"Ruin and Redemption"

Josiah Earns Michaels Forgiveness

“I’m sorry, Joe,” Mindy apologized. “It’s just that I’ve got what I want, and so does Izzie, or she will anyway, and we didn’t want to hold Celia back, Joe. That’s all she ever talked about. Her freedom,”

“God, why didn’t ya both tell me?" Joe asked plaintively, "Don’t ya realize its dangerous out there? ‘Specially for Celia? She can’t even look at a man without bein’ ‘fraid! She’s liable to panic if she runs into anyone, an’ who knows what will happen then?!”

“I’ll ride with you, I know where I left her anyway.” Izzie volunteered, “I’ll get the horses.” She was already striding towards the new stable she and Josiah had labored together to build last Summer. She had been proud of the job they had done, and glad to see the horses installed in a roomier, more weather resistant dorm.

“No, Izzie," Joe's commanding tone stopper Izzie in her tracks, and she turned back towards her big brother, " I know where she coulda gone from. I want you circlin’ around and goin’ towards the place she woulda got to by now, wherever ya think that is. You’ve ridden more of this land that I hef. I’ll head towards the swamp, an’ you come at it from the other direction, an’ hopefully we’ll meet somewhere in the middle an’ find her,” Josiah directed to his sister.

“Now, that’s if,Lizzie is still willing to help?” Joe questioned, turning to Lizzie and her husband pleadingly.

Lizzie nodded, “Of course, I am! Whatever I can do for you and Celia!” Finally, a chance to redeem herself!

“I want you to stay here with Mindy, since she’s got less experience with horses, an’ I don’t want her ridin’ 'round after dark by herself with everythin' the way it is ‘round here. An’ I guess Derrick will haf’ to stay, case the two of you need protectin’. Derrick?” Joe demanded.

“Fine! I’ll stay.” Derrick conceded unhappily. The last thing he needed was to sit around with Mindy and Lizzie, waiting for Joe to go out and bring Celia back. Why couldn’t he be the hero for once? But Celia would probably scream her head off if he came for her, he thought guiltily. There was nothing for him to do but sit home between his wife, and another lover from his plantation that he hardly knew. He hoped Lizzie wouldn’t find out about this infidelity while they were all sitting around sharing space.

“Good, Derrick. But keep yer hands to yerself! Don’t touch my wife! An’ don’t you dare take her back to yer plantation for anythin’!” Josiah couldn't resist the warnings sputtering from his lips. 

“I won’t! Do you think I’m going to sleep with your wife on your wedding night with Lizzie right here? For God’s sake, Josiah! That would never happen!” Derrick couldn't believe the things they accused him of sometimes; he'd made his share of mistakes, but surely they knew he had some scruples. He wasn't the heartless bastard they made him out to be; he just didn't have the fortitude to go on and on doing the right thing all the time. He had to look out for what he needed once in awhile didn't he?

“Well, it better not, Derrick! I don’t keer what happened in the past on yer plantation, but Mindy belongs to me now!” Mindy squirmed at the way Joe said she belonged to him, and yet, they did belong together now, and she was proud that they belonged to each other. 

“That was ages ago, Josiah, before she even met you!” Derrick retaliated. He made mistakes, but aside from Celia he had never taken a slave against her will. Mindy had invited him into her cabin, been with him a few times, then decided that he wasn’t what she wanted. And he had let her go, despite his wounded pride. Nor had he retaliated against her, or tried to make her life more difficult.  

Josiah’s eyes clouded over with fresh pain, and he reconsidered even going. How could he leave his bride alone with Derrick now? But he trusted Lizzie to stay there. But what if something happened to Lizzie? He hated even asking her to stay in his little cottage without being there to protect her. The house she lived in was much more solid and secure.