The Land (30 page)

I nodded, then walked across the glade, figuring how long it would take Mitchell and me to clear the forty acres. I could see that some of the land was sloping and that could be hard on us and any mules we had. Also, some parts of the forest looked to be denser than others, but seeing that this was a virgin forest, I was figuring three-fourths of those trees were likely to be sixteen inches or more diameter. Still, when I looked up at the massive trees, I decided with Mitchell and me each being able to fell about fifteen to twenty trees a day, more if we had to, we could do it. We could clear Filmore Granger's forty acres of timber for him and have ourselves forty acres of good farming and grazing land afterward, and we could do it in two years. I walked back to face the Grangers. “If I take this on,” I said, “then I'd want the first timbers I cut to be for a cabin. If I need to put some other buildings on the place, shelter for my animals or for my tools and such, I would want to cut timber for that as well. I wouldn't figure you to charge me for it.”

Filmore Granger studied on the matter. “Well, I don't know about that. You'd be taking money out of my pocket by using my timbers.”

“The thing is, if for some reason I don't get the land cleared, you'd already have buildings standing here.”

Filmore Granger nodded but did not accept my terms. “I tell you what. You go ahead and cut the timbers you need for your shelters, but only trees less than sixteen inches. I'll be checking to see that you do. You cut down any of my trees sixteen or more inches, then you're going to have to answer to me. Another thing, don't you dare to cut off this section. One thing I won't stand for is you pilfering my trees to line your own pockets.”

I took offense to that, but I didn't let Filmore Granger know. “I wouldn't do that,” I said before accepting his terms. “All right, Mister Granger, I can agree to what you say. But I would like a map to help me with the boundaries and I'd like to walk the land off with you to see exactly how many trees there are and to mark the boundaries, so I'll know how far out to cut.”

Filmore Granger agreed to that. “But you need to know I expect the first trees you cut to be out along the trail yonder to the road there. I need a road across to this glade so I can get my men and wagons in and out. That comes first, before any building you do. Fact, I'd expect a roadway clear in two months. I figure to bring in men about then to run the first logs down the creek.”

“I understand,” I said, then took a moment adjusting my thoughts, for I knew I had to put my next words just right. “Mister Granger, after we walk off the place and mark the tree line, if it's agreeable with you, I'd like to have a written agreement stating our terms.”

Now, I'd expected some objection from Filmore Granger about this, but it was the boy who spoke up, not his father. “What you need a piece of paper for? My daddy's word good enough for a white man, it sure ought to be good enough for you!”

I glanced at the boy but addressed my words to his father. “I meant no offense. It's just that I know that sometimes things get a bit muddled and folks sometimes forget certain things when they aren't written down as fact. I figured a written agreement would keep me alert as to what I need to do in order to own this place.”

Filmore Granger eyed me coldly, but I knew he understood what I was saying, even though I knew he didn't like it. I was willing to risk his withdrawing his offer if I didn't have a legal paper. I'd learned long ago a white man's word didn't mean all that much when he dealt with people of color. Ray Sutcliffe had taught me that. “All right, boy, you can have your paper. You come back in the morning,” he said, “and we'll mark a tree line and walk off all forty acres.”

I tried not to study on the fact he'd called me a boy, even though I was a man grown. “That'll be fine,” I said, my voice even, “but if you don't mind, Mister Granger, I'd like to make the terms of our agreement dated to take effect in thirty days, at the end of September. I've got work to finish up in Vicksburg, but once I come back, I can start right away.”

“You sure are demanding for a white nigger,” objected Filmore Granger at what he no doubt thought was my arrogance. “All right, thirty days. I'll draw up your paper too stating ‘our' terms, as you say.” He turned to leave.

I kept my anger to myself and called out to him. “Mister Granger, if you don't mind, I'd like to spend the night here seeing we'll be walking the land in the morning. It'll give me a chance to see more of the place.”

“Suit yourself,” he said. I thanked him, but Filmore Granger had no more words for me as he and Harlan headed back up the trail.

