by Caryl McAdoo
She looked around the group then settled her eyes on him. “The Lord forgives you, and so do I.”
“Amen.” Seve stood and walked to where Corbin sat. “I do, too. Takes a big man to confess his faults.” He looked around. “Anyone else?”
Corbin pushed himself back up. “There's one more thing I need to do.” He pulled another piece of paper from his coat pocket and handed it to Izzy. “I know Gabby taught you to read on the sly, so why don't you tell these folks what that paper there says.”
The young lady stared at the page then looked up. “Says here you sold me to myself for the price of one dollar.” The girl looked up, wide eyed. “I ain't got no dollar, Master Harrell.”
“Yes, you do.” He pulled four bits from his pocket and put them in her hand. “Back wages with more to come.”
She stared at the money in her palm then gasped. “You . . . you really setting me free, Master?”
“Yes, ma'am. And please don't ever call anyone—especially me—master again.”
Jumping to her feet, she ran at him and flung her arms around his neck. “Thank you! Thank you! Oh, Mister Harrell! I never thunk it would happen. Thank you, a thousand times over!” She buried her head on his shoulder and wept.
Flynn loved Izzy's reaction, but the look in his mother's eyes troubled him some. His papa hardly gone, and his mam was . . . uh . . . what? Interested in Corbin? Could she really be?
Maybe all her attention toward him had been her trying to get him saved. He couldn't imagine her being romantically interested in Harrell. She loved Papa too much.
But then, who was he to say how long she should grieve?
With his beloved wife on his arm, he took his turn—and Alicia took hers—congratulating both ex-slave and ex-master then fell in with those going to the trading post. Laud stayed with Esther and the baby girls.
Everyone else wanted to hear what Mister Titus had to allow.
By Pa Seve's pocket watch, it was quarter past two before the man showed, walking in from the west, still decked out in his Sunday best. “Forgive me, folks! Dined with the preacher's family today and they made me have that second piece of pie and coffee.”
“No problem.” Pa Seve stepped out to meet the merchant then shook his hand. “I take it you're Mister Titus?”
“One and same, but call me Andrew, please. You folks pilgrims?”
“Yes, sir, Andrew. Left Tennessee better than a month ago, heard about the land grants.”
The man unlocked his door, then stood back and welcomed everyone in with a grin and a nod. “Come right in. If you don't see something you're looking for, just sing out. May have it in the back.”
Sounded to Flynn that Andrew had said those same exact words maybe a thousand times before, but if it worked for him, why not? Nothing struck him that he couldn't live without. The main thing he wanted was information.
The ladies gathered a sizable stack of goods, mostly food staples that Esther had ordered, but a bolt of cloth and a Bible stood out.
His new father-in-law—Pa—brought a crosscut saw and leaned it against the counter. “We've heard the Rangers pushed the Indians farther west.”
“Yes, sir. President Lamar wants them all out of Texas. Now the ones we have around here are not like the Comanche or Apache. Those are the bad ones. Ours are peace loving, the Caddos.”
“You ever been west? Around the Trinity River?”
“No, sir, but talked to some who have. Levi Baylor, a Ranger from these parts, has been all over the Trinity River Valley. That where you folks are thinking about settling?”
“We've heard it's still wide open, not as many folks that far west.”
Flynn stepped up. “What's the land like? Much timber?”
“From what I hear, a good mix of prairie and wood, blacker land than here. We've got a lot of sand mixed in. Levi was telling me the other day—he's home on leave while his partner's convalescing.
“Anyway, he said if he was a mind to bust out new farm land, he'd look hard at the ground along the Trinity. Even marked up a map for me. I've got it around here somewhere.”
“That so?”
“Yes, sir.” Andrew ducked under his counter and shuffling papers could be heard. When he looked up again, the ladies and big girls were all headed his way with a few more items. They set them on the counter with their earlier items. “Find everything?”
“Indeed, we did, and then some.” Mam smiled at the man. “Looks like you carry about everything a body would need.”
