Wanton Splendor

by Bobbi Smith

  "Of course." She dismissed the thought as trivial, not even looking at Joel. Speaking to the driver, she directed, "T.C., take care of the horses and then see to Mr. Fletcher's man."

  "Yes, ma'am."

  She conducted them into the cool dimness of the house. "The study is right through those doors."

  "Thank you."

  Marie nodded and walked stiffly from their presence.

  Girding himself for what he was sure would be an unpleasant interview, Christopher exchanged looks with Robert and opened the study doors.

  Emil glanced up from his seat at the desk as the two men entered. With an effort he maintained his cordiality and rose to greet them.

  "Robert, good of you to come along. Fletcher." He was solemn in his appraisal of the other man as they shook hands. "I didn't expect you until Tuesday."

  "I know. But I'd finished my business in New Orleans and could see no reason to further delay my arrival. I trust you won't find my presence burdensome?"

  "No. Greenwood can easily accommodate you."

  `Tine." Christopher walked around the room surveying with much interest the well stocked library. "Robert has agreed to witness the transfer of title. Is that acceptable to you?"

  "Of course. He is a man of honor."

  "Thank you, Emil," Robert acknowledged.

  But Emil waved away his words. "The simple truth, my friend."

  "Where is Andre?" Robert asked in seeming friendliness.

  "Out riding." Emil's answer was curt and Christopher sensed some tension in his words.

  "Well, I'm sure we will see him later," Robert said smoothly before turning to business. "Shall we tour the grounds now and then later this evening check your inventories?"

  "Most certainly." Emil could think of little to say to them. "Would you like to see the house first?"

  "By all means," Christopher assented.

  "Come with me then," Emil told him and guided them out into the center hall.

  As soon as the carriage had rounded the corner of the house and was protected from view, T.C. reined in the horses and turned to Joel.

  "Ah cain't believe you is here!"

  "Me either," Joel agreed, embracing his old friend.

  "Where you been?" T.C. asked, remembering clearly the day when Joel was sent downriver to be sold.

  "Up North mostly." Joel was deliberately vague. He knew how news travelled on a plantation. Within an hour everyone in a five mile radius would know of his return. "How is Dee? Is she still here?"

  "Sho is. C'mon, let's take care of these horses and den find your wife," T.C. encouraged.

  Joel breathed a sigh of relief and leaned back in the seat as the carriage started up again. Dee was here! And soon he would be with her.

  Andre touched Dee's cheek gently. Usually he never regretted his actions, but today he felt a twinge of guilt over Dee's injured face and the marks he'd left on her breasts and thighs.

  "You'll be fine in a day or two," he said soothingly as he pulled her to him. "Damn, but I was hot for you last night!"

  Dee didn't speak. She ached all over from the abuse she'd suffered at his hands the night before and all she wanted this day was to be left alone.

  Andre paid little attention to her discomfort as he pressed intimately against her.

  "Do you have everything you need to go?"

  "Ah finished packin' this mornin'." Her speech was slurred as she spoke though puffy, swollen lips.

  "Good." Andre slid his hands down her back and pushed her hips to him so she could feel the desire he had for her. "We'll have one last night together here."

  Dee nodded, too tired to do anything else. She was worried. She knew that Andre had planned to take her to New Orleans with him, but he had made no mention of Jebediah. As much as she hated to stir Andre's anger, Dee knew that she had to ask. She couldn't leave her baby.

  "MastahAndre..."

  "What?" he murmured, drawing back to look down at her.

  "Ah needs to know, suh.. .'bout my baby."

  "What about the child?" Andre's voice was cold as he waited for her response.

  "Ah needs my chile wid me. Ali know you doan want him but suh...if he could jes' stay wid de others in New Orleans?"

  "No." His reply destroyed her hopes. "He stays. I'll be lucky if I can get you out of here without any problems. I have no time for your black brat."

  Dee's heart broke and she couldn't control the sobs that escaped her.

  "Mastah Andre... Please... Ah'll do anything..." She fell on her knees before him.

  "You'll do anything, anyway."