So I stayed that night on the first piece of land I figured to own. I walked it, studied it, and checked out the density of the trees and the underbrush. The next morning at dawn I met again with Filmore Granger, and he and I, along with the boy Harlan and the colored workman, walked off the land and marked the tree line for cutting. When that was done, Filmore Granger handed me a paper with all the terms we'd stated. It was already signed. “You keep it,” he said snidely, “so you can remember the terms and your mind don't get ‘muddled.' As for me, I keep the terms and every specific about them right here.” He thumped the side of his head with his forefinger, gave me a hard look, and left with his son and the workman.

When they were gone, I again walked the forty acres. This was to be my start, but this piece of land gave me no real pleasure. One day I figured to own the land I really wanted, land like J. T. Hollenbeck's meadow. But for now I'd go back to Luke Sawyer's store, finish up my work there, and buy what I needed to work this place. When I returned, I was counting on Mitchell being with me.

 

Once I was back in Vicksburg, I let Luke Sawyer know I had struck a deal with Filmore Granger and that I would be leaving at the end of the month. “Well, you know I'm sure sorry to lose you, Paul,” he said, “but I'm figuring you to still do what orders you can for me.”

“I was figuring on that too,” I said. “I can always use the cash money, especially since I'll be looking to buy a couple of mule teams, supplies, and such.”

“Well, you want yourself some good animals, you best go see Sam Perry. He's the best man I know for getting you what you want and at a good price.”

“I'll do that,” I said, and when I had just about finished all the orders for Luke Sawyer, I headed out for the Perry place. I told Mister Sam Perry what I was planning, and he took me straightaway to a white farmer who had mules he figured the farmer would be willing to sell. The two of them haggled over the cost for some while, longer than I wanted to take, but Sam Perry won out in the end. It seemed he'd helped the farmer in the birthing of his mares, and he made the farmer feel so guilty about the price he wanted to charge that the farmer finally relented. When we left, we had the mules. Same thing happened when we went looking to buy another pair of mules and a wagon—the same long haggling with the same results.

“I thank you, Mister Perry, for all your help,” I said when we were back on his place. “I'll pay you for your services.”

“No need for pay. Was glad t' help ya. But I am gonna ask somethin' of ya I been thinkin' on. Now, you ain't gotta agree t' this, 'cause I woulda helped you out in any case. That's jus' what one man'll do for another.”

“Well, I appreciate that . . . but just what are you thinking on?”

“Ya gonna need help workin' that land of yours?”

“I figure I will. But I don't figure to hire on anybody.”

“Can understand that. What I'm askin' 'bout is if you'd be willin' t' take on my boy Nathan t' help ya. Nathan's only twelve, but he's big for his age, strong too, and he could be of some mighty real help t' ya in exchange for you teachin' him yo' craft.”

“Woodworking?” I said.

“That's right. The boy taken quite a shine t' both you and yo' work, and I figure it t' be a good craft for him t' learn. He get t' be good as you, he could make hisself a good livin'.”

I studied on the prospect and on this man Sam Perry. More and more I was seeing my daddy in him. “Well, to tell you the truth, Mister Perry, I hadn't thought to be responsible for anybody, let alone a twelve-year-old boy.”

Sam Perry whittled at a stick and said, “Let me tell ya somethin', Mister Logan. 'Fore I learned ya was gonna have yo' own place, I done give a lotta thought t' yo' takin' on Nathan and teachin' him. I don't know much 'bout ya, and you ain't been in these parts but for 'bout a year, but I got me a good feel for knowin' folks, and one thing I got me a feelin' 'bout is who you is. Now, I done talked t' Mister Luke Sawyer and some other folks who been seein' ya regular, and I know ya t' be a hard-workin' man who mostly keeps t' hisself. Heard ya live quiet like and ya keeps ya word. Now, that ain't all t' a man, and I ain't fool enough t' think it is. All my children, each and every one of them eleven, they precious t' me and I takes what happens t' each one serious. You take my boy with ya, I be entrustin' him t' ya care and I be expectin' ya t' treat him right and not be leadin' him into no ungodly ways. I done prayed on this long and hard 'bout askin' you t' teach my boy your craft and the good Lord, He done put in my mind this here's the right thing for Nathan, you willin' t' do it. Comin' t' this woulda been a whole lot easier on me if you was gonna be stayin' in Vicksburg, not way off past Strawberry, but I still feel it's the right thing for my boy, you willin' t' take him on.”

