Sweetsmoke

by David Fuller

  "Growing up, you were such a friendly boy. How I did enjoy your company."

  The same, sir, said Cassius.

  "We all grow up, I suppose."

  Cassius heard the wistful note in Hoke's voice and knew, for the second time in little more than a week, that an opening was granted to him.

  A question, said Cassius. This is the moment, he thought, take it now. He searched for his best subservient voice, but was unable to conjure it as scrupulously as he would have liked.

  "Certainly, anything, my boy," said Hoke.

  Your son, Master John-Corey. You miss him?

  "I do, I miss my son terribly. God help me, I miss both of my sons, although with any amount of luck, Jacob will return to us," said Hoke. "Would that my legacy will return."

  But Master John-Corey, he's your oldest.

  "Yes, John-Corey was my oldest."

  You taught him your wisdom?

  "Well," laughed Hoke, "I did what I could."

  But then you trusted him, after?

  Hoke gazed off, down the meadow to the darkness of the forest.

  "He was such an impulsive child growing up, but I am certain you remember that as well. Such a scamp. Perhaps that is why it took me years to recognize the competent businessman he had become. I gather that means I proved that you can teach an old dog new tricks, did I not? I refer to myself," he said with a smile. "Yes, when all is said and done, I have to conclude that my son grew to be a circumspect and considerate man. I was uncertain about his choice of spouse, but Stephanie was devoted to him, I certainly could never fault her for that. There were times, I must say, when I was concerned that she reflected John-Corey's true feelings about me, but away with that, that is but a fool's errand, to attempt to deduce the motives and secret hearts of our children." He stopped for a moment, as if contemplating the meaning of his words. "I invited her to Sweetsmoke after his death, but she preferred to return to her own parents in Lynchburg."

  So Master John-Corey made good choices?

  "Yes," he said hesitantly. "Yes. I look back on the things about which we clashed and realize he may well have had prudent reasons for making his decisions. I still may disagree, but in the all, yes, John-Corey made good choices."

  Cassius nodded as if something had been made clear to him.

  "This line of questioning is curious, Cassius. What brings it on?"

  Nothing, Master Hoke; like you said, curious.

  "I think not. You have something particular on your mind."

  Well, sir, I remember a story about his personal servant coming all the way home after Master John-Corey died in that battle.

  "Lewis, yes, returned from Manassas. I believe he was two weeks on the road."

  He was a good one, doing that for the family.

  "Yes, he was. Pity about him being sold."

  And Master John-Corey had that thing in his will, about keeping two other people together.

  "Beauregard and Quashee I believe are their names."

  You think that was Master John-Corey making good choices?

  "I am not certain I follow you."

  Well, sir, Master Hoke, if you think Master John-Corey was a smart man, then maybe one of his smart decisions was for his people to come to Sweetsmoke. If Master John-Corey thought they were good at his place, maybe he thought they would be good in his father's place.

  "Interesting thought, Cassius, one I had not considered. We do have fine people of our own, of course."

  We sure do, Master Hoke, I didn't mean to take nothing from our family. Just thinking aloud, about that Beauregard.

  "What about Beauregard?"

  Well, sir, Master Hoke, William, he's off with Master Jacob and he was a fine butler, we all know that, but since then it's Pet answering the door.

  "Yes, I suppose it would be nice to have a butler again. But my wife is uncomfortable with John-Corey's people."

  Guess I understand that all right.

  Cassius let that sit for a moment, and then he said:

  But one thing.

  "Something else?"

  Maybe Missus Ellen don't know it'd be an honor to her son's memory to have his people there. I mean, the girl Quashee seems refined, and Missus Sarah needs a servant, near as I can tell.

  Hoke considered Cassius with a half smile, and for a moment Cassius thought he had overplayed his hand.

  "You speak very well, Cassius, which I take as a compliment to me, as you grew up under my tutelage." He looked away again and said, "Send Beauregard and Quashee up to the house this evening just after sunset. I will see them myself and perhaps I can coax Ellen to take part." Hoke nodded at Cassius, and again Cassius wondered if his smile was patronizing. It mattered little, as Cassius had accomplished his task.

