After what seemed like hours, they finally reached Harvest Gold plantation. Jordan rode his horse to the slave’s quarters, heading for his brother’s after leaving Lena and Hope under the protection of a giant oak. The whinny of their horses set the dogs to barking, startling Lena adding an element of fright to her already taut nerves. There were no vicious dogs at Webster Fields, just loose mongrels everyone fed.
Quickly climbing down from his horse, Jordan went to his brother’s door knocking. Quintin opened it shocked to see his younger brother there after so long. They quickly embraced as Jordan explained that he needed him to summon Miss Josephine…it was an emergency. Quintin asked no questions as he slipped his feet into his boots while Jordan went back to the horse and climbed on. Quintin led the way through the rain and muddy trail as the horse slowly followed, on the way, Jordan went by Lena and Hope, grabbing their reigns again. Quintin soon left them behind as he tromped through the sludge towards the mansion. There was a bit of distance to travel because the slave quarters were further away from the mansion than at Webster Fields.
Quintin made it to the mansion just in time to meet Jordan Lee O’Brien at the back door, who was just opening it to see why the dogs were barking.
“Quintin!? What you doing at my back door this time o’night?! What in blazin’ hell’s got them dogs barkin?!”
“Uhhh, Massa, they be a coon or fox loose in’na yard. I knows you be come a runnin’ so I meets ya’ta let’cha know I get rid’uv’im. Don’cha fret none!”
Right then Josephine and her mother came down the hall carrying their candle lights and wrapping their robes securely to investigate.”
“What’s happenin’ Jordan, what’s awakened the dogs?” Sarah O’Brien inquired of her husband.
“Go on back to bed you two! Ain’t nothin’ but a coon loose in the yard.” Jordan Lee called over his shoulder at his wife and daughter.
Quintin saw Josephine behind Sarah as he looked over Jordan Lee’s head. He was taller than his little brother Jordan, the tallest - in fact of all Maibel’s seven boys, who were huge.
“Umm umm, Ms Josephine, can I has a lil’word wit’cha?” Quintin spoke quickly. Jordan Lee looked up the massive black man before him.
“It’s late now Quintin! What you want with her? Go chase that coon fore them dogs wake the dead!” He directed, irritated at being disturbed so late at night. Quintin swallowed sending Josephine a look of desperation.
“Yes sa’, but ummm, she had me do som’um fo’ ha’, an’ I fo’gets ta’ tell ha’ wha’s what.” He looked up from Jordan back to Josephine again. Josey knew something was wrong for Quintin to be behaving so.
“Father…” She made her way past her mother to his side. “… it’s okay, you go on up to bed. You and mother, I just remembered something else I forgot to tell him. Then he’ll be right out to quiet the dogs.”
“Whatever it is, can wait till morning. You should be in bed resting in your delicate state. Not standing here talking with Quintin over this loud storm.” He admonished wondering what was going on.
“Please father! It will only be a moment. Besides, it’s a secret, a secret you’re not to know about! Now off to bed with you; everything is under control.” She simpered, leaning forward and kissing his cheek.
Jordan stared a moment, his birthday was coming soon… but that was two months away. “Father…it’s a secret.” She had a twinkle in her eye. Jordan harrumphed then turned away shaking his head. “Make it quick…it’s late.” He called back nudging his wife on back to bed.
“Yes father, I’ll be right up to bed.” She watched as they turned the corner and went up the back stairs.
She turned to Quintin with a finger to her lips, and then snuck quietly down the hall not far behind them to check and make sure they were truly going up to bed. The hall and stairs were empty. She hurried back.
“What’s going on Quintin?”
“They be somebody heah’ta see’ya Ms Josephine. She a slave. Jordan brung ha’ from Webster Fields. He say ha’name be Lena!”
“Lena?! Where Quintin? Where?!”
“I go fetch’ha fo’ya! They’s behin’ me waiten’ ta talk t’ya!”
“Well hurry Quintin! Hurry, it’s pouring out!”