I was silent, mulling over what Sam Perry had said before I spoke again. I thought on the work that Nathan could do. I hadn't figured on a third hand, just on Mitchell and me, but Sam Perry was right. Nathan was big for his age and strong. Another hand would make things a whole lot easier. “All right,” I finally agreed. “I think that if the boy's willing, it'll work out well.”

Mister Sam Perry smiled. “Oh, he'll be willin', all right. Two things, though, 'fore we shake on this. First be, boy won't be able t' start wit' you 'fore another few weeks. I need him here t' help me get my crops in.”

“That's fine,” I said.

“'Sides that, my girl Callie gonna be gettin' married in another couple weeks or so, and his mama wants him home for that. Weddin' gonna be at the church, but we gonna celebrate afterward right here. You sho' welcome to come join us.”

“Well, I thank you, Mister Perry, but I won't be back this way until I've got a roadway cleared, and that could take me more than a month. Congratulations, though.”

“Thank ya. My Callie, she's marryin' herself a fine boy. Now, one other thing 'bout Nathan goin' with ya,” he said, getting back to the business at hand. “I wants you to keep in mind I'm still his daddy, and I be holdin' ya responsible for him bein' treated same way I'd treat him in my own house.”

“You don't have to worry about that,” I said. “I'll treat him right.”

“Then we's in agreement,” said Sam Perry with a wide grin as he put out his mighty hand to me. I took it. I figured this to be a good deal for both of us.

When I left Sam Perry, I didn't go directly back to Vicksburg. Instead I headed for the lumber camp at Mud Creek. I wanted to tell Mitchell my news. When I got to the camp, though, I learned that Mitchell had taken off for a few weeks. Evidently he had told the boss man that his daddy was sick and needed him. But I knew that was a lie. Probably the boss man did too, for he added that he was only letting Mitchell come back because he was the best worker he had. I didn't know where Mitchell had gone, but I wasn't worried about him. I figured he'd just gotten it in his mind to go off with some lady friend. I knew he'd be back. I was just disappointed that I couldn't count on him to return with me to the forty acres at the end of the month.

 

In the next days I finished the furniture Luke Sawyer had on order. Then I said good-bye to Luke Sawyer, leaving word with him to let Mitchell know that I'd be back in Vicksburg in about five or six weeks if he came looking for me, and I set out on my wagon filled with supplies and drawn by my team of mules, headed for the Granger plantation. I had left the palomino in Luke Sawyer's care. I figured that was better than my taking him to the forty. I didn't figure to work Thunder like a mule, and there would be no time for racing. Also, I didn't figure it the best thing for me to show up on a fine horse, not right now, when I had to deal with folks the likes of Filmore Granger and his boy.

I reached the forty before dark, put up a shelter of tarp and poles at the head of the trail, then got myself a good night's sleep. The following morning I got started clearing the trees along the trail to make a road. I also made a cartlike carrier using large wheels I had bought in Vicksburg, to hitch to the mules so that one end of the logs could be placed on the cart and the mules could more easily drag the logs to the creek. It was slow going with me working alone, but I figured the hardest part was yet to come—I still had to get the stumps up, or at least level them to the ground so that animals and wagons could pass, but I decided not to worry about the stumps for a while. I had two months before Filmore Granger brought his work crews in and the stumps would have to be gone. I just prayed that Mitchell would be here by then to help me out.

Soon after I arrived on the forty, I took the time to barter myself a couple of laying hens and a rooster, and I got myself a dog too. I had brought tinned goods, bags of flour, cornmeal, sugar, and chicory, that sort of thing, with me from Vicksburg. I had brought coffee too. After all the years I'd spent in the lumber camps with only chicory and water to drink, I wanted coffee. It didn't matter to me that coffee was more expensive than chicory. I wanted the real thing and I figured that on occasion I'd have it. I brought seed from Vicksburg as well, for planting a garden in the spring. For right now I made do with the rice I had brought with me, and for vegetables whatever was growing wild. I loved mustard greens and had already discovered that there were plenty of them and other greens too throughout the forest. As for meat, there were plenty of deer for venison, possum, raccoon, rabbit, and squirrel. On top of that, the creek was filled with fish. I didn't figure I'd go hungry.