Ransom of Love (37 page)

“Well,” said Milburn as they drew near the wagon where two muscular slaves stood ready, “it looks like Cecil and Leonard are about to begin.”

Benjamin saw that four large cotton bales had been tied together with ropes. The bales lay at the feet of the two contestants.

For a moment, all eyes turned to the plantation owner and the husky black man at his side.

Dorena was in the laundry room near the kitchen. She had been given the job as laundress for the Milburn family and was too busy to join the other slaves who were gathered outside, watching the contest.

As she scrubbed sheets and bedding in a large galvanized tub, she wept, begging the Lord to deliver her from marrying Zanu. Salty tears dripped off her chin into the soapy water as she mindlessly scrubbed the bedding and listened to the roar of the crowd outside as they cheered the contestants.

Soon she had the bedding in a tub of clear water and rinsed it out. Deciding to take a little break before she started washing clothing, she
left the laundry room and stepped out on the back porch. Her line of sight went to Cecil and Leonard, who were about to vie with each other. The crowd was waiting with bated breath.

Dorena’s gaze slowly left the two competitors and drifted to Laird Milburn. It was then her eyes settled on the tall, broad-shouldered man who stood beside Milburn. Even with his back toward her, she knew that form. An involuntary gasp escaped her lips. For a fraction of a second she was afraid she was hallucinating, then he turned his head a bit and Dorena saw his unmistakable profile.

It was Benjamin in the flesh! He had come for her!

Cecil bent over to grasp the bundle when suddenly a feminine squeal cut through the air, followed by the cry, “Benjami-i-in!”

His head whipped around to see his beloved Dorena racing toward him from the rear of the mansion. She ran with open arms, and tears glistened on her cheeks as she repeated his name.

Zanu stood with Bernard a few feet from where Cecil was about to lift the bales. His gaze flashed to Dorena, then to the stranger, and his eyes widened.

Benjamin started toward Dorena, but Laird Milburn made a quick move, stepping in front of him. Immediately, two overseers were at Benjamin’s side, eyeing him warily.

Milburn turned and pointed a stiff finger at Dorena. “Stop right there, girl!”

When Dorena stopped, she was no more than ten feet from Benjamin.

“Dorena,” said Milburn, “move back with the others.”

Benjamin and Dorena stood spellbound for a few seconds, looking hungrily into each other’s eyes. Benjamin gave her a smile that warmed her all the way to her bare toes. Flicking a glance at Laird Milburn, she turned and walked to the edge of the crowd, wiping tears and silently sending a prayer of gratitude heavenward.

From where he stood, Zanu—who was taller and heavier than
Benjamin—scowled at him. Benjamin met his hard gaze but showed no emotion.

Cecil still stood over the bundle, which lay some twelve feet from the flatbed wagon. Bare from the waist up, he flexed his muscles. They rippled and corded under his shiny black skin. Benjamin heard one of the overseers tell Milburn that the last contestants to be eliminated had tried to pick up three bales per bundle.

Every eye was on Cecil as he hoisted the bundle waist-high and staggered toward the wagon, every muscle straining. When he started to lift it onto the bed, it fell short, and he dropped it.

While moans of disappointment swept through the crowd, Cecil walked away, his head lowered in shame.

Two slaves picked the bundle up and carried it back to the starting point. Leonard then hoisted it, staggering a little, but was able to put the bundle on the wagon bed to the cheers of the crowd.

While the bundle was being placed at its original spot again, Zanu stood over it, flexing his muscles. He glanced at Benjamin and scowled again. Quickly, Zanu picked up the bundle and with seemingly little effort carried it to the wagon and laid it gently on the bed. The crowd cheered him.

Bernard got the bundle about as far as Cecil had. It was now down to Leonard and Zanu. Another cotton bale was added to the bundle. Zanu flexed his up, carried it confidently to the wagon, and this time dropped it on the bed with a thud. The crowd cheered him.

While the cheering was going on, Laird Milburn turned to Benjamin and said in a voice that only Benjamin could hear, “You look pretty strong to me. Do you think you can out-lift our champion?”

