Princess Ces'alena (69 page)

That night he, prepared her bath in Lena’s cabin, bathed her, and readied her for bed. Once more, she talked and talked, telling him many things he did understand, one, “I luf’you m’daddy, m’mommy luf you too.”

“Em hm, m’mommy luf’me, my mommy luf’you.” She informed him in a matter of fact way, yawning more and more as he finished dressing her for bed. Doing so, he noticed everything was still as he remembered it. He was further elated to see that his robe still hung in the same place. Having gone through his daughter’s night dresses, he noted that they were all cotton. He decided from then forward, she would wear silk against her delicate skin. With lace, always lace. Sitting in his chair, he held her, talked to her, told her stories until she fell asleep in his arms. Satisfied with his day and his night, he carried her to Kayleen’s cabin where he knocked on the door.

When she opened it, she was surprised.

He stood in the door silent, taking a deep breath, he asked softly, “Please…may I leave my daughter with you tonight?”

“Get in here with her.” Kayleen directed stepping back to let him in. Hope was already asleep. “Lay her on’the bed.” She instructed closing the door. He walked over doing as she told him. Kayleen’s cabin was not as extravagantly done as Lena’s, but it too was not as one would expect for a slave. This cabin had not been his doing, but his mother’s. Yet everything within it spoke loud and clear of how her sister loved her.

Manny stood shaking the bed so that his daughter would fall back to sleep, after stirring from laying her down. Kayleen watched him. She could only wonder what this night would bring when Lena returned. Finally he slowly withdrew his weight from the bed, and stood gazing down at her. Quietly he said, “I’m sorry Kayleen. For all that has happened…because of me.” He then looked over at her. “I don’t always, do what I should - but -…” He was getting choked up again. “Come here chile.” She beckoned him. “Sit right here.” She patted the seat she stood next to. He obeyed sitting next to her.

“Manny…I love your mama, with all my heart. She was my best friend, and my sister. You know that don’t you?”

He nodded looking up at her.

“I too – might not’ah done right. I love that baby. I love my Mikey and I love you. You - and your babies…” She stopped about to cry. “Yah’ll the only blood family…I got. If I lose you - ha’.” She nodded towards Hope laying there sleeping, quiet for the moment as she gazed. “I don’t know what I’m gon’ do. If Royal was here, none of this would’ah happen. But she gone, and I have to do my part to protect you all. All I could think of to do… was make you turn away from us, and stick with yo’ own kind.”

“You are my own kind Kayleen! The blood that flows through your veins, flows through my own! I cannot be something I’m not. I’m my mother’s son. And I’m in love - with - Princess Ceś alena. I cannot live without her. God knows…I have tried.”

Kayleen sighed and pulled him into her breasts and held him there as she hugged him. “What we gone do? What is - we gone do?” She wondered out loud as he held onto her.

“I cannot change what I am – I will not. She is mine, has always been mine, from the moment I saw her. You knew that Kayleen, it is why you agreed to bring her to me.”

Kayleen nodded, she had seen it in his eyes. She had never seen him look as he had that night, at anyone, she had known then – yes, he was right, it was for that reason, that she took her to him. “Do you realize the hell you askin’ for, loving her?” She asked.

“Yes, yes and yes. Do you know the hell that has been mine, not loving her? For me, same difference.” All he could think of was getting Lena back. He couldn’t think of anything else. That was the dominant priority to him for the time being. “Does she, care for him Kayleen?” He had to ask it.

Kayleen chuckled leaning back holding his face in her hands. She got a flashback to when he was a little boy, and would ask questions in the same way when he was afraid of something.

“Chile, our Lena ain’t thinkin’ about that man. O’poppinjay!” They both chuckled at that. “He is kinda sweet ain’t he?” Manny added. Kayleen chuckled. “Now cut that out. He a man, I will say that for him. He just ain’t the man for her.” She returned trying to be fair.

“You keep her here Kayleen. Don’t let Lena take her tonight, please.”

“Now if she wanna take her, how I’m suppose to stop her?” She asked backing away as Manny stood.

“Come on now. This is me you’re talking to.” Manny reminded her. “If you could talk her into what you have already, this will be a breeze. Please do this for me.”

“Ah’right chile, I’ll do it. But you - don’t you hurt my Lena. She did what I told her. She did what she had to - to protect this baby.” Kayleen reminded him. Manny stared down at her and thought about it. “Do you think, I would ever — hurt her?”

“No…I know you wouldn’t – but – I-…”

“There are no buts – I would not.” He hugged her tightly, “Thank you.” He kissed her brow and quietly departed. He returned to Lena’s cabin and tidied it up. After that, he bent and put out the lamp, sat himself in his old chair next to her bed, and waited for her in the dark.

