Sample of

The $1100 Treasure

By

Hank Valon

It was March of 1862.  In the East General McClellan was relieved from his position of overall General in Chief of the Federal Armies.  The Monitor and Merrimac had their date with history at Hampton Roads.  General Halleck was given command of all the Federal forces in the West.  General Grant took command of the federal forces at Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee.  And in St. Louis:

A Second Lieutenant rounded a corner and started down the boardwalk.  He was dressed in a brand new blue uniform with flowing red silk sash.  His sword rattled as he walked.  In his hands he carried three parcels.  At the alley he paused and surveyed the small pond that blocked pedestrians from continuing along the wooden sidewalk.   Some considerate soul had laid a wide plank across the huge puddle, making it possible to reach the other side.  The springy plank had been used enough, though to be thoroughly wetted.  In short, it was as slippery as ice.  The Lieutenant eased out onto the bridge and was about halfway across when he was startled by a yell.

He looked up just in time to see a small Colored woman come racing around the corner.  It was easy to tell she was Colored and a woman because she was naked to the waist and barefoot.  Unfortunately for the Lieutenant she turned to look over her shoulder just as she leaped off the sidewalk and ran toward the Lieutenant's plank.  When she looked back at him she would have had time to change direction except the plank was so slippery.  Her attempt to avoid him sent her sliding into him.  A moment before the collision he threw his packages into the air and braced himself.  On dry land he would have been able to block her easily, but the slippery plank cost him his footing.  They landed in the puddle with him flat on his back and she on top of him with the muddy water soaking through the back of his uniform.

               

"Hold 'er!  Hold'er!" yelled a voice.

So he did before she could scramble up and away.  She fought his grip for a few seconds then surrendered.  She dropped her head on his chest and sobbed.

A big brute of a man suddenly appeared with a small crowd of amused onlookers.  "There you go, missy.  Thought you could git away agin, huh?  Lookee there what you did!  Done knocked this nice sojer in the mud.  You'll git extra licks fer that." 

The Lieutenant struggled to his feet holding to the woman with one hand.  They were standing in about six inches of mud and water.  With the other hand he flung mud from it in disgust.  He twisted around to try and see the back of his uniform.  What little he could see was not pleasing.  He turned back to the source of his discomfort.  His anger dissipated with the speed of a pistol shot.  Standing in the puddle with him was a petite Colored woman naked to the waist.  Her bare breasts, rising with each gasp of air, made it difficult for him to see much else.  It was with some effort he managed to look at the rest of her.  She had only been able to knock him down because he was off balance at the time of their collision.  She couldn't possibly weigh a hundred pounds soaking wet.  She was wearing only a dingy petticoat.  Her eyes were down cast and tears dripped from her cheeks falling to splash on her breasts.  Standing erect she could walk under his outstretched arm without touching.

Holding onto one of her arms he stepped out of the puddle with her in tow.  He released her and the brute grabbed her.  The lieutenant peeled off his wet coat and wrapped it around her shoulders.  This was only partially successful as the brute held her left arm.  The brute snapped a strap against his boot.

"Sorry 'bout your uniform, Captain.  I promise she'll git extra licks fer that."

"I'd rather have a new uniform," said the lieutenant.  "Is her owner prepared to pay for the damages?"

"You'll hev to take that up with Mr. Calvert.  "I only do what he says."

"What are you going to beat her for anyway?" said the Lieutenant.  "Isn't she rather small to be beating?"

The brute held up his strap.  "Oh, this don't do no perm'nant damage.  Mr. Calvert don't like his Niggers marked up.  She just won't stay put.  Mr. Calvert has done sold her two times in the last six months.  Her problem is she was raised White.  She's even eddycated.  She can read anything.  She even does 'rithmatic problems in her head.  But she's spoiled rotten.  She thinks she can come and go just like White folks.  Mr. Calvert has a guarantee his Niggers won't run away after he sells 'em.  Gener'lly they don't, but he's had to refund money on her twice."

"How come she runs away?" asked the Lieutenant.

"She's got a kid that's half White.  His daddy freed the kid and put him in a boarding school.  Then daddy got killed and his widow sold this 'n off.  She keeps runnin' off to go visit the kid without gittin' a pass."

