"Ruin and Redemption"

Lizzie Curses Derrick and New Plans for the Kids

“Derrick! How dare you? How dare you sell free children, my free children to some slave trader! And what have you done with Patsy? She wasn’t sold but I couldn’t find her anywhere.”

“Relax. Patsy is inside making Supper. She must have been at the store when you came back the first time…I guess you brought the kids back from the Trader.” He looked sad and exhausted. “You didn’t have to do that, you know. I figured you could use a little extra money for new furniture. And they’re not in the fields so they wouldn’t have been missed.”

“I missed them, Derrick! And if you think I’d rather have furniture than my children, you must have a few screws loose! You touch one hair on their heads, Derrick, and I swear to you, you will have no children by me.”

“Oh. Well, at least you got them back,” Derrick said, hoping to ameliorate her wrath. He would love to have children by Lizzie.

“Yes, of course I did! I emptied the safe and paid all the money I had to Mr. Lowther to get them back!”

“But I thought his name was…”

“They had already been sold, you nitwit! I had to pay the price the Trader sold them for," Lizzie complained, "And they were worth every penny,” she added, worrying about all the children had heard so far. “But I shouldn’t have had to pay a cent, because they never should have been sold! That money should have gone to buy food and clothing for all of us. But I had to bring my children home…What are you even doing here, Derrick? Why are you not at your parents? Do you really think I want to be with you tonite?”

“Well, I did think you were enjoying yourself,” Derrick answered smugly.

“What’s that supposed to mean? We’re married aren’t we? Isn’t it my duty from time to time. And as long as I please you, why shouldn’t I enjoy it as well?”

“Whoa. I didn’t mean any harm. I know I’m the only man. Don’t get upset with me!”

“Did you really think this would not upset me? Did you really imagine that I wanted the children gone? You’d better get used to spending your nights alone, because I’m not taking any more chances with your devious tactics. I plan to be with those children every single hour of the day and night until I can figure out something better. So I would suggest to you that you not even bother sleeping here after what you’ve done.”

“But…”

“Stay here if you like. I can’t stop you. But I’ll be spending my time with the children since you can’t be trusted to respect my wishes regarding their welfare.”

She had forgotten Josiah! Oh, dear. She would have to take the children back out after they ate. Derrick couldn’t be left alone with them. Who knew what he would try next? She doubted he would approve of her plan to take the children to Philadelphia to stay with her cousin. After all, hadn’t Michael been planning to escape, and Derrick had made sure that could never happen? She pushed the thought away. Where had that come from? What part of her was responsible for that? Yet, strangely, it seemed true. The more she saw what Derrick was willing to try to take the children away from her, the more she felt he must have had something to do with Michael’s murder.