Wilde, Jennifer

by Love's Tender Fury

  "He mustn't see us, Adam!" I whispered frantically.

  Adam nodded and reached down to pick up a rock. He hurled it across the yard. It hit the trunk of a tree with a sharp impact. Caleb jumped at least a foot and whirled back around to face the direction of the noise, his back to us now. Adam darted out of the shadows and fell upon the boy from behind, clapping a hand over his mouth and slinging an arm around his throat. Caleb struggled violently, flailing his arms, kicking his legs out, but it was futile. Adam reared back, lifting the boy off the ground, his arm tightening brutally, and in a moment or so Caleb went limp, his whole body sagging as Adam dragged him over to where we were standing.

  "You—you didn't—"

  "Naw, I didn't kill him. I jest squeezed mighty hard till he lost all his fight an' went out. His neck'll be sore, but he'll be all right, should be comin' round in jest a few minutes."

  "He'll raise an alarm—"

  "Reckon he would," Adam agreed. "There wuz a rope in dat shed. I'll take him back dere and tie him up good— reckon I'd better gag him, too, or he'll squeal like a pig. There's some rags on one of th' shelves."

  "Hurry, Adam," I urged.

  Adam heaved the boy up and slung him over his shoulder as though he were a bag of potatoes, then moved quickly toward the shed. Cassie and I leaned against the side of the barn, waiting. She was shivering with fear, and I took her hand, squeezing it tightly. I was frightened myself, my calm resolution completely gone now, replaced by a nervous apprehension I found difficult to control. The moon disappeared again. The yard was shrouded in darkness. Adam returned so silently that both Cassie and I were startled when we heard the chain rattle quietly directly in front of us.

  "Lawd!" Cassie exclaimed. "You done scared me half to death."

  "I tied him up real good, Miz Marietta," Adam told me. "He wuz startin' to come 'round just as I got done. He opened his mouth to yell an' I crammed a wad o' rags in it and tied a gag 'round him good and tight. He ain't goin' do no squealin', ain't goin' no place, either."

  "I—I suppose he'll be all right."

  "Be a mite uncomfortable's all. 'Fore I come back, I stuck that hasp back up, pressed th' nails back in th' holes so's it looks like it did 'fore you broke in. Ain't no one goin' suspect nuthin' till they gets right up to it. Reckon they're goin' get a surprise."

  "I imagine so. We—we'd better go while it's still dark. Mr. Jones will be waiting for us in his wagon up the road a ways."

  We moved quickly and silently past the slave quarters, Adam holding the chain securely, Cassie clutching the bundle. We moved past the side of the house and down the drive through layers of blessed darkness. I stumbled once. Adam clasped my arm firmly. My eyes were growing accustomed to the darkness now, as were theirs, and we were able to move even faster, almost running. The moon came back out as we reached the road, but the trees growing on either side afforded excellent cover. Shadow Oaks safely behind us, we slowed down, finally stopping for a moment to catch our breaths.

  "I'd better unlock that other bracelet now," I said. "You don't want to drag that chain around with you."

  I performed the task with great ease. Cassie was as startled as Adam had been earlier.

  "How you do dat, Miz Marietta?"

  "Adam will tell you about it later on," I replied.

  Adam hurled the chain and bracelets across the road. They landed in the ditch with a noisy clatter.

  "I—I feels like—like a free man," he said, and there was awe in his voice. "I ain't a slave no longer."

  "You are free, Adam," I told him. "You and Cassie both. Your child will be born up North. You'll find a job and earn a living and—and everything is going to work out fine."

  "'Cause o' you, Miz Marietta," he said quietly. "You's a great lady, an' we'll always be grateful—"

  "Here," I said, reaching into my pocket and withdrawing the money. "You'll need this."

  "You—you stole that from th' master!" Cassie exclaimed. "Lawd, Miz Marietta, if he finds out—"

  "He won't," I assured her. "We'd better move along now. The wagon should be up there around the bend."

  We hurried along, keeping to the shadows. Elijah had pulled the wagon off the road, and it was almost invisible in the shadows. Had one of the horses not shied, we might have passed it. The preacher climbed down and waited for us to join him.

