by Londyn Skye
Twisted cheers erupted in unison as everyone scattered to start preparing for the night’s “entertainment.” Austin, though, was fighting the intense urge to vomit. He thought using the money offered in the wanted posters would buy him some time to save James’s life. His stomach was now punishing him for putting him in even more danger. As the Ghost Riders began hooting and hollering around him, Austin stood there helplessly watching as Jeremiah chained James up and manhandled him into the shed. Shit! Shit! Shit! erupted in Austin’s mind repeatedly as he tried to figure out his next move.
Austin watched Jeremiah carefully, paying close attention to the fact that he had placed the keys to the locks in his right coat pocket. He then followed behind Jeremiah into the log cabin when he was done. While waiting on the new recruits to erect the sixteen-foot cross, Jeremiah and several other tenured Ghost Riders were partaking in their usual pre-rally drinking ritual. Normally, Austin would be drinking too. On this night, however, he wanted a clear head. He wanted just the opposite for Jeremiah. Austin kept an endless amount of moonshine flowing down Jeremiah’s gullet. In the midst of a bunch of loud, rowdy, inebriated men, no one ever noticed the way he was slyly switching out Jeremiah’s tin cups every time one was near empty. The one-hundred eighty proof backwoods elixir had Jeremiah’s head bobbing on the couch within the hour.
“Can’t hold y’ur liquor boy!” Austin teased, playfully slapping Jeremiah in the face as he stood up to go outside. A few Ghost Riders nearby laughed at the pathetic sight of Jeremiah slumped over. Austin then walked through the rowdy crowd of filthy men. He stepped outside on the porch and walked down the rickety stairs in between a few Ghost Riders powwowing on the steps.
“The fuck you goin’ youngsta’?” one of the drunk men slurred to Austin.
“I gotta report to you when I need to take a piss,” Austin replied.
Austin then walked calmly behind the cabin into the darkness. He looked around to see if any other Ghost Riders were around. He then scurried over to the small shed where James was imprisoned. With shaky hands, he pulled out the keys that he had slyly stolen out of Jeremiah’s pocket while sitting next to his inebriated body on the couch. Despite how badly he was shaking, he quickly unlocked the padlock on the shed. He looked behind him before opening the door. With all clear, he ducked inside and shut the door behind him.
“I can’t see shit in here!” Austin said, nervously fiddling with the keys.
“Your eyes just need a minute to adjust,” James replied.
“I don’t have a fuckin’ minute! These crazy fuckers’ll barbeque my ass along with you for this shit!” He cracked the door to the shed to let some light in and then quickly unlocked James’s chains. “Take this,” he said, handing James one of his pistols.
“Thanks,” James replied. He got up and walked to the shed door and peeked out. When he did not see anyone, he slowly pushed the door open.
A Ghost Rider near a tree stopped his urine midstream when he noticed the shed opening out of the corner of his eye. “HEY!” he yelled.
“SHIT!” Austin exclaimed when he saw the man approaching.
The Ghost Rider was reaching for his gun as he began running toward James. James sprinted toward the man and tackled him before he could unholster his weapon. He then pistol-whipped him into unconsciousness. The sound of the man crying out in pain caught the attention of the Ghost Riders on the porch. They all ran around to the back of the cabin and saw James and Austin take off running into the woods. A hail of bullets began ricocheting off trees as the two of them hopped and skipped over the rough terrain to get away. The gunfire summoned every Ghost Rider from inside the cabin. Suddenly, over twenty men were in pursuit of the escapees.
Sprinting hard, James and Austin disappeared into the darkness with a commanding lead over the group. Despite it, the entire posse continued to give chase. Some had hopped on horses, some split up and searched on foot. Austin knew the backwoods area well and guided James to a steep bank that led down into a rushing creek. “There’s a cavern off to the side of the creek about a half mile down! If the current isn’t too strong, we can pull ourselves inside and hide in there!”
