Love's Challenge

Chapter Seven: Freedom!

Live Oak Plantation, 1809

Swish Swish…Swish Swish went the sound of her home sewn dress as Nakisaie walked across the porch to the covered veranda. The trees were just beginning to bud; their scent, heavy in the air was ignored this morning. There was still work to do but Josiah had sent word he wanted to see her immediately.

"You wanted to see me Josiah…I still have to assign the days duties?" she asked impatiently. He allowed no one on the plantation to take that tone or call him by name except Nakisaie.

"I feel like having a party, an all day party. Do you feel like having a party?" he asked.

"Sure, so what's the special occasion? What's so special about today?" they were allowed only a few non working days throughout the year and this was not one of them. Was he sick, out of his head? Her wonderment grew as P'ter and Abram walked up to join them.

"P'ter, we're having a party today. I want you to get a work crew together. I want you to remove those headstones we put up for those men who were killed during the fight…then you and the crew can join the party, there will be no field work today."

'Let them think I've lost my mind' a mischievous smile curled the corners of his mouth as he pulled papers from his traveling satchel.

"P'ter, you are still single, although for the life of me I don't know why. These are your papers, as of today you are a free man. I have new headstones being delivered that will replace the old ones. They will show that free men are buried here for their sacrifice in protecting the plantation.

Abram, you also are a free man, along with your family. These are your papers and papers for your family.

As of now both of you are freed men. You can leave the plantation anytime. I do have a business deal you might be interested in. On my last business trip I stopped in Haiti and took a lease on thirty five thousand acres. I plan on doing some traveling in the near future so I'll also need someone to manage Live Oak. I can't think of any two men I'd rather have in charge.

My offer is this: If you want the job, it's yours. One can take Haiti, the other can stay here. You will be paid regular manager's wages plus a yearly bonus based on production. There is a ship leaving in the morning, I need my new manager in Haiti to be on it. Talk it over and we'll talk later."

A stunned P'ter and Abram walked off, papers in hand. P'ter to select a work detail, Abram to talk to his family and later to P'ter about the new positions or if they would leave Live Oak forever.

"And now, I've saved the last and hardest for last" Josiah turned his attention from the retreating men to Nakisaie. "These papers are for you and William. You're free to go wherever you want. If you want to go home, I'll give orders for the ship to stop in Senegal."

Nakisaie looked at the papers she held in her hand and what they represented.

"In these three years I've dreamed of going home…now that I have the papers that say I can, I find I don't want to go…
Josiah, you bought a thirteen year old child, made her a child-bride and mother. I'm only sixteen now, pregnant with our second child. I've stood beside you, worked the fields, shed blood, mine and others, to make this a home we could be proud of. All that time Josiah, and you still don't know me. I don't want to go home, this is my home; if you want me to go, you'll have to use the whip on my back and drive me off.

This is my home…standing beside you…my husband…my Prince. My question is: Am I still your primary wife?"
"No Nickie, you are not my primary wife any longer…you are my only wife." He gathered her in his arms, holding her close, kissing the tears from her cheeks. "Now, I think we have a reason to have a party…shall we join the party…together?"

"Yes my Prince…together…" she replied, laughing and wiping the last of her tears away.

They would share a lingering kiss before joining the party.

---------Xxxxxx

"Pelican House", Morning, Present day

Daphne woke to the sounds of a door being softly opened and closed, Shaggy and Scooby going out. She thought of the evening before, Fred had started his exploration quickly but at her unspoken request he had slowed, realizing that without Janice to open the door at the wrong time there was no reason to rush. He had yielded to her unspoken requests of what she wanted and needed at the moment; fanning the flames then letting them die to embers only to fan the flames of passion higher and hotter than before. At the end she had buried her head into that special place between ear and shoulder, muffling her cries that would have woke the whole house. They hadn't bothered to dress, only falling asleep in the afterglow, wrapped in each others arms.

She thought briefly of waking her lover for a repeat performance but quickly changed her mind. If she did that, she would never have the time to do what she needed to do this morning; instead she slipped from his embrace and dressed in an old pair of sweats, perfect for the explorations of the morning.

She stifled a yawn behind her hand as she closed the door behind her; "Good morning Shaggy, and you too Scooby."

"Good morning Daphne, what brings you out this early?"

"Nothing really, Fred's still sleeping and I thought I'd get some fresh air."

"Don't con a con man" came from Scooby's muzzle which made him shake his head.

"Don't do that! It's creepy even if I know it's you throwing your voice!" Daphne cried.

"Sorry, thought you'd be used to it by now. I've done it often enough." Shaggy replied, smiling.

"It's still creepy! And what do you mean "con"?"

"Oh, little things, like that heavy duty flashlight. Sun's up, no need for something that big.
Second, you are never up this early. Third, we've been talking about secret passages and the like. Therefore I deduce that you want Scooby to help in some exploration to satisfy that itch you have that there is more to this mystery than meets the eye. How am I doing?"

"You should have been a mind reader…think Scooby would help?"

"That's up to him…it's going to cost you some Scooby Snacks though. One thing Daph…"

"What's that?"

"Be careful. I don't want my favorite accident prone friend hurt. Promise you'll holler for help if you need it? Want some company…just in case?"

"Thanks Shaggy, but no, I don't want to look like a fool if we don't find anything."

"Better to look a fool than to be one. You haven't promised."

"I promise…I'll holler so loud the whole county will hear me. Now go snuggle with Velma, I'll see you guys at breakfast." She watched the retreating back of her friend before turning to Scooby, "One Scooby Snack now, two more after our explorations…deal?"

Inside, Shaggy undressed, slipping into bed. "You're cold…where's Scooby?" came Velma's sleepy voice.

"Outside with Daph…I think he'll earn some Scooby Snacks this morning."

"Come here, I'll warm you up." Velma invited softly.

It would be a long time before Shaggy was warm enough to fall asleep. Velma's whimpering woke Fred in the next room. He decided to dress and give the lovebirds their privacy.

Meanwhile outside, Daphne had decided that a trip to the tool shed was in order.
"Okay Scooby, I don't know what we're looking for. My reporter nose tells me we should begin with the cookhouse; it's the oldest of the buildings. What does your nose say?"

It would take the better part of an hour of searching, Scooby digging and Daphne's use of the shovel she had retrieved from the tool shed before they found the basement entrance; another quarter hour to remove the accumulated dirt covering the entrance.

"Here goes" Daphne removed the old planking that revealed the dark hole of the entrance. "You go first" Daphne said, pointing to the entrance that led down into darkness.

"Re? Ro Ray!" Scooby whined. "Rou rot re Rashlight!"

"Oh yeah, and you can't hold a flashlight…right?" Daphne switched on the flashlight, "Okay here goes, but you better be right behind me or no Scooby Snacks for you!" She looked down into the black pit, took a deep breath and started slowly down the rough hewn stairs.

The promise of Scooby Snacks and the love of his friend gave Scooby the courage to meet the challenge. His whole body shook anyway!