Indentured

by Jeanie P Johnson

  “We can’t save the world, Lettie. All we can do is treat other’s fairly.”

  “But that is not always enough. Sometimes we have to stand up for our beliefs to make a difference. Sometimes we have to take risks to change the thinking of the world.”

  “And you would be just the one to do it. That is what scares me. Sometimes the risks are too great, Lettie. Besides, you are not just putting yourself at risk, but me too, since you have chosen to use my property to hide the slaves at. I will not stand for it, Lettie. I don’t care if the cause is just or not. I am not going to risk everything I have worked for all my life, over some mistreated slaves.”

  “It should be against the law to have slaves,” Leatrisha stated firmly, raising her tear drenched face to Rand.

  “Then write to your congress man and demand the law be changed,” he suggested. “Now dry those tears. I can’t have you flooding your bedroom.”

  He took a handkerchief from his pocket and started dabbing it against her face.

  “You are such an Imp, Lettie. Your daring frightens me and endears me to you at the same time. But your bravery can be dangerous.”

  “You are going to have to let me meet with James one more time to let him know I can’t help him any longer,” she insisted.

  “Only I will come with you, when you do it. I will not let you see him alone, in case you try to make some other kind of arrangement. I can’t trust you, Lettie, you know that.”

  “I suppose I have no other choice,” she mumbled.

  *********************

  “Where are you going?” Leatrisha asked Rand, as she saw him riding his bay out from the stables.

  “I’m heading into Huntsville to re-shoe my horse. Do you want to bring Black Magic and get him done at the same time?”

  “Do I have to wear a dress?” she grinned.

  “That does present a problem,” he smiled back. “However, everyone has seen you in your britches before showing off your round rear end, I suppose a little more shock is not going to kill them. Go on, and get your horse,” he laughed, and Leatrisha ran to the stables.

  “Let’s take Theodore with us,” Leatrisha suggested, as she came back leading Black Magic. “He’s never been to town before, he might like it.”

  “You treat Theodore more like a friend than a slave, Leatrisha. Do you need him for something in town?”

  “He is my friend,” she stated. “And I like his company, so that is all the reason I need to bring him.”

  “Well, then bring him, and we can have him stay with the horses while they are being shoed, and you and I can look up your friend James, so you can have that little talk.”

  Theodore, hearing the conversation, ran to get the horse he always rode when he went out with Leatrisha, coming back with a grin stretched across his face, his white teeth contrasting with his dark skin.

  “I was thinking we should throw a party,” Rand said as they rode out together. “I hadn’t thought about it, but since I am supposed to be engaged to you, an engagement celebration is probably in order. It would give you a chance to practice being that lady your father wanted you to become, and meet some of the people of Huntsville.

  “And will you be inviting Monica?” Leatrisha asked.

  “You know I have to. But I sort of like rubbing it in her face that she will never have me,” he chuckled.

  “Only what will you do when I leave and marry James?” she asked.

  Rand frowned. “That is a long way off yet. By that time no telling what will happen. Monica may end up finding someone else to snag, and I will just have to muddle through without you.”

  “I’m sure Mazy can help you do that,” Leatrisha threw at him.

  “Mazy is certainly nothing like you,” he responded.

  “I bet she would help run away slaves if she could,” Leatrisha murmured.

  “I doubt it. She would be too frightened to try. So when do you want me to plan for the fling?” he asked.

  “What ever suits you. It is really for your benefit, not mine,” she said a little indifferently.

  “I thought you would like a change of pace. You have no friends except for the slaves. Sometimes I think you are a slave, the way you spend all your time with them and help them do their work. You may be carrying this a little too far, you know.”

  “I like to hear them sing and tell their stories. They are like family,” Leatrisha insisted.

