East of Orleans (29 page)

“I heard you married that old bastard,” Tom said, resentment coloring his words. “You look good. Looks like you’ve done well for yourself. You probably got a real fine house and fancy clothes.” He picked her hand up and held it between them. “Did you sell yourself for a piece of rock that sparkles? Hell, I can remember when you used to catch butterflies, but I guess that girl is gone or maybe she never even existed.”

Isabella turned away from him.

“Tom, just leave it be. Why do you want to do this?”

He took her by the shoulders and swung her back around.

“Because I thought what happened down here on the river that day meant something to you. I thought I meant something to you, but I guess I was a damn crazy fool to think that an old country boy like me could ever compete with the likes of Jules McGinnis.”

“We’d better go back now. What are people gonna say?”

“I don’t give a damn what people say! Why’d you do it, Bella, why’d you take off like you did?”

“You seen why! There was nowhere for me to go. Mama and Granny didn’t want me here.”

Tom pulled her close to him. “Don’t go, don’t go back.”

“I have to. You don’t understand.”

“You’re right, I don’t understand.” He scanned her face; their eyes met.

“Bella…”

“Yes?”

“Tell me you don’t love me and I’ll never bother you again.”

He pulled her hips up close and kissed her hard on the mouth. “Who is Elora’s daddy, Isabella, who?” he whispered.

Isabella could not speak. She pulled away and ran through the woods back to the house.

The mourners at Granny’s funeral seemed more interested in what Isabella was wearing or hearing any words exchanged between her and Tom Slaughter. She was aware of their insincere remarks and had it not been for Tom, she would have wished herself back in
Savannah
and in the home of the man who seemed to want to protect her.

The funeral went on forever. Three preachers spoke, and then at the end, Jesse played
Amazing
Grace
on his harmonica.

Isabella remained behind at the church after the funeral. The sky turned an orange gray and the sun was about to set over
Shakerag
Valley
. Isabella was putting flowers on little Henry’s grave when a familiar voice came up behind her.

“I think it was rude of my new aunt not letting me know that she was in town, don’t you?” said Jacob Hartwell.

Isabella’s hands started shaking. Her face drained of color and her eyes were enormous. She stood up and swung around in a rage. “I can’t believe you have the nerve to show yourself here!”

“Yes, well, I thought it would be unforgiving if I let my Uncle Jules’ wife see herself home all alone through these woods--.”

“Jesse!” screamed Isabella. “Jesse!”

“You can scream as long as you like, but your nigger ain’t gonna answer. He’s helping your boyfriend move your mama’s things over to your sister’s for the night.” He looked her up and down like a hungry animal. “Of course, the truth is that don’t bother me at all; it’s been too long, way too long. Why don’t you encourage me like you did last time? I like it when you kick and holler.”

Isabella didn’t dare move.

“Let me go.”

“Nobody’s keeping you here.”

She looked into his face; his expression was cold and hard, exactly like it was that day.

He looked back at her. His dark eyes flickered. “There’s a part of me that couldn’t wait for that old woman to die. I knew when she did that you’d come back.”

“You come near me and I swear I’ll kill you, Jacob Hartwell!”

He spit out a twig he’d been chewing on. “Whatever gave you the notion that you were gonna do a goddamn thing?” Jacob shook his head.

Then the expression on his face changed, his blond hair blew in the wind, he pulled her close to him and said in a low voice, “Had I known about the little girl, I might have done something for you. She ain’t mine if that’s worried you, but I could still be her daddy. A pretty little girl like her could use a daddy.”

At that moment, Tom came up. Isabella wanted to run to him and tell him everything. She wanted to tell him about the rape and Jacob’s threats. Her mind raced, she wondered if Jacob had killed her daddy. She wanted to scream out the truth, but she was afraid of what Jacob would do to the people she loved most.

Tom stood there for a moment and stared hard at Jacob. “Hartwell, what you doing here?”

Jacob turned around and started speaking without looking at Tom. “I come down to the church to pay my respects to Isabella’s granny. Her now being family and all.” He smiled and curled his bottom lip. “I was surprised to find her out here all alone. I stayed long enough to offer her a way home,” Jacob said with a twinkle in his eyes.

Tom turned to Isabella. “Is that right?”

“He startled me, that’s all.”

Tom gave Jacob an icy stare. “I’d pity the man that let something happen to her.”

“Can I see you home?” Jacob asked Isabella.

“My ma’s at her house; I’ll see her home,” said Tom with a firm voice.

“I’m sure my uncle Jules will be appreciative,” Jacob said with a smirk, as he mounted his horse and rode away.

“Get in the wagon,” Tom said gently to Isabella. “What have I told you bout wandering around too late in the afternoon by yourself? I hope you don’t do this in
Savannah
.”

He still cares for me.
Isabella felt a sudden joy fill her heart.

