She turned away from him, gazing back out of her window once more, refraining from answering him.
That made him mad too, but he wasn’t sure what to do about it, he really couldn’t force her to answer him. He couldn’t force her to be happy with him. Truth was, it surprised him that her words worked his guts a bit, made him feel uncomfortable with himself and with her disapproval. He shook his head at himself, calling himself all kinds of crazy, and yet - she sat silent, not a word.
“I-…” he started and then stopped. Drove a bit more and blurted, “I’ve - (he swallowed deep) - I’ve loved you in a way - I never loved my own wife. Never - will - love her … (he cleared his throat and squirmed in his seat)… the way I - I love you Virginia.” He cleared his throat, ground his jaw hard as he felt a bit choked up, “I - you - you’ll be happy - by God - you’ll be happy with me - if it kills you!”
Still nothing from her.
He felt uncomfortable and shifted about some more, huffing and puffing, “I didn’t do it…” he mumbled, “I - I didn’t make you black - it’s not my fault! Is it my fault?” He pressed, “I can’t - I can’t keep - away from you - I tried to - resisting you - is - well it’s making me crazy,” His breathing deepened and became intense with his emotions. He got angry at himself for showing this side of what he felt, “I want - what I want! I worked hard for it! Stole for it! And yes - killed for it! I can’t go back now - too late. It’s too late for me. Yes, if there is a burning hell, there’s a cell there with my name on it.” He guessed out loud.
She was listening, almost holding her breath - hating what his words did to her guts - she didn’t want to like him, let alone… love him.
“Virginia, by God - before I’m taken off to hell - the one thing I’ve wanted most - I will have… I will have … that’ll be you. You hear me? I know you do - you will be mine - all mine - for no one else but me. This day onward. You just as well get used to the idea - and - just so you know it - you’re divorced. I’ve seen to that.”
Her head snapped around so fast she hurt her neck, “What?”
“That’s right, you heard right. That Reginald you married, he’s running numbers in Chicago. Shacking up with a woman. He could’ve sent you money, could’ve sent for you. Didn’t want to - he’s having himself a good ol’time. I know, because - well - he’s working for me.”
Virginia couldn’t have held the gasp back if she tried. “You?”
“Yeah, me. I’m the reason he left you here. I’m the reason. I fought it, wanting you - but - I couldn’t stand him being with you - having you. You were too good for him.” He chuckled at his words, shaking his head he murmured, “Too good for me.” He sighed, “So - I - tried to fight what I’ve been feeling. That’s why I - I gave Jacob the go ahead with you - I thought - if my own son was with you, I wouldn’t want you anymore.” He went quiet, thinking about all that he was confessing to her. So why stop now? He thought. “I went there, to Chicago - to check on things, my runners - Reginald. I stood and looked him right in the eyes, he did ask about you, his girls. I told him you’d been struggling and that well, he should see about you. He said, “You - you take care of my Virginia GM, she a good woman, too good for me. I ain’t got no business with a woman like Virg.” - “That’s what he said. I knew what he was actually saying to me and I thought, so right you are - you have no business! Take care of her, oh yes I will. So - you hate me for claiming that I gave you to Jacob? Well hate that Reginald, because he gave you up to me.”
Virginia felt a rush of hatred for them all… well, all except Jacob - the one who was too good for her.
They rode in silence after that. He said nothing more. He took her on his rounds. It took up the rest of the day in fact. For the first time - Virginia got to see all that he was into.
He was a crime boss.
Guns running.
Numbers running.
Bootlegging.
And to her surprise, yes - also drug dealing.
He did it all - a hustler from the word go. This so called respectable man, was as scandalous as they came. He left her in the car at each stop. It took the second stop for her to notice that when he left her, two men stood at his car watching it, guarding her. His men, were black and white - mostly white. Those that saw her, knew that she was his preferred side piece. He had a good looking white wife at home - and a fancy, hot stunning Negress on the side. Bringing her along was his way of showing her off - showing how he collected what he considered his tastes in the finer things in life. Publicly claiming her before his underworld - that all would know - she belonged to GM - hands off.
They all got it.
So much so, those men who stood guarding her held before them Tommy guns. To see it, and know that they would indeed shoot to kill, sent a shiver of fear through her. Little did she know that they fully understood now, that she - was what their job the night before was all about. No one dared to cross GM, no one dare. Those who tried - died from the hard lesson - they were all buried, here and there - in whole and some, in pieces.
The men didn’t talk to her and she didn’t speak to them. She remained in his car, cool - appearing to be calm and detached obliviously from it all. He didn’t even have his home and wife protected like he had his Negress mistress seen after. Truth of it was, his white wife’s color alone and the white code because she was a genteel, lady of a power figure was protection alone. She would not be bothered.
Needless to say, this code didn’t run over into the blacks. They were open game. You needed a license to hunt for deer, a buck, or to fish - but a Negro - kill at will. Without a doubt, she needed protecting. As of the night before, all knew - her little town was off limits to any attacks. Didn’t matter what the news said about the slain KKK - what the police reported. Like low spoken Chinese whispers - word was - they were marked for stepping into GM’s domain - you don’t get a warning for that - you just die for it. It still boggled the minds of many who knew that GM’s own boy - his son - was turning into a preacher man - go figure.
