Ransom of Love (27 page)

“What could be wrong?”

“Well, nothing, I hope. But, again, there might be something wrong. I can’t help but wonder why Benjamin would want to talk to Master Charles. It worries me.”

“Did either of them behave as if something were wrong?”

“No. They both seemed quite relaxed.”

“Well then, there isn’t anything to worry about.”

“All right, son. What did you want to talk to me about?” Charles asked.

Benjamin shifted nervously on his chair. “It’s about Dorena, sir,
but first I need to tell you what Mr. Dan talked to me about this morning.”

“I’m listening. Go right ahead.”

“You are aware, sir, that Mr. Dan has put money on a large cattle ranch out in Texas?”

“Yes. He’s to leave Friday, if I remember correctly.”

“That’s right. Well, sir, this morning Mr. Dan talked to me privately and made me an offer concerning his ranch in Texas.”

“An offer? You mean he wants you to go with him and work on his ranch?”

“Yes, sir.”

Benjamin took several minutes to carefully explain Dan’s offer, then told Charles that when he had enough money, he wanted to return to Charleston and pay him the ransom for Dorena and make her his wife.

Charles smiled. “Benjamin, it is quite obvious how you and Dorena feel about each other. I think it would be wonderful if one day you could marry.”

“You do, sir?”

“Certainly. I will allow you to pay the ransom for her when you can afford it. But with one stipulation.”

“Yes, sir?”

“This can only take place after Priscilla is married.”

“Oh yes, sir. I understand. As long as Miss Priscilla is in this house, she will want Dorena at her side. It is my understanding that Miss Priscilla and Mr. Craig Hartman are about to become engaged.”

“That’s right. Dorena must have told you this.”

“Yes, sir, but she doesn’t know why I am talking to you right now. Do you have any idea, sir, how long it will be until Miss Priscilla and Mr. Craig plan to be married?”

“No date has been set as yet, but the way they’re talking, I’d say it won’t be more than a few months.”

A smile spread over Benjamin’s handsome face. “Good. I want to
thank you, sir, for your attitude about Dorena and me. I appreciate it more than I can say.”

“I fell in love once, myself, son. And I’m still in love. In fact, more than ever. I understand how you feel.”

“I’m glad, sir. My next concern is for Dorena’s parents and her brother … what they will think of me taking Dorena all the way to Texas to live.”

“I don’t think they’ll be upset about it. I know that Caleb, Liza, and Matthew are fully aware of how much Dorena loves you. I’m sure they will be glad to know she can live her life as a free woman and be married to the man she loves, even if it is in Texas.”

“Sir, I would like to talk to them before I tell Dorena. Would it be possible to talk to them today?”

Charles grinned. “I admire your persistence, son. You stay right here. I’ll go set it up and come back for you in a little while.”

While Charles was gone, Benjamin spent time talking to the Lord, asking Him to work in the hearts of Dorena’s family.

In half an hour, Charles reentered the library. “All right, Benjamin. It’s all set. I had to bring Caleb in from the fields, but he and Liza are waiting for you to come to their cabin. Matthew is there, too. I didn’t tell them anything, except that you wanted to talk to them about something very important.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“You are welcome. When you’re through, come back here to the library.”

Priscilla was seated in her bedroom in her favorite overstuffed chair. Dorena stood at the window.

“You’re right, Priscilla,” Dorena said. “Since neither Benjamin nor Master Charles seemed upset, I think that whatever they are talking about has to be something good.”

“I agree. And it has something to do with you.”

“Really? Why do you think that?”

“Well, what other connection does Benjamin have with Papa?”

Dorena thought on it. “None that I know of.”

As she watched the slaves move about below, Dorena said, “Oh! I’m supposed to tell you that Benjamin really likes the way you styled my hair.”

“He’s a man of good taste!”

Dorena giggled. “Of course. He picked me, didn’t he?”

“That’s proof of it,” Priscilla said, noting Dorena’s sudden concentration on something below. “What are you looking at, honey?”

“Benjamin.”

“What?”

“He just came out the back door and is heading toward the cabins.”

Priscilla joined her at the window and saw Benjamin walking briskly in the direction of the slave cabins. He spoke to slaves as he went.