  Cassius returned to the quarters early and watched Big Gus lead the hands back down the lane. Big Gus appeared unusually sunny, but Cassius afforded it no significance. He watched for Beauregard and Quashee, and they were with the stragglers, filthy and exhausted. Cassius urged them to find their best clothes so they could be presented at the big house. Quashee came suddenly awake, anxious because her one good dress had been soaking to remove a stain. She could not meet the masters in a wet dress. Others pulled out their best clothing, but every appropriate dress offered was too large.

  Cassius overheard whispering women, one of whom suggested that if Quashee went to the big house, the bad luck would follow and the quarters would return to normal.

  Cassius saw Joseph bringing up the rear, the last worker out of the fields. Joseph was known to hurry back to his cabin, relishing his evenings and his free time after chores, but tonight he walked with arms crossed, hands tucked beneath his armpits. Cassius understood immediately; Big Gus had fabricated infractions against Joseph and slapped his cane across the young man's outstretched palms. Joseph went directly into Abram and Savilla's cabin and did not return to the lane.

  Cassius watched Quashee's anxiety grow with the presentation of each unwearable dress and imagined that she feared offending the planters as she had no time to bathe. Savilla pulled her from cabin to cabin, but no suitable dress was found. Quashee was finally resigned to her work dress and brushed the filth away as best she could. It was then that Tempie Easter approached.

  Come with me, girl, said Tempie, leading Quashee to her cabin. Missus likes her house folk to be pretty and presentable.

  Cassius was wary of Tempie's offer, but Quashee was frankly delighted. When a person in desperate straits is offered help, he thought, relief can overwhelm good sense. He probed it from every angle, as he did not see how Tempie would benefit from helping Quashee. He could find nothing but charity in her actions, and warily decided that Tempie understood she was not likely to join the big house staff herself and had decided not to spoil another girl's opportunity. Nevertheless, his skepticism persisted and he remained outside the cabin that Tempie shared with two other unmarried female hands. He heard Quashee's girlish squeals of pleasure from within, a sound so infectious that it brought a smile to his face. Moments later, Quashee emerged adorned in one of Tempie's dresses. Tempie was larger than Quashee, but not as large as most of the women of the quarters, and this dress was suitable. Where it was tight and suggestive on Tempie, it had a loose easy quality across Quashee's shoulders and torso, cinched at the waist with a belt where the skirt billowed out and flowed gracefully to the ground. Discreet bows and pockets in the folds completed the look. Cassius's trepidation eased when he saw the relief on Quashee's face.

  Oh, Tempie, you are a lifesaver, said Quashee, leaning to hug her.

  No reason one of us shouldn't get to the big house, said Tempie.

  You look fine, said Cassius.

  It's the right thing, said Tempie. You know if you seen Pet that she wears dresses just like this one. Maybe not so pretty.

  Cassius noticed that Tempie wore a dress that was strikingly similar, also cinched at the waist with a billow that dropped gracefully to the ground, also with pockets and bows. If Tempie wo
uld wear that dress, then she was not setting up Quashee to look the fool.

  Beauregard joined them, erect and elegant in a clean white shirt and dark pants he had brought from Master John-Corey's plantation. The two of them side by side looked out of place in the quarters.

  Come, daughter. We should be on our way, said Beauregard. He nodded to Cassius, acknowledging the debt he owed the carpenter for this opportunity. He offered his elbow, she took it and they walked in tandem.

  Tempie watched Quashee start up the lane with the back of the dress dragging.

  That dress is long in back. I best come along, hold it out the dirt, least till they give you the job, said Tempie, taking a handful of fabric and lifting it to clear the ground. Quashee twisted awkwardly to see Tempie walking behind her as if carrying her train.

  Oh, Tempie, I can't tell you how much I thank you, said Quashee.

  Cassius watched them go, feeling satisfied, but his skeptical mind drove a spike into his pleasure and he decided to follow. He stayed a few steps behind Tempie and Quashee, and again took note of Tempie's dress, a near twin to Quashee's, with cinch, billow, and pockets.

