Read Online The Pull Of Freedom by Brenda Barrett - Free Book Online

anxiously. “I wish my wife’s brother was here, he left for his plantation last evening, he was a barrister in England before he came here, I'm going to ask my wife what she thinks.”
    Kes murmured, “or I could stay on here for the day and you have all that time to make up your mind.”
    Braithwaite nodded vigorously, “can you stay a week? My daughter will be getting married next week Sunday to Captain Stoddard a soldier in the army.”
    “Congratulations,” Kes said, “I will stay for that auspicious occasion.”
    “Good, good,” Braithwaite said almost feverishly, “I’ll tell you what I’ll do then. Daisy will show you where you are to stay and I will find some clothes for you since the slaves took them. I had no idea we had runaway slaves near here, I will have to send out some of my men with dogs to track them down.”
    “Thank you,” Kes said politely, “lay off on the hunting of the slaves though, I'm embarrassed to say it was one slave that overpowered me.”
    Braithwaite nodded, he was relieved. A massive slave hunt would render his plantation vulnerable until his armed men came back.
    Kes stared at the relief in the eyes of the gentleman before him and had to stop himself from snickering. This was going better than even Nanny could plan. In one week, Paul Braithwaite wouldn't have any slaves, whether he decided to free them or not. He paused beside the gilt tipped mirror in the hallway as he followed Daisy up the wide staircase, that mirror was his.

Chapter Sixteen
     
    “How could you be so stupid?” Mamee asked Martha.
    They were in the nursery, Martha was bathing Mark.
    “Look here Martha,” Mark pointed to the bubbles he was making with his mouth.
    “I don’t know what you mean,” Martha said obstinately. “I was there to fan Miss Bridget and they asked me to join them at tea. Miss Bridget asked if the baby belonged to Massa Robert, I said no.”
    “They know who your baby’s father is?” Mamee asked vexed.
    “Yes.” Martha scrubbed Mark’s hair and he squealed.
    “You are a fool girl. Don’t ever trust white folks.”
    “I mustn’t trust white folks or field slaves or the people in the kitchen. Who should I trust?” Martha asked.
    “No one,” Mamee spat, “the whites feel they own us and will turn on us when it suits them, so will a slave with a whip across his back.”
    Tears came to Martha’s eyes. Lately, she was  prone to cry over the smallest thing. She should have ran away with Cudjoe had she not been such a coward. At least then her baby would have been born free. She was inflicting upon her unborn child the same thing that was inflicted upon herself; bondage to another people. She sniffled and rubbed down Mark.
    “Don’t cry, Martha,” Mark whispered. His green eyes were serious, he looked so grown up at that moment that Martha just had to hug him.
    “I is alright little one,” Martha patted his back.
    “You aren't alright and too blind to see it,” Mamee snorted, “you better hope that yer baby isn't dark skinned like its father or it will be a field slave fo’ sure.”
    Martha ignored Mamee and continued to dress Mark. The silence was fraught with tension.
    Mamee walked up to her and patted her shoulder, “I love you, that’s why I'm so concerned.”
    Martha nodded.
    *********
     
    Robert and Elizabeth Simmonds were having dinner in the dining room.
    “I had tea with Bridget today.”
    Robert grunted. He wasn't interested in the trivialities that she concerned herself with during the days. He had more pressing matters at heart. He was going to have to order more slaves, the twelve that ran away left a huge gap. He needed to expand operations.
    He had successfully bred and sold some slaves in previous years. Unfortunately, that was risky, many of the women died in childbirth. Not only did he lose a good breeder but the offspring as well. If he hadn’t sold Minto, his major stud, he would have more slaves than he had now. Some of them would be of