Princess Ces'alena (37 page)

“Chester! You wantin’ another drink?!” Percy asked raising his head as he cleaned glasses near to where Manny and Charles stood laughing about something. His question sent Chester’s heart to his throat. “N-no, um, I - no…no!”

“Standing right there beside you is, Mr. Webster. Weren’t you lookin’ for him earlier?”

Manny heard and stood from leaning on the bar turning his attention from the mention of his name. “Who was looking for me?” He asked Percy, eyeing him, then down at the perspiring man next to him.

“N-no…no - I - n-n-no - no…” Chester shook his head stammering.

“Chester Sands here, he was looking for you earlier. He a slave trader ‘round here. He say something ‘bout slaves-…”

“Perceee - Percy!! Can I get a goddamn drink or not!! Hell!!-…” Someone down the bar yelled at him, cutting him off nd he was gone, leaving Manny and Charles standing there looking down at Chester Sands, who looked as if he would melt on the spot. Beads of sweat gathered rapidly on Chester’s nose and upper lip, running from his hairline over his one good eye. The other was black from an obvious fight. “You lookin’ for me for some reason?”

“Um…-(gulp)- …umm, I just - umm wonderin’…if umm, you be interested in buying - some slaves…ummm, b-but I run into someone earlier…he - he buy’em all, so…so um…no - no.”

Manny eyed him listening wondering at the man’s nervousness? Charles was standing back a bit from Manny to look the guy over as well. Both thought his behavior peculiar.

“Glad to hear it. I’m not interested in buying. Things are just the way I like them at my plantation. Thank you anyway.”

“Y - y - yes sir. Good - g-good then. Well, I be headin’ out now.” He nodded quickly then made his escape. Both men stood there as he shuffled around those blocking him, and out the door.

“Strange character that?” Charles commented.

“I guess you’d have to be, for the business he’s in.” Manny answered, still watching the door, even though the shifty character had long since departed through it. “Even now that it’s illegal, it amazes me how such a thing still goes on, capturing and selling.” Charles shook his head. “Well what’s next my friend?” He asked, having already put the man from his mind.

“Yes…hell Charles, I’ve been gone for weeks. My son is probably stir crazy waiting for me.” He chuckled. “Come on, it’s too late to be traveling the roads, why don’t you just stay in town till morning with me, and ride out first thing?”

“I don’t know…I feel, rather anxious to get home.” He thought of the fantastic news he had to tell Lena. The ship was almost done; it only needed to settle a bit, and the last coat of pitch to dry. She, the Princess Ceś alena, was a massive ship, costing him all he had in his savings …plus he’d had to extend the time he originally agreed to pay off his remaining loans.

“Come on, what difference is one more night gonna make?” Charles asked as they made their way to the door. Outside now, they stood on the worn boardwalk, leaning against one of the posts. “It is just that, well…Lena is far along with the babe. I’m sure she’ll be having it any day now. I really want to be there when she’s born.”

“She?”

Manny smiled. “Aye, Mikey is convinced that it is a girl. No doubt about it.”

Charles stood in the warm breeze of the evening air, looking at his friend. He was happy…truly happy…but, “Manny don’t you feel just a slight prick of guilt when it comes to Katherine? Just a little?”

“Actually…no. It is when with Katherine, that I feel guilt. In my heart, I knew I was betraying Lena. My only guilt with Katherine is that I married her. That I drew her into this, when I knew…I could never love her. Back then, I was still trying to be what everyone else expected. But no more…I am done with that. It has brought about too much heartache.”

“{{Wheeeooo}}” Charles whistled. “I see, I guess I know when to leave well enough alone. Anyway, I still insist, that one night will not make much difference. Come on, stay, we’ll have an early breakfast together and you can be on your way to Lena, Mikey…and your - little girl. If that is what you get this time.” He grinned. Manny still seemed to hesitate. “God’a’mighty man! Stay!”

Just then at the end of town, at the livery stable, Chester Sands led his team and slaves out of the coral. He climbed on and headed them straight for the exit of town. He wanted as much distance between him and Maynard Webster as he could gain. Good thing he gagged the boy, tying him up, before he’d left him to go to the saloon. He could only imagine the horror of the boy yelling out for help. For miles he’d had to deal with the boys yelling, crying and pleading. Once out of the area of the plantation, he’d had to tie and gag the boy to shut him up.

Now he was glad he had, it might have gotten back to Manny somehow, and he knew, something told him it was so…should that man get a hold of him, he wouldn’t survive the beating. Wth all his slaves piled into the back and a tarp over them to hide them, he snapped his reigns and high tailed it.

Charles and Manny stood watching as the wagon kicked up dust heading out of town, beyond the range of the burning street lights.

“Now why do you suppose he’s heading out so late?” Charles wondered out loud.

“I don’t know. Night travel is cooler, I suppose.” But again Manny found himself frozen and staring. Shivers coursed over his body as a nagging sensation plagued him, the source from which it came…he hadn’t a clue. But it hadn’t started until he looked into the face of that Chester Sands. “Hey?” Charles called him stopping now in the street they’d been crossing. “You coming?”

