The Write Place

Read Chapter 11 Here
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The stars shone bright in the sky above the valley covered by the dark of night.  A gentle breeze swayed the trees of the forest, playing them like a gentle symphony. The houses were spread apart, hidden behind the still thick tree lines.  Out of the dense forest came a man in slacks and overalls covered with the dusty fruit of a day’s work.  His red hair poked out the sides of his brimmed hat as he walked toward the tree. His young, slightly rounded, yet worn face betrayed years of hardship and hard work.  Waiting there already for him was a woman of a rich darker shade in a laboring woman’s dress, peeking out from behind the apple tree. Her soft features melded with the shadows cast from the trees above.  He hurried over to where she was, quiet as he could.  Stopping next to the tree he made a quick glance back to where he had come from.  Leaning towards her with hands resting on the tree he spoke.

“I wasn’t sure you would come, or make it for that matter,” he said, relief visible upon his worn face.  He struggled to smile in his exhaustion.  Both body and soul were heavy, wearied by the world they found themselves in.

“I wasn’t sure you’d come either.  I would imagine they’re already thinking of you,” she said in a whisper, while staring into his piercing blue eyes.  “After you stopped Joseph when I was slowing down.  They got you pegged as soft.”

“I don’t think they’d suspect this at least.  Part of being too soft in general.  Giving up a touch of water for a tired and thirsty worker is excusable at least.  They may not like it but whipping ain’t gonna fix that,” he said, shaking his head with a touch of disgust. “Can’t go joinin’ the abolitionists anyway.  Not with my line of work.”

“You’ve come quite a long way since we first met. Used to be good with a whip,” she said with a touch of pained memories to her voice.  They had come a long way, both of them.  Standing against the tree in the dark of night, risking what they risked, they both knew that.

“Didn’t do good though. You wouldn’t take my wicked heart, Sarah.  Funny thing is, the more you get to know people it’s harder to hate them.  Familiarity breeds compassion not contempt.  Least that’s how I figure it,” he said in a whisper.  The darkness covered their shapes but both knew they had to be careful.  A quiet night could not cover the sound of their voices.

“Spending all day in the fields together you get to know someone pretty well.  The first time you gave me water I thought it was some game.  Like the others would play, like you’d set me up or whip it out of my hands,” Sarah said, shaking her head astonished at the new man before her.

“Didn’t think of it that time. Would’ve before, long before, but ain’t thought such since,” he replied, looking away in thought.  “Pastor made a difference.  He ain’t like that planter.  Talking to you, getting to know you.  You ain’t some damn monkey,” he said.  He shook his head with disgust dismissing the absurd orthodoxy.  “Or lesser and stupid.  I doubt God put you here to suffer this, or me here, because he blesses the practice.  Sometimes he puts you in a place to make a difference,” Rodney said.  

“That’s what you think you’re here for Rodney?” She asked with a touch of interest raising the tone of her voice.  She stared lovingly, impressed at his words.

“Not only that, and not only me,” he said with a smile.  “You’re a clever one,” he said through a smile.

“Smarter than you,” she said with a smile of her own.

“I’m smart enough to recognize that’s true at least,” he said with a smile and a laugh.

They looked behind them towards the sound of boots walking upon the dirt path.  Rodney moved to the same side of the tree as Sarah and covered her with his body.  Two male figures carrying lamps walked along the path talking about their days of harsh work.  The figures laughed at some inaudible joke shared just between the two of them.  Their footsteps could be heard for what seemed an eternity.  Finally, their unwanted shadows on the dirt road continued on passing the two hidden figures.  Rodney pushed off Sarah while taking a cautious look towards the road.  In the dim moonlight a brief period lapsed as the new arrivals left down the road.

“Not looking for us,” he said with a sigh of relief.

“We’re lucky, your white self is pretty easy to see,” Sarah said with a smile and a small laugh.

“Well true enough,” he said with a chuckle himself.  ”Red hair doesn’t help either.  If they spot me I at least I can talk them down.  I’m supposed to be most anywhere I am.  At least apart from the masters halls.  You, you have a place you’re tied to,” he said with sorrow.  “I’d take anything for you.  Whatever they’d put me through.  You know that.”

“Of course.  I see that plain as day tonight” she said with a look of knowing love on her face.  A moment of testing had passed.  They were safe together. “Hopefully it doesn’t come to that,” she added, looking at him with a glint of compassion in her eyes.

“Maybe someday we’ll be able to meet in public.  In the daytime or walk down a street.  Maybe our children will at least,” he said with hope and resignation.

“Be patient Rodney,” she said, looking him in the eye.  “People learn.  You did.  My brother learned when it came to you.”  A smile appeared on her face with a twinkle in her eye.  “Our children?  Other things have to happen first don’t they?”

Rodney smiled. “Well, but only if you say yes.”

“Why yes, I do!” Sarah said with a mix of emotion.  They held each other for a moment, soaking the moment in with everything it entailed.  There was much wrong to be dealt with in their world.  Soon however, it would be their world.

“Pastor was preaching in the church. Ephesians.  I can’t fathom how the world can accept this kind of hell. Such a slavery.  For both of us ain’t it?  Or keep us separated when Christ united us.  If God has made us all of one blood, has made us one in Christ; how could anyone stop this?”  Rodney said as he held her tight in his arms.  He spoke with great sorrow and indignation in his voice.

“If we’re brothers, how can we be slaves?  Certainly not like this!” Sarah spoke with sorrow in her voice.  Bitter memories and broken hopes saturating her words.  “To treat me not like a laborer but an animal.  You ain’t gettin that from God’s words.”

“It’s for their folly we’ll need to run.  Soon,” Rodney said as he held Sarah by the shoulders and looked her in the eyes.

“For many reasons.  I don’t know how much more of the master’s advances I can take,” Sarah said with anxiety in her voice.  Rodney had seen it time and again.  With her, and others.

“You won’t have to take any more from that wretch.  I’d kill him if I had the chance,” Rodney said, trying to keep his voice quiet and calm.  The pained look of anger contorted his face.  Sarah placed her soft touch upon his face.  Sarah looked upon him lovingly, calming the man she loved as women often do.  Together they felt his breathing slow, and his anger soothed.

“Worry about what we can do Rodney.  Besides, what can you do?  You won’t just give it away, he’d fire you for doing anything about it even if he didn’t know about us this way,” Sarah said, her voice heavy with resignation.

“Tell him if you get pregnant you can’t work.  It’d be the honest to God truth.  Hopefully that will keep his filthy hands off you,” Rodney instructed her with concern in his voice.  “Though he may move you into the house, that’s where he keeps his mistresses.  No matter what his wife tellsya.  He may try to end a pregnancy, too, for goodness sake.” 

“I will tell him that.  Don’t you worry too much, it won’t fix this.  It’ll be alright,”  She said.  She met his eyes with her own.  “If this works we won’t have to worry about those things anymore,” she said as she kissed him. They held each other listening to the swaying trees for a moment of forever.  No matter how long, it would always feel too short.  Thet wo stood there letting the moment be, not ruining it with any words for no words needed to be said.  The long night passed, seeming both an eternity and an instant.  Before the dawn they parted ways and walked the paths they had each come, hoping for better days ahead.