Saraphine

Chapter Three

September 1839

"Saraphine, child, it be time to wake up."

Saraphine slowly blinked herself awake at the sound of her mama's voice. Her mama sat on the edge of the cot and smoothed stray hairs from Saraphine's face. "Good morning, mama," Saraphine whispered, her voice heavy with sleep.

"Your oats is ready, child. You better eat quick. Missus wants you workin' inside today."

Relief flowed through Saraphine. It was September and that meant harvest time. Her every day lately had been picking cotton and running water to the men cutting hay. A break from the heat and sun sounded real nice.

"My evenin' will be free tonight," her mama said, laying a tender kiss on Saraphine's brow. "I'll put some braids in your hair while you read to me. I love hearin' ya read."

"Of course mama."

Saraphine kissed her mama's cheek. She studied the woman as they dined on their breakfast of bland oats. Her mama wasn't an old woman but hard work had taken its toll on her.

Her black hair was speckled with gray and her brown skin had turned to leather. Lines surrounded her soft brown eyes and were evident around her full lips as well. She lacked the elegant grace and beauty of Missus and the other pale-skinned ladies but Saraphine loved her mama. In her eyes, her mama was beautiful.

"Go on now, child," her mama insisted as she took Saraphine's empty bowl. The slave quarters were quickly coming to life as everyone readied themselves for the day ahead. "Don't keep Missus waiting any longer."

Saraphine hugged her mama's thin waist, adjusted her gray dress which she'd proudly worn for the last two months, and raced from the quarters.

The slaves lived nearly half a mile from the plantation home. Missus did not want the slave quarters any closer than that because it would cause her lawn to appear cluttered—Ellen like to add that it would cause the entire place to smell.

Saraphine tipped her head to the plantation foreman as she passed him. He was a large man and very red. Red hair, red beard and even a rather red complexion. He was a rough boss with no tolerance for anything he considered laziness, but he was never cruel.

He nodded back at Saraphine. "The Missus is waiting for you in the Great Room."

Saraphine thanked him and continued on her way. She smiled at a group of birds flying overhead and paused momentarily for a bee that was buzzing about her head, hoping she was a flower.

Stepping into the plantation house, Saraphine wasted no time before heading down the main hall toward the Great Room. She could hear the tutor in the library as she passed it and knew that Thomas, Ellen and Daniel were having their daily lessons.

Saraphine smiled as she thought of Daniel. He had quickly become her one, only and best friend. It was a secret and forbidden friendship—not even Saraphine's mama knew about it—but the friendship meant the world to Saraphine.

"Saraphine, dear, could you please make haste and stop with the dawdling?"

Saraphine pulled her mind away from her thoughts and rushed to Missus who was standing in the doorway to the Great Room. "Hello Missus," she greeted keeping her eyes on the floor.

"You can look up," Missus announced. Saraphine did so and waited for instruction. "Three days from now we'll be celebrating Ellen's birthday. The home will be full of guests and the Great Room will be the bursting with party goers. I have menus currently being prepared and the lawns are being tended. As you know, during this time of year, the workforce is stretched rather thin. What I need from you is the Great Room prepared."