  Beauregard, Quashee, Tempie, and Cassius followed the path in the dark, passing the Overseer's place and approaching the big house from the rear, walking more quickly as the lights inside the big house guided them around to the front yard where young Master Charles and other white children were tended by Nanny Catherine. Hoke Howard and his wife, Ellen, sat on the front porch, admiring their grandchildren. Hoke saw the hands and came to his feet, opening his arms to extend a welcome. He smiled in surprise to see Cassius. Cassius nodded, but hung back so that Beauregard and Quashee could properly introduce themselves. Ellen stood but wore an artificial smile. Mam Rosie heard the fuss from her kitchen and came out wiping her hands down her apron. Pet appeared framed in the front door behind them, and when she saw the group, she rushed past and down to Quashee and, with her left hand, turned her around to admire the dress. Then Pet seemed to catch herself and turned and bowed her head to Ellen in apology.

  Sorry, Missus, said Pet. It just she lookin so pretty.

  Cassius had been watching Ellen for her reaction to John- Corey's people, but Pet's flurry alerted him. Pet had turned Quashee so that she stood sideways from the planters on the porch, with Tempie now behind her. The locations of the lanterns caused a shadow to fall across the backside of Quashee's dress and Cassius could not see Pet's hands. Pet curtsied to her mistress and took a step back to stand beside Tempie. Cassius then saw Pet exchange a glance with Tempie. Cassius alone saw Tempie's quick, impulsive smile, gone before it registered.

  A frisson of fear flowed through him as every hair on his arms and the back of his neck set off a shriek of warning. He dug down to engage the lessons of stealth he had mastered so that he could survive as a slave, and he walked carelessly toward the group.

  Master Hoke, said Cassius in a strong voice, taking charge before anyone else had an opportunity to speak, I think you know Beauregard here, he was Master John-Corey's butler over in Lynchburg.

  Beauregard stood taller and nodded to Cassius in uncertain appreciation. Cassius nodded back.

  That is true, Master Hoke, I carried the keys, said Beauregard.

  "From everything I have heard, you did a fine job, Beauregard, a fine job," said Hoke.

  Cassius moved around Beauregard, behind Quashee. Tempie and Pet were up to something and Cassius needed to buy time so that he might understand what it was.

  This here, said Cassius, is our dear Quashee.

  "Yes," said Hoke, "you also come with a fine reputation. I am pleased to make your acquaintance."

  Cassius glanced down at the back of her dress, now removed from shadow. He saw a flash of shiny green, a small corner not completely hidden in a deep pocket and he understood. From that moment on he knew his timing was everything, he would need to be very good and very quick or all would be lost.

  Quashee has been working in the fields, but as you can see, her delicacy is better suited to the big house, said Cassius. He was not fully aware of what he was saying.

  He placed his hands on Quashee's shoulder and then let them move down her sides to her skirt, where he appeared to brush dust off the fabric that ballooned out from her waist. In doing this he was able to angle her into shadow. Quashee looked awkwardly over her shoulder at Cassius as if she did not recognize him.

  He pressed his leg against her thigh, moving her off-balance, and as she stepped forward gracelessly, he pretended also to stumble and utilized the shadow to slip his hand down into the pocket to secretly grab the small green box. He knew it by touch, the snuff box with the brown inlays that his fingers had formed for Hoke Howard years before. He brought the box up under his shirt as he spoke.

  Beg your pardon, miss, clumsy me, said Cassius, then turned back and said rapidly to the planters: Quashee would be a fine personal servant for poor Missus Sarah.

  Master Hoke, said Beauregard, breaking in as if he might save Cassius from further humiliation, I hope you will consider us worthy to work in your home, sir.

  Cassius nodded, playing the fool, hastily taking steps backward, and others glanced away from his embarrassment. He stepped at an angle and brushed by Tempie Easter. At that moment he understood why Tempie Easter had worn that dress: If Tempie exposed Quashee as a thief, then she might be considered for the position of personal servant to Missus Sarah. Thus dressed for her interview, she could walk directly into the big house and never look back. Cassius slipped the small green snuff box into the side pocket of Tempie's dress and was satisfied she did not feel it.

  "I think we may conduct our interview out here as well as anywhere," said Hoke smiling, and he turned to include Ellen. She nodded curtly.