“Hey, Pa, look what we found.” Aaron, with Rich shadowing him, burst through the door, carrying a half-grown pup dog draped over his arm. “Can we keep him?”
Andrew leaned on the counter and grinned at Aaron. “Well, he is for sale, young man. But he's not cheap. That's a Blue Dog pup. Blue's pretty renown around these parts. I'd have to get three dollars for that one.”
The boy dropped the mutt. His shoulders slumped. “Aw, we got a good knife to trade, but not a dime of our cotton-picking money left.”
Corbin spoke up. “Why's a Blue Dog pup so valuable?”
“Henry Buckmeyer over Clarksville way owns the sire, best dog I ever knew.” The man laughed. “The Colonel claims Blue sniffed out where Santa Anna was hiding after we whipped them at San Jacinto.” He threw a nod toward the dog. “Watch this. Hey boy, can you sit?”
The dog rested on his haunches.
“Roll over?”
The pup complied then returned to his sitting position, tongue lolling. Almost had a smile on his jowls like he couldn't wait for the next command.
“Smart, just like his daddy.”
The two boys went to their knees on either side of the canine and hugged his neck and got a few sloppy kisses. Pa stared at the mutt for a minute then faced the store owner. “Where's the nearest government land office?”
“Fifty or so miles north in Red River County. You looking for land certificates?”
“Yes, sir. We've heard you need one to stake your claim.”
“That's right, but if you folks want to stay neighbors, you might ought to consider a first-class headright, that's over four thousand acres. And nothing to say you couldn't get your own forth-class and each add another six hundred and forty.”
“You can do that? Where do we get a first-class?”
The man laughed. “Well now, I just happen to have one. The government stopped passing them out a long time ago, but they're transferable.” He reached under the counter and pulled out a thick leather folder.
“I buy and sell about anything of value.” He unbuckled the clasp then pulled out a stack of certificates.
Thumbing through, he located the one he must have been looking for and held it out. “I've got the bill of sale from Felix Gonzales.” He touched the line where the man's name was inked in. “I'll give that and a bill of sale of my own if we strike a deal.”
Flynn chuckled to himself. Good thing he married Alicia when he did, but what a shame he didn't have her walk the aisle in Tennessee, so many wasted days.
“So, with this piece of paper we can claim, did you say over four thousand acres?”
“That's right. A league and a labor works out to be four thousand six hundred five and a half acres. And there is no stipulation on how much you cultivate like on the fourth-class. You do have to live on it three years and have it surveyed.”
“What do you want for it?”
“Two hundred gold, or trade.”
Pa nodded then looked to Corbin then Flynn who nodded, too. “We're interested. We have high quality cotton seed. You a buyer?”
“Sure, how much you have?”
The dickering went on for a few minutes with no firm price agreed upon. Pa put a double eagle on the counter. “This cover what we've got so far here? We need to talk about the first-class headright and what you're offering on the seed. Another family stayed with the wagons.”
“I understand.” Andrew pulled a pencil form his shirt pocket. “Let me add it up.” Afte
r writing a neat column of numbers on his pad, he grinned. “The dog, too?”
Pa nodded.
“Seems you're short two bits, but we can add that on . . .” The man hiked a shoulder. “I open at six in the morning.”
“We'll be here then with an answer. Do you have any forth-class headrights for sale?”
“Sure, I get four dollars each, figure that's worth not making the trip north.”
Outside, where the little men had drawn themselves a marble ring and were engrossed in the game, neither bothered to look up.
“Time to go, boys.”
“Aw, Pa. This here's the best dirt we've ever shot in.”
“Come on now. And don't forget your dog.”
Aaron hooped then jumped to his feet. Rich followed suit but stayed long enough to gather the marbles and stuff them in his pocket.
“You bought us that pup dog, Uncle Seve?”
“Yes, sir. Now go fetch him, and let's get on back. We've got a lot to talk about.”
