Gold Raven (29 page)

Hope could not get past the
vague ghost or memories flashing in her mind, feeling as though she had stood before this woman before. For some reason, Royal was not new to her – yet very dear to her and she realized without understanding why.

The visit lasted from October to January. Charles did indeed bring his wife Mildred and their twin girls, who were fourteen at the time to visit for Christmas.

The time came to leave, with only one shadow on their visit; Eugene was leaving a pregnant Niá behind; of course promising to return for her later when he established a place with Mike in Louisiana. Mazie, didn’t believe him. Telling her daughter when they watched them loading up again and ready to leave. “This be the last time you see that one, you bes’ get that in yo’head. Start focusin’ yo’ mind on a boy from here.” Niá ignored her mother…he would be back. After all, he said he loved her, spent time with her like he loved her. Made love to her as a man would when in love with a woman. He wanted her all the time and she gave to him…because she loved him too. When she told him of the child she was carrying, he smiled as if he was satisfied. He’d be back and with tears in her eyes and certainty in her heart, she waved goodbye to him. Eagerly anticipating the day he would return for her and their child.

Morris and Jordan were the only ones left standing in the drive as the wagons disappeared from view. Jordan spoke up saying, “Well, they’s gone now. Back to they livin’ where they come from. Back to his people he take care of. That boy come a long way, one heck’a’man t’care fo’ other people.”

Morris chuckled, cutting Jordan a knowing look. “That boy’s a goddamn outlaw!” Morris stated flatly.

Jordan’s heart skipped a beat hearing Morris announce that in a tone Jordan thought reproachful. Morris turned from the lane walking back down the long drive toward the mansion, when Jordan followed asking hesitantly.

“
What – what make you thank that?”

Morris stopped and turned back saying, “For one, all the weapons they had. You see that sawed off double shooter gun of his? You notice the way he walk? How he carry himself? The way they try to dress, that hard as flint look in his eyes?”

Jordan gulped, then shrugged.

Morris grinned. “Besides, my lil’Celina tell me ‘bout all the men who do what her daddy say! How he fights with swords. How he goes away to do dangerous things that scares her mama into believing he may not come back…an outlaw!”

Jordan sighed, he’d thought so himself, having heard Maria’s cousins refer to him as ‘Jefé’ whatever that meant, it sounded like a leader or boss word to him. He’d also heard him chewing out Eugene for making problems by leaving one of the slaves with child. All the things he’d observed in their time there…told him that he was a leader. He could not help but wonder what Morris felt now knowing that.
Obviously he didn’t like it, or he wouldn’t have made it sound so disappointing. Morris’s next comment, made him realize…he’d misunderstood Morris once again.

“
But I guarantee you this Jordan…whatever he is; he damn good at it! Webster blood flows through his veins. He can’t help but be the best…be a leader! Where ever he is, he givin’em hell! He he he…” He laughed, tickled. “…pure’dee hell!” He slapped his thigh gleefully.

Jordan began laughing, shaking his head.

“
What?” Morris asked as Jordan caught up to him down the drive. “You know it’s true. Why the hell you think I give him all that land to run to! A good outlaw always has a secret way out! That land, be his way out. I hope, he turn from it and start new there.” Morris announced.

“
Sa’…you sho’ is full of surprises, tha’s fo’sho.” Jordan chuckled.

“
Yeah, I guess I am - ain’ I? Damn youngin’ – they get’s to have all the fun. I could’ah been a outlaw!”

“
Yeah – you could’ah!” Jordan agreed as they came to the curve leading to the front of the house. Morris drew up and shivered as a cold chill raced around him.

“
Hell it’s getting’ cold out here. One minute it’s warm o’summer, next it’s cold like today. Nature certainly is a woman, can’t never make up her mind.” He grumbled.

Jordan grinned. “Sho’nuff sa’.”

“
Well come on in. Le’s have us a good strong shot’a whiskey – warm these ol’bones. Nothing like good whisky to warm a man. Well, ceptin’ maybe a sound woman, ain’t got one of them here…whisky gone have t’do.” He giggled with devilry. Jordan followed him into the big house, comfortable with a hand or two of poker. Morris always did like his poker. They sat together laughing, talking and reminiscing about the visit. Wishing Manny had been there to see them. Jordan saying how “it didn’t matter now, looking as it did that things was about to change for the better.”