James didn’t even question it, he followed right behind Austin. They slid and stumbled their way down the bank, jumped into the freezing water, and let it sweep them down stream. James quickly lost sight of Austin once they were submerged in the water. He popped his head up and heard Austin repeatedly screaming, “keep right!” James followed the sound of his voice and finally caught sight of him. The strong current constantly dragged them under, scrapping and tumbling them over rocks, tree branches and debris. James was able to get his head above water in time to see Austin grip on to a low hanging tree branch near the hidden cave. Just before running into Austin and knocking him further downstream, James was able to grip onto a branch as well. Both men then struggled against the fast moving stream to pull themselves inside of the cave where the water was calm. Outside of the chattering of their teeth, they kept quiet and could hear men’s voices and horse’s hooves beating near the creek. Fighting hypothermia, they both climbed up on the short ledges of the cave and shivered there for nearly half an hour until they felt confident that the Ghost Rider posse was no longer a threat.
When all was quiet, James peered out to be sure it was clear. He and Austin then carefully gripped onto tree roots and rocks to climb up the muddy bank of the creek and back onto flat ground. Huffing and puffing, they both laid on their backs for a moment to catch their breath.
Crawling to his knees and then steadily getting to his feet, James finally stood up. “I gotta go back for somethin’.”
“What?!” Austin spat. “Are you Crazy?! The fuck you goin’ back for?!” he asked after slowly making his way to his feet too.
“Trust me, if it wasn’t important, I wouldn’t botha’. Just meet me behind the men’s dormitory at the school. There’s an old unused storage shed in the woods covered by brush and weeds back there that I’ve been hidin’ out in durin’ the day. We can hide out in it tonight. If I ain’t there within an hour, you can go on about your business.”
Austin shook his head and threw up his hands. “I’ll make sure you’re dressed real pretty at your fuckin’ funeral!” He then turned and ran off into the night, headed toward the school.
Being as cautious and quiet about his movements as he could, James began making his way back toward the Ghost Rider’s cabin. Just as he was closing in on the horse that he had left tied near there, he stopped. He noticed a lone Ghost Rider curiously walking up to the horse. The man looked around first and then began snooping in the horse’s saddlebags. James ducked behind a tree, drew his pistol, and peered back around at the man. Not wanting his gunfire to draw the attention of others, he decided to put the pistol back in the holster. He picked up a massive tree branch laying nearby instead. The rustling of the leaves caught the attention of the Ghost Rider snooping in James’s belongings. He stopped digging in the satchel and drew his weapon. He cautiously started pacing toward the sound with his pistol raised. James quietly and swiftly maneuvered from behind the tree and bashed the man in the skull while he had his back to him. He collapsed immediately. James took off his Ghost Rider robe and hood and put them on. He then took the man’s weapons and ammunition. Before mounting the horse, James checked inside of the satchel to be sure that what he had gone back to retrieve was still inside. Levi’s journals and all the other items Colt had given him were indeed still there. He then quickly mounted the horse and rode off toward the school.
By the time James made it to the storage shed, Austin had stripped down to his thermals and had wrapped himself in some dirty blankets that he found. He was sitting on the floor warming his hands over a lantern that he had found there as well. James followed suit. He stripped down and pulled out some canned chili for the both of them while he hovered near the small flame.
“Thanks for gettin’ me outta that shit back there. I owe you big time,” James said as he cut the li
d off his chili.
Austin nodded as he shoveled food into a stomach that was loudly begging for sustenance.
“So, I take it the Ghost Rida’s have no idea you were part of Lily’s show?” James asked as he began to shovel food into his mouth too.
Austin laughed. “Those ain’t the kind ‘a men you’d catch at a damn symphony. If there ain’t banjos, fiddles, moonshine, and nooses, they don’t want no parts ‘a the festivities.”
“Why the hell you’re runnin’ around with those fuckers any damn way?” James asked in between bites.
Austin briefly glanced up at him. “Your face is on wanted posta’s for murda’ and you’re questionin’ me about my actions?” He shook his head and took another bite of his food. “I guess that explains where you’ve been all this time. Griff said he searched for you and Lily for weeks. He said it was like the two of ya’ disappeared without a trace. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw your face on them damn wanted posta’s last week. I been lookin’ for Griff so I could tell ’em, but I ain’t had no luck findin’ ’em. I considered writin’ to William, but I ain’t sure where he’s stayin’ these days.”
