Free Receive Me Falling by Erika Robuck Page A

dresses.
    “I wish I could throw one of these lightweight
garments on during the day,” said Catherine.   “Layers of corsets and petticoats are ridiculous in such a climate.   Could you imagine the look on Father’s face
if I appeared one morning wearing this?”
    Leah smiled as Catherine held the plain, short
garment up to her figure.   She folded it
and added it to the enormous pile that she and Leah had already sewn.   The women had worked side by side sewing the
shifts for weeks.   Catherine had promised
Cecil that she would only take one slave from her chores to complete the
garments made from leftover bolts of fabric.   A tremendous amount of clothing had been completed in such a short time.
    “I’ll have Joseph take these to the slave
village,” said Catherine as Leah folded the final dress.   Then she dropped her voice to a whisper.   “Meet me in the grove shortly.”
    Leah nodded and packed up the sewing materials as
her young mistress exited the room.   She
worked slowly and paused frequently to wipe the cold sweat from her brow.   A sudden wave of nausea stopped Leah and sent
her into a panic.   Stumbling over to the
window, she was just able to heave her breakfast out of the window and wipe the
spittle from her mouth before she heard male voices entering the room.   She hurried back to the sewing chest to
finish as Cecil, Albert and James strode into the room.
    “Ah, Leah, fetch us some tea before you’re off,”
instructed Cecil.
    Leah nodded and moved from the room.   She nearly collided with James, and looked
into his face to mutter an apology.   What
was it that she saw in his eyes?   Was it
pity?   Had he seen her sickness?   He smiled at her and moved aside to let her
pass.     
     

 
    Catherine
stepped out of the Great House and moved over the back lawn.   Until she felt the cool darkness of the
lagoon trees, she did not slow her step.   After making her way through thick plants and vines, Catherine emerged
into a small clearing.   Doves cooed near
her head in the branches of the surrounding trees and a small vervet monkey ran
across her path to the other side of the clearing.   Catherine moved over to a small stone bench
framed in fern and bougainvillea.  
    As she waited for Leah, Catherine’s thoughts
turned to Esther.   It was unusual that
Esther would still be tending to Rachel and kept from her household
duties.   Catherine planned to visit
Esther at the slave village once she and Leah finished.   She also wanted to speak to Mary about the
birthing.   After having written copious
notes in her journal detailing each stage of the labor, Catherine wanted to
speak to Mary about several questions she had regarding the care needed for
mother and child following delivery.
    The hiss of rustling bamboo announced Leah’s
arrival.   The slave girl
emerged—secretive and panting—from the great, straight stalks to join her
mistress.   She carried a basket of fruit
and kept it on her lap as she sat next to Catherine.
    “I hope no one saw me run across the back lawn.”
    “I am sure no one did.   Everyone is attending to their duties, and I
believe Father is showing the Englishmen the sugar buildings.”
    Leah produced a small, worn Bible from under the
bananas.   Catherine opened the book and
the girls moved close together.   Leah
began to read aloud from Genesis, and Catherine coached her pupil through the
first chapter.   The girls leaned into one
another as the silent mutiny was executed.
    “You’ve been practicing,” said Catherine.  
    “It has been difficult keeping it from Mami but I
have managed a bit each day.”
    Leah read slowly but clearly through the first
three chapters of Genesis.   The thick
vegetation of the grove trembled around them under the weight of birds, small
animals, and swift breezes, and concealed the figure who was watching them.
         

         
    The
lagoon began under a gushing cataract that surged into shallow pools