Kindred

by P. J. Dean

  “No,” said Douglas, rising shakily from his chair. “I shall come with you.”

  ****

  Kindred felt strangely weightless as her mind cycled up through levels of haze. Once fully conscious, she immediately smelled the river, heard the birds screeching as they glided overhead. She was face down on the floor of a river boat, gagged, hands tied behind her back. She moaned and rolled onto her side.

  “She’s awake again.”

  “Let her eat,” said Sebastian.

  Adeline swayed as he walked across the deck. She sat Kindred up.

  “Not a sound out of the ordinary from you when I remove the gag or you will stay this way the whole trip. Understand?”

  Kindred nodded. Adeline yanked the gag down around her neck. Kindred worked her aching jaw. “My baby, please.” Adeline went to fetch Lela from a young negress who had been suckling her and returned.

  “My hands, please. How am I to hold her?”

  “Remember what I said.” Adeline undid the bonds and placed the child in Kindred’s arms.

  “I hope you have not let Lela nurse while you have been drugging me.”

  “Kindred, what is this obsession with sleeping potions and the like?”

  She ignored Adeline’s remark. “It could kill her.” Kindred’s eyes narrowed and hardened as she spoke in a steady tone. “If that happened, there would be no place on Earth where you could hide.” She nuzzled her child. “That is a promise.”

  “Stop the dramatics. Let me remind you that you are in no position to threaten anyone.” Adeline left to retrieve the food.

  Kindred hugged Lela closer and cooed to her. “He will come for us!” She shouted after Adeline.

  “She a sweet baby,” said the other young, black girl on board the boat. “Min’ be daid, but I got milk so dey tell me to feed’um. Sweet baby, she be.”

  “Thank you, thank you. And who are you?”

  “I be Cynda. I run away, but Massa ketch me. Now we go back.”

  “Back?” Kindred’s stomach lurched. Back to that hellhole. The place where her life had begun and where it would end. Not if she had anything to do with it, she vowed.

  Adeline brought some cheese, bread and cider to her.

  “Look who is serving whom now.” The blonde chuckled. “Ah, life. Truly ironic.”

  “Tell me, Adeline,” Kindred demanded as she wolfed down the fare. She was hungrier than she had thought and needed to keep her strength up for Lela. “How does what you have done gain you Lelaheo?”

  “It does not. After seeing you together, I realized I could never come between you and him. My efforts were useless. Cassian sees only you. I have thrown my lot in with Sebastian.”

  “He is your lover?”

  “That rube? No. He is my benefactor. He helped me. I helped him. His ‘property’ has been returned to him. For my assistance he is paying my passage back to England. Once there I shall arrange to divorce Cassian. I shall have my share of Twainhaven yet.”

  “I do not understand your reasoning, Adeline. You damn me, but you still will not have Lelaheo.”

  “But most importantly, neither will you.” She smirked. “Eat up.”

  Chapter Thirty One

  Once on the water in their provisioned canoe, Lelaheo and Douglas had acquainted themselves with the Mohawk’s current. As they had raced to Kindred’s rescue, the fall out from the battle of Oriskany manifested itself. As they had traveled down river, they’d seen smoke spiraling skyward from burnt out homesteads and had

  heard the wretched cries of the owners. The stifling, new day made paddling a killing duty. Douglas was in shirt sleeves and Lelaheo had stripped to his buckskin leggings and breechclout for ease of movement and to breathe. He silently thanked the Great Spirit that Twainhaven had miraculously remained untouched and hoped it would remain so until their return.

  He noted Douglas paddled like the Devil was on his shoulder. They knew from the design of Sebastian’s bateau that it would have a difficult time maneuvering around dead trees and would become stuck in the muddy river bottom. Sebastian would have to abandon the craft and proceed over land to Albany. Lelaheo counted on the delay to aid

  them and the fact he and Douglas had taken turns paddling through the night.

  “Slow down, Douglas. Pace yourself. You will wear yourself out. Let the river carry us for now.”

  “I just keep thinking that Sebastian has put Kindred in danger. Again.”

  “Your cousin will rue the day, Douglas, if he harms them,” Lelaheo stabbed the rippling surface of the murky water with his oar.

  “If it is any consolation, Lelaheo, Sebastian prefers to be in his own surroundings before he breaks in his female slaves.”

  “Kindred was bold enough to reject him,” noted Lealeheo. “He may not heed his own rules. We can only hope she keeps her wits about her until we catch them.”

  ****

  Kindred too knew that the bateau would hit mud and have to be abandoned. The river’s current was in her blood, she felt it shift temperament in a moment. Right now to be exact. The craft glided to a sudden stop. They would be leaving the river soon. Once on land … She shuddered, tears squeezed out the corners of her closed eyes.

  “Don’t fret honey,” said Sebastian. We‘ll be home soon enough. Got to leave this boat though.”