He ran off disappearing into the downpour. Josey stood with the door open watching and waiting, nervously looking towards the hall and back out the door. She knew for Lena to be away from Webster Fields at this time of night seeking her out meant something was seriously wrong. She stood waiting and wondering, her hand resting on her swollen midriff as they made their way through the pouring rain, she saw a horse emerge that rode right up to the door. There was Jordan leading it to her, he reached up and lowered Lena down as she held onto Hope. Lena quickly climbed the stairs with Jordan behind her holding her sack, which he passed to Josey who held a hand out for it. Josey looked up at Jordan smiling. “I’ve got her from here. Go on now, she’ll be fine.”
Jordan nodded, about to leave.
“Jordan!” Lena called. He looked at her, “Keep all to yourself, tell no one! Trust no one! For Hope’s sake.”
He nodded and rushed down the stairs and climbed on his horse that Quintin brought to him, he turned grabbing the reigns to the other to ride off, then stopped and looked back. He felt himself tremble being wet to the skin, but it was more than that making him shiver. For some frightening reason, he felt he would never see Lena or Hope again. With a heaving chest of sorrow, he felt his heart breaking for them all. “Manny…it’s happenin’ again.” He sat in the rain, feeling doom from all around. Because there was nothing more he could do, he turned his horse around and rode them slowly back from the way he came.
Inside the house, the women whispered as Lena followed Josey back to her room. Stopping at the bottom of the stairs, Lena looked up at them with dread. Josey looked back in sympathy…waving her up. Taking a deep breath, Lena climbed crawling, nudging her daughter up before her. So wet and exhausted she wondered how she could continue on. Reaching her immense room, Josey closed the door behind Lena and locked it. Dropping the sodden sack to the floor, she reached for Hope.
“You precious baby. Oh Lena, get out of those wet things. What’s happened?”
Lena leaned against the wall by the door, her arms hung by her sides feeling as though they weighed a ton. She couldn’t find the energy right then to remove her cloak if she tried. She slowly slid to the floor, staring across the room at Josey as she stripped Hope down.
“Oh Lena…oh dear…wait…I’ll be right there.” She called as she finished undressing Hope, piling the covers around her as she lay shivering looking up at Josey. “Lay right here, so I can get your mama, okay?”
“Com’ere mommy. Com’ere!” Hope called from the bed. Josey put a finger to her mouth. “Shhh, I’ll get mommy… lay quiet now.” She left the bed and went to Lena. “Come on, let me help you to the bed.” Josey knelt next to her. “No no, just leave me a minute. Just a minute.” Lena begged softly. “Lena what’s happened?” Josey inquired, worried for her friend.
“Mommieeee…” Hope called across the room that could hold two or more of Lena’s cabin. “Shhh, baby…okay… mommy’s comin’…shhh.” Lena leaned forward knowing she had to get up. “Here let me help you. Get this off.” Josey offered, helping Lena out of her cloak. “Take off those shoes and stockings…you’re soaked through.” She furthered, then leaned over and helped Lena to her feet. “Get all the way out of those clothes and into my bed next to Hope. I’ll be right back.” She instructed.
Lena followed her orders feeling so tired her body didn’t feel her own.
Josey returned with drying cloths, carrying them to the bed. Then went through her wardrobe and found a gown for Lena. “Oh Josey, look through that sack, there were important papers in there. I hope they’re not ruined.”
This she cried quietly for only Josey to hear. Josey went for the sack, opening it, she started removing the clothing, many were drenched. She laid them ou
t around her room and found the papers Lena was concerned over. She was lucky…they were under the mirror tray she’d put in the sack and got only a little wet around the edges.
“They’re okay Lena. Here, I’ll put them here to dry. Now…come on, what’s going on?” She asked coming to the bed, passing Lena dry clothes, and Hope a gown, also dry from in the sack. “Katherine came to my cabin tonight Josey…and well, ohhh - it’s so much to tell.” She sighed tiredly. Josey climbed in bed as Hope lay between them, mother and daughter now dry and cozy except for their hair. “So much has happened since we saw each other last.”
“Well, get started, what’s happening.”
