"Ruin and Redemption"

A Wild Beast Drives the Men Away

 “Josiah! Josiah! I heard the men talking and they’re goin’ to get Lizzie and Esme!” Izzie was riding hard and fast on her horse Bella. A cloud of dust formed in her wake.

“I’ll go help Derrick, Izzie; Stay here and protect the house.” Without waiting for her agreement, Josiah quickly unhitched his horse, sprang on, and gave Black Beauty a hard kick that jolted him into action immediately.

Joe made the fifteen minute journey in only ten minutes. Black Beauty was covered with sweat, his coat glistening in the moonlight.

“Derrick! Where’s Lizzie?!” Josiah panted, forcing the reluctant horse to stumble on across the plantation lawn, despite his exhaustion.

“She and Esme are down by the quarters burning the school books, Josiah. Glad you showed up. How many are there?” Derrick asked.

“Don’t know. I got the news from Esme and came here immediately, Derrick. I hope I can be of assistance to you.”

“Me, too. I wish there were somewhere we could hide the women. How much time do you think we have?”

“I wish I knew, Derrick. Izzie didn’t get a chance to tell me that, either.” Josiah removed his hat and wiped the sweat from his brow.

“Well, this is helpful, Derrick was sarcastic, then immediately regretted it. "Sorry, Josiah. Its good to have you. Just wish we had some intelligence on what to do.”

“Well, if I were you I’d go get my wife right away and not let her out of my sight. I wouldn’t give her up for nothin’,” Josiah assured.

“Well, Josiah. I’m afraid by the time I hobble out to her, the men on horseback will already have ridden past me and taken her off. And there’s Esme, too. She’s been doing even more to help the slaves---I mean—workers---she calls them, learn to read than Lizzie. She may be in even greater danger.”

Joe sighed. “Lizzie is your wife, Derrick. Don’t you think your concern should be for her, not some whore you brought on to the plantation?”

“I am concerned for Lizzie, Josiah. But Esme is no whore. She’s my lover, and I have every right to be concerned for her as well," Derrick explained.

“I suppose," Josiah relented halfheartedly.

“Consider if it were Rebecca, Joe. Would you be dismissing her safety so easily?" Derrick pressed.

“No, of course not. I just thought your wife’s safety would come first.”

“I plan on protecting both of them, Josiah. If you’ll help me.”

“Of course, Derrick. I’m sorry. I’m just nervous for Lizzie. She almost went crazy after the last time. I don’t want anyone to get ahold of her again.”

“Neither do I, Joe. Trust me. I’ll do everything in my power to make sure no one lays a hand on my wife. God, I wish people would just leave her alone! She’s my wife on my plantation. Why should it matter whether I unwittingly married a mulatto or not? We’re married and that’s that, whether or not its supposed to be legal! And who cares if I let my slaves get an unfair advantage by letting them read and write? They’re still slaves for Christssakes! As long as they keep the place running, why should I care if they keep books?”