A Promise for Tomorrow (50 page)

“About the slaves?” Carolina asked.

“He really won’t say until we are all assembled. I tried to get him to talk to me about it, but he refused,” York answered before Georgia or Lucy could speak a word.

Just then Virginia appeared in the foyer. Carolina had to restrain herself from gasping. Her sister was hideously thin. The image of a walking skeleton would serve perfectly to describe the once beautiful woman.

“Virginia!” Carolina finally managed to say without sounding too stunned. She hurried to embrace her sister, lest she see her shocked expression.

Virginia barely returned the gesture, then quickly stepped back. “I’m glad you could come.” She looked beyond Carolina to where James stood. “I’m glad you could come, too, James.”

James stepped forward and gave her a bow. “I only wish it might have been under better circumstances.”

Carolina watched them for a moment. She couldn’t help but wonder what might be passing through her sister’s mind. Would she be further depressed by James’ appearance at Oakbridge? Would it only serve to deepen her obvious melancholy? Virginia looked like some macabre apparition, a pitiful figure sent to haunt the house in which she’d once been so happy. Carolina was deeply concerned.

“We were just going up to see Father,” York told Virginia. “Is Mother still up there?”

“I’m sure she is,” Virginia replied. “She is scarcely far from him.”

“Then I suggest we make our appearances. He was quite adamant about discussing this matter before Hampton returns from his hunt.”

“Hunt?” Carolina questioned.

“Slave hunt,” Virginia said flatly. “He’s out trying to retrieve the runaways. He’s already been gone three days, and we expect him back anytime.”

Carolina nodded and shuddered. She hated to think of what Hampton might do if and when he caught up with the slaves. James seemed to sense her worry and very gently took hold of her arm. She glanced up at him, seeing the concern in his expression. How thankful she was for his presence. She could hardly imagine having to face this ordeal on her own.

They mounted the stairs as one assembled mass. Silently, they paired off, with exception to Virginia, who brought up the rear, very much on her own. Carolina pitied her sister. Yet even as she thought of such a thing, Carolina knew it would be the last thing Virginia would want. Virginia had always despised pity. Carolina silently vowed to figure out some way to help her. She would speak to Lucy later, and perhaps together they could figure out a way to bring Virginia back to health.

They entered their parents’ bedroom, and Carolina tightened her grip on James’ arm. Her father’s head was swathed in bandages, and his face was still bruised and discolored from where he’d been struck. The swelling seemed to bloat his features, and Carolina wanted to cry out in despair. That anyone should have hurt him this way was unthinkable.

“Papa!” she breathed and, leaving James, went to his side. “Mama,” she added, taking hold of her mother’s extended hand.

“Ah, so you came,” her father said in a weak voice that sounded nothing like his normal, strong baritone.

“It’s good to have you here,” Margaret told her daughter.

Margaret squeezed her hand, and Carolina leaned down to kiss her cheek. Her mother looked tired but surprisingly strong. Carolina found herself breathing a sigh of relief. She hadn’t even realized how this issue had weighed on her mind. Her mother had suffered so much through her life, and her previous inability to deal with tragedy gave Carolina cause for worry. Should anything happen to Joseph, Carolina feared it would be her mother’s final undoing.

“How are you feeling, Papa?” Carolina asked, reaching out to take hold of his hand. She longed to throw herself into his arms and kiss his whiskered cheeks, but she refrained, fearing that she might cause him further injury.

“I’ve been better,” Joseph admitted. He smiled as best he could. “I see you have brought your brother and sisters.”

“We’re all here, just as you requested,” York replied, escorting Lucy to a chair. He took his place behind her, then looked to the others. “We might as well be seated. Unless I miss my guess, this could take some time.”

“What is this about?” Georgia questioned.

York shrugged. “Ask Father. I only know that he said it was important.”

“Don’t speak as though I’m not here,” Joseph interjected. “I may have one foot in the grave—”

“Joseph!” Margaret said, her voice stern, “don’t scare your children that way.”

He smiled at his wife. “My apologies. Please do make yourselves comfortable.”

