Ransom of Love

by Al Lacy

  Dorena’s dark eyes grew wide and luminous as Benjamin greeted her mistress. She knew it wasn’t polite to stare, but at the moment she seemingly had no control of her eyes.

  Benjamin’s attraction to Dorena did not escape Angeline and Priscilla.

  “Benjamin,” Angeline said, “this is Priscilla’s slave, Dorena.”

  Again, Benjamin’s eyes fastened on the lovely face. For a few seconds he just stared, then blinked and said, “I … I am sorry, Miss Dorena. I remember seeing you at the arena when I was on the block two weeks ago.”

  Dorena felt her heart skip a beat. He remembered her!

  “I am delighted to meet you, Miss Dorena. May I say … that is a very pretty name.”

  Benjamin had been working hard in the field and suddenly realized that he showed it. Beads of perspiration glistened on his mahogany skin. Running his eyes down his body, he said, “Ladies, I must apologize for my untidy condition. I just came from the field.”

  “We understand, Benjamin,” said Angeline. “You need not apologize.”

  Dorena didn’t care how untidy he was. In her eyes, he was the handsomest man in the world. She warmed him with a smile like the one she had afforded him at the arena and said, “I recall that at the auction, Benjamin, the slave trader told the audience you are from a cattle ranch in South Africa.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Were you born on the ranch?”

  “I was.”

  “I was born in this country, Benjamin, but both sets of my grandparents were brought to America from West Africa … the Ivory Coast.”

  “Were you born on the Moore plantation?” he asked.

  “No. It was the Larimore rice plantation north of here some thirty miles. Master Charles did not start his cotton plantation until fifteen years ago. At that time, he bought my parents from Humphrey Larimore, who was planning to sell his land to the family who owned the Desmond plantation on the Santee River.”

  “Yes,” said Priscilla, chuckling. “When Papa bought Caleb and Liza, Dorena was just a year old. Her brother, Matthew, was three. Liza is our house slave, and Caleb is Papa’s favorite field slave. Matthew is eighteen now and almost as good a worker as Caleb.”

  “And your grandparents?” Benjamin asked.

  “They are all dead now,” she said softly.

  “Oh. I am sorry. I would sure like to meet your parents and your brother.”

  “I’m sure you will have that opportunity, Benjamin,” Priscilla said.

  “Well, I had better get myself bathed. Miss Dorena, Miss Priscilla, it has been a pleasure meeting you.”

  As Benjamin headed for his quarters, Dorena said in a low tone, “Miss Priscilla, I am sorry he said my name first.”

  “Honey, it’s all right. His heart is set on you. That is quite obvious.”

  Dorena’s eyes followed the young man until he reached the door of his apartment. As he put his hand on the knob, he turned and looked back. When he saw that she was looking at him, he smiled.

  “Angeline,” Priscilla said, “have you ever seen a man so enamored over a woman as Benjamin is over Dorena?”

  Angeline giggled. “I don’t think so. He’s fascinated by her, that’s for sure.”

  Dorena smiled at them, then looked back at the door where she had last seen Benjamin. It would be wonderful if he is the one God has for me.

  After church services the next Sunday, people were standing outside, chatting in small groups.

  Angeline leaned close to Priscilla and said, “Can I talk to you alone for a minute?”

  “Of course.” Turning to Dorena, Priscilla said, “You wait here, okay?”

  “Yes, Miss Priscilla.”

  The two girls went to stand under a magnolia tree. Keeping her voice low, Angeline said, “I have a plan.”

  “What kind of a plan?”

  “It’s about Dorena and Benjamin.”

  “Go ahead.”

  “Well, for our day together this week, I’m going to ask my father if Benjamin can drive me to your house and pick me up after supper. Since Benjamin is a servant, it should be all right.”

  “Oh! That will give Dorena and Benjamin a chance to see each other!” Priscilla said.

  “That’s the point.”

  “I hope your father will do it.”

  “You know how fathers are. If I put that ‘please, Papa, I really want this’ look in my eyes, he will.”

  Priscilla giggled. “Your father must be a whole lot like mine!”