It was nightfall by the time they returned to the cabin.
Entering, it was clear that he had only one thing on his mind. She got as far as removing her tam, her cape coat and the next that she knew, she was scoped up high with a bit of a bounce back down from him tossing her so high catching her against his chest and up the stairs he went with her. He must have been thinking of all the ways he would have her - because he tried to have her every way possible. Virginia tried her best to resist the pleasure he forced on her - but he had her. He did things to her she’d never had done to her before. Covered in sweat, she screamed, cried and begged that God forgive her, but the devil himself had hold of her and wouldn’t let go. Yes - she knew he was - he had to be - to take her body against her will - making it tremor, shiver and shatter in such sweet torture over and over again - could be the works of none other than the devil himself.
Sunday, she irked him - drove him to distraction with her constant pleading to be taken home, “Please… you’ve had your fill GM, take me home.” She was soft and gentle with her supplication.
“You have no home! Remember, it was burned to the ground,” he snapped, acting like a little boy who is forced to give up his favorite toy before he is ready, snapping the paper he read.
“You need to go home, I need to go home.” Again softly, gently repeated.
“I will go, when I’m ready to go!” Once more, he was gruff.
“You don’t want Lida Bell suspicious-…”
“When we’re together, do not mention her!”
“She your wife.”
“Are you gonna keep nagging me? Is this what you plan on doing until tomorrow?”
“Yeah…” She admitted sitting back in her chair.
It was Sunday evening, he’d gone out to pick up the paper - usually not released until evening due to church services earlier in the day. At that particular moment, GM sat glaring past the paper at Virginia while trying to read it before the fire. He’d j
ust finished the second story surrounding the report on the shooting of the KKK. It appeared to have been prompted by the Sunday sermon. To his surprise, the focus was due to his son’s first sermon at the First Baptist church of Greenville. It was written with emphasis on how his son - the young Rev. Jacob McPherson gave a sermon few will ever forget. The paper went on to stay what a conscience stirring, deep rousing - bold - soul searching, thought provoking set down of scriptures he gave. It went on to read how the young man with the powerful voice - some said could have been reminiscent of Moses before the Israelites handing them the ten commandments after discovering their sin. It was said that he fired at them scripture after scripture tied into how it was due to the sins of covetousness - on feet hurrying into badness - that caused them to commit such a sin, and how the wages of their sin demanded an immediate payment - which was DEATH! He shook the church with his booming voice to show how the primary reason those men - that night - drove away from committing an ugly crime against God and man - went on to meet with their deeds - deeds that instantly had them reaping the consequences of their actions! The newspaper stated that he rained down the gospel of God with such fervor that there were whites volunteering to help rebuild two of the burned down homes in the Negro community - fearing that the Lord might exact even more from them.
GM folded the paper slapping it down onto his lap. After all that he did, who got the credit - the glory? The Lord! His son! He sighed a moment, looking over at Virginia who was still watching him, waiting for him to give in and take her back to her children. “What if I brought your children here? Your home is gone you know.”
She swallowed deep, shook her head, “I don’t want my children here.”
His face colored red and hot, because he knew why she said such a thing and he couldn’t help but be insulted by it. Nostrils flaring he shot up from the leather, high back winged chair and barked, “Fine! Take what clothing you wish - all of your things will have burned in the fire. Go! Before I change my mind.”
She shot up from where she sat and rushed up the stairs to indeed take a few of the outfits he’d bought for her. There were many. She chose the most humble outfits, and only a few - as well the gown he’d torn. She noticed also, there was a set of cases for her - she imagined his intention had been to take her on trips with him down the road. She had no intention of going anywhere with him. However, if he insisted, she wasn’t sure how she would deny him - but for now, she just wanted to get back to her kids. Choosing a case that would hold all that she wished to take with her, she was ready to go.
He stood with his long coat on, ready to take her back - from the expression on his face, it wasn’t what he desired, but he’d given in to her. Grabbing her case to carry, he muttered a bit sourly, “Whatever you need to rebuild - just say and I will deliver.”
“I have all that I need.”
She was making him mad. He snatched her arm to bring her close to him, so she would look straight up into his eyes, “In other words, you don’t want anything from me, is that what you’re saying?” He demanded.
“I’m saying, that I don’t need - anything from you.”
“I know what you’re saying, I can see it in your eyes, you think I’m stupid?”
She slowly shook her head no, “As I said, I have all that I need. You - have all that you want. And maybe - one day, you too will get what you really need.”
“You threatening me?”
“What am I against you? What power do I have, against your power? What threat could I make that would harm you, in any way? I’m nothing, no one - just a black woman who could be dead and gone tomorrow. How could I hurt you?”
He dropped her case and grabbed her to him so tightly, it hurt. His embrace squeezed so hard he shook. In agony he whispered close to her ear, “You’re - hurting me now… you’re hurting me - right - now.” He suddenly turned her loose. Virginia stumbled back from him sucking in a much needed breath because he’d almost squeezed it all out of her. He turned from her, grabbed her case up once more and snatched the door open.
