Read Online Box Set: The ArringtonTrilogy by Roxane Tepfer Sanford - Free Book Online
Authors: Roxane Tepfer Sanford
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I see it the same way. Thomas could be much more
prosperous if he had more backbone. That is what I am here for. I
may not have youth on my side, or the timeless beauty most men
gravitate to. But your father is a smart man and can see beyond the
heaving bosom of a loose woman. He wants to make his plantation the
richest in all the South, despite the talk of the northerners’
attempting to abolish slavery. That will never happen; it’s such a
ridiculous suggestion. Neither I nor your father will allow
anything or anyone to stand in the way of our success.”
It was Hattie, my better half, the one who
always managed to ease my fears, whom I longed to see right away.
Into the shadows of the night I stole, down the back stairway and
to the tiny humble cabin she shared with Mammy and Jacob
Thomas.
~ ~ ~
~ Six ~
All was still as I found myself wandering
outside, under the light of the full blue moon, over to the cabins.
The plantation was asleep, the slaves all tucked inside and resting
as comfortably as possible in their stuffy rooms for the grueling
day ahead in the cotton fields.
In the distance, the river frogs croaked, and
all around me the crickets’ night symphony filled my ears. Beyond
the moon, the stars twinkled brilliantly, and I stood for a moment
gazing upward, wondering if the stars twinkled in heaven or if it
was always sunny and bright, immersed in an extraordinary, golden,
heavenly light.
Mammy’s cabin was the only one illuminated
with the glow of a lamp, and in my bare feet, I gravitated to the
front stoop. I stole over quietly and peered through the small
window before knocking. I was glad I did, for Daddy was there with
Mammy.
I saw that Hattie was asleep, and my infant
brother snuggled up in his cradle just at the foot of her bed.
My eyes were wide with inquisitiveness and my
heart was racing. Daddy was fervently kissing Mammy. She appeared
willing, and eager. I had heard their passionate nights before,
when she used to share Daddy’s room, but never once had I actually
seen it.
After spying most definitely too long, I
turned to go, and as I spun around, I gasped with fright. Hamilton
stood only steps away, and if there had been no moon I would not
have seen him.
Just then the door to the cabin opened, and
Daddy stepped out.
“Amelia!” Daddy looked at me with surprise
and then at Hamilton, and he quickly closed the door.
I had never seen Daddy so embarrassed,
awkward, and at a loss for words. It wasn’t any better that
Hamilton, even if he had wanted to speak, couldn’t.
“I came to see Hattie,” I choked, through my
tight voice. “I didn’t realize. . .”
“Go back to bed,” Daddy said gruffly. “And
you there, what are you doing staring at me!” Daddy barked over to
Hamilton.
“He can’t talk,” I quickly explained.
Mammy had heard the commotion and after
hastily dressing came out to see what was the matter. When she saw
me standing there, she sighed heavily.
Daddy nudged me along without saying a word
or looking back to Mammy and without acknowledging Hamilton
again.
His pace was brisk, and although I could
barely keep up, unable to avoid the rocks that pierced my feet, I
remained silent. When he reached the mansion, Daddy shot up the
back stairway and went off to his wing without addressing me. There
was no reprimand, no lecture. He didn’t have to say any of those
things. I was completely ashamed.
Our buggy ride to church the next morning was
uncomfortable, to say the least. Daddy couldn’t bear to look my way
without clearing his throat, shifting in his seat, and appearing
flushed, while Eugenia glared at me from across her seat beside her
two haughty daughters. They boasted about how lovely they looked in
their new dresses. Even Beatrice was pompous; she was slowly coming
out of her shell to be a true duplicate of her sister. Daddy was
even more uncomfortable with Hamilton as our driver, but he didn’t
protest. Hattie stayed behind, and I
prosperous if he had more backbone. That is what I am here for. I
may not have youth on my side, or the timeless beauty most men
gravitate to. But your father is a smart man and can see beyond the
heaving bosom of a loose woman. He wants to make his plantation the
richest in all the South, despite the talk of the northerners’
attempting to abolish slavery. That will never happen; it’s such a
ridiculous suggestion. Neither I nor your father will allow
anything or anyone to stand in the way of our success.”
It was Hattie, my better half, the one who
always managed to ease my fears, whom I longed to see right away.
Into the shadows of the night I stole, down the back stairway and
to the tiny humble cabin she shared with Mammy and Jacob
Thomas.
~ ~ ~
~ Six ~
All was still as I found myself wandering
outside, under the light of the full blue moon, over to the cabins.
The plantation was asleep, the slaves all tucked inside and resting
as comfortably as possible in their stuffy rooms for the grueling
day ahead in the cotton fields.
In the distance, the river frogs croaked, and
all around me the crickets’ night symphony filled my ears. Beyond
the moon, the stars twinkled brilliantly, and I stood for a moment
gazing upward, wondering if the stars twinkled in heaven or if it
was always sunny and bright, immersed in an extraordinary, golden,
heavenly light.
Mammy’s cabin was the only one illuminated
with the glow of a lamp, and in my bare feet, I gravitated to the
front stoop. I stole over quietly and peered through the small
window before knocking. I was glad I did, for Daddy was there with
Mammy.
I saw that Hattie was asleep, and my infant
brother snuggled up in his cradle just at the foot of her bed.
My eyes were wide with inquisitiveness and my
heart was racing. Daddy was fervently kissing Mammy. She appeared
willing, and eager. I had heard their passionate nights before,
when she used to share Daddy’s room, but never once had I actually
seen it.
After spying most definitely too long, I
turned to go, and as I spun around, I gasped with fright. Hamilton
stood only steps away, and if there had been no moon I would not
have seen him.
Just then the door to the cabin opened, and
Daddy stepped out.
“Amelia!” Daddy looked at me with surprise
and then at Hamilton, and he quickly closed the door.
I had never seen Daddy so embarrassed,
awkward, and at a loss for words. It wasn’t any better that
Hamilton, even if he had wanted to speak, couldn’t.
“I came to see Hattie,” I choked, through my
tight voice. “I didn’t realize. . .”
“Go back to bed,” Daddy said gruffly. “And
you there, what are you doing staring at me!” Daddy barked over to
Hamilton.
“He can’t talk,” I quickly explained.
Mammy had heard the commotion and after
hastily dressing came out to see what was the matter. When she saw
me standing there, she sighed heavily.
Daddy nudged me along without saying a word
or looking back to Mammy and without acknowledging Hamilton
again.
His pace was brisk, and although I could
barely keep up, unable to avoid the rocks that pierced my feet, I
remained silent. When he reached the mansion, Daddy shot up the
back stairway and went off to his wing without addressing me. There
was no reprimand, no lecture. He didn’t have to say any of those
things. I was completely ashamed.
Our buggy ride to church the next morning was
uncomfortable, to say the least. Daddy couldn’t bear to look my way
without clearing his throat, shifting in his seat, and appearing
flushed, while Eugenia glared at me from across her seat beside her
two haughty daughters. They boasted about how lovely they looked in
their new dresses. Even Beatrice was pompous; she was slowly coming
out of her shell to be a true duplicate of her sister. Daddy was
even more uncomfortable with Hamilton as our driver, but he didn’t
protest. Hattie stayed behind, and I
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