Gold Raven (26 page)

Jordan sighed. “Alright – you got yo’ right on that one but not against yo’ daddy. He ain’ done nothing to deserve this from you…and I ain’t gone stan' for it. I can’t.”

Hope had drifted back un-noticed at first. She couldn’t stand missing something that referred to her parents. Mike’s eyes traveled to her standing behind Jordan, who turned to see her there.

“
Please don’t make me leave again. You’re talking about my mother. My father…I need to hear it. Please.”

Jordan turned back to Mike. “Le’s not ruin this.” He asked, “Not for me, not for you – and not for her.”

Mike swallowed and nodded.

“
Good…now listen and learn something.” Jordan furthered. Mike was quiet as Hope settled at his side.

“
Like I was sayin’, he married ha’…but he ain’ love that woman. Fact is, afta’ a few months, he couldn’t stan’ t’be aroun’ ha’.”

“
Why’d he marry her then?” Mike asked.

“
Because, yo’ grand – Morris, threaten to sell yo’ mama and you if yo’ daddy ain’ marry somebody, somebody white, she fit at the time …he thought doin’ that gone keep you all here, and safe. Tha’s all he want.”

“
What happened, where is she now?” Hope asked.

Jordan sat back down. He was quiet a moment. By now, Maria and Jean eased back to hear. “It’s a long story. She couldn’t get herself to accept the way Manny was wit’ you and ya’mama.” He looked up at Mike. “Yo’ daddy loved you. He celebrated your birth…ain’t that right Henry.”

“
Sho did, got us all drunk as hell, he so proud. He name you too…Miss Katherine couldn’t stand it.” Henry finally added. Jordan nodded and continued explaining.

“
Christmas come, yo’ daddy got drunk. They argued and he did somethin’ he regret later.” He thought about it again. “Oh she was so happy…she was fin’ly gone have a child fo’ yo’ daddy.”

“
Yes I know…Katherine miscarried because of me.” Mike filled that in. “She took her revenge by selling me.”

“
True. Then yo’ mama, scared to lose this one, lied to yo’ daddy and say she been wit’ somebody else. Sent yo’ daddy crazy. He left here, lookin’ for you prayin’ t’God he find you. O’course, he never did. Broken hearted, he left. While he was gone, yo’ mama met someone else. Man name Thomas Sandoval. She almost marry him too, was gone leave wit’ him – mainly so she could take Hope away and be safe from Miss Katherine.”

“
Lena wasn’t gone marry that man no way, I’on care what you say.” Jean remarked.

“
She was stallin’, waitin’ on yo’ daddy…to be sure I guess, anyhow – you mess that all up.” Jean started laughing. “Woooo chile – you was
ba-a-ad! Hard-headed as could be.” Jean grinned at Hope. “Wasn’t she, Jordan?”

He laughed as well, “Yes indeed. Bossy bossy…ya’ mama keep a switch near wit’ you.” Jordan laughed.

“
She’s still the same way.” Mike chuckled, giving a teasing glance at a pouting Hope.

“
Ha ha, anyway, how did I mess it up?” Hope asked.

“
Chile, yo’ daddy come back here. Lena did everythin’ to keep you hid. She go off to the Indian village, an’ you ain’ wanna go so Mazie was keepin’ you. Ma’Nicey and Kayleen-…”

“
Kayleen!” Mike and Hope uttered her name at the same time, coming to attention - remembering her. “Where’s Kayleen?” They both asked.

“
Kayleen pass on over two years ago now. She fall down them stairs in the big house. Ain’ nobody know ‘til Ruby fin’ her. We try everythin’ to help her, but it be too late.” Jean answered.

Hope’s hand went to her stomach. She was another that came back to memory. Mike stood quiet, thinking, ‘God why did I wait so long to come back…why?’

“
Jordan can take yah’ll by her grave later if you want.” Jean offered. They both nodded. “Go on Jordan…finish telling us.” Mike asked softly.

“
Kayleen and Ma’Nicey, made up some stuff to cover yo’ face Hope, ‘cept the day Mazie keep you, you ain’ wan’it on. Yo’ daddy come by her cabin, an’ you don’ decided to track’em like some lil’Indian.” Jordan laughed out. “Lord, you climb yo’ lil’tail in the feed box, an’ a spider scare the daylights out’ya! You was screamin’ yo’ head off. That’s how yo’ daddy fin’ you, how he see you the first time.”