The Lieutenant stepped around in front of the woman and pulled her arm free of the brute who relinquished his grip.  The Lieutenant pulled the coat together, covering her breasts. "You say she's a house servant.  Does she keep a good house?"

"Been no complaints on that," replied the brute.  "She works hard and is a good teacher, but she just won't stay put.  Mr. Calvert is gonna fix that.  Feller wants her for his whorehouse.  She's gonna spend the rest of her life chained to a bed."

The Lieutenant's eyes hardened.  "Has that sale been made?"

"Not 'till next week," replied the Brute.  "Couple sojer boys got in a fight the other night.  The Provost shut the whorehouse down for a couple weeks.  He don't need her till he gits to open up agin."

"S'pose I could buy her?"

"That's up to Mr. Calvert."

"Well, let's go talk to Mr. Calvert," said the lieutenant.  "Lead on."

"You keep a tight hold on 'er," warned the Brute.  "She tore right outa her dress to get away from me."

"I'll fetch her along," replied the Lieutenant.  "You find Mr. Calvert."  He took a grip on the woman's arm through the coat.  She held the coat closed with her free hand.

The brute shuffled ahead.  A foreman came out of a nearby building and called for some of the onlookers to return to work.  The remainder realized the excitement was over and they had things to do also. The Lieutenant walked along with the woman.  He eased his grip when the brute was far enough away not to notice.

"What's your name?" he asked.

"Matilda," she replied.

"Well, Matilda, I will try to buy you, so behave yourself until I get the job done.  Once I own you I'll make sure you get to see your boy.  My name is …" He hesitated for just the slightest of pauses.  "Sean Michael O'Boyle," he completed.  "That's Lieutenant Sean Michael O'Boyle if you want to be formal."

"If you let me see my boy," she replied, "I promise I won't run away."

"He said you are educated.  Didn't your master know educating a slave in Missouri is illegal?"

"Weren't many children on our farm, just the master's two daughters and his son and me.  He owned my mother and father.  My father was his only hand and my mother cooked and cleaned and helped the master's wife.  The children were reared by all four of them.  I wasn't treated any different until I became pregnant with Jeremiah."

"The master's baby?" asked the Lieutenant.

"No, his son, Timothy's."

They arrived at loading dock where the brute had gone into the building and come out with a tall thin man with a huge gold watch chain dangling below his waist.  He wore a tall silk hat.

"I'm Charles Calvert.  You takin' a shine to my wench?"

"I'm living in tight quarters, so I need a servant that doesn't take up much space," replied the Lieutenant.  "I was thinking about a child, but she is not much bigger than a child.  How much do you want for her?"

"Thousand dollars."

"A thousand dollars!  That's a sizeable sum for such a small servant, especially one that tends to run away."

"She's worth every penny," replied Calvert.  "I have an offer already for that amount, and he'll make sure she don't run away.  If you want her today that's what she'll cost you."

"Very well, will you take a check on the Riverman's Bank?"

"The Riverman's Bank is only a couple blocks away," replied Calvert.  "Go get the cash and come back.  Mr. Bertram, here will finish her punishment while you're gone.  I don't intend for her to ever cost me again."

"Well, now, I don't think that beating is necessary," replied the Lieutenant.  "I'll take her without warranty.  If she runs away again you will not be held liable."

"She's cost me a lot of trouble," replied Calvert.  "And I intend to have some satisfaction.  Until you pay for her she still belongs to me and I intend to see her little butt suffers for my troubles."

The Lieutenant reached inside his coat drawing a gasp from the woman as his arm brushed across her breast.  "Just getting my checkbook," he grinned as he pulled it out.

"Get out the papers," he dropped his smile and turned back to Calvert.  "I'll give you a check for eleven hundred dollars to forego the beating.  You send your man over to the bank to cash it or deposit it.  I'll wait right here while he's gone."

"With no warranty if she runs away," said Calvert.

"With no warranty of any kind," replied the Lieutenant.

"Very well, she's yours," said Calvert.  "For a hunnerd dollars we'll forgo the beating.  I'll get the papers."  He turned and went inside the building.  Mr. Bertram leaned casually against the building watching the Lieutenant and Matilda.

Matilda looked up at the Lieutenant's face.  "Thank you, sir.  I will do my best to serve you."