“Yes, sir! Thank you, Pa!”
“Thank you, Uncle Seve! That's so great!” He elbowed his partner. “We got us a dog! Can you believe it? How long we been wanting a dog, Aaron? Whoopee!”
They fell to their knees, rubbing the pup’s ears and getting hacked by its ever-wagging tail. The dog licked their faces as if celebrating with them.
“Yeah, Whoop-tee-do! What are we gonna name him?”
“Think we gotta share him with the girls?”
“Naw.” Aaron stood and mentioned to his new pup. “Come on, boy! You’re our dog now. Come on, Rich!”
They disappeared, slapping their hind ends and practically dancing!
What a pair. Or should he say trio?
Corbin sat right up in the group but kept quiet for the most part. All the storekeeper's words were relayed to Laud and Esther, then the debate began about buying the first-class headright.
Didn't really matter to him. He'd take the fourth-class—married or single—and be happy with what he got.
If his lady—he didn't have any right to thinking of her as that, but he had asked the Good Lord. Anyway, if she turned him down flat, would he still stake his claim near the clan or stop somewhere sooner?
Maybe go farther south?
Guess he needed to be deciding. Should he talk to the girls? Or Gabby anyway. Izzy was her own person.
Round and round, he followed the conversation, though he spent most his time watching Liberty, busy making some point. The woman was smart and passionate. After too many words, Seve looked right at him.
“What about you, Corbin? You haven't said anything. What's your pleasure?”
He held his hands out, palms forward. “Oh, I don't make no difference. Doesn't matter to me. I don't have enough seed or cash to partner on the first class. I do plan on buying a fourth-class headright of my own. Spending four dollars to save a hundred miles works for me. I'll be blessed to get however much.”
Liberty opened her mouth to say she'd cover his part, but it wasn't her money. Never had been. She looked to Flynn, then nodded toward Corbin.
Her son drew a blank then nodded and raised his hand. “We'll cover Corbin's share out of our part.”
“No, I couldn't let you do that. You'll need that money. Can't take your charity.”
“It isn't charity. You can pay it back with your first crop's harvest. We'll probably really need it about then.”
“Corbin.” Liberty waved. “Look here at me. It will be neither charity nor a loan.”
He did. “He don't need to be spending your money that way.”
“The Bible says, 'Give and it shall be given unto you!' You gave Izzy her freedom. We can give you enough money to buy over a thousand acres for fifty dollars! Fifty! Don't keep us from being blessed.”
“Maybe less.” Her friend's husband nodded. “We haven't settled on any prices yet.”
“Let's vote.” She looked to Seve. “And no never mind what Corbin says, he's in.”
The general grinned at the man. “You've been outnumbered. I'm with Liberty and Flynn.”
“Well . . . well . . .” He held his hands up, then grabbed his hat and slapped it against his leg. “Thank you kindly, all of you.” His voice cracked.
Seve counted hands then nodded. “That's it then. Come morning, I'll make the best deal I can for the first-class headright and four-fourth class ones, then we'll be heading west.”
She helped with supper, cooking and cleaning up, then had Corbin carry her rocker out a ways. He'd already built a little fire and had staked a pole to hold the lantern. She eased down then handed over the Bible she'd found for him at the Trading Post.
“This is yours.”
Taking it, he shook his head. “Does this mean you're not going to read to me anymore?”
“Not at all. But everyone needs their own Bible.”
“Why'd you do it?” He nodded. “I saw you goading Flynn into speaking up.”
“I told you the most part already, but if you haven't noticed, I haven't told you no yet.”
“So, I . . . uh . . .” He smiled. “We still might get married?”
“Not right away. We've got time now. If I heard right, we'll have three years on the fourth-class headrights, not counting the league and labor. What a funny name for it.”
“What a blessing. Four thousand and six hundred-plus acres for two hundred dollars. Imagine. And I thought a buck and two bits an acre for Arkansas land was a good deal.”