“What do you suppose he’s up to?” Dorena muttered as she watched him moving down the path.

She admired his straight, broad back and wide shoulders and thought,
Oh, how I love him!
She watched him until the path carried him out of sight. She turned to her mistress and shrugged her shoulders, saying, “Guess I will just have to wait until he’s ready to tell me what this is all about. But waiting is not one of the things I do best.”

Priscilla put an arm around her shoulders. “Come on, now, worry wart. Whatever is going on has to be something good.”

Dorena let out a sigh. “Of course. Well, sweet Priscilla, I’d better get back to work.”

Dorena’s family was standing on the porch of the small cabin, watching for Benjamin to come around the bend in the path.

“It has to be about Dorena,” Caleb said.

“I can’t imagine what it could be,” said Liza.

“Maybe he wants to become a slave on this plantation so he can marry her,” put in Matthew.

Caleb chuckled. “Well, son, to tell you the truth, that wouldn’t surprise me. He does love your sister very, very much.”

“Here he comes,” said Liza.

Benjamin had two slave boys flanking him as he hurried along the path. He had a hand on each boy’s shoulder and it was evident they admired him. Presently, Benjamin said something to them and smiled. They nodded and came to a stop, letting him move on.

As Benjamin drew up to the cabin, he said, “How is my favorite family on the whole Moore plantation?”

“We are fine,” said Caleb. “Especially me. Your coming to talk to us got me out of working for a while.”

Benjamin laughed.

“Please come inside, Benjamin,” Liza said.

Benjamin ran his eyes around the sparkling clean room as he stepped inside. The furnishings were sparse and rather crudely made, but Liza had done a wonderful job of making it a home for her family. A sense of abiding love filled the room.

As they sat down at the room’s only table, the eyes of Dorena’s family were fixed on Benjamin, waiting for him to speak.

Feeling somewhat intimidated by the intensity of their gaze, Benjamin prayed in his heart for just the right words.

“I … I … have something very important to discuss with you,” he began. “You know that I am very much in love with Dorena, and that I adore her with all of my being.”

When Benjamin finished telling them about Dan Johnson’s offer, and of his plan to purchase Dorena from Charles Moore after Priscilla was married, they sat in stunned silence.

Benjamin waited for their response, but the silence prevailed.

Finally, Matthew said, “Benjamin, this is a bit of a shock, as you might imagine. Texas seems a million miles away. But my parents and I are happy about your good fortune and wish you much happiness and success.”

Caleb cleared his throat. “Matthew is right, Benjamin. We do wish you the very best. We will miss our daughter terribly, but we
know she loves you very much. How could we ever stand in the way of her freedom and the fulfillment we know she will find as your wife?”

Liza’s eyes were swimming in tears. She reached across the table and took hold of Benjamin’s hand. “I agree with everything my husband and son have just said. Dorena’s freedom will be a wonderful thing. We will be happy knowing she is happy.”

Caleb gripped Benjamin’s other hand with his work-worn hands and said, “We will be proud to own you as our son-in-law.”

Nearly an hour had passed when Charles Moore heard a light tap on the library door.

“Yes?”

The door opened and Evelyn looked in. “Benjamin is here to see you, dear.”

“Send him in, honey.”

Benjamin thanked her and stepped into the room. Before Evelyn closed the door, she smiled at her husband and said, “You two have my curiosity up. I didn’t even know Benjamin was on the place till he passed through the kitchen a while ago. Mind if I ask what’s going on?”

“After Benjamin and I talk here for a little while, honey, we’ll probably be having a family meeting. I’ll let you know shortly.”

“Very well, mystery men. See you later.”

When the door was closed, Charles invited Benjamin to sit down, then said, “All right. Let’s hear it.”

“Sir, Dorena’s family reacted exactly as you thought they would. They have put their blessing on our plan and our upcoming marriage.”

“Wonderful! You look like a very happy man.”

“You’re right about that, sir. Superbly happy! The Lord is working out what looked to be impossible.”

“He is a marvelous and powerful God, Benjamin. His love for
His born-again children is so great that He delights in bringing about the impossible in their lives.”

“Yes, and I praise Him for it, sir. And I also have warm thoughts toward Mr. Dan, who was willing to be God’s vessel to bring all of this to pass.”

