Chocolate Honey (7 page)

Becky, was upset that Christine, had lied before about the race of her lover, and that she made love with a slave. Becky, pouted and refused initially, but when she saw the wad of cash, that Felicia offered, she agreed to accompany Christine and Julian. Money is a motivator, to Becky as she grew up dirt poor and only had a few dollars at a time.

Christine and Julian left in the middle of the night, Felicia advised them, to try and make it to the North somehow before the baby is born. She gave Christine some money. They

left with Julian covered in the back of their wagon. Two days later Jim returned, as usual whenever he returns from a long trip; Christine is usually greeting her Daddy. This time, however, she was absent. “Where is Christine, Felicia? She is usually here by now.” Felicia had an expression on her face that immediately told Jim that something was wrong. “Come inside my darling, I have something serious to let you know”. Let me call, that boy Julian to get my bags. Julian! Come and get my bags”! “Honey, Julian is not around, that is part of what I have to tell you." "Christine has run off. She has left a note that she is pregnant and Julian is the father.” “What are you saying? Woman you must be insane!” Jim waited to see if this was one of Christine’s practical jokes. When he saw that Felicia was stone faced he roared loudly. “No daughter of mine would cavort with a slave.” “Jim I wish was I was lying, but it is the truth!” He screamed, “I AM GOING TO KILL THAT NIGGER!” “He must have raped Christine and being the good daughter she is, she is laying to save him from the hangman’s noose. How dare he rape and kidnap my daughter!” Felicia was about to tell him that, no Christine was not raped or kidnapped. She wanted to tell Jim, that it was her who gave Christine and Julian money and told them to run away. But she remembered how violent, Jim can get. He may kill me. She thought. If he knew, I furnished their getaway.

Jim sent some slaves to a nearby plantation to fetch, Paul. “I came as quickly as I could” Paul said, he spoke with in his harsh Louisiana accent. “I am so sorry to hear about my love Christine, how long has she been kidnapped?” “Since two nights ago apparently.” Jim offered. Paul said, “I pray she is all right, I will hang the bastard myself!”

His concern for Christine was all an act. She despised Paul, due to his unattractiveness, his inability to satisfy her in the bedroom and his horrible personality. He knew that she hated him, but kept reminding her that her father will only allow her to marry someone else if he had more money, land and slaves than he did. Where would you find such another person? He taunted her. “Mr. O’Connor, round up a posse which I will lead, and

I guarantee you, your daughter will be here by the noon of next week. We will also string that boy up alive. I promise you this.”

Meanwhile, Christine, Becky and Julian reached Kingston, a town about 10 miles from Christine’s hometown Uber. Kingston, was a town, lot smaller than Umber, there was one

inn, barber shop, bathhouses and a shoe smith. It was a lot cleaner than Uber and the stone cobbled roads were maintained much better. They checked in the local inn with Christine and Becky acting as if Julian was their personal slave. He slept in the slave reserved quarters. The quarters were not better than a sty, all cramped and really filthy. Julian thought that his cabin back in Uber was tiny, but at least it was spotless. Christine and Becky shared a room with double beds. “Christine, what will you and Julian do when the baby comes? You have to give it away! It won’t be pure white.” Christine adamantly said, “I am keeping this baby. Whenever, we reach north; I can marry Julian and raise our child.” “Marry him!, you know that will be difficult if not impossible. Race mixing is not allowed in these United States. Think of the here and now, how will you manage to travel all the way to the north, bearing child and little money? I do not wish to embark on such a difficult task and I may leave you soon.” “Becky, you took momma’s two hundred dollars. What do you mean leave us soon? Are you a thief, you took her money to accompany me, until the baby comes. I have at least seven months to go.” Becky looked at her dear friend with so much pity and said. “Well, you can go back and say Julian raped and kidnapped you or you can go somewhere, have the bastard and then abandon it!. We can also turn around now and get them to come back for Julian.” “Becky, I thought you were my friend, how could you ask me to abandon my child and betray the man I love? How could you?” “I am just trying to help you; do you know the shame you may have brought to your family? All over this nigger.” Christine slapped Becky so hard. She fell over. “I am sorry, I am sorry” she whimpered. “I was just trying to help you.” “Well, that kind of help is not appreciated!”

The next morning they checked out of the inn and while Christine was paying the clerk; Julian spoke to Becky, “Mawning maam, how did you and Christine sleep the night?” Becky, upset answered, “Don’t you ever, speak to me out of turn again! Do not ever speak to me until I speak to you, I am only here to support Christine, not you! Ever speak to me again, I will get Jim O’Connor to come and hang you, like the dog you are.” He stared scornfully at her and said, slowly and softly. “You call me a dog maam? Look at you, you are the most, hateful unattractive, wretch of a human I have ever had the misfortune to know. Christine, must feel sorry for you to have a wretch like you as a friend.” Becky, was so upset by Julian’s words, she started huffing and puffing. She said through, gritted teeth. “You insolent, piece of non-human, if Christine did not love you as she does; I would have yelled rape, at the first passer-by and then you would see, who the poor wretch of a human being is.” “I am not sorry for my words, you do not know me. As I am a slave, you are under the misconception that I am not a human being.