"Do you know how to clean a soiled uniform?" he replied.

"I can soak it in cold water to remove the stain," she replied.  "It still might shrink some when it dries.  I am sorry about that.  You should have demanded Calvert deduct the cost of a new uniform.  I belonged to him when the damage was done."

"You can read and write and do mathematics in your head?" he replied.

"Yes, and I know Latin and a little Greek.  I can recite from Shakespeare and I can sew and wash and iron and cook."

"And you think I should hold up Calvert for the price of a new uniform?  Woman, I value you a lot more than he does."

Calvert came out onto the dock carrying a small portable desk.  He set it down on the edge of the dock.  "Le's see your check."

Sean borrowed Calvert's pen and ink and wrote out the check.  "To Charles Calvert?"

"Tha's right, Charles Calvert."

Sean blew on the ink to dry it and handed it to him.  Calvert endorsed the check and gave it to the brute and pointed towards the bank.

"Make sure he has the money and have them deposit it in my account."

Sean put away his checkbook and pointed to the bill of sale Mr. Calvert held.  "Let me see the papers on her."

Calvert handed him a bill of sale made out but not signed.  Sean looked over the description.  He turned to Matilda.  "You're twenty years old?"

"Yes sir."

"You have a v-shaped scar on your right calf?"

"Yes sir," she replied and turned and hiked up her petticoat enough to reveal the scar.

He motioned to Calvert for his pen took up the pen and dipped it in the ink well and signed in the space for "Buyer".

Mr. Calvert took the paper and turned away.  "I'm going inside and wait next to the stove.  All wet like that you're liable to catch your death."

Sean looked at Matilda who was shivering.  "You want to go inside?"

"No," she replied quickly.  "I'd rather freeze to death."

"We'll wait out here," said Sean.  He turned to Matilda and putting his hands around her waist lifted her up to sit on the loading dock.

"You wait here.   I'll go get my parcels.  At least one of them missed the water."

He gathered them up and brought them back to where she waited.  She was huddled in his coat and shivering.  He set the parcels beside her and then put his arms around her to warm her with his body.  "I think you really ought to go inside.  You're wet and cold."

"I'll go in there only if you order me to," she replied with her teeth chattering.

"I'll see if I can get a blanket.  That is a store in there isn't it?"  He climbed up on the dock.

"It's an auction house.  He has just about everything in there, including people, for sale.  I'll wait here if it's all right with you."

"Be right back," said the lieutenant.  He went through the door Mr. Calvert had used.  Matilda sat on the dock and shivered inside his wet coat.  He came out in a few minutes with a wool blanket.  He unfolded it and wrapped it around her shoulders and held it close to her.

"He has a warm stove in there," said Sean.  "It's foolish to let your pride cause you to damage your health."

"I can't abide that man," she replied.  "He treats Colored people just the same as live stock, sometimes worse."

"Well, I won't make you go in there, but we are going to have to get you some clothes.  I didn't see anything in there I would want you wearing.  We'll find a dressmaker.  You feeling any warmer?"

"Yes, a little," she replied.  "Do you treat all your servants this way?"

"What way?  I don't have any other servants."

"Holding me like this," she leaned into him just a little.  "You're treating me like I was White."

"No, I'm not," he disagreed.  "I'd get arrested if I was to hug a White woman like this on a public street."

"You could get beaten severely if some of the right White men saw you hugging a Colored woman in public."

"I'm not hugging you," he countered with a grin and vigorous rubbing of her back and around to her shoulders.  "I'm rendering aid to a servant suffering from the cold.  Now, it's in my best interest to keep you from becoming ill."  He wrapped his arms around her again and held her close.

"Well, sir, I am so cold I don't care what your reason is.  You are warm.  You can hold me as long as you want without any complaint from me.  Just make sure your pistol didn't get wet.  You might have to use it."

"I'm afraid my powder is probably wet," he said.  "I think we ought to get off the street.  That man Calvert sent to the bank may be all day getting back.  I'll see if I can get Calvert to let us go down the street.  I see a sign for a ladies dress shop.  I'll see if he can be persuaded to let us go there."  He got up and started for Calvert's door.

"You think they'll let me go in there?" she asked in disbelief.

"Of course, they make dresses for women and you definitely are a woman.  I saw that right off when you came running down the street."

