Flight of Fancy: Cora's Daughters (26 page)

He could hear the pride in her voice, see it in her carriage.

They were shown to her room, passing young women on the way, many of them filled with curiosity to know who this tall rugged looking white man was. Who was
she
with him?
Why
was she with him? The hums of their voices between those close enough to murmur about it could be easily heard.

Now that Asiza was there, and in place, Broc was the one fighting ill feelings about leaving her behind. He was asking question after question, feeling a peculiar sensation in the pit of his stomach, knowing that he would be walking away and leaving her for someone else to protect.

Asiza was different – she couldn’t be left with just anyone.

Only he knew how different she was – and that in truth, she really was harmless – but to
some
, dangerous. He worried over how she would act in his absence, and prayed she not attack anyone – and that no one gave her cause to. Thinking on it, he wasn’t so sure this was a good idea. Faced with the alternative, it was the best place because he was not subjecting her to a harsh winter without a home.

Della was amused and delighted to see such a bold and open display of fondness between a white man and a black woman – an actual white husband and a Negro wife. Where, at one time they had been the norm, due to the changes of the land and slavery - it was now rare, but they still existed. Many ignored the new laws against it – because it was, as Mr. Wolf had said, that God’s law would always override man’s when in conflict. Once upon a time, it had been between man and his Creator who he chose as his wife – as it should have continued to be. Miscegenation laws had come to be, to uphold the European’s need to repress an entire nation, thanks to the Catholic Church giving them full permission to do so. They needed to build a new world.
That
would take loads of manpower, because with that new world, they could see much profit –
if
– they could enslave enough with strong backs to do so. To justify it, the chosen race had to be lowered to cattle status. One way of maintaining it, – restrict white men from marrying anyone not white. After all, the scriptures spoke against bestiality – if Negroes were now beast, marriage with them was not allowed. After all, they’d done their psychological
trickery
convincing those they’d needed to, that they, people of color, weren’t human like them.

So continuing to marry them was out of the question.

Despite it, many still would not know of this law, thus continuing as normal. Like the Wolfs.

Della had answered every question he’d had asked. With Broc finally satisfied, she left the three so they could say their goodbyes. Asiza had hoped he'd keep on asking questions which would prolong his presence.

She lacked confidence about the next phase in her life, but she knew she had little choice but to face it.

Broc stood looking around their room, “This ain’t bad. Two beds, clean and comfy, big window that lets you see clear to town,” he exaggerated looking out of it, trying to be overly excited about their prospects. He rubbed his hands together, followed by scratching his head, all nervous gestures, trying to think of what to do next, and then he looked down at Asa,

“Ah, lil’man…” he said his name as if he were his savior, “...come here for a second,” he led him to the second bed that would be his. Broc was stunned at himself for feeling as he did with the idea of leaving them – proving how much they meant to him. “You know what comes next, don’cha? That I have to go and get a home done for us – so we have a nice place to live.”

Asa nodded, he understood, he’d been through similar before.

“While I’m gone, you take care of Mrs. Wolf for me, will you do that?” The look on Asa’s face said he wasn’t so sure, but he nodded that he would try. “I’ll do the best I can.” He replied, honestly.

“That all I ask, an’ she’ll take care of you. Get you nice new clothes, shoes, hats. Everything a boy needs – she’ll see to it,” Broc swallowed, glancing over his shoulder at Asiza.

She stood still as a post staring directly at him, eyes wide and watching. He turned back to Asa, “Can you go outside for a bit, sit on that big front porch, ‘til it’s time for me to go?” He asked, gently.

Asa stood from his bed and obeyed immediately, leaving them in the room alone. Broc stood, crossing to Asiza’s bed where he lifted his saddle bag, laying it flat, he opened one side and pulled out two nice size bags of gold coins. Eighty dollars’ in gold to each - most folks would work a year and still not see that much.

To fully clothe her and Asa, in the best of fashion, it would more than cover their needs.

“I want you to hide this somewhere in this room. You got one-hundred-sixty here - whatever you need, Asa need, you get it. Take that Ms. Della with you shopping and don’t let nobody cheat you. I’m thinking the first thing you need to learn, is how to count money, you hear?”

She gave a nod, clearly not pleased with the arrangements.

He spoke gently to her, gazing at her lovely face - even with the bandana on and short tufts of her dark hair swirling from beneath, framing her features, she moved him deep from within.

Laying the money aside for her to put away, he palmed both sides of her face, going on to say, “I’m not leaving town right away. I’ll be here at least, three more nights. I’ll be back to see you a few more times before I go.” His voice was kind and pleading.

His nearness caused her deep breathing, her breasts brushed his lower chest, she could feel the warmth of his breath on her skin. Standing so intimately, she was once more reminded of the height of him, the breadth of him, the strength of him.

“Asiza, now… you listen to me, to every word…” He gulped and prayed it seemed, “…things different now Asiza. You stay close to this school, do what Ms. Della tells you…and ‘Seeza… no more… fightin’ – you hear’me? No more… attackin’ men… cuttin’em’up – none of that now. There’s more law for you here… I mean it, this is home, where we gone live. You… you a lady now, a real lady. Lady’s don’t… carry knives, arrows and the like. I’m takin’ it all with me.”

That got her attention, her eyes bulged wide, “Taking’em? Why? I may need-…”

“Nope, no no no … m’darlin’ Asiza, you a lady. I don’t see where you have to do what you did before… not here. No, you stay clear of folks, men in particular. Keep your head down, learn to read and write, and be a nice lady. Please – for me?”

He was gathering her in his arms, wrapping them firm and secure about her, regardless of the look on her face concerning her weapons. The more he tightened up against her, bringing her in, the closer his mouth came in search of her lips.

