There is a hush of guilt in the room. He didn’t beat around the bush, did he? The people are enchanted.
“If a man wants to court a woman, he does it the right way. He goes to her family first and if she has no family, he comes to me. There will be no unwed mothers or sexually transmitted diseases in the church. Immoral activity is how it starts. Batting your eyes at a man who isn’t or has no plans to be your husband is immoral activity. Our girls are not for fun. Our women are not for using. Loose women will be escorted to the new colony in Florida. Young men who want to participate in certain activity will take a wife or go to Florida with them. We need strong family units to thrive. Once we begin to adopt outside behaviors we are no better than them. No woman in my church would ever eye me over like that. The women in my church would never welcome me to their beds. We should be arranging marriages and teaching manners and proper disposition. What is a beautiful church if the people inside of it are no better than the commoners they look down on? Why aren’t you living in the ways of our ancestors when they are the reason we are still here? Do you see what happened to the heathens you mimic? The loose morals are the least of the troublesome things that I’ve seen here. Child marriages? Butchery? This is not only unacceptable, but punishable by death. Elder Lamb, step down.”
Judea turns to the pompous man sitting in the throne like chair to the right of his. The man looks confused as he stands and steps down from his place.
“You have abused your power and overstepped your reach. You in no way represent my church and for your crimes against my flock, I sentence you to hang after service today.”
There is a wave of murmurs in the crowd. A few of the men jump to their feet in protest.
“Good Reverend, Bishop Lamb is a high elder—”
“He rapes children and shelters men who butcher women. If you side with him then you agree with his ways and every man standing will be hanged with him. Don’t sit down, I see who you are. I will continue to stand up for the weak and unheard and I will lay down my laws with an iron fist. You men, take the criminals into custody and lock them in the metal boxes we passed on our way in.
“It was my right! Their Fathers agreed! You can’t do this.”
Judea draws his gun and shoots him down in the pretty white church. A few of the women faint. The men stretch their collars.
“No one tells me what I can’t do. Who wed their underage daughters to this man?”
“It was him, good Reverend. Elder Green and his brother Cornell.”
The people turn them in so fast your head would spin. It tells me that they don’t agree with it either. They finally have a champion. That champion is my champion too.
“Good Reverend, please wait. Let’s hold a meeting first or give the men a chance to right their wrong. You’ve arrested thirty men here today.”
“Thirty-one. You are hanging with them.”
“Me? Why would you hang me? I am the voice of peace.”
“You chose your side when you spoke up for them. Now, step aside.”
“Good Reverend! Please, I wasn’t siding with them. I am on your side.”
“Let him go. He will help with the hanging. Are there anymore who want to speak up for these condemned men?”
It’s as quiet as death in here. The arrested men are fighting and yelling their excuses.
“I don’t reason with dead men. This is what I want you to think about today when you are about your business, Saints. Love one another and respect our ways. Protect our women and children. God bless the Saints.”
The applause is thunderous. The people are on their feet.
“God bless the Saints!”
“Amen!”
“God is good!”
“Amen, good Reverend!”
He calms them down and continues. “The commoners are growing bolder and more desperate. I traveled across the country and witnessed their abominable ways myself. The heathens are stealing women and children. They send out families to act as spies to find other families and direct the outlaws to their camps. The snakes are stealing people who didn’t get sick and shipping them to laboratories to do demonic experiments and dissections on. Saints, their doctors are trying to find a cure to something they started. They will tempt you with money and land in places where there is no illness. We must protect our own at all costs. This no time to turn into a social club. This is no time to turn on each other for bribes. There is work to be done.”
They are on their feet cheering and praising as he turns and shakes the hands of the Deacons who are smiling and clapping him on the back. I am on my feet too. I’m so proud of my strong, handsome husband. A hand lands on my shoulder spinning me around.
“What in the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“Hannah, we are in a church. This is not the time for this.”
“Jude Hamilton is mine. Everyone knows it. How dare you tempt him away from me?”
“It was his decision to marry me. It was he who tempted me.”
“When we are married, I’ll make you pay for this. I will hurt you the way you hurt me.”
“Dumani?”
I turn and go to my husband. Judea is mine. He was always mine. There is a new air in the crowd as we walk through. They’re hopeful. They also seem relieved. He shakes hands and makes introductions as I stand aside waiting. I don’t want to speak to these men anyway. Why would I? The women prepare breakfast for everyone every morning after service. As tired as he is and as nonsocial as I am, neither of us wants to stay. We stay anyway. The men and women are seated on opposite sides of the room. I don’t want to be away from Jude. We’ve been side by side for months.
“Goodwife, sit here with us.”
These are the elder wives and the seat at the head of the table is mine. Caroline and Hannah are seated at the table looking beautiful in their white dresses and pampered.
“Do you wear that over your face all of the time?” She asks.
“I take it off for my husband.” I say calmly.
Hannah blushes and the women hold back giggles. The woman beside me clears her throat. I drink from my water glass and chew on a fresh biscuit. I sneak a look and meet my husband’s gaze. I smile for no reason. I can take care of myself. He winks at me before turning back to his conversation.