“I believe he’s still up in Manhattan.”
Austin suddenly stopped eating. “Did you really do it?” he asked, sounding hesitant to ask.
“You’re eatin’ with a cold-blooded murderer,” James replied, still calmly chewing his food.
Austin glared at him for a moment and swallowed hard. “Is that the reason you neva’ escaped with Lily as planned?”
“I’s in the midst of gettin’ ’er to the trade-off spot when it happened.”
“I assume you did it to protect ’er then?”
James nodded. “My whole life, all I’ve eva’ wanted to do was protect Lily. It felt like instinct to blow all their heads off.”
Austin just stared at him, bewildered as to how he was so matter of fact about it.
“In the moment it made sense,” James continued explaining. “Thought I’d be right back by Lily’s side afta’ that. But in the midst of the chaos we got separated. Now, I ain’t done nothin’ but make ’er feel as though I abandoned ’er some damn where.”
“So, you have no idea where she is?”
James shook his head. “I recently got a lead as to where she might be, though. That’s why I’s out at the Ghost Rida’s cabin. I lucked up on a woman that told me Lily was there at her clinic…”
“At a clinic? Was she havin’ the baby?”
James shook his head again. “Lily gave birth to ’er the night we tried to escape.”
“Her?” Austin smiled. “You got y’urself a daughter now?!”
“Not anymore.”
The smile instantly faded from Austin’s face. The words hit him so hard that he lost his appetite. He sat his can of beans down. “James, I-I’m so sorry,” he said, sincerity evident in his tone. “Damn, what the hell happened?”
James sighed. “It’s just a really long story that I don’t feel like relivin’ right now. The short of it is that we tried to escape, everything went to hell, I went to prison, I lost my daughta’, and now I’ve lost Lily. The woman at the clinic said their little village was raided by a bunch ‘a men in white robes and hoods. I knew that signature attire well. So now I’m here, followin’ the lead in hopes of findin’ Lily.”
“Neva’ figured you for one who knew anything about the Ghost Rida’ organization. Damn near shit myself when I heard Tex say y’ur fatha’ was one of the foundin’ memba’s. Is that true?”
“Not just one of the foundin’ memba’s. He’s thee foundin’ memba’. The name, the codes, the attire … all my fatha’s brilliant ideas,” James replied sarcastically.
“Y’ur shittin’ me!”
“I wish I was.”
“I bet he was just thrilled about your relationship with Lily.”
“Ova’ the moon!” James replied just as sarcastically.
“So, what otha’ info did the lady at the clinic give you?”
“She said men in white robes snatched up all her patients, including Lily. She said they raid vulnerable Negro communities like hers and sell the people they catch to unda’ground slave trada’s or straight to plantations. That’s the reason I’s hidin’ out at the Ghost Rida’ camps for the last few days. I’s hopin’ to hear who or where those fuckers are sellin’ people.”
“Ironically, that’s why I been runnin’ with ’em too.”
“To sell slaves?” James asked with disgust in his tone.
“No! To put an end to what they’re doin’!”
Recalling the contentious relationship Austin initially had with Lily, James could not help but pause and look at him in shock. “Are you serious?” he asked, sounding genuinely surprised.
Austin nodded and stared at the small flame in the lantern, suddenly embarrassed to look James in the eyes. “I’m ashamed of the way I treated Lily when I first met ’er. I think about it every day and it sickens me. But afta’ all the ugly things I said to ’er, and the way I tried to ruin ’er show, she was the only person who was there for me when my motha’ passed away,” he sighed. “She literally gave me a shoulda’ to cry on. She opened her heart to me that day, and it made me wanna open mine to her. She honestly became like a sista’ to me afta’ that. Hell, wish my real sista’s were like her. Afta that day, I’s adamant that I’s gonna do all I could to help ’er achieve her musical dreams. It was like Lily’s dreams had suddenly become mine.