  Kindred’s eyes flew open. Sebastian had stopped ordering the two male Negroes, who had been navigating the boat, long enough to squat by her. “Please, sir, my hands are numb. Thank you for not replacing the gag. Please untie me for a bit and let me stand and

  tend my child.”

  “So now it’s ‘sir’. I know you’d come around. Now how bad you want them hands untied?” He grinned and trained her face on his.

  “The ropes are too tight and my circulation …” As he stared at her chest, she realized they were speaking two different languages. “What do you want?” she said flatly.

  “What are you offering?” He continued to stare.

  “I promise to cook and clean your house.”

  He shook his head. “I’m talking ’bout right now on this boat. Right now I don’t need no cook or cleaner. What else you got?”

  “My skill with herbs.”

  “Don’t need that now neither.” He rubbed his chin. “I’ll tell you what I do need. I need a dose of you, sweet thing.” He leaned in and licked her cheek.

  “No!” Kindred wanted to puke. He reeked of stale clothes, sweat and dried blood.

  “I was nice enough to not gag you, the least you could do is oblige me.”

  “No!”

  “We’ll see.” He stood up. “Adeline!” he bellowed. “Fetch that brat.”

  “Do not hurt my child.”

  “That’ll be up to you, won’t it, missy?” Adeline brought Lela to him. He took a pistol from his belt and handed it to Adeline as she passed him the babe. “Keep the rest of them at that end of the boat. Stay there ’til I call you. Shoot anybody who moves.”

  “Sebastian, I want no part of this.” Adeline felt ill at the thought of shooting someone, even a slave.

  “No one cares what you want. Do it or get back to England the best way you can.”

  Kindred wriggled to a sitting position. “Appears you chose the wrong man again, Adeline.”

  The girl covered her ears as she hurried to the other end of the boat.

  Sebastian turned back to Kindred. He held a bawling Lela above his head with one hand. “Do everything I tell you or I’ll chuck this breed in the water.”

  “Do not hurt my baby!” Kindred repeated, starting to cry.

  “Your choice.” Sebastian moved to the side of the boat as if to toss the infant overboard. The baby’s shrieking ripped through the stillness.

  Chapter Thirty Two

  Lelaheo and Douglas started awake. Douglas was on the floor of the cramped canoe. Lelaheo had fallen asleep in the position in which he had been paddling. Exhausted, slumber had crept up on both.

  “Did you hear tha
t?” Douglas asked, bolting to a sitting position.

  “It’s Lela.” A tiny smile played across Lelaheos’ lips. “I’d know that sound anywhere. And she is none too happy. Push, Douglas. Just around the bend.” Even though his shin injury had begun to bleed again, Lelaheo pushed his oar through the water with all his might. Douglas did the best he could. Fatigue and sore joints hindered any rapid, smooth strokes on his part.

  As their canoe turned the bend, Lelaheo spotted the bateau. Lela’s crying grew louder and more plaintive as he paddled closer. He was ready to kill whoever was disturbing his child, but he was also apprehensive. From where he sat in his dugout, he could see nothing. No one was moving on deck. Where were they? Then the sound

  assaulted him. Kindred’s screams.

  “Oh God! What is he doing to her?” fumed Douglas.

  Her screams joined Lela’s cries, adding an unsettling aspect to the otherwise tranquil atmosphere. Their oars sliced the water at lightening speed.

  “Pull up alongside it, boy, then jump on,” urged Douglas. “I’ll get my pistol.”

  Unfortunately, at his words, the craft became bogged down in the river bottom, and stopped just behind the boat instead of next to it. Try as they might, their paddles just stuck in the mire.

  “Try to make it from here. It’s the only way. I cannot do it.”

  Lelaheo stood up, tested his leg, then sprang straight into the air, landing in a crouch on the bateau’s deck. His shin wound opened up, but alighting inches from Lela took away his aching.

  “Your father is here, little one. You are safe.” He picked her up. As he cradled her, Kindred’s scream and the sound of slapping brought him back to the moment. He rose and ran toward the sound just on the other side of the little cabin. He came upon Sebastian, nude from the waist down, hovering over Kindred. Her dress and shift were in shreds about her. She pushed and batted at him.

  “That’s right. I like it when you gals fight me. All that wriggling’.” He reached out and fondled her breasts. “You got nice ones. Ain’t hanging yet.”

  “Filthy animal!” she said, spitting in his face and punching him.

  “Go on.” He tossed his head back and cackled. “More you do that, harder it gets.”

  “No. You will not!” Kindred continued to punch him. Then she stopped suddenly. “Lelaheo, Lelaheo,” she chanted.

  “All the fight gone? Damn! Broke you fast.” Sebastian felt the point of a blade dig into one of his buttocks. “What the hell?”

  “That is where you will be going Brainerd, with another cleft in your ass, if you do not get off her.” Lelaheo kept his knife trained on him and shook with mounting rage.

  “No need for that.” Sebastian rose and pulled on his pants posthaste.

  “Lela!” Kindred scrambled to retrieve her.

  Sebastian faced Lelaheo, a stupid grin on his face. “She ain’t worth dying for.”

