“I have some news that will change your lives.” Theo started solemnly. Holding up the notice, he continued, “This is a notice and it says that the war is over. The Union army and the North have triumphed over the Confederacy. As per the Emancipation proclamation, that President Lincoln signed, you are now free men and women.” Looking out into their faces, he saw shock at first, then understanding.
“Suh, do that mean we kin leave here? We don’t need no permission or pass, suh?” Tall Tom asked, the unofficial spokesman for the now ex-slaves.
“Yes Tom, this means you may go where you want. You are free to go and do as you wish. You are no longer my property.” Theo said softly, a soft smile on his lips.
“Suh, where we go? We ain’t know nothin’ about nothin’. What we do, suh? How we gonna live?” Tom asked.
“I don’t know Tom, whatever you want to do and wherever you wish to go. I would ask that if any of you want to stay here and keep working my farm, I can pay you a little. At the end of harvest, I can pay you a percentage of the crops we sell at market. I can’t guarantee you a lot of money, but you’ll have your homes, some money and whatever food you grow in your gardens. For those of you who wish to leave, I can give you a small amount of money to help you on your way. I can’t run this farm without your help, but I can’t keep you here any longer if you don’t wish to stay. Tall Tom, if you want to talk with these people, find out who wants to stay and who wishes to go, you and I can then sit down and hash out the details.” Theo said, hope in his bright blue eyes.
Theo went up on the porch to talk with his father, the ex-slaves milled about the main house and talked with Tall Tom. Gabe and Dark Henry came up to Theo and his father on the porch some time later. Mary went to her husband and took his hand, a question in her eyes. Smiling gently at his lovely wife, Henry kissed her on her forehead. He whispered something in her ear, causing her to smile in return. She turned and went back into the house, pulling Patina with her.
Patina looked at her questioningly, her brow knotted in concern.
“Henry says we’re gonna stay and work for Theo.” She smiled, she and Henry had talked for long hours at night, in each other’s arms. They spoke about the incredible possibility of freedom, so close at hand. Mary had also thought long and hard about what would happen should the war end. Mary didn’t want to leave the farm; this had been her home all her life. She wasn’t ready to leave it. She wanted to stay on and perhaps keep working as housekeeper. This was her home, it was familiar and for her, it was safe.
The memories of her visit to Savannah still haunted her to this day. She shivered at the remembrance.
“I want to stay too.” Patina said softly, a smile on her pretty face.
“I don’t think Theo would let you or the children go.” Mary smiled.
“I love him and he loves me.” Patina said simply, her hazel eyes aglow.
As it turned out, Gabe wanted to take his family and go north and work there. Dark Henry agreed to stay on and be the farm’s blacksmith. Twelve families wanted to leave and try their luck elsewhere, hoping to find their loved ones, who were spread far and wide. Most of the single men wanted to stay put, especially the six who had returned from their stint in the confederate army. It would be tough, but it could be done, with, everyone pitching in to help, they could make the farm prosper and provide for the families that remained.
Theo paid each of the families that had decided to leave ten dollars, giving them several chickens as well. To Gabe, he gave a horse and chickens, along with twenty dollars. It was generous and Theo wished them all well. Liza wanted to stay on the farm, telling Gabe she was too old to go traipsing about the country side. She asked him not to go so far north and told him to bring her grandbabies back when they could.
Within a week, almost half of the ex-slave population had departed to find their fortunes. There were tearful goodbyes, laughter and high hopes. The farm seemed a bit quieter once they had gone, a lonesome and sad kind of emptiness. Dark Henry helped Tall Tom take down several of the empty cabins, they took that wood and did repairs on the remaining homes. Wood floors were put in the cabins and the smaller gardens expanded. It would take a lot of hard work to keep the farm up and running, but everyone was willing to work hard.
Patina went back out into the field, she wanted to work near Theo, who was out there every day. She felt cooped up within the walls of the main house and wanted to be out in the sunshine. Drake and Rachel, along with Ida and Victor, stayed at the house with Mary, who kept the house running smoothly. Mary also started teaching the children to read and write, and some of the adults who wanted to learn. There came a new rhythm to their lives and as the months went on, they saw more and more of what the war had cost.
Carpetbaggers were a constant nuisance and John sat on the porch with an ancient musket. Men coming home from war passed through, their pale and gaunt faces seemed haunted with all they had witnessed. They looked starved