"You're very observant, but I think that shop is for White women.  They won't let me in the door."

He was only gone for a few minutes, but he had a smile on his face when he came out.  He says we can go that far, but not one step farther."

"You must've caught him in a generous mood."  She hopped off the dock and started walking across the muddy street to the sidewalk on the other side.

Sean hopped off the dock and scooped her up in his arms and hurried on across the street and set her down on the sidewalk.  "Wouldn't want you to get run over by some drunken teamster," he explained.

She looked back up the empty street and then ahead of them at the single hack waiting in front of one of the shops.  "Yes, I can see where that would be a big concern."  She pulled the blanket close in front and started walking with him on the street side of her.  She glanced up at him walking in short strides to stay in step with her.

"May I be so presumptuous to ask what my duties will be?"

"Hadn't thought of any yet," he replied.  "But I imagine you will be useful for something."

"I warn you, sir.  I will not be a docile concubine.  When I said I would serve you faithfully I meant in all lawful matters.  Concubinage does not qualify."

 

"Perish the thought.  I can assure you that is definitely not one of the uh… duties I might consider for you."

"And you are going to take me to see my son?"

"Of course, but not dressed like that, and not if you catch pneumonia and are bedridden.  Here we are."

They stopped under a blue sign with flowered trim.  "Martha's Millinery, hats and fine dresses for respectable ladies," he read aloud.  "Sounds just like what we're looking for."

Matilda shook her head as he opened the door that jangled a small bell.  He held the door for her to enter first.  She entered with eyes cast down and the lieutenant's coat and the blanket clutched close across her breasts.

A woman with two girls, obviously her daughters, looked up from a long table where some bolts of material were laid out.  On the other side of the table was a woman with a smock apron with various sewing and measuring tools stuffed in the pockets.

"May I help you?" asked the woman in the smock in a very icy tone.

"I certainly hope so," replied the Lieutenant with his hat in hand.  "We have had an accident.  We were getting down from a cab.  The horse was spooked and ran away.  I took a fall in the mud and Matilda, here, tried to catch me.  Her dress caught on the cab and was ripped completely away.  What little there was of it was ground into the mud. She also lost her shoes in the mud.  We desperately need some clothes to get her home."

The two girls stifled their giggles after a stern look from their mother.  The mistress of the shop came forward to look at the disheveled pair.

"My goodness, you are a mess.  I suppose I can find something for her.  You better see Mr. Levitz across the street.  He's a fine tailor.  I am certain he will know what's best for your uniform.  That's Jacob Levitz.  He's the tailor.  His brother, Izzy is the shoemaker."

"Thank you ma'am," said Sean.  "You are a life saver.  I hope you have some water and soap where she could wash up?  We wouldn't want to soil any of your nice material."

"I have a necessary in the back for my Colored help.  She can wash there."

"Thank you, ma'am.  I'll leave her to your care.  I'll need my coat."  He averted his eyes and slipped the coat from Matilda's shoulders.  "I'll go see the gentlemen across the street."  He quickly exited leaving Matilda with four startled females.

"My goodness!" exclaimed the mother of the girls.  "He was serious about you losing your dress."

"Come this way…"

"Matilda," she answered.

"Matilda, I'm Martha Overby.  This is Mrs. Sherman and her daughters, Mary and Julia.  Come, I'll show you where you can clean up.  It must 've been frightening to have your dress ripped away like that."

"Yes ma'am," said Matilda.  "It wasn't as frightening as it was embarrassing.  Fortunately there weren't many people on the street and the lieutenant was quick to wrap his coat around me."

"My, my," said Mrs. Overby.  "You don't sound Colored."

"I had a very good upbringing," said Matilda as she followed Mrs. Overby. She nodded politely to the other customer and her daughters.

The necessary was way in the back well out of hearing.  Matilda wondered for a few moments what they would be saying, but the bucket of cold water, washrag and lye soap required all her attention.  She emerged clean and totally naked under her blanket.

The customers were gone.  Mrs. Overby had latched the front door and put a closed sign in the window.  Four Colored ladies of various sizes and ages stood near the table.

"Let's begin at the skin and work our way out," smiled Mrs. Overby.

"Miz Overby," said the largest of the Colored women.  "She just might be able to wear those clothes Miz Danderfield left."