Morris agreed. Eight days later…he suffered his last stroke, dying at his card table, where Jordan and Jacob Weston found him. He had a contented look on his face. He’d gone to his maker after making peace with his son’s children…he’d died after a full life, with an ending to be proud of.

Right from the start of their voyage from New York harbor, one mishap after another befell Manny and his crew. On the first of October they were forced to bring the Flamingo into the Chesapeake Bay for repairs. This was due to one of his crew members accidentally setting some of the crates in the cargo hold on fire, damaging the ship.

All of his other ships were out, either as passenger ships to Europe, or for merchant shipments, filling contract orders. For once, Manny wished that his business was not doing so well; there were no idle ships in dock, now that they needed one. His success was at times a double edged sword, a curse as well as a blessing.

Stir crazy and pacing, Manny decided to see about chartering another ship to finish out the remainder of his trip while the Flamingo underwent repairs. The top ship carpenter/builder estimated the repair time would take close to four weeks before the ship would be sea worthy again. Impatient anger shot through Manny.

He was a man of order and action, with a strong need for things to be happening in an efficient manner, this unnecessary delay rubbed him the wrong way. The one responsible for the fire stayed out of his reach and out of sight; for good reason. During their layover, he met the most interesting man, who basically saw Manny, latched onto him and began peddling his services to him.

Tenaciously explaining all the reasons such a man as himself was needed by Manny.

With so much on his mind, going through what he was, Manny impatiently took him on. He was a Chinese healer, cook, laundry person, valet, whatever Manny needed…he promised to provide.

Following Manny as he went about trying to get them moving again, he promoted himself saying. “You need man…you need Gaitsu. Wash you clothes. Cook you food. Calm you soul! Man li’you very tense. No good - no good. Gaitsu take ca’you! You see, you see Gaitsu good thing.” He repeatedly promised, running to keep up with Manny’s strides, Leon beside him laughing, “Well there you are.”

“
Give’im a place, Leon.” Manny directed distracted.

“
Gaitsu got place… Gaitsu you man I am – find my own place!” He announced seriously. Manny stopped and looked down at the five foot five inch tall, one hundred fifty pound Asian and chuckled. He couldn’t help it. In a matter of moments, the little man was part of the crew and now stood stating his place. He had Manny’s attention…but he thought time would tell if he was to be an asset.

To discourage Manny even more, the cost of chartering another ship was out of the question with the prices other shipping operators were asking, the one sitting idle was reasonably priced, if one didn’t mind traveling with a heavy infestation of rats, hundreds of them. Manny immediately dismissed the idea, unwilling to risk the health of his crew, although rats plagued many ships, Manny’s were checked and cleared regularly…having zero tolerance for their presence.

In the end, to his utter frustration, he was forced to sit and wait on the repairs of the Flamingo, departing Boston by the end of November; with repairs having taken a bit longer than anticipated.

Finally, they were able to set sail, venturing into rough waters with no fear, accustomed to stormy voyages; it was around the first week in December that they docked in Savannah. There was another two week wait for gathering the Oxen needed to make the trip westerly and then further south. While seeing to those matters, Manny was warned by the locals concerning the conflict between the Indians and settlers.

They were advised by the Georgia militia to wait for an available escort so as to travel safely through the state. Consequently, a line existed of others needing the same… Manny showed that he was under a business contract with the government and was given priority status with an escort through the state. They were left at the border of Alabama to make it the rest of the way on their own.

By mid February, Manny and his enormous three freight wagon team pulled into Webster Fields. He was tired, cranky, dirty and road weary, hating
it when he was forced to travel by land when it came to merchandise delivery. Dressed in heavy rain slickers, ponchos and mud packed boots, their arrival was of course un-expected, with no one to sound the news that he was back, due to the unusually cold weather and snow flurries. Steam rose from the twelve sweaty oxen, snorting and blowing with their warm breath vaporizing in the cold air.