  Rand led the way to the blacksmith’s stall, and the three slid down from their horses. Rand was the only one using a saddle, and he glanced at Leatrisha who looked more like a boy than a woman, sliding down from the black horse, her hair being pulled back tight in a long braid down her back, with her cap pulled down over her forehead. And yet she was the most lovely looking boy he had ever laid eyes on.

  “Where can we find this friend of yours?” Rand asked, as he left Theodore in charge of the horses.

  “He works at the livery stable,” Leatrisha told him.

  “We will go check there first then,” Rand suggested, and Leatrisha fell into step with him, as he started to trudge up the street.

  “Do you see him?” Rand asked as they entered the building.

  “Maybe this is not his shift,” Leatrisha said.

  “Ask someone,” he suggested.

  Leatrisha approached the man taking a team of horses from a carriage. “Have you seen James Applebee?” Leatrisha inquired.

  “You haven’t heard?” he said, turning to look at her, and then raising his eyebrows at her attire.

  “Heard what?” she asked.

  “The boy was involved with helping run away slaves. He was shot and killed two days ago.”

  Leatrisha started to feel the world spinning around her. Had she heard him right? James could not be dead! There must be some mistake. Her head started to feel light, and she reached out to steady herself. Rand saw her stagger, and rushed to her side, arriving just in time to catch her as she collapsed.

  Leatrisha slowly opened her eyes. She was aware that someone was carrying her, and wondered why she was in Rand’s arms. A few seconds ago she was standing in the livery stable, and then everything came crashing back to her memory, and she started to moan.

  “It’s all right, Lettie, I have you,” Rand murmured.

  “He’s dead, he’s dead!” she sobbed.

  “And it could have been you, Lettie. I told you it was dangerous!”

  “I can’t believe he has been killed. What did they do with him?”

  “I’ll find out, but right now we need to get you home. You think you can ride?”

  “I was going to marry him, Rand. He can’t be dead,” she started to sob.

  “Maybe the man was wrong. I will check to make sure,” Rand said, knowing that the man worked at the same place James did, so he surely knew what happened to the lad.

  “Are slaves worth taking a man’s life over?” Leatrisha hissed.

  “He was breaking the law, stealing someone else’s property,” Rand pointed out.

  “He wasn’t stealing them. He was helping them!” Leatrisha insisted.

  “One in the same thing, in the eyes of the Law.”

  The poor girl was in shock. He knew that well enough. He only hoped he could get her home safely, and that she didn’t tear off on her horse, as seemed to be her reaction, when she was upset.

  When they arrived at the blacksmith’s stall, the smithy looked up in surprise at the man carrying in what looked to be a lad. He had finished with the horses, and Rand paid him.

  “I’m putting you on your horse, but I am keeping the reins, Lettie. I don’t want you running off and doing something stupid.”

  “What happened?” Theodore asked. “Miss Lettie don’t look so good.”

  “She’s had some bad news, I am afraid, Theodore. You are going to have to keep a close eye on her for awhile.”

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  “Lettie.” The sound of her name floated through a deep fog, barely reaching her ears. �
��Lettie, you can’t sleep forever!”

  “Go away,” she heard a gravely voice replying.

  Her lips were moving, but it didn’t seem to be her that was talking. It must be someone else. Someone that was there to speak for her, she decided.

  “Drink some water,” the voice told her.

  She was trying to place the voice, but was distracted because who ever it was, was lifting her up and pouring water down her throat. She started to sputter, and pushed the glass away.

  “Just let me dream,” she whimpered. “I was riding out in the field with James. I was going to jump the wall.”

  She curled up in a ball, and pulled the blanket over her head.

  “It’s been three days,” the voice scolded. “You have barely eaten. You can’t just lay here and waste away. You missed James’ funeral.”

  “No…no,” she sobbed. “James is not dead. It was someone else!”

  “Just cry and accept the fact, Lettie. You cry over everything else, and won’t shed a tear for James?”

  Rand, pulled the blanket back from her head.

  “Just because James is gone, doesn’t mean you should just give up on life as well, Lettie.”