“Possibly,” said Benjamin, wondering what the man had in mind.

“Tell you what. I want you to compete with Zanu. Another bale will be added to the bundle. More bales will be added, if need be, until one of you loses. If you can out-lift Zanu, and will pay me 1,000 dollars for Dorena, you can have her. I’ll give you the time to go to Texas for the money.”

The proposition momentarily stunned Benjamin. As he thought it over, Milburn studied the emotions crossing the young man’s face.

“I’m a man of my word, Benjamin. You can count on me to uphold my end of the bargain.”

Benjamin prayed in his heart for God’s help, then said to Milburn, “We have a deal.”

“Okay. Warm up a little while I talk to Zanu.”

Dorena watched as Milburn stepped to Zanu and Benjamin began working his arms, shoulders, and back to loosen them. A frown of puzzlement lined her brow.

Standing close to Zanu, Milburn kept his voice low and told him the husky man was the one to whom Dorena was promised, and he had come to purchase her from him.

Milburn then explained the contest he had set up, and told Zanu if he let the smaller man out-lift him, he would lose Dorena. She would be purchased by Benjamin Johnson.

Zanu turned and looked at Benjamin. He gave him a mean look and from the side of his mouth said to Milburn, “He looks strong, but he cannot out-lift Zanu.”

Milburn grinned and walked to the center of the circle of slaves and overseers to explain the contest between Zanu and Benjamin. A low murmur traveled through the crowd.

“One more thing,” said Milburn so that all could hear. “If Zanu wins, there will be no recourse. The wedding between Zanu and Dorena will take place this evening!”

Milburn’s words cut into Dorena’s heart. Zanu was so much bigger than Benjamin. Their entire future lay in the balance. She began praying, asking the all-powerful God to give Benjamin the strength to beat Zanu in the contest.

The heavier bundle was now ready.

Milburn told Benjamin to go first.

Benjamin stepped to the bundle and worked his arms once more, sent a glance toward the one and only woman he would ever love, then spread his feet apart for the lift.

D
ORENA
WAS
PARALYZED
WITH
FEAR
as Benjamin grasped the bundle and lifted it waist-high. His legs remained perfectly steady as he carried the bales to the wagon, raised them above the level of the bed, and set them down softly.

The slaves seemed hesitant to raise a cheer for Benjamin. Dorena knew why. Zanu had used his size and strength more than once to bully the other slaves.

She breathed a tiny bit easier, then tensed up when Zanu matched Benjamin’s lift. She found her fingernails digging into her palms as another bale was added to the bundle, which not only added to its weight but made it more cumbersome.

Both men were given a few minutes to rest, then Laird Milburn told Zanu to go first.

Zanu leered at Benjamin, flexed his muscles once again, and picked up the bundle. This time he staggered beneath the weight and had a hard time controlling it. The crowd looked on apprehensively as he reached the wagon, breathing hard, and strained to lift it high enough to place it on the bed. It only bumped the side of the wagon, and an oooh swept over the crowd.

The veins in Zanu’s neck, shoulders, and biceps stood out like ropes as he tried again, straining every muscle in his body. But still he could not clear the wagon’s edge. In frustration, he dropped the bundle at his feet.

There was dead silence from the crowd.

Laird Milburn set eyes on Benjamin as two slaves grunted and pulled the bundle back to its starting point.

Zanu stepped close to Benjamin and gave him the evil eye for a full five seconds, then turned away, still puffing from exertion.

Benjamin prepared to make his lift.

Dorena’s hands went to her mouth.
Please, God, give him strength in great measure
. Holding her breath, and willing strength into him, she watched as he closed his eyes. She knew he was praying. Then Benjamin took hold of the bundle and hoisted it, and headed for the wagon.

When he reached it, he had the same problem Zanu had experienced. The bundle bumped the side of the wagon but it seemed impossible to get it high enough to place it on the bed.

The crowd was hardly breathing as they waited.

