Free Princess Ces'alena by Mercedes Keyes

it!!”
    “What is it that you want of me!?!
    “I want you married before the year is up! A nice decent white woman of course! And I do mean what I say. Or you could try and take Ceś alena and the boy and run off. But then, where you gonna run with no money and your bed-wench and bastard? If you left her alone for one minute wherever you went to work, you’d have to keep her and the boy well hidden. She’s a fancy Manny; you know what she’s worth! How many now that want her. She’d be in a brothel selling her favors before you could blink an eye. You know there are men out there who would not give a second thought to snatching her from you. I’m sure you remember what happened that last time she tried to runaway - when she first got here. She’s a rare beauty, one that would make some one – one helluva profit on the market. Here at Webster Fields, she safe…and so is the boy. But take them out-…”
    “I know! I know it damn it!!” Manny blasted…running his hands through his hair in anguish. This is the last thing he expected his father to throw at him. He didn’t want to marry. He was quite satisfied with his life the way it was.
    “Well…what’s it gonna be?”
    “Why can’t you just leave things as they are?!”
    “Because I don’t like the way things are! There are some things gone have to change ‘round here!” Morris finished smugly, knowing he’d covered all possible avenues of escape for his son. He knew Manny would not endanger his son’s life, nor the wench’s out in a world that would eat them alive. Manny stood from the table walking towards the window with a view to the cabins along side the house. The first to be seen was Lena’s. He stood there a moment in silence. His gut churning… ‘ I don’t want to do this…I don’t want to! God why can’t they just leave us alone!? Why?’ He thought bristling at the notion of being forced into marriage.
    “I’m waiting.” Morris reminded him.
    “Are you aware that what you ask, takes more time than I have?” Manny inquired fuming as his anger simmered. His father never failed to twist things to his advantage and further control his life. “I’m very much aware of the time you have. A lot can happen in nine months. So, if I was you, I’d get moving…this year Manny! Times awastin’ as we speak; yep, times awastin’.”

Morris preened, considering how things turned out better than he’d expected. Standing, he grabbed his cane, heading for the kitchen, when Manny’s voice stopped him. “Wait…I may be forced to this…but we have one last thing to settle between us.”
    Morris turned back to his son.
    “Don’t you ever do - what you did today… again. In any way ever …or I promise you…you’ll be sorry you did.”
    Morris stood stunned and staring…hurt by his son’s threat. Though he had no fear of physical danger from Manny…he could only wonder what that threat entailed. “Have you forgotten that I’m your father? And she’s just a slave I won in a poker game?! Weren’t for me…you’d never have laid eyes on her.”
    “No matter…the fact is…you did, I have and she’s here. Keep your hands off of her.”
    Morris stared a bit more, then finally nodded, “You keep her in line. Won’t be no problems then.” Turning away, having heard enough…he entered the kitchen. “Kayleen, where the hell is my dinner? Does a man have to be on the verge of collapse from starvation around here before he gets fed? My goddamn stomach thinks my throats cut.” He called out, leaving his son to stand and stew, fighting the inevitable.
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

    Chapter Three

     
    When Lena reached her cabin with her son, she quickly latched her door, dropped to her knees and tearfully gave him a relieved hug, so frightened that Morris would whip him. But that was over and they were in the safety of her cabin now. Murmuring softly, with tender care, she stripped him of his clothes, wiped