The Short Life of a Southern Belle

Chapter 10

Author's Note: Another chapter. Thank you for wildhorsewriting for reviewing :) All dialogue in Italics is ©Tarantino. Enjoy.

Several hours later we were on our way back to Candieland. Candie was conversin' with Moguy who had joined us because Candie required him for his deal with German. The Doctor was presumably some ways behind us, travellin' with his free man. I didn't spare them much thought, too preoccupied with another matter.

I hadn't confronted Candie about his betrayal. I felt he would deny it, insist he'd slept in our bed last night. Even if he did fess up, I wasn't ready to accept another promise he wouldn't do it again. That left me with not much else to do, other than sit and stew in silence, wishin' all manner o' horrible afflictions on his temptress. Candie wouldn't want her if she caught leprosy.

Candie's hand suddenly moved over mine in my lap. I started, glanced sideways and caught him smilin' at me tenderly. The smile I gave back was involuntary but tremulous. Candie turned back to Moguy, leavin' me even more vexed by behaviour. How he act so sweet, lettin' me know he cared through small gestures, yet two-time me behind my back.

And for what reason. I was with child so he could no longer use the excuse he was sore about that. Moreover I always did my best to please him. Sure the dress fiasco had been a setback, but Candie said he'd forgiven me. If he hadn't been angry about that, what had spurred him into Shee-ba's arms?

Was the bottom line he simply couldn't resist her, in her form-huggin' dresses. The kind I wasn't allowed to wear out o' decency. Was it a simple matter o' him wantin' to have his cake and eat it too? A Southern Belle wife and a whore on the side. The idea filled me with disgust. Plain greed was no excuse to philander, even if you were Calvin J Candie, the king o' Candieland...

Candie's voice broke through my thoughts, tellin' the driver to pull up. The German and his free man had just ridden up alongside us. The latter stayed silent as the German removed his hat, greetin' us with a bow.

"How are you feeling Madame Candie?" he asked.

"I'm well Doctor," I lied.

"I'm happy to hear it," the German replied with a smile.

"Marie's enjoyin' the trip better now she has loan o' a parasol," Candie remarked with a chuckle, "Ain't that right sugar?"

I forced myself to nod. Candie had sourced the parasol from the closet, so I knew it belonged to Shee-ba. Why she had need for a parasol I had no idea, unless she did turns around the club's garden with Candie on her arm. Like a proper couple.

I'd been loath to take it when Candie held it out to me. I would have preferred Billy's hat. But Candie didn't want me wearin' a man's hat anymore than he wanted me wearin' one o' Shee-ba's dresses. Yet for some reason it was acceptable to use her goddamn parasol.

Candie invited the German to ride with us in the carriage, an offer he graciously accepted, followin' Candie's instruction to tie his horse at the back.

"Jango," Candie tipped his hat to the free man. He'd dismounted to feed his horse a handful o' grass.

The free man returned the gesture mutely.

"Bright day eh Bright Boy?" Candie said.

"The sun is up," the free man straight-forwardly replied.

"Shinin' down on all o' us," Candie concurred.

"'cept me," I muttered dryly.

Candie turned to me and laughed.

"That's right," he cooed, "you well shaded funny gal."

"Very witty," Moguy murmured sycophantically.

I didn't bother explainin' that I'd been referrin' to my mood.

The German was in the process o' steppin' up into the carriage. I watched him take a seat next to Moguy, unaware o' what was brewin' behind until I heard a horse squeal.

I whipped around to see one man sprawled on the ground, the free man totin' a pistol and the other men with their hands on theirs.

Candie was immediately on his feet, callin' for calm.

"I saw the whole thing, no harm done."

Billy Crash began to protest in a voice o' disbelief.

"I said no harm done!" Candie's voice cracked like a whip. He ordered them to take their hands off their firearms, makin' sure even Butch complied, "Everybody stop antagonisin' my guest."

The free man holstered his gun. Candie resumed his seat after instructin' the others to help the fallen man remount his horse. He was claimin' a busted collarbone.