Mrs. Overby looked at Matilda again.  "You know Annie, I think you're right.  Liza, you and Katie fetch the box.  You know the one.  It's in the corner in the back, there on the right."

She turned back to Matilda.  "If they fit we won't have to make anything from scratch.  We'll have you outfitted in no time."

"Thank you, ma'am," replied Matilda.  "I apologize if any of this puts you out."

"Nonsense, dressing women is what I do.  You are just a little different from my usual customers.  But things were getting boring around here we needed a little diversion.  That lieutenant is a handsome man.  Is he married by chance?"

Matilda smiled.  "I don't think so.  He hasn't mentioned having a wife.  He just bought me earlier today.  So I don't know much about him."

"His name is O'Boyle."  Mused Mrs. Overby.  "Lieutenant O'Boyle, that name sounds very familiar."

"Ain't that the name of the sojer what got hit on the head coupla weeks ago when they tried to rob the army pay?"  Annie volunteered.

"That's it!" exclaimed Mrs. Overby and she ran around the table and began digging into a pile of newspapers.  "Here it is.  She got up from her knees and spread a newspaper on the table.

"We have learned," she read, "that some fools tried to rob the army paymaster this week.  The money was coming into town on the ferry, Johnny Bell.  Two men, one of whom had a strong resemblance to Lieutenant Sean Michael O'Boyle, tried to use that resemblance to fool the soldiers guarding the payroll.  Unfortunately for them the officer in charge of the guard detail knew the real Lt. O'Boyle.  The impersonator was shot and ran only a short way before expiring on the deck of the Johnny Bell.  The second man was waiting ashore when the real Lt. O'Boyle and his father, Major John M. O'Boyle came down to meet the ferry.  The second man accosted the two O'Boyles.  The elder O'Boyle was shot and fell into the river.  His body had not been recovered at the time of this edition.  The younger O'Boyle suffered a severe rap on the head.  His is still unconscious at this time.  The murderer was shot dead by the soldiers guarding the payroll.  His body fell into the river and also has not been recovered.  The payroll arrived safely at its destination, the pockets of our loyal soldiers."

"There was more to the story," said Mrs. Overby as she dropped down again to go through the newspaper stack.  "Can't seem to find it," she said from beneath the table.

"Is this it?" asked Annie holding up a piece of material with a piece of newspaper pinned to it.  The paper was cut in the shape of the back of a shirtwaist bodice.  "You used this for the pattern for Mrs. Daniels' dress."

Mrs. Overby took the paper and material and spread it out on the table.  "Let's see, yes, here it is.  "We are fortunate to report that Lt. Sean Michael O'Boyle, the victim in Tuesday's attempt to rob the army payroll has regained consciousness.  Aside from a gash in the back of his head and a headache, he is recovering nicely according to Dr. Cabot, his attending physician.  We have learned that he stands to inherit a sizeable estate along with a sister that lives in Chicago.  Their father, the unfortunate John O'Boyle, who was murdered in the robbery attempt, has extensive holdings in steel mills and railroads.  His wealth is, no doubt, several times greater than the robbers were attempting to steal from the army. Unfortunately all his wealth was no protection against being in the wrong place at the right time to be murdered."

"So your master is very wealthy," said Mrs. Overby with a smile.  "And he's not married."  Her smile faded, "but I doubt he's interested in an older widow with little dowry.  He's no doubt on the scout for a young debutante with a rich father to increase his wealth.  Oh, well, I suppose I can separate him from a little of his money."  She turned to the box the other two Colored women had brought.

"Let's see if these clothes fit you. They were made for a young woman whose husband was ambitious and rising through the ranks.  Unfortunately his career and her finances took a severe blow when a seseesh cannon took off his head at Wilson's Creek.  She left town owing a lot of people.  Let's see, let's put you in this chemise first and then these pantalets.  Then you can try on all the rest of the dresses.  Surely one of them will please Lieutenant O'Boyle."

There came a rap on the door just as Matilda had a light blue dress pulled down over her head.  Mrs. Overby opened the door to Lt. O'Boyle who was followed by a young man with a piece of slate in his hand.

"Come in Lieutenant and you too Ben.  It looks like we may have some clothes already made that will fit your girl."