  “Of course. The Lord just fixed it so we females can work on males and they don’t even realize it. Especially when it’s a daughter who puts that ‘please, Papa, I really want this’ look in her eyes.”

  “Okay. Do it! We’ve got to help this romance along as much as we can.”

  “That’s the way I look at it. Uh-oh. Mother is motioning to me. They’re ready to go.”

  When the Johnson family carriage was rolling through Charleston’s streets on the way out of town, Angeline leaned toward the driver’s seat and said, “Papa …” then stopped speaking.

  Zack turned and looked into his daughter’s blue eyes. “Yes, honey?”

  “I have a real big favor to ask of you.”

  Zack smiled, loving the girl with all of his father’s heart. “Well, what is it, sweetheart?”

  “This week, when Priscilla and I have our day together, would you let Benjamin drive me over to the Moores’ and also pick me up after supper?”

  Still held by the magnetic look in his daughter’s eyes, Zack said, “Why would you want Benjamin to drive you instead of one of your brothers or myself?”

  “Well, Papa, it’s like this. Dorena and Benjamin have developed a powerful attraction for each other, and … well, I would like to help it along.”

  Catherine grinned. “So now you’re Cupid?”

  “I’m trying to be, Mother.”

  Dan laughed and without turning around said, “Bless your heart, little sister. I think it would really be nice if Benjamin and Dorena fell head over heels in love. He has had so much sadness in his life. It would be wonderful for him to have some real happiness. Give it all you’ve got.”

  “So how do you know about the happiness of being in love, big brother?” Alexander said, reveling in giving Dan a hard time.

  “I know because I study our parents and I see the happiness they have.”

  Angeline giggled and poked her little brother on the chest with a stiff forefinger. He gave her a mock scowl.

  Zack looked at Catherine. “What do you think about Benjamin driving our daughter to the Moore plantation, honey?”

  “I think it would be fine. Since Benjamin is our servant and not a slave, I see no problem with it.”

  Zack pondered her words, then looked at Angeline.

  “Please, Papa?” she said.

  Zack reached back to cup her graceful chin in his hand. “How could I ever turn down such a sweet daughter?”

  Alexander guffawed. “You could if you really knew her, Pa!”

  The family had a good laugh, and the carriage dropped off the cobblestone streets onto the dusty country road.

  On Thursday that week, when Benjamin pulled the Johnson buggy up to the Moore mansion, both Priscilla and Dorena were on the porch. Angeline had shared the plot with Dorena, and both girls were delighted to see Benjamin driving the buggy.

  Benjamin’s gaze immediately went to Dorena.

  As he helped Angeline out of the buggy at the Moores’, she thanked him and shot a glance at Priscilla, who smiled and gave a nod.

  Angeline turned to Ben. “If you would like to stay a few minutes here at the porch and talk to Dorena, you may. Mrs. Moore has given permission.”

  Benjamin flicked a glance at Dorena, then looked back at Angeline. “Really?”

  “Really.”

  “It can only be for about ten minutes, Benjamin,” said Priscilla.

  “That’s a whole lot better than nothing!” he said.

  The two mat
chmakers dashed inside the house and went into the parlor. They pressed up close to the lace curtains and remained out of sight from the enchanted couple who stood on the porch looking into each other’s eyes as they talked.

  THE NEXT WEEK, ANGELINE ASKED HER FATHER to allow Benjamin to drive over to the Moore plantation and pick up Priscilla and Dorena if Priscilla’s father was in agreement. This way, she told him, Benjamin and Dorena could be together during the ride. And, of course, if Benjamin were allowed to take them back home, they could be together again.

  “I appreciate what you’re trying to do, my sweet daughter, but I’d like to talk to Charles Moore about it. And I think Evelyn and your mother should be in on the discussion too.”

  After Zack talked to Catherine about it, she decided to invite Charles and Evelyn over for dinner so they could talk about it.

  Over dinner, the Moores and the Johnsons agreed to let Benjamin drive the girls back and forth. Catherine and Evelyn dubbed their husbands “Cupid.”