  "We're a little late," I told him. "There were—complications. No one saw us, though. This is Adam and his wife, Cassie. Cassie, Adam, this is Mr. Jones. He's going to drive you to a farm fifteen miles from here. The man there will hide you, keep you safe until he can take you farther on. A whole lot of people will be helping you in days to come."

  Cassie began to sob. She flung her arms around me and held me close.

  "I—I hates to leave you," she wailed. "You's been so good an' kind. Ain't never known a lady like you. I'm goin' worry 'bout you—"

  "There's no need to worry, Cassie. Just—be happy."

  Cassie nodded, hugging me tightly. Elijah Jones took her arm gently and helped her up onto the wagon seat, climbing up beside her. Adam stood looking at me, and then he took both my hands in his and squeezed them. He was moved, too moved to speak. There were tears in my eyes, and I smiled a tremulous smile. When he let go of my hands, I touched his cheek with my fingertips.

  "Take care of her, Adam. Take care of yourself, too."

  "I'll do dat, Miz Marietta. We—we's never goin' forget you."

  "Come on, boy," Jones said impatiently. "We've got no time to dawdle."

  Adam climbed up beside his wife and curled his arm around her shoulders. Jones took up the reins and clicked them, and the horses moved back onto the road, into the moonlight. In a moment the wagon was moving rapidly down the road as the horses broke into a fast gallop. Cassie turned around to wave, and I waved back, although I was still in the shadows and knew she couldn't see me. I could hear the horses' hooves pounding, hear the wheels spinning after the wagon rounded the bend, and then the noise grew fainter and fainter until finally there was just the raspy song of the crickets and the soft crackle of leaves rustling.

  I walked slowly back to the house, sad, exhausted, proud of what I had done. Derek would be in a rage, and he would be in a desperate situation financially, but I felt sure he could work that out somehow. Adam and Cassie were going to be together, and that was all that mattered at the moment. As I entered the kitchen, I thought about Caleb tied up out in the shed, wishing I could help him. It was out of the question, of course. He would simply have to be uncomfortable for a while. I went on upstairs and paused to peer into Derek's room. He was still sleeping soundly. I stood there in the doorway for a moment or so, watching him sleep, knowing I had betrayed him, and finally I moved wearily down the hall to my own room, dreading the morning to come.

  CHAPTER 15

  It was after eight o'clock, and Derek still hadn't come in. The slaves had had their breakfast much earlier, had already gone out to the fields. Ben Randolph would be arriving around nine-thirty or ten, and I thought it would be wise to go ahead and prepare breakfast and take it up to his room on a tray, as it would seem suspicious if I let him sleep too long. I would awaken him and be very concerned, disturbed that he had slept so late, inquire if he were feeling bad.

  The bacon sizzled and curled as it cooked. I broke eggs into a bowl and whipped them with cream, getting them ready to scramble. The biscuits were baking in the oven, the coffee filling the room with a rich, aromatic smell. It was a beautiful day, the sky a hazy blue-white, sunlight pouring down. I was unable to appreciate the splendor. I hadn't slept at all, had tossed restlessly in my bed, plagued with apprehension. Just before dawn I had heard a wagon on the road and knew it must be Elijah returning. Cassie and Adam were safe now, I told myself, and now I must brace myself for the repercussions.

  I took the bacon up, drained most of the grease from the skillet and poured the eggs in. I had just finished scrambling them and was putting them on the plate when I heard footsteps in the next r
oom. My hands began to shake. My throat was dry. I fought to control myself as Derek sauntered into the kitchen.

  "I—I was just coming up to awaken you," I said. There was a slight tremor in my voice. "I was beginning to worry—thought you might be ill. I can't remember your sleeping so late—"

  "Don't know what came over me," he replied. He frowned, shaking his head. "I just seemed to pass out last night."

  "You were very tired," I said quietly. "I—I came to your room before I went to bed. You were all sprawled out. I straightened you up and put a quilt over you."

  "I figured you must have."

  I took a pot holder and opened the oven door, removing the biscuits. Derek stood watching me, still a bit groggy, his hair spilling untidily over his brow. There was a tiny nick on his jaw where he had cut himself shaving, and he still wore the breeches he had slept in, his white shirt tucked loosely into the waistband.

  "Are you feeling all right?" I asked.

  "Feel fine—just a bit dazed. Haven't slept that long in months. I suppose I needed it."