  “He’s not dead! They made a mistake. It was someone else. If he was shot, he will get better, and then come see me. Have you seen a red scarf tied to a tree in the woods?” She sat up suddenly. “Tell me if you do!”

  “There is not going to be any scarves tied in the woods, Lettie. Theodore is sitting outside of your door. He has been sitting there for three days, in between taking good care of Black Magic, and the horse needs to be ridden. You have to stop denying everything, and face life again.”

  “I want to see Theodore,” Leatrisha, demanded.

  “Good. I will send him in,” Rand breathed.

  It was the first time she had taken interest in anything. Rand remained outside the door, as he sent Theodore into Leatrisha’s room. If anyone could help her get her spirit back, it was Theodore.

  “Theodore,” Leatrisha whispered. “You have to do something for me.”

  “Anything Miss Lettie,” he whimpered.

  “Go to the woods everyday. You remember where we saw the bandana tied to the tree?”

  “Yes ma’am.”

  “Check that tree. If you see the red bandana, come tell me at once.”

  “Yes, ma’am, I will do that, but if you come ridding with me, we can both check for it.” He told her.

  “Maybe later,” she promised. “Now go and check for it” she told him.

  Theodore scurried from the room, looking over his shoulder worriedly at his mistress. Rand stood at the open door, leaning against the jam, trying to decide what he should do.

  “The slaves are asking for you, Lettie. Especially Sissy. Don’t you want to go visit with your friends?”

  “I need to sleep,” she murmured.

  “You have been sleeping off and on for three days now. You need to get up and do things. Mama Liz gets upset every time I bring your dishes back down and hardly any of the food has been touched. She thinks you don’t like her cooking any more.”

  “I’m not hungry,” Leatrisha moaned. “Will you please go away and leave me alone?” As she said the words she could hear something. She lifted her head to listen. “What is that?” she asked quietly, straining her ears.

  Rand walked across the room and opened the window. The sound became louder, as Rand came back to the bed, and picked Leatrisha up, carrying her to the window.

  “Look Lettie, it’s the slaves all singing for you. If you don’t get out of bed, they are not going to get any work done!”

  He could see Burk trying to get the slaves to disperse, but they refused to go back to the field.

  “They miss you Lettie. Call down to them and tell them you will be out to see them, or they will stand there all day singing for you.”

  Leatrisha, looked down on the crowd of black faces all peering up at her window as the sounds of their deep voices floated up to her, hitting some inner chord within her while they sang all her favorite songs, and a tear started to run down her cheek.

  “They all love you, Lettie,” Rand whispered in her ear. “I love you, Lettie. You have to get back to your lively self again.”

  Leatrisha, clung to Rand’s neck, as her face distorted with the force of the tears that suddenly washed out like a damn, being held back for too long.

  “Rand, Rand,” she sobbed. “Why did it have to happen?”

  “He took the risk, Lettie. People who take risks pay the price.”

  “Hold me Rand. Just stay here and hold me,” she begged, as Rand brought her back to the bed.

  “I will on the condition that when I am through holding you, you promise to eat something, and then go see the slaves so they will go back to work.”

  “I will try,” she whispered, as she clung to Rand, while he held her in his lap and rocked her.

  *************************

  “We have checked everyday for two weeks, Miss Lettie,” Theodore stated as they rode up towards the woods. “You knows dere ain’t gonna be no bandana on no tree out heres.”

  “There has to be, Theodore,” Leatrisha insisted. Who ever they had buried at that funeral, it could not be James, she kept telling herself. She hadn’t seen him, and no one else knew him as well as she did. One part of her tried to accept that James was dead, but the other part of her held out hope that he was still alive.

  “Look!” Leatrisha cried, as they rode up the path. “See, I told you!”

  Theodore’s eyes widened, as he saw the red bandana tied to the same tree.