I feel sorry for you. Learn to love others as yourself, and maybe just maybe.

You won’t be so hateful. “Before she could respond, Julian, quickly left her and found Christine. “Christine, I just had a quarrel with your friend Becky. She threatened to tell Massa O’Connor where we are, if I ever speak out of turn to her. After that, I lost my composure and called her a pathetic wretch. “Oh God.” Christine groaned, “Why did she have to pull that sharp tongue of yours? Don’t you worry I will try and calm her. In the meantime, please sweetie, do not speak with her again.” “Fine, as long as she keeps, far away from me.” Christine said, “On another subject, my darling, how did you sleep? I miss holding you in my arms. I can’t wait till we reach the North. I am going to make love to you every day. I’ll love and cherish you forever.” “I wish I could just kiss you right here and now, God I miss holding you in my arms too.” “I am praying for the day, when we can be together, freely, I miss holding and loving you so much it hurts.” They secretly squeezed each other’s hand. Both whispered “I love you” to each other.

Becky, felt burdened. It has been a week since they left Uber. They were running out of money. They lied all the time, about why they are travelling. They saved money, by sometimes setting up camp, instead of staying in an inn. Becky again approached Christine, with the idea, of telling someone, that Julian raped her, and she wanted assistance to get back to the Great House in Uber Texas. Christine reminded her that she would never abandon her unborn child and Julian. “Becky, I tire of your moaning please leave us, we will manage, go back home to Uber, and Julian and I will be fine. We will try and meet some abolitionist in order to reach north. Go leave us now!”

As she left, Julian told Christine, they have to move on now as Becky, will tell the next person, she meets that he raped Christine. Julian reminded her that Becky might also send a message to Massa O’Connor to let him know where they were.

They packed up their belongings and put the campfire out. They made a plan to travel by night and rest in the bushes during the day. They continued like this and reached St. David in North where they met a carriage, which carried a towering middle aged White man. He said to them, “You two certainly look worse for wear. Can I give you a lift somewhere?” Julian and Christine were hesitant as they thought that Becky sent him. Then, when they saw that his companion in the carriage was a well dressed Negro woman. They began to trust him. They thought a true believer in slavery, not even in trickery would allow a Negro to ride beside him. He helped them up and offered them accommodations, until they wanted to move on. The gentleman’s name was Blake Bach. He was to play a major role in Julian’s and Christine’s lives in the years to come. Mr. Bach was an abolitionist and he believed that slavery was an unnecessary evil and should be wiped out. He was a constant visitor to the South. He has helped numerous slaves, men, women and children to escape. Upon reaching Mr. Bach’s estate, he invited Julian and Christine to sleep in the main house, but in separate rooms he said, as they were not yet married. He allowed Julian to sleep in the main house in a clean and comfortable room.

Chapter 4

Meanwhile, Becky who had finally made her way back to the O’Connor estate, with vengeance and betrayal in her soul. She had quite a story to tell. She immediately located Jim O’Connor. She told him where Christine and Julian last were. She told him that Julian raped her and she did not report it, as she did not want the shame of being touched by a slave. She told him that she escaped, but Christine was at Julian’s mercy. She told him, it was Felicia who allowed Christine and Julian to leave. Jim on hearing of Felicia’s role in Christine’s disappearance immediately ordered Becky to leave. He proceeded to beat and repeatedly rape his wife. “Maybe you will get pregnant and give me another child, to replace the one you abandoned. You had better pray that Christine is found alive and well, if she is harmed in any way
I WILL KILL YOU
”. He left Felicia in a trembling heap, bloodied and battered. He summoned Paul, informing him, that Christine and Julian were in Kingston or a nearby town. “Find them and bring them to me, I will personally beat that bastard child, from her womb and then I will burn that Negro alive!”

Paul immediately rounded up his posse and headed out. Two days later they reached Kingston, where they were told that a White woman was travelling with a slave. He was told that they were offered, a lift by a Mr. Blake Bach, who was not a slave owner and whose home was on the other side of town. Paul arrived at Mr. Bach’s home a mere 10 minutes later, where he and his men encircled the estate. “Bach!” he yelled, “I know you have Christine and that Negro in that house, you must know that he forced himself on her, and made her pregnant. That is unnatural, you know slaves are nothing but animals, what type of creature would that baby be? He must be punished for raping a White woman.” Julian and Christine could scarcely, believe what they were hearing. Christine wanted to go and let Paul know she was not raped. She willing gave herself to Julian, as she loved him. However, she knew that such a move would cost her beloved his life. “They are not here! We sent them away, very early in the morning, they said they