Manny didn’t answer…something gripped him, but because he had nothing solid to go on, he ignored the uneasy gnawing at his gut; yet he watched as the wagon was slowly swallowed by distance and darkness. Completely un-aware the instincts he felt, were instincts he should have acted upon. He stood watching as his gagged and tied son lay between two other slaves in that wagon, crying and praying with all his might, that his father would come and rescue him.

Finally, exhausted tears of hopelessness washed Mikey’s face. One of the slaves beside him, shushed his crying; moving the gag from his mouth out of sympathy. “You gots ta’be silent. Here, I moo’dis cover, you breathe…but stop yo’ cryin’. Yo’ daddy can’t he’p you now. Ain’t no body gon’he’p you.” He whispered. Mikey pressed his eyes tight…swallowing back sobs that shook his young body.

“Are you going to stand there all night?” Charles asked, finding Manny’s behavior peculiar. “What’s wrong?” He asked again. Manny felt an eerie chill grip him, and it wouldn’t let go. Goose bumps charged across his skin; he shivered so hard, his heart took off making him tremble. He took a long deep breath. “I’ve had too much to drink. I think you’re right…I need some sleep. Then first thing, I’m going home.”

Chapter Nine

“Kevin, just the trunk you see there by the door. Have you brought the carriage around yet?”

“Yes ma’am, sure did and it’s ready to go.” He answered aware of her reasons for leaving. Common sense and twelve years at Webster Fields told him all he needed to know. His things were rolled up, with his horse tied to the back of the carriage. Just as soon as he left Ms Katherine at her folks, he was heading out. James had taken off sometime in the middle of the night.
‘Coward!’
He thought, he’d had to do everything, tie up the three and whip them, with James standing by, flinching and shaking – wringing his hands, moaning and groaning scared Morris or Manny would catch them. He should have known the coward would run off, he thought - ignoring his own cowardly preparations to flee. He could just imagine Manny’s reaction when he returned, being honest with himself, his gut was tied up in knots of fear now as well.

She had better get to what she was doing, or he’d be gone. The previous night, Morris had returned late, banging to get into the mansion. Katherine had locked it up tight where he couldn’t even get in. By the time she’d come to the door, that slave Kayleen had come running to him, telling him what they did. He’d screamed at them until he was hoarse for whipping the three slaves without his permission. Then he’d gone into the house and told Katherine off, telling her to be gone first light, and that he -(Kevin)- was to take her, and then disappear.
‘Damn glad to!’
He thought resentful.

He couldn’t believe Morris had raised such a fuss over whipping the slaves; after all, in his mind, they’d deserved it. But he had known Morris wouldn’t have allowed it, that’s why he waited until he left to do it. Morris had been up all night pacing, worrying over what to do;
that
Kayleen following him and crying, fussing that she wished she had died with Ms Royal.

“’Cause it ain’t never gonna be peace here at Webster Fields no more. Hell has come, and it’s here to stay.” On and on she had raged and Morris said not a word. Kevin shook his head. “Don’t get it…don’t damn get it?! Why these niggas got to be treated better than any others. They all can burn in hell for what I care!” He mumbled packing up the last of what was needed.

Katherine stood midway down the stairs fitting on her gloves, working her fingers in place. She had her parasol under one arm, and fan dangling from her wrist. All matching her soft green muslin, summer day dress, with white lace and her tied down flower and lace bonnet.

“Ms Katherine, you got to hurry up. We got to get out of here!” Kevin warned her, now starting to panic. He kept seeing Manny come down that lane, catching them there – he guts twisted because he knew, if he got his hands on him, he would kill him. She was acting as if she had all the time in the world.

The look she gave him, made him shake his head and stomp around the carriage. “I will return in a moment. And then we can leave.” He shook his head. “I needs t’just go! Leave without her. Just damn go!” He murmured.

With her skirts held in her hands; gracefully she strolled around the side of the mansion, heading for Lena’s cabin. It was early morning, with the light of day, barely touching the paling sky – early birds were singing. The grass was wet with dew, and the air was comfortable, but as the sun rose into place, another day of sweltering heat would follow. She approached Lena’s cabin slowly…feeling nervous and unsure. Bolstering her nerve she made her way up the three steps until she was right at the door. She’d been standing out on the balcony last night to hear the lusty cry of the newborn child, and now… she would see it. Having rid Webster Fields of one of his bastard’s offered some satisfaction, but here she knew…was another.

Her hand balled to knock, when the door came open and she stood facing Kayleen’s un-forgiving face. “Oh! You’re still here then. I thought I heard you back at the house last night.”

“You did…but slithering, low down, dirty snakes ain’t the only things that can move about without others knowing.” Kayleen bit out, barely controlling her hostility, as she stood barring Katherine’s way. Katherine stood a moment gathering her wits about her, something about facing Kayleen intimidated her. She wished she didn’t have to face her, but she’d come there to see the baby, and she wasn’t going to be turned away.