  The girls’ little plan was put into effect, and as they observed Benjamin and Dorena together, they could see that it was working.

  Some four weeks after Benjamin had become their official driver, Angeline and Priscilla devised a little scheme to leave Dorena and him alone for a little while.

  One day, at the Johnson place, the girls were on the back porch of the mansion, teaching Dorena how to knit. It was late afternoon. They were chatting merrily when Angeline noticed Benjamin coming in from the fields. Dorena’s back was toward him.

  Angeline caught Priscilla’s eye. Shall we disappear? she mouthed.

  Angeline stood up. “Dorena,” she said, “Priscilla and I have to go in the house for a few minutes. We’ll be back after a while. You go ahead and work on that sweater.”

  Both girls gave Benjamin a secret little wave as he drew near.

  Dorena’s head was bent as she concentrated on her knitting. Suddenly she heard a familiar husky voice say, “Hello, lovely lady.”

  She whipped her head around and quickly stood up. “Hello, Benjamin. How did the work in the field go this afternoon?”

  “We got a lot done.”

  She descended the porch steps until her bare feet touched soft earth. “Miss Priscilla and Miss Angeline are teaching me how to knit.”

  “That’s nice.” Benjamin took a step closer to her. “It never hurts for a young lady to know how to knit.”

  “Especially when she becomes a mother,” she said. “There are so many things babies can wear that are knitted.”

  “Yes, of course.”

  There was quiet for a few seconds, then Benjamin looked around to see if anyone was in earshot.

  “Dorena, I—”

  “Yes, Benjamin?”

  “I can’t go any longer without telling you how I feel about you.”

  Dorena’s heart fluttered. She buried her curled toes in the dust and lifted her big brown eyes to meet his.

  “H-how do you feel about me?”

  Benjamin took another step and brought himself within arm’s reach of her. “I have fallen in love with you, Dorena. You are the most wonderful girl I have ever met. The most beautiful, sweet, and charming girl, too.”

  Dorena’s toes dug a little deeper into the dust. “Benjamin, I have been praying that the Lord would let you fall in love with me. Because I am in love with you, too … since the day I saw you on the auction block.”

  Overwhelmed to hear her words, he said, “I have been praying the same way about you.” He took her hands in his and looked into her eyes. “I have never met a young lady like you.”

  “I have never met a young man like you, either.”

  Benjamin looked around one more time to make sure they were not being observed, then folded her in his arms. They shared a sweet, tender kiss.

  When Benjamin released her, he said, “My heart feels like it is going to jump through my chest.”

  “Mine, too.”

  “Dorena, you will be seventeen in another week, you told me.”

  “Yes. And in just over a month, you will be twenty.”

  “Yes. I am here and now promising you my love forever.”

  “And I am here and now promising you the same.”

  His smile could hardly be contained as he said, “I have never been so happy! Dorena, we have some obstacles to overcome, but in studying my Bible and in hearing Preacher Zebulun preach, I have learned that our God can overcome all kinds of obstacles.”

  “He sure can.”

  “The biggest obstacle is that in order for us to marry, you would have to be set free by Master Charles Moore.”

  Dorena nodded.

  “On the surface, this looks impossible. But if this is God’s plan for us, He can and will make a way.

  “Yes,” she whispered, gazing into his eyes.

  “We must be patient and let Him reveal His will and His plan for our lives,” he said in a low voice.

  The following week, the girls had their day together at the Moore plantation.

  Benjamin’s heart warmed at the prospect of seeing Dorena again as he turned off the road and headed the carriage down the lane toward the mansion. The sky in the west was rosy and slowly darkening. Gray and purple shadows were forming in the wooded areas, and the white fence that surrounded the estate had a pink hue in the light of the setting sun.

  Benjamin’s pulse quickened as he guided the horse up to the front of the porch and saw Dorena come out the door. She gave him a big smile and crossed the porch.

  “Hello, most beautiful woman in all the world.”

  Dorena giggled. “Hello, most handsome man in all the world.”

  Benjamin set the brake and hopped down. He rounded the carriage and took both of her hands in his. He looked around to see if anyone was observing them and saw a rider coming down the lane.