Lena laid on her right side facing Josey, her head on the pillow, her arm underneath, as Josey lay on her left, her head propped up with her hand.
With a sigh, Lena began, starting from the day she and Thomas returned to the plantation. Discovering that Hope had let the cat out of the bag to her father, only omitting their night together, and those that followed, saying only that once he knew, once again, he couldn’t stay away from her. Truthfully admitting that she didn’t want him to - Lena continued the story leading up to Katherine’s visit at her door. “Red - Josey…I don’t know what to do. All I could think of was getting to you.” She finished finally.
“It’s simple, you’ll stay here with me. When Manny returns, he’ll deal with her.”
“I can’t Red - Josey…” Lena struggled with calling her by her family nickname, instead of Red Dawn as she did at the Indian village. “…once they find me missing, they’ll come looking for me. I can’t take a chance on them finding me here. I told you what she said. If I’m found here, I could lose Hope. I can’t let that happen. I need to go somewhere far enough away that they can’t find me. I have to keep moving.”
Josey laid back on her pillow to think, reassuring her. “Get some sleep. I’ll think of something. You’re going to need money, a pass to travel the roads, and - oh Lena, it isn’t fair. Why can’t we be happy? Why does everything seem to go wrong for us?!”
“We love the wrong men, Josey. And for that, we will pay.” Lena murmured softly nodding off to sleep. Josey lay looking at her, then back at the ceiling. “I suppose.” Josey mused softly. “But I would do it all again, even should the same end be, I would do it all again.”
With the coming of dawn, Lena awakened to find Josey dressed for travel, with fresh clothes for her laid out “Most of your things dried, but not all.”
“I will keep them, and have replaced them with clothes of mine. They’re packed for you. We’re about the same size, so you can wear them. We must be under way if I’m to get you out of here.” Lena rose quickly, then sat back…nauseated again.
“You okay?” Josey asked. Lena nodded, fighting it back - she forced herself to move and dress quickly. Now instead of the sheet sack, she carried a satchel that Josey gave her. Filling it with money, her papers from Manny, and Hope’s things. Making sure she had the papers from Josey, they snuck out right under her parent’s noses before they rose. Quintin drove the buggy as they headed for Jackson, Mississippi.
Josey’s idea was simple, “When Manny returns, he’ll be on the steamer from Charleston to Jackson. From there, he’ll probably ride back home. You’re going to be in Jackson waiting for him.”
“But how will I know when he’s there?”
“There’s only one livery stable in Jackson. My father knows the man who runs it, because he loaned him the money to start it.” She explained. “I will talk to him, and tell him that it is imperative to look for Manny. He will know him. He’s done business with him many times. I will offer him money in exchange for seeing that Manny gets this note. He will do it because he will not want to cross my father. The man grovels just at the sight of him. This note Lena - tells Manny where you are, and that you’re hiding from Katherine. That’s how he will find you.” Lena looked down at her daughter who was leaning against her sadly. “It’s going to be a long wait. Where will I stay?”
“At a hotel in Jackson. My friend’s mother owns it, you can stay in a room there and work until Manny returns. He should be back soon…I can’t see him being gone for much longer. Plus you have the money I gave you, there’s plenty there to last you for some time.”
Lena nodded listening. “How will I ever repay you? I can’t even begin to thank you for all you’ve done for me. I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have you to turn to.”
“Well you do have me. That’s all that matters. You and I — you’re…like my sister. One I never had…and I love you Lena. I would do anything for you.” Josey swore feeling overwhelmed with emotion. They held hands across the seat and squeezed.
“Look at us.” Lena chuckled, “What a pair we make.”
Josey smiled, “Lena, don’t you know we make the best pair…if only the world were more like us.” Josey stated.
“I will never forget you.” Lena declared.
“What is this?! What are you saying?! This is only temporary. When Manny finds you, and brings you back… things will be different for you. You’ll see.” Josey said full of hope. Lena sighed nodding, then looked at her.
“Yes…things will be different. And I - love you too.”
“Sure you do…I’ve always known that. We’ll be just fine. You’ll see. We just have to have faith.”
