Free Come August, Come Freedom by Gigi Amateau Page B

most happy when I’m with Nanny. Sir.”
    Mr. Prosser laughed to himself. “Ah, yes. You’ve come for a gift!” The planter man coughed once, then twice, and with the third he gave in to a violent hacking fit. Venus slipped into the room and placed a glass of water in the master’s trembling hand. The girl nodded for Gabriel to hurry with his request, then left the two men alone again.
    “I’ve been loving Nanny since I first saw her when I first went to Richmond.”
    “I knew you visited Wilkinson’s at night lately.” Mr. Prosser crossed, then uncrossed, his ankles and leaned forward. “But tell me, what do you think about Venus? I have long hoped you would take Venus.”
    Gabriel shook his head no before Mr. Prosser could finish speaking. He looked to the door, thankful some other business had pulled Venus away. Still, he softened his voice before he spoke so that she would not hear. “Thank you, sir. I love my Nan, and besides, Venus is too trifling a woman for me.”
    Mr. Prosser leaned his head against the chair back and groaned. So much time passed that Gabriel cleared his throat to try and rouse the master from sleep.
    Venus entered the room again and startled Mr. Prosser awake.
    “Yes, yes,” the planter said. “I give you my permission. I’ll speak to Wilkinson on your behalf, though I expect the old colonel will take no issue. He’s getting the better part here. You must know I’ll have no claim on any increase from this marriage.” Mr. Prosser picked up his pen to write their agreement in the book, then set it down again. “Venus, I can’t get warm today. Send Old Major in to tend to this fire.”
    Venus and Gabriel exchanged glances. “Old Major passed over, Marse. Gone home now,” said Venus.
    Mr. Prosser rubbed his eyes. “Did I not just see him there at my window? Well, I’m tired and nervous today.” The master sighed. “I need a good strong cup of coffee. Or some soup. Now, tell me, how is your mother?”
    “Comin’ ’long, sir. Mam be back up here to the house before long,” Venus answered.
    “Good, good. I miss having Kissey near.” He sank deep into his chair, then remembered Gabriel. “I’ll do your bidding with Wilkinson. Are we finished?”
    “Thank you,” Gabriel said. Then he rushed to add, “Venus here, she loves Mr. Burton’s Isaac, sir, and it’s a known fact he loves her back. Isaac’s a good, strong man and will care for her.”
    Before Gabriel could wink at Venus and slip out of the counting room, Mr. Prosser grabbed Gabriel by the wrist. “Wait.”
    “Sir?”
    “I dreamed of your damned father last night. He came to my bed drenched by rain. Laughing.” Mr. Prosser described the ghostly encounter. “I asked what business he had with me, then his face became yours. On waking this morning, I prevailed upon Venus to check the floor for dampness, to see if he had come back and haunted me in the night.”
    Gabriel envisioned Pa’s bony face. Even now, he met up with Pa every night in his sleep. He had often wondered if he would speak a single word or simply fall into Pa’s embrace when they would finally reunite, way up yonder. He wanted so badly to tell his father, Pa, I’m going to marry Nanny at Young’s spring. I’m going to set my Nan free.
    He said to himself, We’ll hold hands when we jump the broom. Three times, then she’ll be my wife. Forever, Pa. Like you and Ma, forever.
    “I also dreamed of my father in the night,” Gabriel said, and ran from the counting room. Mr. Prosser had kept the room so hot, now Gabriel felt dizzy and out of breath. Outside, he leaned against the cold, white wood planks of the great house, then he set off past the quarter to Young’s spring to meet Nanny.
    He knew she would be waiting. Seeing him there, smiling his snaggletooth smile at the top of the hill, Nanny would come running toward him. He would call out, My bride, my bride, over and over when he saw her blue skirt hiked up to give her long legs room