"You'll have to excuse these yokels, Doctor," Candie said in a low voice, "They ain't used to treatin' niggas with good manners."

"No harm done," the German echoed Candie's earlier words.

Candie nodded,

"Indeed," he said, "Willie, take us home."

"What part o' Germany do you hail from Doctor?" I asked as we continued on our way to Candieland.

"Dusseldorf," he answered, "Are you familiar with Germany Madame Candie?"

Candie chuckled,

"Marie ain't much familiar with any place outside Chickasaw County."

I blushed, agitated Candie would point out my ignorance like that.

"Well perhaps the Doctor could familiarise me with Dusseldorf," I said, "Would you?"

He returned the smile I gave him.

"Of course."

"You miss your homeland Doctor?" I asked when he finished describin' this far off place called Dusseldorf.

"I certainly miss the language," he replied, "I haven't had a word of German spoken to me in four years. Until you wished me auf wiedersehen last night Madame Candie. I'm most indebted to you."

I found myself blushin' again. He was very charmin' with his speech, this German.

"I probably pronounced it all wrong," I said shyly.

"Oh no," he insisted, "Your pronunciation was perfekt," he made an o with his thumb and forefinger.

I felt myself swell at his praise.

"You're very kind Doctor," I said with every sincerity, "Perhaps you could teach me some other phrases."

"Marie," Candie said in a faintly reproving tone, "The Doctor ain't here in a teachin' capacity."

"Oh I don't mind," the Doctor said, "Quite the opposite in fact."

Candie smiled a hard smile,

"That's sweet o' you Doc. But as you might fathom we don't get many bona fide Germans gracin' Candieland. That bein' said, it simply wouldn't be worth your time teachin' Marie any German."

"But Calvin," I pleaded quietly, "The Doctor takes comfort in hearin' his mother tongue."

"Then it is his lucky day," Calvin replied, "For I just so happen to own a nigga gal that speaks perfekt," he copied the Doctor's gesture, "German."

The German's brows shot up in rather theatrical surprise.

"You do?"

"Yes suh," Candie said almost smugly, "Acquired her just four months ago. Pretty gal too except for her back. It's been whipped to Hell. Oh and there's a mark on her cheek," he touched his own cheek, "But apart from them flaws there ain't nothin' wrong with her."

"She sounds wonderful," the German said.

I was surprised to feel a twinge o' anger. This man wasn't my husband. Why should I care if he got enthused over the idea o' some pretty German-speakin' slave?

Meanwhile Candie had gotten distracted by the free man ridin' behind us. He was snappin' at the Mandingos.

"He is a rambunctious sort, ain't he?" Candie remarked bemusedly, turnin' for another look.

The German claimed back his attention, askin' if we might stop. He wanted to have a strategy meetin' with the free man prior to inspectin' Candie's Mandingos.

"By all means Doctor," Candie said after a beat, "Willie, pull up."

We halted. The Doctor stepped out of the carriage to meet the free man by his horse. They conversed for a while, in voices too low to pick up what they were sayin'. Then the Doctor made his way back to us.

"All sorted for strategy Doc?" Candie said.

"Yes danke," the Doctor replied a little distantly, "I mean thank you," he became more present with a smile.

Danke. I memorised the word so I might slip it into conversation later.

It wasn't long before we reached the tracker's shack where men like Pa spent most their time, waitin' for one o' the slaves to try escapin'. I tensed at the sound o' dogs barkin' up ahead, figurin' it had to mean one thing.

Sure enough I was right. A little while down the road was a black man up a tree, just outta reach o' the snappin' dogs.

"I'll be. D'Artagnan! Now, boy, why do a fool thing like run off?" Candie called to him.

"I can't fight no more, Monsieur Candie," was the man's pitiful reply, revealin' himself as a Mandingo.

The dogs carried on barkin', gratin' on my nerves. Candie's too by the sound o' it. He got to his feet and ordered Stonesipher to make them quiet.

The hounds were wrenched away, over to where my Pa was standin' with my brother George and the other trackers. George was the only one followin' Pa's footsteps. Hank and Bobby were overseers in the fields. Dickey o' course was too young to decide.