“
Em hm, after that…all come out, an’ he send that Thomas packin’ quick let me tell you.” Jean laughed out. “An you, chile you was in heaven. Yo’ daddy held you so, he ain’ want no body t’take you fo’ a minute.” Jean remembered all the gossip and speculation floating about. How busy Mazie’s door was that day, as well hers and Jordan’s.

“
When yo’ mama get back from that Indian village teachin’-…”

“
My mother used to teach?” Hope asked astounded.

“
Oh yeah! Ms Lena wasn’t no ignit Negro. She could read, and write and everything. Don’ you know yo’ mama was a princess…all that saw her, knew it too.”

“
I’ve told her.” Mike confirmed.

“
So if my father knew about me, why did he let his wife force my mother away?” Hope needed to understand that part.

“
Yes, exactly.” Mike stated.

“
Yo’ daddy left to get this ship he had made fo’ yah’ll and to fin’ the man he hire t’look fo’ you. His plan was t’take Ms Lena an’ Hope away wit’im out t’sea. You see, yo’ daddy don’ made his own way now. He got a bidness in shippin’.”

“
Any how, before he get back an’ collect‘em, Miss Katherine fin’ out ‘bout Hope. Tha’s when she run yo’ mama off befo’ he could get back here.” Jordan stopped again in thought.

“
Yah’ll chillin’ jus’ don’no.” Jean shook her head, remembering Manny after his return to find Lena and Hope gone.

“
When yo’ daddy got back – wait…” A thought occurred to Jordan, making him switch over in the telling. “By the way, by now things had started to change. Mo’important, yo’ granddaddy started changin’. That man spent three days lookin’ all over the place for you and yo’ mama.” Jordan spoke to Hope and then looked at Mike nodding at his incredulous look. “That’s right, he did. Yo’ daddy put Morris through so much hell fo’ lettin’ that woman sell you, that when he fin’ out what she don’ to Ms Lena and Hope…all he could think of was findin’em to bring’em back fo’ Manny get home. Didn’t do no good. Yah’ll had just disappeared.” Jordan paused a moment and went on.

“
I swear I think a demon got a hold of yo’ daddy that day. After ha’ deed done, Miss Katherine run off to her auntie like she do when she sell you.” He pointed at Mike. “This time, yo’ daddy wasn’t carin’. He rode like the devil to the Hastin’s. We was all runnin’ after him, tryin’ to catch him. He hit that do’ ova and ova ‘til it break open. I’m tellin’ you, it was me, Leon, Jacob Weston, yo’ daddy friend Charles, Henry and God only know who else ... tryin’ t’get to him, fo’ he get her. Women was screamin’, we was shoutin’ – but all he saw was her.”

“
What did he do?” Hope asked expectantly.

“
He try to kill’ha. He got his hands around her neck, and wrung it ‘til her eyes bought pop out’a ha’ head. It took all ov’us to get’em off ov’ha! Through the grace o’God, she live to return home wit’ ha’ mama – back to Eng-land where she come from; they divorce now.”

That surprised Mike and his expression reflected it.

“
He was so pitiful after that. He go off lookin’ fo’ yah’ll an’ come back worse every time.” Jean remembered.

“
That’s the truth. He leave again a year ago, still lookin. So see boy…he ain’ no perfect man but he love yah’ll. Don’ nothin’ in this worl’ mean more t’him than yah’ll do. Tha’s why I can’t stand here an’ let you put yo’ daddy down. He jus’ a man Mike…jus’ a man. You been through hell, ya’ mama, you Hope…but so has he, so has he.”

All were quiet after that. Mike had nothing more to say. With all that Jordan and Jean explained, there was still so much more he didn’t know.
Regardless of it all, he could not get past the fact that all of their hell was due to him and his decision…like a dog with a bone, Mike silently held on to that fact.

“
Can we go in the cabin Jordan?” Hope asked quietly.

“
Sho’ you can, go right on in. Like I say, this place was yo’ mama’s. Manny didn’t want nobody in it, an’ t’tell you the truth…we ain’ either. We consider it hers, always will be.”