  "You've been under a great deal of stress."

  "Guess that's it," he agreed. "I'm ravenously hungry."

  "Breakfast is ready. I'll just set a place in the dining room—"

  Derek sat down at the battered old wooden table. "I might as well eat in here. Where's Cassie?"

  "I—she didn't come in this morning, and—well, I didn't go get her. She was naturally upset. I thought I'd just let her stay in her cabin for a while until—until it's all over."

  "I don't imagine she'd be much help to you this morning, anyway," he replied, leaning back in his chair as I placed the plate of food in front of him. "I'm sorry about all this, Marietta. I know how you feel."

  "It's—I suppose it's something that can't be helped."

  "If there were any other way—"

  "I know, Derek." I set butter and strawberry jam on the table. "You don't have to justify yourself."

  "Indeed I don't," he retorted, frowning again.

  I poured coffee for him and began to clear things up as he ate. When everything was put away and the dirty dishes were stacked on the drainboard, I poured coffee for myself and leaned against the drainboard, sipping it. He ate slowly, savoring the food, eating three biscuits with jam after he had finished the eggs and bacon. I refilled his coffee cup, hoping to keep him away from the shed as long as possible. Poor Caleb still hadn't been discovered, was still bound and gagged and no doubt terrified.

  Derek finished his last biscuit, took up his coffee cup and leaned back in his chair, looking much better than he had earlier. The grogginess was gone, the shadows under his eyes less pronounced. He sipped his coffee slowly, gazing at me all the while. That didn't help my state of mind one bit. I was totally wretched, consumed with guilt when I thought of what I had done to him. I knew he would never forgive me if he discovered the part I had played in Adam and Cassie's escape. Derek set down his empty cup and yawned, stretching his arms out.

  "Feel better?" I asked.

  He nodded, climbing to his feet. "Delicious breakfast, Marietta. I enjoyed it. I think I'll go on into the study and do some figuring until Randolph gets here. He should be arriving soon now."

  He strolled out of the room, and my heart sank. What if he discovered the missing money? What if he checked to see how much he had left and discovered several bills had been taken? It was an unreasonable fear, I knew, for there was no reason why he should open the cigar box this morning, yet I couldn't shake my apprehension. I cleared the table and washed all the dishes, and then I swept the floor and began to polish the silverware, determined to keep busy, knowing that was the only way I could endure the suspense.

  I heard the wagon pulling around the side of the house sometime later. Derek left the study, went out the front door, and circled around the verandah to greet Randolph as he alighted from the wagon. I heard them talking and, stepping to the window, saw them standing together in the back yard. Randolph was a large man, powerfully built, looking like a rugged middle-aged pugilist incongruously dressed in glossy black knee boots and an elegantly cut maroon suit. His face was battered and worn, the large mouth set in a sullen curl, the eyes dark and cold. Although rich and abundant, his hair was the color of old pewter, a tarnished silver-gray. Even from this distance I could sense his innate brutality.

  My pulses leaped as they started toward the shed. It was only a matter of minutes now. They moved behind the oak trees and out of sight, and I waited, so weak I could hardly stand. He would discover the broken hasp. He would find Caleb trussed up on the floor of the shed. He would be unable to believe his own eyes at first, and then filled with an all-consuming rage. The yard was silent, everything hushed and still. Then I heard him yell. He let out a curse that carried all the way to the kitchen. Unable to contain myself, I dashed out the back door and hurried toward the shed.

  Derek was still cursing as he dragged Caleb out of the shed and began to untie him. Randolph stood with his hands on his thighs, his legs spread wide, an ugly expression on his face. Still gagged, Caleb squirmed excitedly as Derek tried to undo the ropes.

  "Be still, boy!" he shouted.

  "What—what's happened?" I cried.

  "He's gone. Adam's gone. Someone broke into the shed."

  "Cassie—" I whispered hoarsely. "She didn't come in this—"

  "I found a hammer and a chisel in the shed. She must have used that to tear the hasp loose. Goddammit, Caleb, I said be still!"

  "Looks like we're gonna have us a nigger hunt," Randolph remarked.