No one at the plantation was aware of their presence until their shouting commands to the oxen were heard from the main lane. Jacob Weston and Henry soon came upon them stunned to see such a massive train stretching almost the entire length of the road. When word spread, many came out just to see the huge beasts pulling the freight, and this other aspects of Manny’s business.

They were also surprised to see the change in Leon who was almost unrecognizable. He was a man now – not the unsure youngster who had left, trying to find a place for himself. By the looks of him he’d found that place, by Manny’s side barking orders that were followed with great respect and immediacy; confident in his role, assisting in managing the business by seeing to matters in the way he knew would meet with Manny’s approval. Trusting his abilities, Manny left him to take matters into his own hands as he was accustomed to doing.

Leon knew what had to be done, and following the examples set by the man he considered his father – his mentor, he worked with Jacob, Patrick and Amos to get the men in his crew situated for their short convalescence.

Jordan joined Manny at the mansion to fill him in on all that had taken place in his absence. He sat motionless in disbelief hearing that his father had passed in his absence. Ruby and Cora came to the house rushing to get food going, directing Jamie and Ira to get Manny a bath ready while Jordan talked to him. Jordan had them continue as he took Manny to Morris’s grave, showing him where he lay next to his wife, Royal. They stood in the cold graveyard, light sleet falling – both silent.

“
You notice something about me Jordan? I’m never around when those I love, and who love me - need me. I regret not being here in the old man’s final hour. The death of my mother I was off at school. My son was taken from me, because I was gone, Lena and Hope the same, now…my father has passed. Where was I, off searching…yet, never finding.”

Jordan remained silent, giving support while Manny resigned himself to his father’s death.

“
How was he…when he died Jordan?”

Jordan smiled and patted Manny on his shoulder, giving i
t a squeeze. “Masta’ Morris, died wit’a smile on his face and fo’ good reason.”

Manny’s eyes turned to him questioningly. “I don’t understand? What do you mean?”

“
I tell ya’ after you had you a bath, get you a bit t’eat. Let’s head back now, an’ I fill you in on the changes made here by yo’ daddy. I think you be proud ov’im.” As they rode back to the mansion, Jordan explained about the expansions. The bunk houses for all the single young males sprouting up all over Webster Fields, many of whom would be working with the cattle and horses. There was even more land being rented out to various settlers who were approved by the Westons and Johnsons. In other words, Manny was now a landlord as well the land owner.

He also brought Manny laughter discussing Morris and the man he eventually became. How he treated those that worked in the house and out in the fields. “Yo’ daddy come a long way Manny, he really did.”

Manny listened and smiled, yet he was also sad – because his father had died before he found his children, and could maybe make amends to them. Despite the disappointment he felt, he was still glad to hear of all the positive changes that had taken place. They returned their horses to the stable and made it back to the mansion. Upon reaching the side door by the kitchen, they heard a loud commotion going on inside. Gaitsu was trying to assert his position there.

“
Somebody betta’ take this lil’ol funny lookin’ thang on out’ah here fo’I crown’im wit’ this pan!” Ruby threatened mad as could be. Cora stood aside laughing and enjoying the sight, while Gaitsu fussed in rapid Chinese, pointing at her.

“
Boss – I try cook! This heah woman – she in’da way! I tell ha’ – go! Go woman – Gaitsu heah now!”

“
Manny you bring this heah’thang in this house?! You aught’ah know betta’! He ‘bout t’get fe’laid and fried…messin’ wit’ me in my kitchen! I be the head nigga in cha’ge heah! He gon’ get hurt! You betta’ get’em!”

Cora was sitting against the wall still watching and grinning, offering no assistance as Manny stood with Jordan beside him, looking from one to the other.

“
I cook fo’boss! You no’ cook fo’boss! Gaitsu heah now!”

“
He been yellin’ that at me since he come in heah! I’m tellin’ yah…git’im out’!”

Jordan left Manny there, laughing to himself and telling the boss he would be back after he’d taken his bath and had his meal. Glancing back, he made eye contact with the women, reminding them to say nothing until later.