I watched D'Artagnan clamber down to fall on his knees. Candie stepped down from the carriage and spent a moment learnin' the facts D'Artagnan's escape from Stonesipher. He then asked Moguy who D'Artagnan's next opponent was. The answer was one o' the men with us.

Candie appraised the kneelin' man.

"Well, way he looks now, a blind Indian wouldn't bet a bead on him."

D'Artagnan began pleadin' but Candie cut him off,

"Now, no beggin'. No playin' on my soft heart."

I glanced uneasily at the dogs, knowin' that Candie wasn't about to show this man any mercy. He was a financial loss, a limpin' Mandingo who couldn't fight to save his life. Candie wasn't shy about expressin' his discontent.

"You gonna reimburse me?" he asked D'Artagnan superfluously, "You even know what reimburse means? Huh?"

D'Artagnan didn't. A lot o' the men present found that funny. I didn't. Laughin' at a broken man close to death, it was repugnant.

"I'll reimburse you."

I looked to the German in surprise. He took out his wallet to prove he was bein' serious. He could have only been moved by compassion. There was no other explanation for him offerin' up payment for this poor soul.

"You'll pay five hundred dollars for practically a one eyed ole Joe, ain't fit to push a broom?" Candie asked with a good deal o' curiosity in his voice.

"No, he won't," Jango spoke up firmly, "He just tired of you toyin' with him is all. As a matter of fact, so am I..."

My eyes widened. Not even white men spoke as boldly to Candie as the free man did, sayin' the Doctor wasn't goin' to buy D'Artagnan. The German stowed his wallet in confirmation.

Candie walked over to the free man's horse, stroked its muzzle.

"Seein' as you won't pay a penny for this pickaninny here, you won't mind me handlin' this nigga any way I see fit?"

"He's your nigga," was free man's answer.

"Mr. Stonesipher."

As soon as the name left Candie's mouth, I knew the next words were gonna be release the dogs. I couldn't bear to watch another man get ripped apart. I leapt to my feet.

"Calvin!"

"Yes, sugar?" Calvin said a slightly impatient voice.

"I'm sure D'Artagnan could still push a broom," I said, my voice tremblin' with desperation, "How 'bout you put him to work in the stable?"

Candie cocked his head slightly,

"The stable?"

"Yes."

Candie glanced at D'Artagnan.

"Naw I don't think so. I don't need a gimp tryin' to sling shit in my stable."

"Then let Mr. Crash take him to Greenville," I pleaded, "You'll at least get some money for him."

Candie chuckled,

"Darlin', you wouldn't walk a lame horse all the way to Greenville to earn a few beans. No, you better off puttin' that nag down."

"Calvin!" I said in a sharp quiverin' voice, "I don't want to see this man torn apart by dogs."

Candie blinked rapidly. I'd never spoken to him so harshly before. In public too.

"My sweet wife," he exclaimed, "What villain to do you take me for? I would never subject your eyes to that type o' depravity."

He turned to Stonesipher,

"Await my signal Mr. Stonesipher."

The man gave an affirmative grunt. Candie strode back over to the carriage and climbed back in.

"Sit your pretty tush down honey," he pushed me gently back into my seat, "Willie, start us on our way."

We had barely begun to move when Calvin turned around.

"A'right Mr. Stonesipher!" he called.

My heart thundered in my chest, hearin' the dogs bein' unleased behind us. D'Artagnan's screams blasted into the air. The good Doctor had an unfortunate vantage point from where he was sittin'. I knew exactly what sickly sights were bein' seared into his memory. He looked to one side, face pale.

I felt Candie's hand on my thigh. I looked to see he was smilin', smilin' as a man got ripped to pieces.

Monster, I thought.

To be continued...

Marie getting more and more disillusioned with Candie. And yeah she's a lil sweet on the Doctor. I think it would be hard for a woman in a relationship like hers not to taken by a man who is a genuinely kind person.

Oh and I know its Django not Jango :) but Marie has no idea the D is silent.