Carolina returned to James and allowed him to pull up a chair for her to sit on. Why was her father so hard pressed to speak to them all? Did he believe he was dying? Was he simply awaiting their arrival en masse so that he could explain his last wishes? She shuddered again, and James, seeming to sense her discomfort, put his hands gently on her shoulders as if to steady her.

“I’ve asked you here so that we could talk about what happened,” Joseph began slowly. “As you know, I’ve long struggled to keep a balance here at Oakbridge. Even as children you were taught not to judge a man by his skin color, but by his deeds. However, that hasn’t been the belief of many in this country. It seems most people would relegate the slaves to a status somewhere beneath us, and treat them accordingly.”

He shifted uncomfortably, and Margaret leaned forward to help him prop up with an extra pillow.

“The revolt,” her father continued, “was the clear result of improper treatment. As you may or may not know, Hampton has been unduly harsh with the slaves.”

“That’s putting it mildly,” Virginia said sarcastically. All eyes turned momentarily to her, and she shrugged. “Unduly harsh is the only thing Hampton really understands.”

Then without warning, the man himself appeared in the doorway. He was sweat soaked and covered in grime and dirt, but he strode into the room as though going to church.

“I’m back,” Hampton announced. “I got three of them. They’re chained to the post in the back. Tomorrow I’ll see to it that they never run away again.”

Carolina looked at Hampton with what she knew was undisguised horror. Margaret and Joseph, too, looked at Hampton as though sickened by his words. Then, as if seeing the gathering for the first time, Hampton’s expression changed from elation to puzzlement.

“What have we here?” he asked. “The whole family is gathered.”

“Yes,” Margaret replied, settling back in her chair. “With exception of Maine.”

“May I ask what this is all about?” Hampton scowled at Virginia, as if she might have been responsible.

“I called them here,” Joseph answered, suddenly sounding surprisingly strong. “I have need to talk to my children about the future of Oakbridge.”

“I see. And did you not think this might affect me, as well?”

Joseph nodded. “I did and I still do. You were represented here by your wife.”

“Bah!” Hampton declared. “She’s hardly a worthy representation.”

“I’ll ask you not to speak of my daughter that way,” Joseph said, his blackened eyes narrowing. “What I have to do here today is as much because of your actions as anything else.”

“I see. You continue to blame this revolt on me, is that it?”

All eyes turned to Joseph, and Carolina feared what would happen next. Would her father suggest Hampton pack up his family and leave?

“There are revolts all over the South,” Joseph replied. “We are most generally considered to be southerners, but we share a unique situation in that our nation’s capital is only hours away. While in Washington, I was privileged to be included in conversations with many congressmen and cabinet members, all who spoke of the growing unrest surrounding slavery. States are affected, no matter where they are positioned, because each state is either titled ‘free’ or ‘slave.’ The issue is tearing this nation apart, and mark my words, if the issue is not resolved, there will be war.”

“You preach doom and gloom,” Hampton said, shaking his head. “You don’t understand the truth of the matter. Keep these slaves in their place and the issue will go away.”

“I don’t believe that,” Carolina replied.

“Neither do I,” Georgia said supportively. “I have long shared the opinion that owning slaves will one day be a thing of the past. I even heard tell that there were plans to ship the slaves back to where they were taken from. I think that would be an admirable solution, as many of them have been in this country for less than fifty years and still have families on another continent.”

“The same could be said of many white men,” Hampton retorted.

“Yes, but white men may come and go at will. No one ties them to whipping posts and plots to keep them from running away again,” Carolina returned sarcastically.

“Discipline is necessary to keep people in line, be they black or white,” Hampton countered. “The Major knows full well about such things. Tell them if I lie.”

The Major nodded. “Discipline is necessary, but so, too, is respectable leadership.”

“It is indeed,” Joseph replied. “Now, hear me out, because I haven’t the strength to make this a lengthy debate. I’ve spoken with your mother, and it is our conclusion that the slaves of Oakbridge should be set free. We have already educated many of them and taught them additional skills in order to be able to work in the community. We have prepared papers to free several within the month. More will follow soon. After they are all released, your mother and I have plans to draw up papers dividing this property among you children. If you choose to sell it to one or the other, that will be up to you. As for the house, well, I’m uncertain at this point.”

