Dark Henry sat quietly at the table, his large blue-black hands folded, not sure what to do next. He looked down at his bare feet, suddenly shy. Ida rolled her eyes heavenward and told the young people to take a walk around the cabins, Mary hid a smile.
“Be careful and look to stay out of Clark’s way and the patrol. Take some of Nan’s little ones with you.” Ida warned as the couple readied to leave the cabin.
Henry smiled gratefully, rising so quickly, he knocked over the wooden chair. He apologized profusely, nearly up turning the small table and the bowl of snap-beans. Mary stepped in and gently took his arm, leading him safely out of the cabin, before he brought down the walls and rafters. Mary smiled secretly and they walked around the cabins, her small hands on his arm. Two of Nan’s children followed the couple, running back and forth, touching Henry’s hand and running away.
Mary marveled at the strength she felt beneath her hand, it felt as though she were holding warm iron. Amazed, Mary had never felt small before, she towered over her mother and many of the other women. But with Henry, she felt small and fragile. She liked that feeling. Henry was shy, but spoke to her of his work, and his pride shown like candles in the deepest dark. An hour later found Henry at Mary’s cabin.
“Thank you for walkin with me, Mary. I really liked it. I like you.” His voice was deep and rumbled in his broad chest. He shyly bid her good night and left. Mary smiled a delicious secret smile as she watched the tall young man walk away. She opened the door and found her mother and Liza sniggering over some private joke. Mary blushed, knowing they were probably talking about Dark Henry and her. She laughed again when she caught sight of the sorry state of the wild flowers.
She walked over to her mother and draped her long arms around the frail woman’s shoulders. She kissed her cheek and told her about her walk with Henry.
“It was a nice walk momma. He was telling me how Gabe is teaching him how to work the iron.”
“It’s a good trade. Henry is a good sort. Though he is hard on the furniture.” Ida laughed and Liza joined in. Liza got up heavily, her joints popping and grinding loudly. She bid the two women goodnight and left the cabin, a soft chuckling swirling behind. Mary sat in Liza’s vacated seat and drank the rest of the root tea left in the kettle and smiled at her mother. Ida reached out a hand and cupped Mary’s face, her rough hands petting the soft skin.
FIVE
Dark Henry set to courting Mary, with such fervor that would have turned any young girl’s head. Ida watched the interlocutors, her heart filled with joy. Henry brought gifts nearly every night he came to visit. One day he brought a brace of hares, the next day he gifted Mary with a pot or pan or some utensils he had made at the smith. All watched on when he brought fish or a sack of potatoes. All smiled at the couple, glances exchanged between lovers, husbands and wives and mothers and fathers. Nothing went unnoticed in the slave quarters. Mary lavished great compliments on the great craftmanship of Henry’s work and the gifts he brought.
For Mary’s fifteenth birthday, Dark Henry made her a griddle, shaped in a stylish heart. Gabe help him, but most of the work Henry had done himself. Mary was so touched by his thoughtfulness; she gave him his first kiss on the cheek. Ida thought for sure the young man might swoon, the rapture in his eyes glittered like diamonds. She hid a smile behind her hand and Liza just rolled her eyes and shook her head. That boy had it bad. All could see that Henry and Mary would wed soon.
The nights soon began to turn crisp as summer bowed out for autumn. Soon life on the large farm would slow down. Mary walked home from the big house one night; she had stayed a little late, because her mistress wasn’t feeling well. Victoria was having more days filled with illness. Theodor had begun taking over the reins of running the large farm. Master Anderson was stepping aside to let his youngest son run things. There was less friction now in the house. Mary was glad, sometimes the master and Theo would raise the roof with shouts.
She was thinking about Henry and didn’t realize she was being followed until Clark was on to her like a hen on a June bug. She turned, fear shooting up her spine, realizing too late, her fatal error.
“I see that young buck ain’t with you tonight. Don’t think I didn’t notice. You been giving that cherry pie to him?” Lester Clark chortled; his mouth close to Mary’s ear. His breath was fetid, as though he held death in his mouth. Mary tried not to gag, she had never been this close to Clark and she sure didn’t want to stay this way. It was like standing at the gates of hell, the stench of the dead crawling forth. She tried to pull away from Clark, the man grabbed her slender arm and began walking toward a stand of trees. Mary was frantic, she knew the horrible man planned to rape her. Mary had heard stories from the other women and was old enough now to understand the stories about him. Clark was cruel and beat the woman as he raped her over and over.
Fear began to escalate as it snaked its way through Mary’s body. Her heart was hammering like thunder in