  His words cut into her, making her realize the hopelessness of her situation. There was no justice. There never would be as long as she belonged to him.

  Andre looked down at her in disgust, rejecting all the tenderness he had been feeling for her. She was stupid! He was offering her everything and all she could think of was that baby. The desire he'd had for her drained from him. He would leave her alone for a night and see how she liked that!

  Shoving her roughly aside, he stormed to the door.

  "See that you are ready to go first thing in the morning," Andre ordered, his black eyes burned with anger as he looked at her sprawled brokenly on the cabin floor. Without a word he turned and walked out, leaving Dee behind, her world in a shambles.

  Dee waited until he was out of sight and then spurred herself into action. No one was going to separate her from Jebediah! She had lost Joel and survived, but she doubted if she could live through the loss of her only child. She would rather die trying to escape with him, than suffer endless years of torment worrying about his fate. Changing into a darker colored nondescript dress, she went in search of her son.

  Dee found him playing in the dirt and took him back to the cabin with her, ignoring the questioning stares of the other slaves as they noticed her injured face for the first time. Once she was safely inside she gathered the few necessities they would need and quietly slipped away.

  No one paid much attention to her as she headed up the long track to the big house. And at first opportunity, she quickly moved off into the side brush, keeping low and making her way toward the creek. She knew she had a chance of eluding the patroller's dogs if only she could make it to the water.

  T.C. finished watering the horses and then took Joel down the road that led from the stables to the quarters. They had seen Andre ride by earlier on his way back to the big house, so they were certain that Dee would be alone.

  "Where does he keep her?" Joel knew there was no use denying Andre's use of his wife.

  "He's had her in a cabin out back." T.C. led him to a shaded path that branched off from the main track. "Down there, 'bout half a mile."

  "Thanks T. C." Joel was grateful for the help and hurried off to see his wife.

  Joel had no problems locating the house and he entered excitedly, wanting to surprise her. But instead of the loving embrace he'd expected, there was only silence to greet him. The cabin was deserted. Running back outside, Joel was determined to find her. As he searched through the quarters for her, he was welcomed warmly by all who remembered him. But no one could offer any help about where she'd gone. They knew that Dee had been in the cabin with Andre a short while before but she hadn't been seen since. Frustrated and more than a little worried, Joel went back to her house once more to see if she'd returned.

  Christopher was standing with Robert and Emil on the back gallery when Andre rode up. Keeping his expression carefully blank, Christopher greeted the other man.

  "Montard," he nodded.

  "Fletcher." Andre was thoroughly aggravated to see Christopher. What was he doing here? And how in the world could he get Dee away from Greenwood under Fletcher's watchful presence? "Robert."

  "Good afternoon, Andre," Robert greeted.

  "I've just been showing Mr. Fletcher around," Emil told Andre as he joined them on the gallery.

  "What do you think of Greenwood, Fletcher?"

  "It's quite a showplace,
" he said approvingly.

  "Yes, it is." Andre's tone was bitter as he looked out over the land he loved. Then forcing politeness, he turned to them, "Well, if you'll excuse me. I'm going to get cleaned up. Gentlemen."

  "If you would care to rest before dinner... ?"Emil offered after Andre had disappeared inside.

  "Yes. Please," Robert and Christopher agreed.

  Emil led them indoors and walked with them to their rooms, "We dine at 7:30. I'll see you then."

  Andre stalked around his room as he waited for the servant to bring the water for his bath. Just when it looked like his plan was going to work, Fletcher had to show up and disrupt everything. Andre's only hope was that he wouldn't insist on a head count of slaves. If he did... Well, it was bad enough that Hercules had been gone for two days, but if Dee was listed as missing, too, there might be trouble.. .big trouble.

  His thoughts were interrupted then by Lizzy, the servant, returning with the heated water. When the bath had been prepared and the slave turned to go, Andre stopped her.

  "tizzy, I want you to go out to Dee's cabin and tell her to be ready to leave tonight. Tell her I'll come at midnight. All right?"

  "Yes, suh," she responded and hurried to do his bidding.