“Goodwife, you don’t have to be ashamed here. We are all Saints. Anyone who would dare mock you deserves the lash.”
There is a murmur of agreement around the table. I like these ladies.
“When did you marry Reverend Hamilton, daughter?” Caroline asks me. Daughter? The woman hasn’t said two words to me since I’ve been here until now. She wants to kill me. It doesn’t show in her sweet smile. I see it in her hateful eyes.
“A few months ago, in Kentucky or Virginia. I can’t remember.”
“He needed a woman’s body to ease his lust and you were the only one around. He was coming here to marry me. I am supposed to be his first wife.”
“Hannah, do not offend these good women with your viperous tongue.”
“Look at you. Who would love you? No one ever loved you. We all hated you because you were fat, greedy, and disgusting. You smelled bad and you’re ugly. We put you in the barn with the horses.”
I stand up and I leave the table amid gasps and women crossing themselves. I hate her. Jude is coming after me. I climb the stairs out of the basement and push through the doors to the outside. He grabs my arm.
“Duma? What happened?”
“Did you marry me so you could sleep with me?”
“Yes. You know I did. She’s jealous. I’m going to speak with your father about her and his wife. If he doesn’t do anything about it, I’m going to take care of it myself. I’ll have them dealt twenty lashes.”
Father comes outside with Caroline and Hannah.
“You tell that little bitch to leave my wife alone, Shadrach. Our business is done. Did you tell her that I never wanted to marry her? I got you to Texas. Hannah is no longer my problem.�
�
“What is he talking about, Father?”
“He isn’t going to marry you. I released him from his contract. I’ll find you a new husband.”
“You can’t do that. I want Jude. You promised me, Father. You swore.”
“He wants Duma.”
“He can have Duma. I’ll be his second wife. Everyone knows I am his.”
“The boy doesn’t want you, Hannah. When Duma’s child is born, they are leaving.”
“What about you, Shadrach?”
“I have three new wives lined up and a place here if I want it. It’s warm and the work is for the young people. I have nothing to go back for.”
“My mother is there. You have her to go back for her.” I speak up. I can’t help it.
“She’s probably dead. If she isn’t, you can take care of her.”
“Father! You don’t mean that.”
“Oh, I mean it. She doesn’t love me anymore. I should’ve set her aside when I found out what a whore she was. I can’t because I love her. I still loved her when she came back pregnant with you. Tell her she’s free to run off and find him now.”
“Shadrach! What’s wrong with you? Why would you say that?”
“Because it’s the truth. Someone should finally tell her. You are the spawn of a whore.”
I let Jude drag me away before I do something ungodly like punch Father in the face. He’s calling my mother a whore and ditching her in New York? Is he saying I’m not his child?
“Duma, let it go. Don’t argue with your father. Isn’t this what you wanted? You wanted her to be free from him.” He says into my ear as he leads me to the big house next door. I can hear Hannah sobbing and crying for her mother to do something. He’s right. It’s better this way. My mother is too fearful to follow him to Texas. She is first wife now and he still doesn’t want her. I don’t want Jude to take wives and love them more than me. I don’t want to fall out of favor with him.
“Good Reverend.” The elder Patterson comes hurrying out of the church after us. We pause.
“Yes, Elder?”
“We should make an appointment to discuss your contracts and Sunday’s sermon. I have a few ideas you are welcome to use.”
“Contracts?” Judea is confused.
“Marriage contracts drawn up by your father. Three of the girls are dead but two are still living and waiting anxiously.”
“I don’t know anything about any contracts. I don’t know anything about any women. I was never informed.”
“Your father was always looking out for you. He chose only the best.”
“I recently married my first wife. She’s in the family way. I am not in any rush to take another.”
“Another wife can help raise your child and warm your bed now this one is carrying. You should send her to the maternity ward with the other women in her condition.”
“Maternity ward? I don’t think so. I’m not sending her to any maternity ward and I’m not taking another wife until I’m ready. I’ve only been here for a day and you already have me marrying two women I don’t know.”
“It’s your father’s signature on the contracts. The families are ready to have their daughters settled and safe like every other Father. They never would’ve made it north after the sickness. You showing up here is a blessing.”
I’m going to be sick. I walk on without Jude. He is arguing the statement and insisting he isn’t at liberty to honor his father’s contract. I make it to the bathroom before I vomit. I wouldn’t be surprised if his father contracted a wife in every church across the country for Jude. Only the best for Jude. His father would never consider me for his son. I look at myself from every angle. He appears behind me in the mirror. His arms come around my waist.
“I’m not marrying anyone else.” He promises.
I wash my face, brush my teeth and let him help me into a night gown. We slip into bed and lay quietly. I don’t want to cry. I promise I don’t. I want to believe everything is going to be okay. I want to believe he would never marry anyone else. I don’t believe it, but I want to. Jude wraps my braids around his fists and kisses me.
“I made you a promise and I intend to keep it. We are a family. You, me, and our child.”