Chapter Sixteen

Lena and Thomas rode slowly back towards Webster Fields from direction of the West field. The night was dark, and the full moon lit their path home. She sat before him on the saddle, not wanting to lean intimately against him.

Thomas drew in a deep breath. “Lena, again I say…I want you as my wife. I love you, and I know I could make you happy. Hope likes me, and I love her. Just think, we could travel like this as often as you like. I could rent us a nice town house in Boston, or - we could go to my family’s home in Mexico. Hope could have beautiful clothes, and she could attend school and start living a normal life.”

She was quiet, he could tell she was listening and considering his words, so he continued. “I’d hire that bounty hunter to find your son right away. Just say yes and I’ll make it all happen. Our marriage would take away all threat to Hope. I’d take you away from here where you could start anew. The longer you stay, the more you run the chance of her being discovered. Then what? It is bound to happen. Look how fast she’s growing, and with a stubborn mind of her own. Just give me a chance, and I can make you forget Maynard Webster.” He declared.

She wondered how could that be when just the mention of his name stirred her soul, she closed her eyes visualizing him, and came alive within.

“Remember this, and don’t forget Lena. He’s married to Katherine - till death do them part. Which keeps you, right where you are. As his bed wench, hiding Hope behind that concoction you put to her skin. Time is running out Lena, and I’m due to leave soon.”

Lena finally leaned back against Thomas’s solid chest. His arms were about her as he held the reins to the horse easily. He was right. She was wasting time and her life for something that would never be.

She had only been Manny’s bed wench, and that title she had always hated. Where as the man, she loved with a passion, as strong as the bond to her children. Even though he had made promises to her at one time, she had known even then, he would be unable to carry them through. Whether he loved her or not, that had all been before Mikey was taken from her.

After all he’d done to protect their son, he was still gone. Now, because of her unwillingness to leave Webster Fields and Manny, she was putting their daughter’s life in danger. Again the thought rushed in on her, that she loved him so much, she couldn’t see herself leaving him where he may never be able to find her again.

‘
Oh Lena, why does it matter? It’s over. Take this step – as hard as it is – take it …and move on. It’s time. It is time to leave.’

“What? What did you say?” He pulled the reins to stop their horse as he thought his hearing had surely played tricks on him. She turned within his arms to face him. “I said…I will marry you.”

He looked down into her gently smiling face, and she nodded. Thomas threw his head back and gave a jubilant shout. “Oh Ceś alena! I’m going to make you so happy! You’ll see! And we’ll do everything together! Maybe even open up our own little school house, would you like that?”

He was so happy, he took her face in his hands, and kissed her gently. Lena returned the lingering kiss, feeling that it was time she got used to his touch, his embrace, his kisses. Reluctantly, he broke it. “It’s really late…we better get back to the plantation.” He said softly.

“Yes please, I want to get my Hope.”

“Yes ma’am, we’re on our way.” He flicked the reins after she’d turned back and settled against him.

Her heart was pounding now that she had made her decision, she couldn’t understand why she felt like crying. She had after all, made the right one. But now, Manny kept coming to mind, more and more as if reminding her despite her decision, of the one man, she would always love, that he and he alone, held her heart.

They returned to a quiet plantation, yet…there were many out on their porches, waving to them as they passed to the barn. Inside, she waited for Thomas to rub down his horse, and when he was done, he came up to her standing next to one of the stalls.

“I love you.” He whispered passionately, taking her by the shoulders as he lowered his mouth to hers for a kiss. Lena titled her head allowing him the kiss and embrace. Manny’s face intruded once again. She pulled away shyly, wiping at her lips. “I don’t think, now is the time, or here the place for that.”

“Let me come back to your cabin with you?” He asked huskily.

“No Thomas, I have to get Hope.” She walked away for the barn door, leaving him to stare after her.
‘Just keep it cool Thomas, keep it cool. At least she’s going to marry you…one step at a time.’
Slapping his gloves against his thigh, he followed out behind her. Together they went to Mazie’s, where there were quite a few out on her porch, which seemed rather odd, especially at this time of night.

Everyone spoke real friendly, but they all had a look about them that she and Thomas noticed. Mazie was sitting and waiting for her, to let her know that Kayleen had Hope. This she did as Leon had instructed her, as he delivered Manny’s order, “Manny don’t want you saying nothing to her when she come back, other than Kayleen got Hope.”

Nodding, Lena and Thomas walked away waving and saying goodnight to Mazie and those gathered there with her. Lena could have sworn she heard immediate murmuring start as they walked away.

“What in the world is going on here?” She asked.

“I think everyone is abuzz over us. We were together alone today, I’m sure we’re probably the talk of the plantation. See, now you’re going to have to marry me, I’ve sullied your reputation.” Thomas replied grinning.