  Determined to set his plan in motion a day early, Andre settled back in the tub and tried to sort out his thoughts. He couldn't take the chance of letting Fletcher find out what he was up to. He had to remain calm in the face of his hatred for the man. Andre knew that he would be hard pressed to control his temper. But control it he must, if he was to get Dee out. He knew that he had to concentrate only on Dee right now. He would worry about winning Katie later.

  Feeling confident of success, he rose from the tub and began drying himself. There was much he had to do before midnight.

  Joel entered the big house through the kitchen just as he had in all the years before. The idea of playing the slave had not set well with him, but he knew it was the only way he could accompany Christopher on this trip.

  "Lucille," he called the cook from her hot endeavors near the stove.

  "Joel? Is dat you?" She dropped what she was doing and hurried to hug him. "What you doin' here?"

  "I'm here with the new owner, Christopher Fletcher."

  "You his slave?"

  Joel nodded. "He bought me when Montard sold me last year."

  "Well praise the Lord. You is back! Come, have a quick bite and talk wid me 'bout dis new mastah we got."

  "I will later Lucille. Right now I'm trying to find Dee. Have you seen her?"

  Lucille looked thoughtful for a minute. "Not today I ain't. Aint' she at de cabin?"

  "No. I looked there first and then I searched the quarters. But no one's seen her."

  "I heard dat Mastah Andre spent most of last night with her and he went back early this afternoon. But that's all I know."

  Joel was frustrated. "I need to see Mastah Fletcher. Do you have anything I can take up to him?"

  "Here," handing him a pitcher of fresh water and a stack of towels, Lucille laughed. "You sho doan look much like a maid!"

  "Hush woman," he growled good-naturedly as he headed up the back steps. "Which room?"

  "Front by the magnolia," she directed.

  "Thanks," and he disappeared around the narrow turn of the staircase.

  Surprised by the knock at his door, Christopher got up quickly to answer it.

  "Somehow you aren't quite a chambermaid," he said wryly, taking the water and linens from Joel.

  Joel came inside and closed the door behind him. "I know. Lucille, the cook, said the same thing."

  Christopher smiled broadly at his friend. "Did you' find Dee?"

  Joel scowled. "No. And I can't find anyone who's seen her this afternoon."

  "Would he have sent her away already?"

  "If he had, someone would know," Joel replied heavily. "Christopher, I've got to find her."

  "Check the quarters once more and if you don't locate her this time, I'll ask Montard about her."

  Joel walked over to the window and stared with sightless eyes at the rapidly darkening countryside, "If I've lost her again..."

  "You haven't. We'll find her." Christopher had no doubts.

  Joel nodded and left the room to continue his quest, his heart heavy with concern for his wife.

  "Mastah Andre!" The nervous call came at his bedroom door just as he was tying his cravat. Recognizing Lizzy's voice, Andre quickly answered the door.

  "What is it?" He was concerned by the unexpected interruption.

  "It's Dee, Mastah Andre. She ain't at the cabin and ain't nobody see her since this morning."

  "What do you mean she's not there? I was with her just this afternoon."

  "Ain't nobody at the cabin, suh. It's all dark and deserted. And Ah looked everywhere else.. .but she's gone."

  A range of emotions shook him. Fury that she was gone.. .worry that she might be hurt... and finally a cold, vicious loathing settled over him.

  "What about the child?" he asked, remembering their last conversation. "Is her baby gone too?"

  "Yes suh."

  Andre smiled grimly. "You may go. I'll handle it from here."

  After dismissing the servant, Andre pulled on his coat and went downstairs to see his father. Finding Emil alone in the study was a stroke of luck and Andre closed the doors quietly for privacy.

  "I need the hounds," he said flatly.

  "Why?" Emil looked alarmed.

  "Dee's run away and taken that black brat of hers with her."

  "When?"

  "Sometime late this afternoon, so her trail should still be fresh... Since she was travelling with the baby, she couldn't have gotten too far."

  "All right. But you realize that I'll have to explain all this to Fletcher, don't you?"

  "Yes."