Onward with sure speed, Quintin drove, knowing from Josey they had to be out of the area as soon as was possible, and true to her request, he made record time.
* * *
Manny rose again after rinsing his mouth and washing his face for the third time. He was sweating profusely, and couldn’t shake the horrible panic attack he was having. So bad was it that he’d thrown up his dinner.
He dragged himself from the wash bowl back to his bed, wearing only his black breeches that were open at the top. Sitting on the side of his bed, he resumed his position of worry, with his forehead in his palms, and elbows on his knees. “Oh God!” He groaned, his stomach ached from vomiting and retching. He leaned to the side, pulling his feet up on the spacious bunk in his state room, one knee up, the other bent with one arm lying at his side, while the other lay across his forehead. They’d made good time getting to Boston. Riding to Jackson and taking the steamer from there to Charleston had taken only a week.
From Charleston, they took a sloop up along the cost, stopping only twice before they reached Boston. He’d taken Leon along with him as he rounded up his crewmen for the Princess. After introducing him to the rowdy bunch, he left them with instructions to protect him, and show him the ropes. Eagerly they agreed…sea faring men were a different breed from the rest.
There wasn’t much room for racial divisions among them, because every hand was needed for sailing at sea. After leaving Leon, he went straight about his business concerning the ship, and getting the release for launching it. He then went looking for the investigator he’d hired through Charles. The man was nowhere to be found.
Neither was there anything left for him in the form of a message. He decided he would return later after collecting Lena and Hope, to follow up on his search for their son. Supplies were needed for the ship, as well other items - especially for the comfort of Lena and Hope. After a week in Boston, they departed earlier than scheduled.
As he lay there, he prayed Clarence Winston was on Mike’s trail, as he prayed for speed in getting home. A knock sounded at his cabin door. “Come in.” He called, unable, and unwilling to move from his bunk.
Leon stuck his head in and asked, “You okay?” Then walked in noticing Manny not moving.
“I’ll be okay when we get home.” He answered with his arm still over his forehead and eyes. “Something’s wrong Leon. Something’s wrong. I can feel it. Deep in the pit of my stomach. I should have brought them with me. Why didn’t I bring them with me?!”
“Everything gonna be alright. Lena ain’t gone let nothing happen to Hope. Jordan and everybody there, ain’t nothing’ can happen.” Leon spoke to ease him.<
br />
“I’m never doing this again, leaving her behind. Since Mike…I don’t know.”
“You tired’s all. You just need to get some sleep.”
“I tried that! I keep having nightmares! A baby keeps crying…over and over again…I’m standing in the dark… looking at the child as it cries. And no matter what I do, I can’t get to her. It’s like my feet are stuck! The minute I feel myself moving towards her, she starts falling, and I don’t make it in time, and she’s screaming all the way down into this dark well, “Daddieeeee…” she screams, when I get there and look down at her, it’s Hope … Leon it’s Hope!”
“It’s just a bad dream.” Leon tried to reassure him. Manny sat up suddenly wiping his hand over his face as he swung his legs over the side.
“I shouldn’t have left them…I shouldn’t have left them. Godalmighty, why did I leave them?”
Chapter Nineteen
Katherine shot upright in her bed hearing a loud and continuous banging at the front door. It sounded as though whoever pounded, would knock it off its hinges.
Bleary eyed, Morris rose as well. He’d just gotten home a few hours earlier. “Goda’mighty — who’s doin’ that bangin’!” He shouted from his room, rising from his bed. “I’m getting too old for this; chasing goddamn poker games.” He grumbled walking into the hall meeting Katherine on the way to the stairs.
“What in hell is going on here!?” He grumbled as he got to the top of the stairs and started down them, his hair mussed and his face drawn and angry at the intrusion. Katherine trailed behind him, wondering what was happening herself. When they were more than half down the stairs, they saw Ferrus open the door. He was knocked aside as two men forced their way in. Pearson and Casey! Katherine’s eyes grew huge as she stared at them.
Princess Ces'alena (Webster Fields) Page 61