“You will be very happy working for Dan, Benjamin. The man has a deep love for you.”

“And I for him, sir.”

Charles left his chair and went to the desk in the corner of the library. He picked up a sheet of paper. “I drew up this written guarantee for you. The only thing I left blank was the amount of ransom to be paid for Dorena.”

Benjamin nodded and let his eyes run the lines.

“As you can see, I am guaranteeing that you can purchase Dorena any time after Priscilla gets married.”

“Yes, sir.”

“When we agree on an amount, I will fill it in and sign the document.”

Benjamin handed the paper back.

“The price I have in mind, Benjamin, is four hundred dollars. Does that sound fair to you?”

Benjamin smiled. “Very fair, sir. Dorena is worth more than all the money in the world, but I appreciate the reasonable price. I will plan on paying four hundred dollars for her.”

“Good!” Charles sat down behind his desk. “I’ll just fill in the amount and sign it. If you should not be able to come up with the money by the time our daughter marries, Dorena will be held here for you until you can. It’s all stated here in the agreement, as you’ve just read.”

“Yes, sir.”

When Charles had signed the document and blotted it, he put it in an envelope and gave it to Benjamin. “There you are, son.”

“Thank you, sir. May God bless you abundantly.”

“He has in many ways, Benjamin. One of those is by bringing
you into my life. You have been a blessing to me.”

“Thank you, sir,” Benjamin said, pressing the envelope firmly over his heart.

“You wait here,” Charles said. “I want my family to know all about this.”

Moments later, the library door opened and Charles came back, leading Evelyn, Priscilla, and Lewis.

When everyone was seated, Charles told them about Benjamin’s plan to go to Texas and work on Dan Johnson’s cattle ranch. He asked Benjamin for the document and passed it around to his family. When it was handed back to him, he ran his gaze over their faces and said, “I just wanted you to see this agreement I made with Benjamin and make sure you understand it.”

“I understand it, Papa,” Priscilla said, “and I think it’s wonderful. Dorena and Benjamin deserve a life together.”

“And I appreciate you being fair with him on the price, dear,” Evelyn said. “From what you said about the wages Dan is going to pay him, he should be in a position to ransom Dorena as soon as Priscilla and Craig get married.”

Charles turned to his sullen-faced son. “Do you understand the agreement, Lewis?”

“Yeah. I understand it.”

“Good. Now, Dorena needs to be told about this. Priscilla, where is she?”

“In her room, Papa.”

“Will you go fetch her, please? I want to give her and Benjamin some time together so he can tell her all that has transpired. Then I want all of us to meet with them. Take her to the small parlor. Benjamin will be waiting for her there.”

Priscilla hoisted her skirts and ran up the stairs in a very unladylike fashion. She drew up to Dorena’s room and knocked loudly.

Seconds later, the door came open.

“Come on!” she said breathlessly and grabbed Dorena’s hand. She kept a tight grip and pulled Dorena toward the staircase.

Half-stumbling, Dorena said, “Priscilla, what has taken hold of you?”

“You’ll see, honey! You’ll see!”

“Has this got to do with Benjamin?”

“Yes! I told you it would have to involve you and that it would be good. It is exceptionally good! Come on! Papa is going to give you and Benjamin some time together so he can tell you about it, then Papa wants the family to talk to both of you.”

Benjamin was standing in the center of the room when Priscilla fairly pushed Dorena into the parlor, kissed her cheek, then said to Benjamin, “When you two are ready, come to the library. We’ll be waiting for you there.”

Nodding, Benjamin said, “We will be along in a little while.”

Priscilla backed out and closed the door behind her.

Dorena stood like a statue, hardly daring to breathe.

Seeing her perplexity, Benjamin quickly closed the gap that separated them and took both of her shaking hands in his own strong ones.

“Let’s sit down, sweetheart,” he said.

He led her to a small settee and sat beside her. Looking into her eyes with adoration, he said, “I have some very good news.”

Dorena nodded. “It must be, the way Miss Priscilla was acting.”

“It involves our future together, darlin’. You know that Mr. Dan is leaving Friday for Texas to begin his new life as a cattle rancher.”

“Yes.”

“Well, he talked to me in private this morning, and that’s where this story begins …”