“You can’t be serious!” Hampton exploded. “It’s illegal to educate the slaves, and if you set them free, they’ll only be snatched up by someone else.”

“I think Father has a good plan,” Carolina interjected. “I’ve already set Miriam free. I’ve taught her to read and write, and I pay her a good wage to act as my housekeeper. We have a good working relationship, and I’m sure other people would find such a situation to work just as well for them.”

“We personally prefer free Irish whites,” Georgia responded. “We keep no Negroes on our property and find that men who fear the loss of job and wage are better kept than those who fear the whip.”

“There are always ways to motivate people,” Carolina said, staring hard at Hampton, “and it might surprise you to know that many of them do not require physical abuse.”

“I would expect such talk from women,” Hampton replied, seemingly unconcerned with their comments. “But the truth is, you could not afford to hire laborers to keep Oakbridge in place of using slave labor. It simply wouldn’t be prudent; nor would it be profitable.”

“I agree,” York said, surprising everyone. “I can’t believe, Father, that you’d break up this plantation all because of a revolt brought on by mismanagement. We’ve known good years here, and now the property is more prosperous than ever before.

“In the North,” he continued, “there are those who believe that slave owners are the next thing to the devil himself. We are looked down upon, as sons of the South, because they say the blood of the slave is on our hands. They make their lewd suggestions and comments about our ‘peculiar little institution,’ as they call it, and believe us to be some form of deranged deviants. But I challenge that this is a time-honored tradition. I challenge that while there are those”—he stared hard at Hampton—“who would defile and harm women and children, and mercilessly beat and maim the men, there are even more who would never consider such a matter. How can we let the actions of one fool determine the future for the rest of us?”

“So you see nothing wrong in things continuing as they are?” Carolina questioned.

“Of course I would not see things continue as they are. That madness only led to Father being injured. No, I would make changes and see to it that things went back to the way they used to be.”

“There’s no profit in that. The laziest of men will grow only more lazy unless you stand over them with the whip,” Hampton proclaimed. “I helped to see this place double its profit.”

“Money isn’t everything, Hampton,” Joseph said from his bed. “Unfortunately, I think you believe it is.”

“It is what gives a man power and brings him respect. It keeps a roof over the heads of his family and puts food on the table. You cannot live in this luxury and suggest to me that money means nothing to you,” Hampton countered.

“Perhaps that is why I suggest leaving this luxury,” Joseph replied. “Margaret and I have talked of traveling.”

“That, too, comes at a price,” Hampton replied.

“Yes, but I have more than enough money to see me through life. There must come a point where a man puts down his duties and allows himself to rest.”

“Not if you rid yourself of your labor force.” Hampton began to pace the room. His eyes blazed in anger, and his expression was frightening to Carolina. “You are a fool, Joseph, if you allow this to happen. I’ve told you before, go and travel, live elsewhere if you like, but allow me to stay on and make your land profitable. I can’t believe you’d drive your grandchildren out into the street—” he paused to glance at Virginia—“all in order to free those ignorant darkies.”

“I’ve never suggested putting my grandchildren out into the street,” Joseph replied. “You have managed to put a good amount of my money into your own pocket with which you can support them should they choose to leave with you.” At this, all faces turned to Hampton as if to question how this happened. Joseph continued by adding, “I know exactly what your stake is in all of this, Hampton— and it has nothing to do with your concern for your family.”

The words were very nearly a challenge for Hampton to deny the unspoken accusation, and Carolina remembered Virginia’s confession regarding Hampton’s desire to take over Oakbridge. No doubt he’d already robbed her father of a great deal of wealth.

“But what will the slaves do once they are set free?” York questioned, bringing the subject back around to slavery. “You can’t believe that they will be eagerly hired to work jobs that were intended for whites.”

“If they are skilled to do those tasks, why not?” Joseph questioned.