“What if they force you?’
“No one can force me to do anything.”
“They’ve lost their steward. They need you.”
“You need me. I told you, I don’t want to be a pastor. I want to be your husband.”
“I don’t blame them for wanting you, Judea. I don’t blame any of them.”
“You know how much I hate it when you say things like that. I’m far from perfect.”
“I don’t want to fall out of favor with you.”
“You are the wife of my heart. You will never fall out of favor with me. I only want you.”
His head disappears under the blanket and turns up between my legs. He’s pushing up my gown and parting my knees. My lips part and a small sound escapes me when his tongue enters me. Judea doesn’t come up until my belly is trembling. He enters me slowly.
“Hell yes, I married you so I could sleep with you.” He says kissing me.
After I’m sleep, he sneaks away and hangs thirty men. We stay hidden away from everyone for a full week. Jude passes the morning motivations off to Father and refuses callers. He eats, sleeps in, and regains his health. I eat, sleep, and thrive right beside him. We lay in bed and talk about the baby. We talk about us and we make love. We mostly make love. On the seventh day, he leaves to meet the Deacons. Stay inside and don’t accept any visitors. It’s funny he said that. As soon as he leaves, Hannah and Caroline show up. They are told I’m resting. By resting the women meant waiting for Jude to come back. Some of the wives sent food and desserts and letters of sympathy. Jude is angry when he returns and I know things didn’t go his way. I’m confused when his anger is directed at me.
“Why didn’t you tell me Hannah said those things to you in front of the women? Why didn’t you tell me she embarrassed you?”
“It’s nothing new.” I look away.
“You are my wife, Goddamn it! The Goodwife. No one disrespects you and goes unpunished. Your father is dealing her twenty-five lashes as we speak.”
“She’ll be marked. They will blame me.” I’m horrified.
“No one cared about your back when you were being caned for laughing. That bitch disrespected you in front of hundreds of women. She deserves to be caned to death.”
“I stole her husband.”
“I was never hers.”
I grow quiet and look down at my new boots. They’re pretty and stiff. I hate them. He tips my face up to look at him.
“I was never hers, Dumani.”
He is mine. He chose me. His finger traces my sickle shaped scar from the corner of my eye and down my cheek to the corner of my mouth. His lips kiss the same path that his finger just took. His kiss to the corner of my mouth makes me feel warm inside.
“I love all of you.”
This is all it takes for us to end up in bed when there are more useful things we can be doing. I should be working with the women and Jude should be planning with the men and praying over the infirm. We already made a baby but it doesn’t stop me from wanting him. It doesn’t make him want to take another woman. The church is pressing him to. The Deacons are accusing me of being jealous of my sister and the other women. There are whispers of sorcery. I look down at the place where my finger used to be. I am jealous of them. Especially after I see them. It happens on a Sunday. My belly is round and my sickness is showing no sign of going away. I’m standing in the shade tempted to pull the scarf down to catch a breeze. That’s when I see a man and woman approach him with a young woman in tow. The most beautiful woman I have ever seen. Prettier than Hannah. Even Jude is momentarily taken with the young woman who is more his age than I am. He takes her offered hand and doesn’t let it go right away. The young woman is smiling prettily and looking down her long, black, eyelashes at
him. The father is speaking again. He has a contract between Jude and his daughter. He can’t set her aside. It would ruin her. She is so beautiful that it hurts my feelings to look at her. I leave on my own and no one stops me. She is one of his wives. How can I compete with a woman like that? I sit on the floor of the bedroom and sort through the baby things that I have collected. A baby that I want more than my next breath. I sort the baby’s clothes when I’m nervous.
“Her name is Jennifer.” He keeps speaking when I don’t respond. “Father signed a contract for her when I was ten. I’ve been pleading with the Deacons but they won’t let me out of their agreements. They want to merge our families and our churches. I am their leader and they are looking to me to set the right examples. This is what my father wanted. He wanted to be a king, not me. Shadrach knew about the contracts and he knew about his new wives. He dragged you along because he knew I would follow you. They set me up. I should’ve followed my gut and turned back.”
“What are you going to do?” I’m worrying too. I don’t want him to be with those girls.
“Not marry those women for one.”
“Who will lead them if you step aside? The idea scares me. They need your strength and leadership, Jude. They are lost without their leader. What if another sadist takes your place? Your family founded the church. You can’t be the one to break it up. That can’t be your legacy.”
He’s staring at me. I spoke out of fear. It isn’t my place to discuss men’s business.
“I spoke out of line. I’m sorry.”
“I value your advice over all. Tell me what to do, Dumani. I don’t want to break up the church but I don’t want to break up us either. Bringing those women into our home is sure to cause chaos and no matter how hard we love each other, they will come between us somehow. I always kept a few women at once and none of them got along.”
“What can we do? Is it fair to the people who depend on you if you run off with me? Are we selfish enough to abandon our church? There are women and children. What happens if another man like Lamb or your father comes into power again?”
The Doomsday Papers Page 19