  "Go ahead. Good luck. We'll have to let Fletcher decide the punishment."

  "I may do a little of that on the way back."

  "Why did she run?"

  "I made the mistake of telling her that she couldn't take her child with her to New Orleans."

  Emil nodded but didn't speak.

  "This shouldn't take too long," Andre said as he headed out to the stables.

  The sun had disappeared, leaving behind a purplestained night sky. Only a few stars were out, but they were enough to help guide Dee. Knee deep in the middle of the muddy stream, she waded on. With the help of a sling made from part of her torn skirt, she was balancing Jebediah on her hip as she staggered ever forward.

  To elude the dogs she had to stay in the water. It was her only hope if she wanted to avoid detection. She had been running for over four hours now and exhaustion was taking its toll. Somewhere during the first few miles, Dee had lost her shoes to the clinging, sucking mud and now her feet were cut and sore. But despite her misery, she kept moving... toward freedom.

  Dee was proud of her son, for Jebediah had only stirred and fussed twice during the past harrowing hours. Luckily, she had managed to calm him both times with food... What she would do when the little she'd brought along ran out, she didn't know and she was determined not to worry about it now. She only had enough strength left to concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other... She had to get as far away as possible. Shifting Jebediah's sleeping body to a more comfortable position, she trudged downstream hoping somehow to escape the future Andre Montard had planned for her.

  It was only after dinner had begun that Joel returned with the news. Christopher heard him arguing with the servant in the hallway and excused himself from the table quickly to see what was going on.

  "She's gone.. .run away..." Joel told him as he joined him in the hall.

  "We'll go look for her," Christopher said calmly.

  "It's too late!"

  "What do you mean?"

  "Andre found out about it long before I did. According to T.C. he left with the hounds over an hour ago."

  "Did he go alone?"

  "No. He took three other slav
es along. But the dogs..."

  "I know," Christopher paused, deciding on the best course of action. "Wait here."

  Christopher returned to the dining room.

  "What was all the commotion about, Christopher?" Robert asked as he re-entered the room.

  "My servant informs me that one of my slave women ran away this afternoon." Christopher stood near the table staring straight at Emil. "Why wasn't I informed? I am the owner of this plantation and everyone on it, am I not?" His voice boomed with an authority that he had not chosen to exert previously.

  "We didn't want to bother you on your first night here," Marie said in falsely soothing tones. Her husband had told her the whole story and she had been thoroughly disgusted. Marie had had no use for her son's black wench and she secretly hoped that some terrible fate would befall her.

  "My dear woman, these are my slaves now. I want ...No, I demand to be `bothered' when they take a notion to depart the premises," he cut at her.

  "We've handled the situation, Fletcher. There's no need for such outrage," Emil defended his wife.

  "And just how did you handle it? Have you dragged her back beaten and cowed or just sent the hounds to kill her on sight?"

  "She hasn't been found yet, but she will be. Andre is seeing to it personally."

  "That's what I was afraid of."

  "Suh?" Emil came half out of his chair.

  "Your son has a cruel streak in him and I don't want him damaging my property!"

  Emil paled at Christopher's words.

  "I want horses now," Christopher demanded of the servant standing at the door. "See to it!"

  The slave didn't give Emil a second thought, but took off at a run for the stables.

  "Robert, will you join me?"

  "Of course. Emil, how long as Andre been gone?"

  "Not more than an hour."

  "Perhaps we can still catch up with him. I imagine he's having a difficult time of it in the dark," Robert advised.

  "For his sake, I hope so," Christopher threatened as he led the way from the room.

  Dee scratched at the ground with her bare hands as she attempted to dig a shallow hole in the middle of a large clump of bushes. She needed rest. The gruelling pace she'd set for herself had worn her out. Drawing Jebediah's warm sleeping body to her, Dee curled up in the dugout and tried to relax. She lay still... listening for the baying of the hounds... waiting... She hadn't meant for it to happen, but as the minutes passed and all was quiet, her eyes grew heavy with fatigue. Almost of their own will, they closed and soon she was sound asleep.