“It crushed me the day y’ur fatha’ came and took Lily away. Just like that, she was gone … and so were my dreams. Your damn daddy manhandled her and my dreams right out the back door of Winta’ Garden. And there wasn’t a damn thing I could do to stop that bastard from layin’ claims ova’ her, like she was some damn horse! It sickened me that he owned not only Lily … but ’er dreams too. And the stupid slave codes say he has every right to crush ’em if he so chooses.” Austin looked directly at James. “I can’t lie. I’s mad as hell at you too for not doin’ anything about it.”
“I don’t blame you. You had every right to be,” James replied.
Austin shook his head. “I left Winta’ Garden feelin’ lost and hopeless. When I walked onto my pa’s plantation, suddenly there wasn’t a slave there that I could look at without wonderin’ what dreams they had for themselves. What kind ‘a talents did they possess? What incredible things could they offa’ the world that my pa’s keepin’ bottled up on his goddamn farm, because an auction receipt legally says that he can? I’s so tortured by that question, I got sick to my stomach every time I looked at one ‘a my fatha’s slaves,” he confessed, sorrowfully hanging his head low again.
“Forgive me if this stirs up your emotions, but I got me a baby girl now,” Austin smiled faintly. “Prettiest little thing on earth if ya’ ask me. She’s got my eyes, but hers are far more innocent. The day they put ’er in my arms, she looked at me with those eyes and stole my heart. I didn’t know it was humanly possible for somethin’ so tiny to break a man down into tears. Got me wrapped around ’er tiny little finga’. I wanted ’er to have a name that meant just as much to me as she did … Georgia Lily.” He looked up at James. “Georgia was my motha’s name. And Lily … well, I guess it’s obvious where I got that from.”
“I’m sure Lily will be honored to hear that Austin,” James sincerely replied, his emotions stirring slightly.
Austin nodded. “Lily told me that ’er fatha’ sold ’er away from her motha’. The house slave who helped nurture and raise me and my siblings had many of her children sold away from ’er too. Her name was Bernice, but we called ’er mammy. I grew up thinkin’ it was normal for mammy’s children to be sold. I neva’ even gave it a second thought until Lily told me that bein’ sold away from ’er motha’ was like mournin’ her death. I just think about somebody takin’ Georgia away from me and I feel a rage buildin’ inside ‘a me! I’d want heads to roll! Then I sit back and realize that mammy and Lily’s stories have happened hundreds of thousa
nds of times ova’. Thousands of fatha’s just like me have mourned the loss of their children. Even children mournin’ their motha’s. And all these years, I’s foolish enough to believe it was the most normal thing in the world … until I met Lily. She was like a giant mirror, forcin’ me to see how narrow-minded and stupid I’ve really been all my life … how stupid anyone is who believes enslavin’ folks is right.
“I don’t know how it is we eva’ became a world that justified playin’ God and determinin’ the fate of people’s lives in such despicable ways. But the guilt of it all weighs heavily on me every damn day now. I wanna atone for it all somehow, James. I wanna somehow do my part to make amends. I wanna help the people like mammy who raised us with love and compassion, hell even nursed us. I wanna give back to the people who fed us, diapered us, and cleaned up afta’ us, built our homes, stitched our clothes, and plowed our fields without complaint, despite all the horrible things we’ve done to ’em. I just somehow wanna atone for how despicably our country has treated the very people who have been an intricate part of buildin’ it and helpin’ it to thrive. Slaves have served this country for centuries. The least I can do is spend the rest ‘a my life servin’ them.
“Afta’ your damn daddy snatched Lily outta Winta’ Garden that’s all I been hell-bent on doin’. I been workin’ with abolitionists eva’ since then. That’s why I infiltrated the Ghost Rida’s. I get much-needed intel at their rally meetin’s about when and where they might be plannin’ raids. I pass the info along to folks runnin’ the unda’ground railroad. That way they know ahead ‘a time where our men might be stakin’ out, so they know what routes to avoid and where not to build their camps at night. I bring food, wata’, goods, and knowledge. I offa’ any kind ‘a support I can to help slaves on their journey to a life where they’re free to unleash their dreams, and all the otha’ wonderful things they can bring to the world.”