  “Cassian!” called Adeline. He glanced in her direction for a few seconds. Seeing that blood had soaked Lelaheo’s legging, Sebastian saw opportunity and seized it. Distracted, Lelaheo was totally unprepared for the vicious kick the planter gave his injured leg.

  Ohhh!” Weary, weak and in excruciating misery, Lelaheo dropped the knife and crumpled to the deck, clutching his leg. Sebastian scooped up the blade and kicked him again.

  “I’m gonna carve you up real good, boy. Keep you alive long enough to make you watch me fuck your woman.” He lunged. A shot rang out. Sebastian fell to the deck, eyes wide open, blood oozing from a hole in his right temple.

  Adeline collapsed to her knees, still gripping the smoking pistol.

  Epilogue

  Twainhaven buzzed with activity. The hall was officially celebrating the colonists’, the Oneida’s and the Tuscarora’s triumph over the British. They had successfully beat them from the Mohawk River Valley. Sadly, the other four nations of the Iroquois League had to flee also. The war had crushed the League forever. Several food laden tables were set up in the rear courtyard. Douglas had demanded that all the best be set out. Linen table cloths and napkins, crystal, china, silver and herb centerpieces adorned them. Lelaheo placed jugs of cider on the tables. Joshua placed the wine. Cynda, the newest addition to Twainhaven, helped Kindred lay the last table. She looked at Joshua from under her lashes as he approached. He flashed her a quick smile.

  “No, no. Not there. Put that jug over on that table, love” said Kindred. She was dressed in her fine damask, sack gown, her bergère Lelaheo’s Tree of Peace necklace. Lela rested in her arm on her left hip.

  “Woman, please! My leg still aches and you want me running all over, what is it ’Zina calls it? Tarnation.” He limped to a far table and set the jug down.

  “Greetings! Greetings!” offered Douglas as neighbors pulled up, milled through the house, then came out the back door to take their seats. Lelaheo’s kin were in attendance. Douglas exchanged door duties with one of the slaves rescued from Sebastian’s bateau. He strolled to the back courtyard.

  “Lelaheo, Kindred. The coach is here. She is ready.” They hurried in and surrounded Adeline, who stood on the hall’s threshold, while footmen loaded her baggage.

  “Here is the money for your passage back to England. And a bit of spending money.” Douglas placed a bag of coins in her hand.

  “Thank you. I truly meant no harm.” Left without Sebastian’s protection or promise, Adeline had confessed all. The drugged chocolate, how Cassian became her last hope, the swift nuptials, the plan for Kindred, etc.

  “Adeline, please. I thank you for saving my life, but do not paint yourself as a martyr.” Lelaheo began ticking off her faults on his hand. “You are selfish ….”

  “Love.” Kindred hoisted Lela on her hip with one hand and touched his forearm with the other. “It is over. She is leaving.” Kindred stepped up to the girl. “And is never coming back. Correct?”

  “Correct,” Adeline said nervously.

  “Adeline, before your life is done, I hope you find happiness as I have. That is my wish for you,” Kindred stepped back into Lelaheo’s embrace.

  “Thank you, Kindred. Forgive me. You are rightfully mistress of this hall. I would have been a poor substitute.”

  Douglas interrupted. “Remember, Adeline. Secure a barrister, petition for divorce. Set Lelaheo free, lay no claims of any kind to Twainhaven. And I shall not file any charges against you. That was, is, our accord. Agreed?”

  “Agreed,” she repeated, descending the steps.

  “Have you decided where you will go?”

  “I have no idea.” A liveryman helped her into the coach. “Farewell,” she called out the window. The conveyance took off.

  “I shall rejoin our guests. Do not be long, you two.”

  Kindred rested against Lelaheo as he wrapped his arms around her. “It is finished? Are we safe?” She hugged Lela to her. Lelaheo kissed the pulse at her temple.

  “Nothing is safe. Nowhere is safe. I discovered that.” He nuzzled the springy hair at her nape. “I only know one thing, Kindred.”

  She pivoted in his arms to face him. “And what is that, love?

  “Kunolukhwa.”

  “Kunolukhwa,” she repeated.

  Holding his family in his arms, Lelaheo bent his head and kissed his wife.

  London

  Weeks later

  Boisterous sounds escaped from behind the red door of the stately townhouse every time someone entered or exited. It occupied a space on a side street in one of the most prestigious areas in the city. At the clacking of the doorknocker, girls in their shifts, stockings and wrappers, raced through the hall to line up in the parlor. The odor of tobacco, sex and perfume permeated the dwelling. The fashionably dressed proprietress glided down the hall barking orders.

  “Lily, did I not tell you to find a more becoming color for that hair? Rose, what did I say about too much rouge? Oh, you all do try me.”

  The doorknocker clacked again.

  “Cool your heels!” The Madam demanded as sh
e opened the portal. “May I help you?”

  Adeline turned around and set down her last bag on the top step.

  “Mother?”

  THE END

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