  “I knew he wasn’t dead!” Leatrisha was shaking in her excitement. Tonight she would see him again.

  “Don’t you say a word about this, Theodore, you hear? If you breath a word of it, I will sell you to the first person who offers for you!”

  “You would never sells me, Miss Lettie, would you?” Theodore asked with pained eyes.

  “If you tell anyone about this, I would!” she stated.

  “I won’t tells, Miss Lettie, I promise!”

  “Good. It will be your’s and my secret. It means James is still alive. I am sure of it.”

  “You are looking especially happy today,” Rand stated, as Leatrisha rode up to the stables with Theodore, and jumped down from her horse.

  However, he noted that Theodore did not hold the same happy expression on his face that his mistress did.

  “I had a wonderful ride today,” Leatrisha exclaimed. “I’m starting to feel better, I think.”

  “That is wonderful news, Lettie. If you are feeling up to it, I still want to throw that party we talked about,” he offered.

  She needed to be around other people, other than the slaves. The moment she started going out again, she either spent hours riding out with Theodore, or being with the slaves. He missed her, but she seemed to have lost interest in him or anything concerning the plantation, except for the slaves. She was pulling into another kind of shell, he realized, and she needed some gayety in her life to liven up her spirits again. Seeing her so happy all of a sudden made him feel better though.

  “Not for awhile yet,” Leatrisha said absently. “I am still not up to seeing anyone except for the slaves. I’m tired. I think I will go up and take a nap.”

  “I’ll wake you for dinner,” he promised.

  He hoped she wasn’t going to start sleeping all day again. This was the first time she had gone to bed in the middle of the day ever since she started going out again. But often he watched as she gazed into space, not looking at anything in particular, as though she did not feel anything around her. During those times, she seldom talked or responded to anyone. She still had not gotten over the pain of James death. He realized it would be a long time, if ever, before she would.

  Leatrisha lay in her bed, remembering the last time she saw James in the abandoned shack. The way he had made love to her, had convinced her how much he loved her. He told her he had loved her all
his life, ever since he could remember, and it was then that she realized the only reason she had developed such strong feelings for Rand was because he had been the first to introduced her to how a man could make a woman feel. But Rand had done it for physical reasons, not for the same reasons James had touched her.

  Rand was an experienced lover, and took a slave to his bed in order to practice at making a woman enjoy his caresses. James was inexperienced. She had been the only one that he had ever touched, and yet he seemed to know how to express his love for her in a way that she responded to eagerly. The best part was that she was permitted to return his love making, learning more about a man’s body, and what fulfilled him as well. With Rand, it had been a one sided affair, because he had refused to allow Leatrisha to touch him.

  Now she would be able to experience that love with James again, and her body trembled with anticipation. She wanted to sleep and dream of James, until it was time to go meet him, so she would be fresh and alive when they were reunited once again.

  Rand shook Leatrisha’s shoulder, trying to wake her. “James?” she asked, turning and placing her arms around his neck. “You are here at last!” she murmured, pulling his head down and kissing him.

  Rand was torn between waking her up, and taking advantage of the kiss. His inner ethics got the better of him, and he disentangled her arms from her neck.

  “Wake up Lettie. Dinner is ready,” he whispered.

  Slowly Leatrisha opened her eyes. “I was having such a wonderful dream,” she murmured.

  “Time to face the world, my dear,” he encouraged.

  “Yes!” she exclaimed and sat up suddenly, remembering she was going to see James tonight.

  She bounded out of bed, surprising Rand in her eagerness to run down to the dinner table.

  “What are you so excited about?” Rand called after her as he followed her downstairs.

  “I just feel so rested,” she laughed, as she hurried to the dinner table, not even waiting for Rand to pull her chair out.

  She hardly wore dresses any longer, because she was either out riding or working with the slaves, and Rand was becoming accustomed to seeing her figure displayed against the tight fitting britches, but she had lost so much weight that she did not fill the britches out the way she used to.