The moment he captured them - her body flooded with a need for him. All just said a moment since, faded in the wake of his embrace, his kisses - she wanted this moment to last forever. 

His moist tongue danced, twirled and teased with hers.

Parting briefly for their very tips to meet once more, to explore every taste bud of the other. The kiss was filled with all that he felt for her; all that she felt for him. Her arms circled his hard and heavy body, squeezing as tightly as she could, transferring feelings of love and longing. She wanted to weep when he took the time to slowly kiss every inch of her face, admiring her, cherishing her, before he left her.

Asiza groaned as she stretched upward to kiss his Adam’s apple – the feel of her lips on him in such a way was enough. Broc stepped away – needing to break contact. He would have to hold his hat over his lap until he was clear of women.

Their eyes met.

“Better go, daylight’s about gone.” He made his way quickly to the door, not wishing to delay things a moment more. Standing with the door open and the knob in hand, he looked back at her, “I’ll be back Asiza … I swear I will. No fighting now, you hear?” and whispered the last with wide eyes of warning… “…
no cuttin’ an’ killin’.
”

She looked away from him, eyes to the floor, lip back out. She was unhappy and not about to pretend this is what she wanted.

When she glanced up again, he was gone – his absence kicked off a pain in her guts that made her rush to the door. He hadn’t wasted any more time, he was nowhere in the hallway. She made another dash to catch him, rushing to the broad staircase and down them, looking for him as she went. It wasn’t until she was out the front door and he was heading around to the side to get his horses that he stopped to look back. That’s when someone called out, “Asiza!? Asiza that you? Oh my Lord, Asiza?” Hearing her name called so familiarly, stopped Asiza in motion as well, she turned back – and immediately recognized the voice and face.

“Millie?! Millie oh my…” Asiza was shocked to be looking at one of the women from Clover Grove plantation. This was the last thing she expected. “Millie, how you en’up here?” Asiza asked, with Millie laughing.

“I was thinking that as well about you. I have my Nina and Mary with me as well. I don’t know when I’ve been so happy. How is that you ended up here?”

“You sho’talkin’ fancy now. Wait Millie, I be back.”

Asiza turned from her to see Asa standing on the side of the porch watching Broc ride away, waving at him. “Broc! Wait! Wait!” She rushed off the side of the porch, down the yard and through the gate hitching up her skirt not to trip and fall until his horse broke her fierce dash to him, stopping her against Broc’s leg. “I – I be here, when you get back fo’me, fo’Asa… we’ah be here fo’you – I promise. An’ I – I’ah be good … no, fightin’. Just want you t’know.” Broc smiled broadly – leaning over his thigh he grabbed her head and kissed her mouth with a loud wet smack of his lips. Laughing he sat up, winked at her and took his reigns in hand – riding away he sang, with their horses in tow.

‘Asiza m’darlin –

oh a many’o’men she scare –

so delicate a beauty to see her,

but all warn me, beware –

Blessid be, the Lord give me,

somethin’ so sweet an’ oh so rare,

Ohhh - but - a many’o’man she scare

yes – a many’o’man she scare…
he sang and chuckled happily.

Asiza stood smiling as the distance between them grew. Once he was out of sight, she turned back, her eyes met Asa’s, walking slowly through the gate, she reached him saying, “We’ah be all right, what you thank?”

He smiled, “Yes ma’am, we be.”

“Asiza?!” Millie called to her again. “Join me for supper, please? We’ll share a table?” She added.

Unfortunately, Della had other plans for Asiza. She had to get her orientated, cleared on all that it would mean to be a boarder. Thus, upon re-entering, Della didn’t waste a moment before she was there to whisk her away, calling back to Millie over her shoulder, “There’ll be plenty of time for that later, I have to get her settled insewn – first things first.”

Ms. Della was thorough.

She took her time, explaining all the rules, what her presence there would mean for them all. It was fact that each person’s actions while dwelling there reflected back on everyone else there. She wanted Asiza - as well the others to always be mindful of their conduct when about the city. To make sure of this, their education included more than reading, writing and sums – it also entailed lessons in etiquette. How to walk, talk, stand, sit, or stand in line, eat, drink, go to the privy and be amongst others in town. 

Nothing was left to chance. And because so many had come before her with nothing, Mrs. Wolf having no clothing to start off with was no surprise. By the time Della was done with her, all Asiza wanted to do was fall into bed. As for Asa – he was happy to find, that there was an area for the children to play in – and for once in a long time, he was allowed to be a child and play through much of Della’s and Asiza’s meeting.

After dinner with Della, the last thing they were shown were the bathing rooms. Both were given sleeping attire, a fresh clean sleeping gown for the night following a nice hot bath. Together, in their clean private room, they fell to bed with Asa so exhausted he was once more out like a light. As for Asiza, she lay wondering where Broc slept? Her bed was the most comfortable she’d ever slept in.

Even Asa lay as if on a cloud down from heaven just for him.

But where was Broc sleeping?

The thought was interrupted by a soft tapping at her door.

She scrambled up from bed, opening it to find Millie there.

“Can’t sleep – I had to talk to you.” Millie whispered, standing in her nightgown with a candle holder in hand, the light of it flickering and dancing in the dark hallway.

“No matta’, got so much on m’min’, can’t sleep no way. How you come t’be heah?” Asiza asked.

“I’m not alone…” Millie informed her, turning to wave the others forward; Nettie, Tori, Ruth and Ivy… all from Clover Grove plantation.

Chapter Eighteen

As each crept forward, Asiza’s heart took off in joy. The six sat in the hallway at her door, all in their nightgowns, around one solitary candle flickering as they whispered low – telling how they came to be there, surprising Asiza with their tale.