  “Well, maybe we will have a private moment again one day soon. Is Miss Angeline ready to go?”

  “Not quite. Miss Priscilla sent me out to tell you it will be about fifteen or twenty minutes.”

  Benjamin flashed a smile. “She can take longer if she wants to … as long as you can stay here with me.”

  “I can. In fact, I think my mistress and Miss Angeline planned it so we could have these few moments together.”

  “Well, God bless them.”

  The sound of pounding hooves caused Benjamin to turn and look at the rider.

  “Oh. It is Lewis Moore,” Dorena said in a subdued voice.

  “Moore? He is part of the family here?”

  “Yes. He is their son. He is not a Christian, Benjamin. He has a mean temper, and he hates black people.”

  Benjamin nodded, keeping his eyes on Lewis, who was now guiding the horse directly toward them, a deep scowl on his face.

  Skidding the horse to a halt, Lewis slid from the saddle and approached them. He glanced at Benjamin with eyes of malice, then set them on Dorena and snapped, “You go in the house right now, girl! You have no business standin’ out here alone, talkin’ to this slave!”

  Dorena stiffened. “Benjamin is not a slave. He is Mr. Zack Johnson’s hired servant. He is here to pick up Miss Angeline, and I have Miss Priscilla’s permission to stand here and talk to him.”

  Lewis turned to Benjamin. “You get off the property immediately, black boy!”

  Benjamin remained calm and said in a level voice, “I am here by orders of Mr. Zack Johnson and permission of Mr. Charles Moore to pick up Miss Angeline, and she is not ready to go yet.”

  Lewis’s eyes flickered as he said, “Then get off the property till Angeline is ready to go!”

  Dorena stepped between them, facing Lewis. “You have no right to order Benjamin off the property when your own father has given him permission to be here!”

  Lewis’s face darkened. He looked into dark brown eyes that did not flinch under his own cold stare.

  “How dare you speak to me in that tone of voice, girl!” As he spoke, he shoved Dorena aside, causing her to stumble.
<
br />   Benjamin steadied her, then stared at Lewis. His desire was to put the man down with a solid punch, but he remained outwardly calm. “It bothers me when a man treats a lady as you just did Miss Dorena.”

  “Oh, yeah? Well, just what are you gonna do about it, slave man?”

  “I will spare you this time. Do not treat her roughly again. Since I have Mr. Charles’s permission to be here, and since I have orders from my employer to pick up his daughter, I will stay where I am until Miss Angeline is ready to go.”

  “Listen, you! Who do you think you’re talkin’ to? I—”

  “Lewis,” came Priscilla’s voice as she and Angeline walked outside, “what is going on out here?” Moving across the porch, she said, “Did Dorena introduce you to Benjamin?”

  Lewis scowled. “Don’t patronize me. This slave and I haven’t been formally introduced, and I’m not interested in it happenin’.”

  Priscilla flashed him a look, then turned and hugged Angeline, saying, “It’s been a wonderful day.”

  “Thank you for making it so,” Angeline said. She embraced Dorena. “See you at church on Sunday.”

  “You sure will,” Dorena said, smiling at her.

  As Benjamin was helping Angeline into the carriage, Lewis stepped up behind him and growled, “I don’t want you on this property again, black boy. You’re not welcome here.”

  “Don’t pay any attention to him,” Priscilla said. “You are very welcome here, Benjamin.”

  Lewis turned to face his sister. “Now look, Priscilla. Don’t you contradict me!”

  “Mind your own business, Lewis! Benjamin’s coming here is none of your affair. You don’t own this plantation. Stay out of it.”

  “Don’t tell me to stay out of it, Priscilla. I’m sick of these lowly slaves tryin’ to act like they’re as good as white people! They’re nothin’ more than—”

  Priscilla arched her back. “Don’t you say it, Lewis Moore!”

  Charles Moore bolted through the mansion’s front door. “Hey! Stop that arguing right now!”

  Priscilla and her brother glared at each other, then looked at their father.

  “Your mother and I could hear you two shouting at each other from the back of the house. What are you arguing about?”