  Derek tossed the ropes aside and untied the gag. Caleb spat out the rag Adam had stuffed into his mouth. Derek's eyes were flashing with anger, his cheeks flushed. Caleb was so frightened he couldn't stand still. Derek seized his arms, gripping them savagely.

  "What happened?"

  "I—I doan rightly know. I wuz on my way back from takin' a leak an' I heard dis owl—" Caleb hesitated, gulping, trying to control his fear.

  "Go on!"

  "You's hurtin' me," Caleb whined. "You's hurtin' my arms—"

  "I'll do more than that! Who tied you up? Who put you in the shed?"

  Caleb shook his head. "I—I doan know. It wuz a spook—"

  Derek released one of his arms and slapped the boy across the face with such force that Caleb's head snapped back. He wailed loudly, and Derek slapped him again.

  "Stop it!" I cried. "Can't you see he's—"

  "You stay out of this!" Derek warned.

  "You're too upset to do any good, Hawke," Randolph said calmly. "Let me question the boy. I'll get the information out of him."

  Derek thrust the boy toward him. Randolph smiled and, seizing Caleb's left wrist, jerked it straight out, gave it a brutal twist and shoved it up between the boy's shoulder blades, grabbing hold of his hair with his free hand. Caleb let out a bloodcurdling scream.

  "Derek! You must stop—"

  "Shut up!" he ordered. "Go tell Mattie I want all the slaves in their cabins in fifteen minutes."

  Caleb screamed again as Randolph wrenched his arm up even higher.

  "You're gonna talk, boy," Randolph crooned, almost as though he were speaking to a lover. "You helped him get away, didn't you? You helped him get loose, then had him tie you up so no one would think you were involved."

  "No!" Caleb shrieked. "Massah, massah, make him let go! He's breakin' my arm!"

  "I'm gonna break your neck next, boy," Randolph promised, jerking Caleb's head back.

  "Derek!" I cried. "You can't let this—"

  "Get out of here!" Derek thundered. "Do what I told you!"

  Caleb's screams filled the air as I rushed away, unable to bear it, unable to watch, knowing I was responsible. The boy continued to scream, and then he sobbed and gasped and made spluttering noises. Mattie was on her front porch. She took one look at my face and hurried down the steps to fold me in her arms, holding me firmly against her great bulk, rocking me as though I were a little child. Caleb was silent now. I
wondered if he had passed out.

  "It's my fault," I whispered, my voice hoarse, barely audible. "It's all my fault. That terrible man—"

  "Hush, chile," Mattie said. "They ain't gonna kill him. Reckon he'll jus' get a good shakin' up."

  "He—doesn't know anything. He was coming back from the outhouse last night and heard us. Adam distracted him and grabbed him from behind, and Caleb never knew—"

  "It's all right," Mattie crooned. "He's done stopped hollerin'. You have to pull yourself together now, chile. You gotta be strong now. Now's th' time you gotta be strongest."

  I nodded and brushed the tears from my eyes. When I gave Mattie Derek's message, she released me and called one of the women from the smokehouse and told her to summon all the men from the fields. A few minutes later Caleb came stumbling toward the cabin, his right arm held painfully at his side, his eyes rimmed with pink and awash with tears. Mattie put her arms around him and shushed him when he started whimpering.

  "I didn't do nuthin'," he whined. "Dat man wuz gonna kill me. He's a devil. He done broke my arm an' yanked my hair somethin' awful. I'se hungry, Mattie. I ain't had nuthin' to eat an' I'm 'bout to die!"

  Mattie gave a disgusted sigh and lifted her eyes heavenwards. I was relieved to see that the boy was more frightened than anything else. Mattie led him into her cabin, and I walked slowly back to the shed. Both men ignored me. Derek had control of his anger now. Although I could tell that it still seethed inside, he maintained an icy composure that was far more frightening than his violent outburst had been.

  "There's nothing I like better'n a good nigger hunt," Randolph was saying. "It's something I feel right strongly about. Guess you heard two of my niggers ran off a while back. We never did catch up with those two, but one of McKay's bucks ran away no more'n a month ago. Now that was a hunt! Took us two full days."

  "You caught him?"

  "Finally found him hiding in some woods damn near thirty miles from home. You shoulda seen that boy crawling around on all fours, trying to hide in some bushes. We turned the dogs loose on him. You never seen such excitement!"