leaving for Arkansas in their bid to enter New York.” Paul sneered, “Then you wouldn’t mind us having a look see?” “Of course I would mind, what business you would have to search my home. I am a man of honour, is my word not good enough?” Paul said, “I do not care, if you are God, I know you are one of them bloody abolitionists. I demand to see your premises or I will have this place surrounded by every, law abiding slave owner in this state!” Mr. Bach, being an abolitionist, had secret compartments in his closets, of which he taught Christine and Julian to enter, if Paul or Jim ever sent anyone to look for them. He stepped aside and allowed Paul and his men in. He was not in the mood to handle a bunch of screaming bullies. Paul and his men, tore the place apart, he even went to the closet where Julian and Christine were hiding. He cursed and yelled when they could not be found. He yelled to his men that their quarry was nowhere to be found and that they should leave. “If they left this morning, they can’t be far, let’s go men!”

For two weeks, Paul and his men searched the neighbouring towns in vain for Christine and Julian.

Fed up and frustrated by his failure to locate them, he decided to disband his men and return to Uber. His estate for one was being handled by his cousin, whom he considers to be an idiot. “Jim, I fear I cannot waste any more resources to search for your daughter and that boy. However, as a deal is a deal, I will still marry Christine, if she comes to her senses within a year. Find her within the year and I will disinfect her and marry her. I bid you good day.” “Wait, Paul, please I don’t have any money to search for them, God knows where they are. You know I am near financial ruin!” He sounded so pathetic, Paul almost felt sorry for him, but said, “Stop whining. I did not tell you to gamble and whore your fortune away. Then to try and whore your daughter in regaining some of your ill-gotten prestige! I am fond of Christine, despite of what she has done. But as I said, no more of my money will be spent looking for her.” Jim barked at his lady friend to leave the room, and began cursing and hurling his dinner plates over the room. With his mood he could easily kill anyone in his path. “Jim, calm your spirits, I am sure your creditors will wait until you come up with something.” “You son of a bitch, I told them I would repay my debt to them. And you now up and cancel our agreement. What am I supposed to do now? I will be ruined.” Paul, spoke at a machine gun pace. “This is not fault of mine! Jim O’Connor, it’s that daughter of yours who could not keep her legs closed. You blame her for your downfall not me. I resent being called a son of a bitch!” Jim sheepishly, said “I am sorry; I am just angry and confused that’s all. I need to find them as soon as possible. Thank you for extending your marriage proposal.” Paul said, “I hope you will find her. Please keep me posted on your progress. It’s getting late, I bid you goodnight.” Jim sat and stewed for a while. He blamed himself that he allowed Christine so many liberties with that boy. How could I have been so blind, I should have paid more close attention to her relationship with Julian? I did find it peculiar at one time, how she looked at him. She had a look of love, but I thought it was just sympathy. Felicia is to blame for this predicament that I am in. Had she not allowed Christine and that boy to escape; I would be in financial heaven now, instead of facing an imminent bankruptcy. I should go upstairs to that wretch and tan her hide, again. What the use, she is already half dead. He had previously, ejected Felicia from their bedroom. He felt that this was her punishment, as she won’t feel his body next to her. Little did he know that, Felicia felt that was the greatest thing he has ever done for her. Enough of Felicia, I have to think of a scheme, to get those, bloodsuckers off my back. Another source of finance was not available to Jim. He thought of Felicia’s inheritance, but suddenly remembered that he had squandered it all, through the years. He decided to do some investigating on the possible, plans of Christine and Julian. His thought process was that since Negroes are stupid, Julian must have told another slave, what his plans were. He planned to whip the rest of the slaves until, someone gives him the information he wanted. He ordered the slaves from the fields, made them form a wide, circle and then he rode around in the middle. Whip and vengeance, accompanied, Jim O’Connor. The slaves could feel and see the hate and anger, boiling inside him. When he spoke his voice thundered. His Texas accent was sharp. “I am sure by now, y’all must know Julian, and a slave has run off with my daughter. The goal of this gathering today, is for one of you coloureds to tell me where they may be headed, and most importantly, why he attached himself to my precious Christine.” Snickers, travelled through the gathering. “Oh so you all think this is funny? He beckoned to an old slave, almost seventy and said, “You over there come closer!” He pulled out a whip and gave the poor woman, three successive lashes. The crowd gasped. “How comes no one is laughing now? This woman will continue to be lashed, until one of you spineless fools tell me what his plans were.” There were a few minutes of silence, and then he raised his arm to whip the woman, when a deep voice called out. It was Daniel. “Massa O’Connor, Julian is my cousin, I am his best friend, he never let on he was courting your daughter sir. No one knows what his plans were.” “Courting, you had better take that back boy, you mean he forced himself on her.” “Sir, Julian is a good and decent slave, he would never hurt, Miss Christine.” “You know if I wasn’t emotionally drained I would kill you right now. I can see it’s no use talking with you idiots. I will find my daughter and that boy, even if it takes a million damn years!!”