  That would be fine, sir, anyplace that the Master deems appropriate, said Beauregard.

  "He does speak well, would you not say so, Mrs. Howard?" Hoke said to Ellen, but everyone understood that he was working too hard.

  "Yes," Ellen said icily, "our home will be filled once more with the sophisticated tete-a-tete of a butler."

  Hoke moved to Ellen's side and spoke with her quietly, leaving everyone standing in the yard at attention.

  Cassius shambled over to where young Master Charles watched the proceedings with bored detachment. Cassius's heart pounded loudly in his chest. This was his last trick, and he was counting on Master Charles's dislike of him. Master Charles looked at Cassius as if he was a roach and Cassius sat directly beside the young master, nodding, smiling.

  Hoke took a step away from Ellen, who looked off to the side. His smile returned and he addressed his family:

  "When you worked for my son, Beauregard, what were your duties?" said Hoke.

  Cassius leaned in close to young Master Charles and said: Tempie got herself a plan, but I know the truth.

  Charles looked at him, wrinkling his nose.

  Beauregard spoke of his duties at Master John-Corey's Lynchburg plantation: I was of course the first one awake, Master Hoke, my position to make sure the house was prepared to welcome Master John-Corey and Missus Stephanie from their uninterrupted sleep, I made sure they never had to give the slightest thought to anything, their bath was-

  Tempie Easter suddenly interrupted him: I got somethin to say, Master Hoke, I didn't want to but I got to, this goin on too long. You can't trust 'em, Master Hoke.

  "I'm sorry, Tempie, what are you—?" Hoke said.

  You can't trust 'em and I got proof, said Tempie.

  You see that? said Cassius into Charles's ear. Now it's starting.

  I know these two, they are trouble, said Tempie. That girl, she been comin at night, stealin from the big house.

  Quashee's eyes opened wide and she looked around her in terror.

  I never stole, said Quashee. I never even come near the big house.

  Oh yes she do, said Tempie, she come to the big house at night and take things.

  Tempie's blaming the new girl, but Quashee ain't got it, said C
assius quietly. Then she's goin come and blame you, Master Charles. But I know it wasn't you.

  "What d'you mean you know it warn't me?" said Charles.

  You just look in her dress, look right in there, said Tempie. Right in that pocket you find one of your beautiful boxes, Master Hoke.

  Quashee looked down at the dress with her arms up in the air, as if she was afraid to discover that Tempie told the truth.

  Hoke came down the stairs and put his hand in a pocket of Quashee's dress. When he found nothing, he checked each pocket and then patted around the entire billow of the dress. "What are you on about, Tempie?"

  It was there, I swear, she must'a hid it somewhere, said Tempie.

  I know it wasn't you, said Cassius. You never took no box. She just muddying the waters so she can get away with it.

  "I didn't do it, who said I did?" said Charles.

  Nobody said nothing yet, Master Charles, but I heard Miss Tempie say she was planning to point at you. Could be I was mistaken, said Cassius.

  Charles stood up and pointed at Tempie. "She's the one, Grandma Ellen, she tryin to get me in trouble. I ain't got no box, Grandma Ellen, not me."

  Hoke looked from Charles back to Tempie. He saw the fear in Tempie's eyes, and his demeanor changed. He took a step toward Tempie, who backed up, feeling her own trap close in around her. She patted her dress and felt the box where Cassius had dropped it. Her hands came up directly to her mouth and her eyes closed.

  Hoke patted down Tempie's dress and found the small green box.

  Tempie opened her eyes and stared directly at Cassius. Her eyes blazed into him with a mixture of hatred and something that resembled admiration for one who had outmaneuvered her. Hoke noticed her eyes and saw the look and turned to see where she aimed her venom. He gave Cassius a full look, sitting alone next to where Charles had been before he exposed the thief.

  Cassius was surprised at Hoke's expression, as Hoke's eyes met his own. Out of self-preservation, he had learned to read Hoke's countenance, and he read him now. Hoke knew. Hoke wouldn't know all the details, and he would understand that when it came to his people, with their uncommunicative and sullen self-protective manner, he would never learn the whole story, but Hoke Howard knew enough to understand that while Tempie was surely at fault, she was not the lone culprit.