"Ruin and Redemption"

Lizzie and Scarlett by Horseback

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Josiah hoped this was his chance to prove himself. But even if Lizzie didn’t forgive him, he still wanted to help her. She was a capable woman, but right now she needed his help. He felt sorry for her; Derrick had disrespected her completely by selling the kids. He would have never done that. He wondered if he had done a disservice to Lizzie by not telling her the truth in the first place. Maybe it wasn't too late.

Josiah was on his horse, and Lizzie and Scarlet were still on Lightfoot, who was bearing the burden of an extra hundred pounds as gracefully as any horse. Lizzie and Scarlett were at a full gallop, Scarlett holding on for dear life, closing her eyes when the height---the huge distance to fall from Lightfoot's back--- overwhelmed her. Squinting also cut down on the amount of horse hair hitting her eyes.

Josiah was serious and determined, as he drove Midnight to keep pace with Lightfoot. They were almost, but not quite, racing each other to the fork in the road. From there, they would part ways, covering all the ground the trader might possibly have covered since leaving Lizzie’s home.

“Good luck, and be careful, Lizzie. Hold on tight…” Josiah looked at Scarlet questioningly… What was her name again?

“Scarlett,” she answered, noticing his gaze fixed on her. She could feel it without even looking; it was a skill she had cultivated, when Mr. Stack had been overseer, and she needed to be aware that he was looking in her direction.

“Yes, Scarlett. Hold onta Lizzie, and try to get in rhythem with the horse. You’re doin' great, just keep it up,” Josiah called, as he steered his horse to the left.

Scarlett and Lizzie were alone now, only two pairs of horses' hooves to stir up the dust. The trees were whizzing by. A black dog barked at them, startling Lizzie, and Scarlett worse. She screamed, afraid for a moment the dog might mistake her for a runaway.

Lizzie was on the opposite road than the one she had taken earlier today. She figured she probably would have run into the trader if they had used the same road. Since that was not the case, she had taken the other. She wanted to be the one to find Michael David and Becky if possible. She wanted to be the one to bring them back. She was eager to tuck them safely in their beds, sit there all night and keep vigil. How terribly frightened they must be! They knew nothing about slavery. Nor how to be good slaves. That wasn’t what she was training her children to be.

Why hadn’t she listened to her Cousin and sent them up North with him where they would be safe? She had been selfishly trying to hold onto them for herself, rather than putting them in the best situation. She could have explained things better to Scarlett, so that Scarlett would have agreed with her that they should leave. She would have to rectify this situation as soon as possible--- If she still had any chance to. There was always the possibility that the slave trader had already succeeded in selling the children, and that the new owner didn’t want to sell them back to her. But we’ll make him sell them back! Lizzie thought with determination.

There was no sign yet of any trader, or of the children out on the plantations. But what if they were inside? Would she even know? What if she passed them? Should she stop at every home?

But her instinct told her to keep going. And Lightfoot kept an easy gait despite the extra weight and the untrained rider he was now bearing. Lizzie was so grateful for his efforts.