The activity during that winter kept Ida’s spirits up, and she laughed at the young ones’ antics. Mary was looking lovely; her cheeks blushed a pretty pink. Pregnancy looked good on her; her small tummy popped out just a bit. Ida lay at night and listened to the young couple’s love making. It seemed her advice was heeded, and the couple was doing well. She had known that Dark Henry had been a virgin, he had been so love sick for Mary all his young life, he couldn’t see any other woman. Turning over, Ida grunted amusement. It would seem that Henry and Mary had been destined for one another.
The gift that the master had given the couple was beyond wonderful, to never sell off her grandchildren, and to never separate Mary and Henry from each other. God had truly blessed them. Though, with all the talk of secession going on, Ida wasn’t sure if their days of slavery would last. Abolitionist up north were calling for President Lincoln to put an end to slavery. The southern folks were raising their voices in anger and Ida knew that change was in the air. It frightened her, and she didn’t know what would happen to them with the changes heading their way. All their information was second hand or worse. Ida didn’t know what was truth and what was rumor.
Would her grandchildren be freed? Would the country go to war? The slave owners wanted things to stay the way it was. They wanted to get rich off the scared backs of their slaves. Slaves whispered about what might happen to them if they were set free. Where would they go? What would they do? How would they live? So many questions, Ida felt overwhelmed by them, and they made her even more restless and tired.
The days melted into each other; the ground frozen in eternal white. It was the coldest winter that many could remember. Many came to Mary’s cabin, through out the cold months, to visit Ida. The women knew Ida’s time was growing short. The women gossiped about the northern abolitionists fighting for the freedom of the slaves, though that gossip was done in whispers. They talked about Mary’s upcoming birth during the early summer. They spoke of budding romances among the couples, especially between Patina and Theo. They gossiped about everyday unimportant things.
Mary fretted for her mother, Ida was growing weaker by the day and there was nothing she could do about it. Henry told Mary that her mother would be free of pain and that soon she would be with Jesus. He advised her to enjoy each moment with her mother, not to dwell on inevitable. Mary knew he was right, but it didn’t stop her heart from hurting. It didn’t ease the constant sorrow.
In the middle of the night in late March, Ida passed away quietly. Mary was up early and found her mother, bundled warm and dead. Her cry brought Henry out of bed and found his pregnant wife cradling her dead mother. Scalding tears cascaded down Mary’s face, as she rocked back and forth, keening with grief. Henry’s heart broke for both his wife and mother-in-law.
Henry gathered Mary and her mother in his massive arms and rocked them, adding his tears with Mary’s. Liza must have heard the crying, for she came over. Henry looked up when Liza came in and saw the sorrow etched on the older woman’s face. Ida was free from all earthly torments and pain; she was free from bondage.
The funeral was short because of the bitter cold wind blowing. John Anderson said a few words, telling Mary how sorry he was for her loss. The mistress was sick again and was bed ridden. There was talk of war and Victoria was afraid Theodore would leave to fight. Todd and Samuel had also been talking of leaving their wives and going off to war as well. John received a long explicit letter from Samuel, ranting about the north. Mary had read it, while the master had been out.
Samuel and his wife, Tory, lived just north Savanna. Samuel had inherited a small, but substantial plantation from John’s brother. They seldom traveled up to down to visit the family, Samuel burden down with his own problems. Tory and Victoria didn’t get along very well, Tory always wishing to be the center of attention. Victoria blamed Tory for her son’s prolonged absence.
Mary has listened to Victoria’s criticisms for years. Mary could only nod and attempt to sooth her mistress. Victoria seemed fractious with both her daughters-in-law. Nothing had changed. Victory was however, looking forward to the new baby coming. Her spirits seemed to buoy when it came to subjects of the new child. It eased Mary’s heart a little, she missed her mother. Liza helped, stopping by for visits. Henry seemed to understand her best. He was comforting and a comfort.
Anderson stood before the mirror, shaving. Hot water steamed up around his face as he drew the razor across his jaw. There had been an increase in the patrols in the area. There had been numerous runaways the past summer from many of the surrounding plantations. The rumors swarmed like crazed bees, stinging here and there. The white owners were enraged and terrified at the thought of losing their precious slave labor. Incensed that the northerners would have the impudence to dictate their lives. It would not be tolerated, by God. The whites were wary of their slaves and mistrustful of strangers, especially from the north.
John had lost none of his slaves, in part