"Thank you, ma'am." Replied the Lieutenant with hat in hand.  "Mr. Levitz is working on my coat and his brother sent Young Ben, here to measure her feet for some shoes.  Mr. Izzy Levitz is a little ill today, but his son is a fair shoemaker so he gets the job."

"Well, there she is," Mrs. Overby turned to wave at Matilda.

Annie was buttoning the back of the dress.  Matilda smiled at the Lieutenant.  "What do you think? Does it meet your approval?  There is a whole box full of clothes, all my size.  There should be something in there you like."

"I like what I see," said Sean.  "If your hair was fixed up you 'd be the beauty of any ball in town."

Mrs. Overby gasped then quickly recovered.  "You like the dress then?"

"Of course," replied Sean.

"You're not interested in any of the others?" asked Mrs. Overby in obvious disappointment.

"They all fit you?" he asked.

"I've only tried on this one," replied Matilda also deflated by his decision to take the first one.

"We'll take 'em all," said Sean.  "You can try the rest of them on while Ben is working on your shoes."

Mrs. Overby gasped again, but this time from pleasure.  Matilda broke into a pleased smile and Annie broke into a laugh.

Ben quickly slipped the slate under Matilda's foot and drew an outline.  Hats in hand the two men bowed their way out the front door.  When the door was closed and locked behind them Annie was the first to speak.

"Honey, yo has that man's heart right in the palm o' yo han'."

"That rap on the head must've addled his brain," said Mrs. Overby.  "Imagine a man of his standing in love with a Colored woman.  Lust, that's what it is just plain lust.  No man of his standing could be really in love with a Colored woman.  He's bought you for his pleasure.  When he's done he'll sell you like a dried up cow.  Disgusting, that's what it is, just disgusting."

Annie's smile vanished.  She began unbuttoning the back of Matilda's dress with her eyes intent on the buttons.  The other women also fell silent.

Feeling like an outsider Mrs. Overby went to the back.  "You take care of her," she called over her shoulder to Annie.

Annie's smile returned.  "Yo is lucky, girl.  Don't yo waste yo opportunity.  That man would walk right off the gangway into the Mississippi if yo axed him to.  He has mo' money'n anybody.  Don't yo do nuthin' to displease him.  He may turn 'roun' 'n sell you tomorrow, but doan yo give any reason to git rid o' yo.  He 'pears to be a good man, so he probly won't ax yo to do anything bad.  Just yo 'member to please him.  Yo'll have it soft the rest o' yo life."

"Do you think he's addled?" Matilda asked as the women pulled the dress off over her head.

"Could be," replied Annie.  "But as long as he doan do nuthin to hurt yo, yo stay with him."

"All mens gits addled when they see a purty gal," said Katie, the prettiest of the other three.  "I sees it all the time.  They act plumb crazy sometimes.  It usually wears off after they been 'roun awhile.  Then they wake up and run away."

"Only the men 'roun yo," replied Liza with a laugh.  "My man, Jericho, been lovin' me ten years now, an' he's just as addled 'bout me as when we first met."

"So's my, Jack," added Annie.  "He comes home to me 'n the chillins ever night.  Been doin' it for more'n fifteen years.  Matilda, yo just stay with that man long's yo can.  His White frien's might try to run yo off, but yo just stay with him.  Rich men are scarce in a woman's life.  Just cause he's rich doan mean he's bad."

"Well, I am certainly not going to kick the man in the face," laughed Matilda.

She tried on all the dresses and one of the two nightgowns then returned to the original blue dress with a matching cape.  Sean and Ben came over later to do a fitting of the shoe in process.  Much later he came back with his coat and trousers cleaned and a pair of laced high top shoes.  They fit Matilda perfectly.

Mrs. Overby put in a belated appearance when Matilda was twirling around to give Sean a good look at his investment.  "The whole box of things will be fifty dollars."

It was Annie's turn to gasp then frown.  Sean only smiled.  He drew out his wallet.

"Are you sure that is enough?  That's quite a lot of clothes."

Annie rolled her eyes at the ceiling.  Sean counted out fifty dollars and added five for any inconvenience Mrs. Overby may have suffered. Then he tipped each of the Colored women a dollar.

"Thank you all," he said as they went out the door.  "We'll most definitely recommend your shop to any of our friends that might need your services."  He set the box on the sidewalk and started looking for a hack.

