head to force me to his will. Who will he leave it to if I never get married? Someone has to run the place after he dies, and even if he didn’t leave it to me, I am the only one who would end up inheriting it since he has no other children.”
“He may live to be a very old man,” Chandler chuckled.
“Only I know he hates the place. That is why he was never here when I was growing up. It holds bad memories for him. He may live to be an old man, but I am the one who will be here making sure the plantation is successful, whether I am married or not.”
“I don’t know why you are being so stubborn. You have to admit that you like me just a little,” Chandler smiled, trying to win her over.
“Which makes it easy for us to work well in keeping this place going, but that is all it means,” she insisted.
“You have to give me a chance,” Chandler said, stepping closer, taking Vanessa’s shoulders in his hands. “You need a husband and I desire a wife. You used to try and tag along with me when you were young. I wouldn’t mind you tagging along with me now.”
“Could it be you merely wish to inherit this plantation, since yours was burned to the ground?”
Chandler’s face stiffened
. “That was a mean thing to say. Is that what you believe?”
“I’m sorry, Chandler. I just feel out of sorts. My father pressured me into marrying someone I didn’t love or even know. I just don’t want to make the same mistake twice. It has only been a few months since I returned. You are going to have to give me time to decide what I want. After all, my father told me I could choose my husband this time, and I am not going to make a hasty choice.”
“Then at least there is some hope, right?” He leaned his head closer to hers as he spoke.
Vanessa didn’t answer. She was wondering if she actually liked Chandler that much. They got along well, but it was only because he tried to remain on her good side. The few times he had advised her about her relationship with the black workers, had irritated her. He was still trying to live in the past, she worried. She didn’t want him suppressing her friendly nature towards her workers.
When she didn’t respond, Chandler pulled her even closer, wrapping his arms around her. Before she knew it, he was placing his lips on hers. Vanessa started to pull away, but he only held her tighter. When he finally released her, she could feel herself shaking, and found her hand raising and slapping Chandler.
“That was totally uncalled for,” she accused.
Before Chandler had a chance to respond, a hand was on his shoulder and Broken Feather was standing in front of him. “I suggest you leave well enough alone and respect Vanessa’s wishes. It appears she does not like you handling her in such a manner,” he said gruffly.
“I’ll thank you to keep your hands off of me!” Candler shouted as he wrest his shoulder from Broken Feather’s grasp.
“The same goes for your hands being on Vanessa,” Broken Feather hissed between gritted teeth. “I believe you need to leave and give her a chance to compose herself before you do any further damage to the friendship between the two of you.”
“I won’t have a black Indian telling me what to do,” Chandler raged.
“Chandler, it is best if you leave,” Vanessa managed to say. “I am not angry at you, you just need to leave.”
She could see that both of their fists were clenched and she worried that a fight would break out any moment. She didn’t want to alienate Chandler because then her father would get someone else to oversee the plantation, and she was certain she could control Chandler, discovering his feelings for her now. At first it looked as though Chandler was going to stand his ground, but then he shrugged.
“We will discuss this later,” he said and turned away.
“Yes, once you calm down, we can have that discussion,” Vanessa agreed.
“I can see you are going to have a problem with that man if he continues to be the overseer here. If he gives Sam a bad report, it may not go well for you,” Broken Feather grumbled.
“I tend to agree with you, but right now there is not much I can do about it,” she murmured. “I am glad you were here, though. I couldn’t’ believe that Chandler did that. However, I have to remain friends with him so he won’t try to talk my father in to getting rid of you. We don’t want my father getting a new overseer if Chandler gets upset and decides to leave, either.”
“It isn’t hard for me to believe that Chandler did that. I’ll bet he’s been wanting to do that since the moment we arrived. I see him watching you all the time and that is why I have tried to keep an eye on you, for this very reason.”
“You hardly ever talk to me anymore,” Vanessa sighed. “There was a time…”
Before she could finish her statement, Broken Feather swooped her into his arms, crushing her against him, and plundering her mouth with his. At first, she was shocked and then she was elated, as she willing submitted to his kiss, returning it with the same passion he was giving it. There was no need for words, as Broken Feather lifted her in his arms and carried her into an empty stall, placing her in the clean straw, as he continued the kiss.
When he finally lifted his head, Vanessa was breathless. “I…I didn’t think you wanted to touch me,” she breathed, but Broken Feather was too busy removing her clothes, covering her with kisses as he went, and Vanessa did not complain.
When the two emerged from the stall, Vanessa’s hair was filled with pieces of straw. Her dress was rumpled, but her heart was still beating in excitement with the memory of their snatched moment together.
