"Ruin and Redemption"

Izzie and CiCi & Josiah's Confession

Just then Isobel appeared on the porch. She had filled out, and was quite a bit taller than Lizzie remembered her being.

“Lizzie! I thought I heard you out here!” Isobel ran over to give her a hug, grinning from ear to ear. She had an unusually wide smile, Lizzie noticed. She seemed to sparkle with joy and vitality.

“How old are you now, Izzie?” Lizzie wondered.

“Oh, I’m nineteen, Lizzie. Hi Patsy!” Izzie walked over to greet Patsy, her blue eyes merry. “I’ve wanted to see you so much, Lizzie! But my brother says we can’t bother you now that you’re married.”

“Well, Izzie, I think if you can travel alone, you’d be welcome to visit our home anytime. Unfortunately, the same isn’t true for your brother. Apparently, a lady can’t have male friends besides her husband. Otherwise, I’d be visiting here all the time.”

“Would you really, Lizzie?” Josiah asked, skepticism and hope vying for dominance.

“Oh, I would, Josiah!” She emoted. She probably should not allow herself to sound so enthusiastic about it, but his company would be a welcome respite from the plantation.

“Well, I don’t think its necessarily proper for me to invite you, Lizzie. But if you ever want to check on CiCi, and make sure I’m fulfillin’ my part of the bargain, the door is always open to you… Or any time you need anything. Just let me know.”

“Thank you, Josiah. Perhaps I will. But I will have to trust you for the most part, won’t I?” She asked, “And hope and pray that you are worthy of it.” She added sternly.

“Is she stayin with us?” Izzie turned hopefully to her brother, whilst indicating CiCi.

“Yep,” Josiah grinned back, “Looks like you fin’lly got your little sister CiCi. Told you if you waited long enough one would come along.” He teased.

Lizzie immediately felt better knowing that Isobel was still home. She wasn’t leaving CiCi alone with just a man, at least.

“Listen, Lizzie. Can you come with me for a second?” Josiah beckoned, catching her eye and starting to walk away.

He walked down out to the yard, where they could still be seen, but hopefully not heard.

“Lizzie, listen, I’m sorry you don’t feel you can trust me completely. I know what I am and what I need. I am a man, Lizzie, and there are things I need. But I got a plan to get ‘em, so I don’t hurt nobody. When I hear crazy voices at night, sometimes I can’t get ‘em to stop talkin’ to me.” He whispered conspiratorially. “They even tell me to do somethin’ crazy like have my own sister!… But they been sayin’ that fer a long time now, and I ain’t done nothin’ about it. An’ so I reckon I ain’t; I reckon I ken trust myse’f. I can’t get ‘em to stop, but I ain’t gonna do what they say, neither! I got some money now, an’ I found a woman who’ll do what I need. That may sound wrong, but I ain’t found no wife yet, and that’s what I decided to do about my needs…" Lizzie’s eyes were wide, so he continued on, determinedly. “So you don’t have to worry about CiCi, Lizzie. I’m takin’ keer of what I need to do, an’ I’m gonna go on doin’ the best I can for Izzie and Cici, too. Ain’t nobody, includin’ me gonna take advantage of neither one of ‘em! They ain’t doin’ nothin’ with any man til they pick themse’ves good husbands, Lizzie. I promise you thet.”

“I believe you, Joe… Just you don’t think it would be easier to take advantage of a slave than your sister?” Lizzie asked worriedly.

“No, Lizzie! That would almost be worse, since she can’t hardly say anything about it, an’ I know that. I got to be extra careful to treat her right, but I will. We got plenty of places to sleep, but I’ll move her a cot in with Izzie, if that would make ya feel better about this?” He asked hopefully; He wanted to be able to help her out; and Izzie seemed to have taken to the idea of a companion like a duck to water.