“I’ll take you back now.” GM was in a battle, this was the reason he held himself from her for so long. Something had told him, once he gave in - he’d be in trouble. He couldn’t help but flash in his mind the story of Samson and Delilah, such a powerful man - and he’d fallen to her charms only for her to cut his hair and steal his power. He should have never let himself fall in love with her. He didn’t like the way things were - he didn’t like her having this hold over him. He questioned who exactly had the power here? Yet and still, “When I get home, I’ll have them send over a load of lumber, new wiring-…”
“I told you I don’t need anything from you - I’ve gotten my fill, thank you, but no thank you.”
She was really pissing him off, “You think you’ve gotten your fill of me? Not by a long mile you haven’t. Expect to see me there Friday, and you had better be ready.”
They were at his car, “Where is there, you expect to get me?” She asked, truly pushing it.
He tossed her bag in the backseat, “You take your three to Bonita’s - I’ll be there to get you. That’s where, there!”
She’d said enough and knew it. He dropped her off at Bonita’s.
That next day Monday early, a truck pulled up loaded down with lumber. That afternoon, a few whites from town, actually followed through and came there to help the two homes be rebuilt. Also glass was sent to replace all that had been broken out. It was a strange coming together, that actually worked out that the few whites who showed up, learned something from the blacks there, to help themselves. Where it started off awkward, ended up with the forming of friendships. The black community brought in those few whites that showed up, fed them, doted on them, explained things to them and most of all, thanked them for aiding them. The whites left surprised that they’d actually enjoyed themselves, actually enjoyed the company they’d kept that day, and promised to return the next day. The thing was, they’d been broke and hungry and not sure where their next meals would come from. By coming to help with the rebuilding, they were being fed throughout the day, not just fed, but fed delicious food ‘til they were full. All day long, they were being handed something to drink and eat. The next day, more came - hearing about how good the others were being fed and how much fun they had. The third day, Jacob came in the guise of viewing how the others were helping. But in his mind, was despair at what he saw. Virginia’s home was gone - just a black and burned area where it once stood. He’d worked hard to make that home perfect for her. Now, being built in its place, one financed by his father. Anger shot through him. He didn’t trust his father. True, he’d saved these people from a fate worse than death - but at what costs? He’d moved away from his father, taken Virginia away from him, so that he couldn’t own her - only for him to be able to reach him, them - there as well. For all intents and purposes, it was as if he, George Marshall McPherson owned this district of South Carolina. He wouldn’t put it past his father to try and pick up where he left off. Only this time, his mother wasn’t around. He wasn’t stupid - he’d always suspected that his father had a thing for Virginia. If given the chance, he would try to possess her - Jacob felt it in his gut.
Little did he know, how right he was.
For the people in that small black town, even though there were whites coming to help them - there were others who did not. It was those others that frightened them. By no means did they believe themselves in the clear. Only one thing… or person - kept them safe. Virginia had spoken to them, telling them - that they would be all right now. They knew why. They all knew - in a way - she’d sold her soul to the devil to protect them all. Because of them seeing it that way, they adored her, respected her - no one dare murmur against her. They would do anything to keep her there with them, because in truth, as long as she was there - as long as she went to - him - GM… they were all protected.
It was Thursday night following a long day where so much had been done. This time around, Virgini
a was staying with Bonita. Because of the fire and the attack, Bonita and Clay decided life was too short and tomorrow unpredictable - they would be getting married the following week. This way, she and her daughter could move in with him and Virginia and hers could have that house until hers was finished. The three sat at Bonita’s kitchen table speaking low about their little ceremony next week. Virginia was rocking Jacob to sleep, he was being fussy, needing to be held and she gladly rocked and did so. In truth it was pretty late and they should all be in bed. Clay and Bonita knew that tomorrow at some point - GM would be there to get Virginia - she was worried about the whites that came there to help them. If they saw him pull up, and her dressed to the nines to climb into his car, what would that cause - what kind of talk would be born from seeing that? She had no way of contacting him to let him know - that it wasn’t a good idea to come there to get her. She wasn’t sure what to do, or how to handle it, what she hoped is that he wouldn’t come. He had to know what was going on there, so maybe - he would lay off for a while until the building work was done.
Suddenly, there was a light tap-tap-tap at Bonita’s back door off the kitchen.
Their eyes widened at the same time, Clay stood, “Ya’ll sit still, I’ll get it.” He took charge. A bit frightened, he took a deep breath and bravely went to the door to look out the small window, to his relief, it was Jacob - he opened their home to him.
“Here to see Ginny, she here?” He asked knowing there was nowhere else she could be.
Smiling, nodding Clay widened the door letting him into the small mud room where coats hung, leading to the kitchen.
Virginia’s guts knotted up on her, the time had come. The good thing, there was no where they could be alone. For that she was grateful. The moment he stepped into the kitchen, her heart went out to him. Their eyes met instantly, his gentle green eyes moved from her to his sleeping son, and then back up to her once more. “Mind if we talk?”
Beauty of Man and Woman - Volume 13: Bomaw Page 23