“When I saw Chandler kiss you, it was all I could do to keep from slugging him on the spot. It made me realize that I can never stop loving you, Vanessa. I have to have you, but the risk involved may ruin us both.”
“Just be patient, Broken Feather. I am trying to come up with a plan, but it might take time. Only you have to promise you will never leave me,” she begged.
“You know I never could. We were meant to be together.”
“I believe that too. I have discovered something very important, which has changed my whole outlook on everything. “Only if my father ever discovers the truth it may be the end to everything. I have to find some way to get beyond it.
“What are you talking about?” Broken Feather asked.
“I can’t tell you yet. It may be awhile before I can. Just know I will never marry Chandler or any other man. No matter what it looks like, you have to trust me. Promise you won’t leave me in the meantime.”
“Why can’t you trust me enough to tell me?” Broken Feather wanted to know.
“Because the fewer people who knows, the better it is going to be for all of us. The secret of my birth is more complicated than I thought, or my father thought. Until I can be sure this plantation becomes mine, I can’t risk anything coming to light until then. When the time comes, I will tell you everything.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Vanessa was smiling happily as she looked across the table at all the people she believed were her only friends. There was Seth, smiling back at her with the love of a father in his eyes. Sitting next to her was Broken Feather, the only man she felt she could ever love. Then there was Mammy Sue, who had been with her since birth, holding her daughter, Glenda, in her lap, and her good friend Zack, sitting beside Mammy Sue. They had all gathered in Seth’s new house that had been converted from the sugarhouse, celebrating with a meal for the housewarming. Vanessa had decided she would share her secret with her friends and see if they could come up with an idea where she could be with Broken Feather and not have to live in secrecy any longer.
Just as they were all seated around the table, and Vanessa was about to reveal her true origins, there was a banging on the door, and then the door was flung open and Chandler was standing there, his face had an expression of concern mixed with something else, Vanessa could not quite read.
“There you are!” he bellowed as he stepped into the room. “I have been looking all over for you. What are you doing, being all cozy with the hired help? Your place is at the plantation house, not mingling with the workers.”
“These are my friends, and you have no right barging in here like this,” Vanessa hissed at him as she stood up and confronted him. “This is Seth’s private property. He is not a sharecropper like the rest on this plantation!”
“We can talk about that later. I have urgent news for you, which just came this morning, and is the reason I have been looking for you. It is a telegram, which I took the liberty to read since it was from Texas and you were nowhere to be found. I assumed it was from your father, and since I am overseer, I didn’t think you would mind me reading it. I felt he would not be sending a telegram unless it was important. However, it is not from your father after all, and I think you need to read it yourself.”
“You read my private messages?” Vanessa shrieked, snatching the telegram from his hands.
Chandler did not reply, but merely stood there, watching Vanessa’s face as it first looked shocked and then crumpled in disbelief.
“He can’t be dead!” she murmured. “This is from the commanding officer at Fort Clark.” She turned and looked at Broken Feather. “My father was killed by the Comanche in a rai
d on the fort!”
Broken Feather was at her side in a moment, looking down at the telegram over her shoulder. “Will there be a funeral?” he asked, taking her trembling hand in his.
“No, it says he has already been buried and it is just to inform me that his belongings will be sent here, and I am to take care of any legality concerning his death. In other words, I am expected to contact his lawyer and have the will read to see who will be in charge of distributing his estate to whomever he left it to.”
“I can take you to the lawyer’s office,” Chandler offered. “This is terrible news, Vanessa. I am so sorry about your father.”
“I am sorry too, but if the truth be known, he was not my actual father. I was illegitimate, so it will be interesting to discover what his will actually states.”
“What,” Chandler gasped, “then who is your father?”
“It is yet to be revealed,” Vanessa murmured, glancing at Seth, who kept his eyes glued to the table. “I suppose we should contact the lawyer. Why don’t you do that, Chandler, and have him bring the will to the plantation to read. I don’t feel up to going all the way to his office. You told me yourself that my father planned to leave me the plantation, but only on the condition that I was married. I want to see what it actually says, considering I am not his real daughter. He may not have left me the plantation at all!”
“Of course, he left you the plantation. Your father told me the plantation would go to him until he turned it over to you, or until his death, whichever came first.”
“Then why would he stipulate anything in his will about me being married before I could receive the estate? Is this just something you made up to get me to marry you?”
“No, he told me he wanted to make sure you had a husband to help you run the estate, before he would release it to you. He said if you had a husband, he would give you the estate before his death. He was just looking out for your best interest, because he knew his life was a dangerous one. I understand Broken Feather saved his life once during a skirmish with the Indians.”
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