"We're not taking a chance on getting your new shoes all muddy," he explained.

"You are going to risk falling out of a cab again, today?" she asked with a playful smile.

"That was a bit of a whopper?" he grinned back.

       

"It wasn't the biggest lie I ever heard," she replied.  "But you did put a strain on the truth."

"No one was harmed," he replied.  "You do like your new clothes?"

"Oh, yes, very much.  You just spent more on these clothes than all the clothes I ever owned were worth.  You need to be a little tighter with your money even though you have a lot of it."

"What do you know about my money?"

"Mrs. Overby had some newspapers. She read about your father's death and you're getting hit on the head and all the money you inherited."

"Um huh, so now you are wondering what a rich man like me is doing buying a woman?"

"I'm sure you could have your choice of any number of highly stationed White women.  And even more whose station is not quite so high.  So why buy me?"

He took her arm and assisted her into the cab.  The driver never even looked at her. "Calvert's Auction House up the street," said Sean as he hoisted the box of clothes up to the driver to stow on top.  He climbed in beside her and called to the driver, "We're aboard."  The driver slapped the reins on the horse's rump and they pulled out.

"So you still think I may have bought you for lewd purposes?" he asked as he looked out at the passing businesses.

"It's not beyond the realm of my imagination," she replied.  "Mr. Calvert intended to sell me to a brothel.  You might perform lewd things worse than the men in any brothel."

"Well, I suppose if I was the sort to go in for that sort of thing you might have to worry, but I assure you I did not buy you to abuse you."

"So, why did you buy me?" she asked looking him square in the eyes.

"Honestly, I'm not sure.  You looked so pitiful standing there with your dress ripped off.  I just couldn't bear to see you suffer further indignity."

"My bare breasts didn't have anything to do with your decision?"

"Now, I can't say that.  Not a hundred percent.  That sight would affect any man.  If I couldn't have bought you I might 've had to shoot Mr. Bertram and Mr. Calvert.  Then where would I be?  I'd be hung for murder, so you can say I bought you in self defense."

"Sounds like a round about way to get to self defense," she smiled.  "Those women at the dress shop seemed to think you've fallen in love with me or you're addled from the hit on the head."

"Maybe a little of both," he replied with a grin.  "I don't know what caused it, your bare breasts, your beauty or the crack on the head, but since I got up from that mud puddle my heart has been thumping in my chest like a rabbit trying to get away."

"But you don't know anything about me," she protested.  "How can you love me like that?"

"I don't know," he replied throwing up his hands.  "I've never felt like this before.  I was engaged once, but she never made me feel like this.  If I were going to fall in love with somebody you would expect it to be a White woman.  You're only the second Colored woman I've ever spoken to."

"You are addled," she said in resignation.  "It had to be the hit on the head."

"If that's so I hope I don't get over it," he replied.  "We'll just have to wait and see.  Think you want to be around a crazy man for awhile?"

"You still plan on letting me see my son?"

"Of course."

"Then I've got nothing better to do," she smiled.  "I could be in a lot worse situation."

"Oh?  How so?"

"You could be mean, ugly and poor," she laughed.  "You're certainly the answer to a girl's dream, so don't get over your hit on the head any time soon."

"I'll try to make it last as long as possible."  He patted her hand and then said very seriously, "When I see the end of the dream I'll take steps to see you get out before it turns into a nightmare."

When the hack stopped at the dock of the auction house Sean opened the door and stepped down.  He turned back to Matilda.  "You want to come in and show off for that old scoundrel?"

"No, I don't," she replied.  "I'll wait right here.  I have no desire to see, hear or even hear about that man ever again."

"Very well," he grinned.  "I won't be long."

Sean trotted up the steps to the door and entered.  He found Mr. Calvert setting at his desk.  "Did my check clear?"

"Yes."  He slid the bill of sale across the desk.  "If you ever want another woman let me know.  I can get you a tall red-head that's as white as I am for twenty-five hundred."

"No, thank you one woman at a time is sufficient for me."  Sean folded the paper and put into his wallet.  "Good day, sir.  It's been a pleasure doing business with you."

"And you, sir."  Calvert stood up and offered his hand.  Sean shook it and left.

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