“Yes, indeed. I wonder if anyone has given any thought to this Andrew Titus being a crook.”
“Crossed my mind, but I got a good look at all his land certificates. Some were the same, but most looked different. All of them had a Republic of Texas seal stamped on them.
“Don't see how he could have counterfeited them all and stay in business. And that Jude guy in Little Rock; he knew about Titus and that guy had been all over Texas.”
He slapped his hat against his leg. “I'd bet train-riding money Andrew is an honest man. Can't stay in business long cheating folks.”
“What do you want me to read tonight?”
“I really liked stories from the Old Testament, that Paul guy is so wordy. I mean I know I need to hear what he's saying, but . . .”
“Enough said, Paul is hard to take to sometimes.” She opened to Second Samuel. “Remember me reading about David killing Goliath?”
“Yes, ma'am. I'd heard that story before, but really liked it.”
“Well, let's see what happens next. Shall we?”
“Yes, please.”
She read a chapter, then three. He seemed to be so involved, she read on, then got to the part where the Philistines captured the ark. “Let's stop there for tonight.”
“How about one more chapter?”
She hated telling him no, but she didn't want to read the part about how God plagued the infidels. “Why don't you read that part for yourself, then we'll pick up after the ark comes back to Israel.”
Standing, he stretched his back out. A grin bigger than Texas curved across his mug. “Is this your way of getting me to read my new Bible?”
“No, but . . .” She decided to stop digging the hole she'd fallen into. “Good night, Corbin.”
Chapter Twenty-six
The Titus Trading Post’s doors sat open, and two lanterns burned on the porch poles. No telling how many lit the inside. As the last wagon and with the least seed to trade, Corbin reined his mules on past the other three teams then stopped within easy carrying distance.
Setting the brake, he jumped down. A part of him argued that he'd need his medicinal juice. But the bigger part knew he'd been set free, and only a fool would return to his folly.
Sure liked having his own Bible. Especially liked those Proverbs, quick and easy to read. Whoever wrote those sure had some smarts. He grabbed the wooden box that still had seven bottles in it and carried it inside.
Andrew, with Seve, Laud, and Flynn looking on, fingered the cottonseed out of an o
pen sack. Corbin put the box on top of the counter and moved close enough to peer over Laud's shoulder.
“You say they're all this clean?”
“We'd check one or two each load, but yes, sir. The ones we saw were just like this one.”
The merchant nodded. “Found that map Levi Baylor marked up and thought on it last night. I'll go a buck six bits, but I only need fifty sacks.”
Seve nodded. “We can open every single one if you want.”
“No need. Go ahead and sew that one back up. So, then that would be . . .” Andrew closed one eye. “Eighty-seven fifty. You'd owe me a hundred and twelve fifty, plus the two bits you were short yesterday, and another sixteen for the four-fourth class certificates . . . comes to a hundred twenty-eight seventy-five.”
“Close. How about sixty sacks and four gold eagles? That seems real fair.”
The man laughed. “Might ought to get a gun if you're going to rob me like that.” He nodded. “I'll take fifty-five sacks and a hundred and twenty gold.”
Corbin hated getting into the mix, but he wasn't sure the store keep had noticed his box. “What will you give us for seven bottles of good Tennessee Whiskey?” He pulled a bottle out and handed it over. “Smooth as corn silk. If you're a mind, go ahead and pour yourself a taste.”
The man eyed the label, cracked the seal then smelled it. “Dollar a bottle.”
The no stuck in Corbin's throat, choking him, but he wanted the temptation gone. And that would pay for his headright and some on the league and labor. “Deal.”
“So, where are we?”
Andrew pulled out his pencil and pad. “The first-class and four fourth-class for fifty-five sacks of seed, this box of whiskey, and a hundred in gold and that covers the two bits you owe from yesterday.”
Seve checked with the other two who nodded then looked to Corbin who also agreed. The man Liberty referred to as the General stuck out his hand. “Throw in the map, and its a deal.”