Hope stepped up on the porch walking to the door, opening it slowly. She stood there a few minutes, and then swung the door wide to let daylight pour in. Stepping inside, she was pleased at how lovely it was furnished. It wasn’t long before her mind began playing snatches of scenes, little blurred pictures of her time there. Vague memories of laughter, play and some tears. Suddenly, she could see Lena leaping from the bed running toward her at the the window, covering her mouth as she screamed from the joy of seeing her father for the first time.

Next she had a vision of Lena sitting on the edge of the bed brushing her hair, whispering tender lullabies of love to her; she remembered her always talking to her as if they were friends, not just mother and daughter.

Blending in suddenly was a masculine deep laugh; it was her father’s laughter along with her own. She wiped at more tears as she slowly walked through the cabin. Her hand stroking everything she passed, admiringly, the dining table by the door; the faded curtains at the window; the white and brass vanity top. She picked up a perfume bottle and blew the dust off, raising the lid to inhale the floral scent. “I bet the comb, brush and mirror once set here.” She said suddenly.

Mike was inside too. “Yes…it did.” He confirmed.

“
When she left, it was without any of the things she’d collected. Alfredo and Anna had the comb, brush and mirror…they said it was mine, from my mother.”

Both turned from each other to resume the exploration of their old home. “It’s so dusty in here. Maria we have to clean it up.” Hope announced. Maria nodded and answered quietly, “We will…as soon as possible.” She stood at the table watching them as they walked through, looking at the incredible room. The outside, built sound and sturdy, still did not prepare one for what the inside displayed. Hope walked over to the large wing chair and smiled as she ran her hand over the back. This is where her father always sat; she could easily feel his presence. He was so big and handsome, gentle and loving with her in his lap as he told her stories.

She walked around the bed to the rocking chair and tilted it to rocking, from there she went into the back rooms, in the first sitting against the far wall was a crib, in the other, was a bed for her brother, in both a wood burner in the corner to heat the room. She turned in the doorway facing the room from the other end, and saw through blurred vision a black and beautiful woman curled up on the bed, cradling a golden child in her arms.
Hope looked up from the bed to her brother who stood at the end of it, staring at the same spot, with similar recollections of himself and his mother, Lena.

She tried to swallow the aching lump in her throat, but it wouldn’t go down. Instead it became strong, larger, choking her. Mike turned to her, and for once did not command that she stop crying. Instead, he held his arms out to her; she flew into them, sobbing into his chest, her stomach aching with the power of her longing. Jordan, Jean and Maria turned to leave, Maria grabbed Esteban who stood with sad eyes.

“
Mike…I – I want my mother…I want my mama! God please…where is she Mike? Where is she?” Hope strained out between heavy sobs.

“
I don’t know lil’sister; I don’t know. What I do know is this, God as my witness, we’re going to find her…I won’t rest until we do.”

That day, Morris was in town taking care of financial matters with the aid of Charles. Jordan had earlier informed Mike of this at his inquiry as to where Morris was. He wondered what Morris would do if he came home and found them there. Jordan had shrugged, “You’ah see when he get home, won’cha?”

All the white overseers came in to meet Mike, Hope and his family. Soon Juan and Eugene rejoined them and along with Jordan, Jacob Weston, Patrick Johnson, Amos and Henry – they were given a tour of Webster Fields. They were shown the growth, the changes, fields and plans. Fresh horses were given to them, Maria rode with her husband, Hope rode with Esteban, and Eugene and Juan were given their own horse before the tour began.

Mike and his men were amazed at the wealth of Webster Fields. In the time since Mike had been sold off, Morris had obtained more land – with a holding now very close to that of the O’Brien’s. Maria could not believe her eyes at the expanse of all that could be her husband’s one day. The ride was easy and filled with laughter. Jordan spared nothing of the stories about Mike and the things he did as a young boy. Esteban looked at his father strangely now, hearing of all these new sides to him. Jordan went on to remind Hope.

“
This where you wanna be all the time, out in the field wit’ me or Leon, ridin' horses or cows, didn’t wanna share non’o’yo’ toys that use t’be yo’ brothers.” He teased Hope. Before long, the tour brought them to the graveyard on the land.