Benjamin’s mind went to Dorena. The love he had for her was strong. He could not let Zanu have her. With a prayer in his heart, he reached down inside himself to depths yet untouched and gave an upward jerk.

The bundle landed on the wagon bed with a solid thump.

Dorena’s knees went weak and she exhaled her pent-up breath.

Breathing hard, Benjamin turned and gave her a loving, triumphant grin.

A wide smile suddenly graced Dorena’s lips and her eyes lit up with love for him.

No one cheered for Benjamin, but the crowd stood in awe. While the defeated Zanu looked on, Milburn took Benjamin and Dorena into a nearby tool shed.

Dorena, who thought she would then be turned over to Benjamin, was shocked when Milburn said, “I’ll take the 250 dollars now as earnest money. When you return with the 750, Dorena will be yours.”

“Master Laird,” said Dorena, “I do not understand.”

Milburn explained the agreement between himself and Benjamin.

Batting her eyes, she said, “Benjamin! You are going to pay 1000 dollars for me?”

“Yes,” he said, looking at her with eyes of love.

Her lips trembled. “And I love you for it … and for winning the contest so you could ransom me. And I praise the Lord for giving you the strength.”

Benjamin handed Milburn the 250 dollars.

Milburn nodded. “I’ll go to the house and make out a receipt for this. In the meantime, I want you two to have a few minutes together.”

When they were alone, they embraced and kissed. While he held her, Benjamin explained that since he was this close to Texas, he would drive the horse and buggy to the ranch. He was now in partnership with Dan and he was sure Dan would advance him the 750 dollars. He would come back for her as soon as he had the money in hand.

Dorena clung to him and said, “I love you so much! How can I ever thank you for not only winning the contest, but for being willing to pay such a sum for my ransom?”

Benjamin kissed the tip of her nose. “May I remind you of the ransom our Lord Jesus paid for both of us? Dorena, sweetheart, what Jesus did was a ransom of love … and in a small way, but just as sincerely, what I am doing now is a ransom of love.”

They were sharing another tender kiss when they heard Laird Milburn’s footsteps approaching the shed. They broke apart just as he opened the door.

“Here’s the receipt, Benjamin,” said Milburn, placing it in his hand. “And congratulations on winning her fair and square.”

“Thank you, Master Laird,” said Dorena, “for allowing Benjamin the opportunity to compete for me.”

“You’re quite welcome, dear. I know true love when I see it.” Then he said to Benjamin, “Time for Dorena to get back to work.”

Benjamin allowed Dorena to move outside ahead of them, but Dorena refrained from overstepping her bounds with her owner by stopping in front of the shed and letting them walk ahead of her toward Benjamin’s buggy. Benjamin looked over his shoulder and
gave her a loving glance and a wave of his hand.

“Hurry back, darling!” she called. “Please hurry back!” A sudden dread seized her and she prayed, “Father, please forgive my doubts and fears. Help me to trust and not be afraid.” As always when she prayed, peace settled over her heart.

She watched until the buggy was out of sight, then wiped the tears from her cheeks. With confidence that this time would be different, she made her way toward the house to do the rest of her wash, humming a happy tune.

Benjamin Johnson drove across Louisiana into Texas, sleeping in the buggy at night and purchasing food along the way with the money earmarked for train fare to get him and Dorena to San Antonio.

Dan and Tracie happened to be on the wraparound porch at the front of the house when Dan pointed across the fields. “We’ve got company, honey.”

Tracie squinted to bring the driver of the buggy into focus. “Dan … that’s Benjamin!”

“Sure enough! But he was supposed to bring Dorena on the train.”

“I don’t see her. She’s not with him, Dan.”

When Benjamin stepped out of the buggy, he said, “I have a long story to tell you. First, let me get myself a couple of hugs.”

After embracing both Tracie and Dan, Benjamin sat down on the porch and told them about Charles Moore’s death, Lewis having sold Dorena, how he had to use 150 dollars of the ransom money to buy the horse and buggy … then go from place to place to finally locate her.