They rode in silence. When Tom pulled the buggy in front of the house, it was darker than Isabella had ever remembered it being.
Tds l lit abever rould never remered it being.er sleep
“Your mama and Jesse have gone over to Livie’s. They’re gonna stay there tonight. I told them I’d wait on you to gather some things and I’d take you over.”

“Thank you.”

“When you going back?”

“Day after tomorrow.”

Isabella blinked away tears. Tom placed his hand under her chin. “I thought I could quit caring about you; I even tried, but it was no use.” Tom looked into her eyes. “If I felt in my gut that you wanted things this way, then I would let you go, but my heart don’t tell me that.”

“Tom, don’t. Not now.”

“Is Elora my daughter?” Tom asked in a soft voice.

“Don’t ask me things I cannot answer now.”

“It don’t matter if she ain’t mine. I’d love her just the same. But you know something, Bella, I feel she is mine. You ever had that feeling? Just knowing something belonged to you and nobody had to tell you.” Tom gazed in her eyes, “It’s kind of like I felt the first time I kissed you.” Tom gently kissed Isabella on the mouth.

“Tom, what if somebody sees us out here?”

“I’ve never been bothered about what anybody says.” The expression on Tom’s face changed. “How does he treat you?”

“He works all the time. He’s at that warehouse from morning till night, and when he’s not there, he’s either over at Beaufort checking on his sharecroppers or playing poker. I really don’t see much of him. I think he cares more about the price of cotton than he does me. But he’s a good man and he cares about me.”

“Cares about you, my ass! I want to know if
you
want him in your bed?”

She turned her head and would not look at him. “He’s my husband.”

“You know what I mean.”

“Don’t do this to me; I am not the same girl that you once knew.”

“Well, show me who you are.” Tom took a deep breath. “Isabella McCoy, there’s more to this and I aim to find out if it kills me.”

“Take me to Livie’s,” said Isabella.

Earlier the same evening, Jules locked up his desk and started home when he noticed Priscilla out on
Bay Street
. She was in the center of some Negro women who had gathered up their baskets for the day and were heading home. Jules walked up to Priscilla and saw her huddled over a deck of cards. One of the women shrugged her shoulders, threw down a coin and left.

“You won yet?” Jules said to Priscilla as he lit his cigar.

“Naw, sir--.”

“You look mighty busy.”

“Ise might as well be busy here as over yonder.”

“Why is that?”

Priscilla threw down her cards and stood up to look Jules in the eyes. “Dat woman of yours, she done lost her mind. Dat is if she ever had one to begin with. I do believe dat ol’ cat she keep, that half dead ol’ thing, has got a better mind than dat woman.”

Jules smiled and took a long puff off his cigar.

“I know you done whipped the hell out of dat man dat been wallowing over dere—Mister Patrick, Ise believe he is, and don’t get me wrong—he been good to me, as good as any white man ever been to me, but I don’t know how much longer I can stay in dat house.”

“Why is that, Priscilla?” Jules said with unwavering eyes.

“She crazy! Miz Jacqueline she think all de time dat I be spying on her. I ain’t—a spying on nobody. Miz Jacqueline, she came out of her bedroom one morning and said dat I was listening at de door. I told her I wasn’t listening at no door, dat I was minding my own business. The truth is, Mister Jules, dat I wuz bringing up some clean bed linens and I didn’t expect Mister Patrick to be laid up with her like dat. I knows dat you done bought us dat house and den she went and wuz bad and now, now I don’t know what’s happenin’ anymore. I shure enough don’t. And here I am in
Savannah
and I ain’t got no place to go. Miz Mae she ain’t gonna be taking me back.” Priscilla gave Jules a sidelong glance. “And I wouldn’t go if she asks me. Ise a Christian woman now. I shure nuff is. I wuz baptized last Sunday. I got right with de Lawd and I intend to stay dat way.”

Jules looked over at the Negro women, then turned back to Priscilla. “You want to bring your things and move in with me and my wife?”

“Youse got a wife, Mister Jules?” Priscilla looked at him in surprise.

“My own mother wouldn’t believe it, but that I do, Priscilla. And a little girl.”

“Youse done had yourself a baby? Why Mister Jules, you sly old fox.”

“My wife already had the little girl,” Jules said with a grin.

“Lawd, Mister Jules, I can’t picture you with a wife and a baby.”

“Neither can I, Priscilla, but it’s true.”

“Where you stay?”

“We live over on
Monterrey
. Pack your things and come on over. I’m sure Isabella will be happy to have the help when she comes home.”

Priscilla paused for a moment and scratched the back of her neck. “I don’t know if I should go dere tonight.”

“Why’s that?”

“Mister Patrick, he done gone off to
Pennsylvania
on business. He gave Miz Jacqueline a gun before he left. I heard him say if anybody come around, to shoot dem. I tell you they is a crazy bunch and I aim to get out of dere, but I don’t know ‘bout leaving Miz Jacqueline alone tonight. I promised Mister Patrick dat I’d take care of her.”

Priscilla just painted Jules a picture that he wanted to see. He took a twenty-dollar bill out of his pocket and handed it to her.