December 1st 1860

It was a cold and dreary night as I trudged up the lane to my distant cousin's house. I had come down from Baltimore, Maryland to Atlanta, Georgia to trade slaves with my cousin. I rapped on the door long and hard for thirty seconds and then I put my hand by my side.

"James is that you," Micah asked opening the door a crack.

"Yes, it is me. Sorry it's so late at night," I said stepping inside.

"Let me guess: the slaves you're selling me were refusing to get in the wagon when you left the Inn this morning," Micah said and I shook my head.

"It was my former butler that was refusing to get in the wagon. I figured that you would take care of it when I got here with them," I said looking Micah dead in the eyes.

"Bring them in and I'll examine them," Micah said and I walked back to the wagon to find my former butler sitting on the edge of the wagon staring down at the ground.

"Michael you know why I'm doing this. You know that it was nothing that you did wrong," I said laying my hand on his shoulder.

"Then why sell me also," Michael asked looking up at me tears in his eyes.

"Because of what your sister did in my bed with my son I have no other choice but to sell you. Just remember the promise I made you to come up to Baltimore to marry that pretty little thing you wanted to marry," I said and he perked up.

"How long do I have to wait to come up there," Michael asked quietly.

"I'll talk to your new master about that because I have to arrange it," I said noticing that his sister was awake.

"Michelle it's time for you and your parents to get up now," I said and she sat up carefully, bracing herself against the side of the wagon.

She placed one hand on her stomach and tears began to stream down her face. Michael reached out to her and hugged her as she began to sob.

"Michelle, are you with child," I asked and she nodded, the tears coming to a stop as her parents awoke.

"Yes I am pregnant, master," she whispered and hung her head in shame.

"Is it my son's child," I asked and she started to shake as more tears streamed down her face.

"I'll stay to make sure you're well cared for, until the baby is born. But after that I have to leave and the baby is going with me. Do you understand me Michelle," I said and she nodded as she wiped her face and allowed her brother to help her out of the wagon.

The other two climbed out of the wagon and followed behind me, with Michelle leaning on Michael for support. I let myself into the house and found Micah sitting on the sofa in his grand sitting room.

"Where are the slaves," he asked looking up at me from the letter he was reading. "It says here you're selling me four slaves, but the look on your face says the fourth one is not for sale yet. Why is that James?"

"A complication has arisen and the girl is pregnant with my son's child. I'm staying until the child is born and then I'm taking it away from her and giving it to my son. There is no way, not even in hell, that I am selling my grandchild to anyone, regardless of one of his parents being a slave," I said and Micah nodded his consent.

"That is understandable. Let me see them," Micah said getting up and following me outside. "I see what you mean James. What are their names?"

"Johnathan, Lucinda, Michael, and Michelle," I said pointing them out in turn.

"Okay their names can stay the same. Now were there any promises you made to any of them," Micah asked me quietly turning to look at me.

"Yes there was one but I'll talk to you about that one in private," I said and Micah nodded his consent in response to my words.

Micah led them around back and to a little hut that had two medium sized mattresses for them to sleep on. Michelle gravitated towards the one farthest away from the door and laid down with her brother and they both went to sleep. Lucinda said something to Johnathan and they laid down and went to sleep as well. Micah closed the door and we walked back to the house. When we got there we sat down on the sofa in the sitting room and I explained the deal I had made with Michael to him.

"I promised him that he could go up and marry the girl he had set his eyes on. But I don't know how long you want him to wait before he goes up there," I said and Micah nodded.

"He can go up there when you leave with your grandchild. So you're really going to sell me five," Micah said looking me in my deep blue eyes.

"If I get a fifth in return you get the fifth for free," I said and Micah's eyes lit up in happiness.

"It's a deal James," he said and we shook hands to seal the deal.

I looked towards the window and saw the Sun just beginning to rise over the hilltop on which the house was perched. The slaves were just getting up and getting ready for a brand new day. I suggested that we retire to bed and Micah agreed, leading me up to my favorite guest room and he retired to his bed. In five minutes I was asleep.

December 2nd 1860

By the time I awoke the sun was high in the air and everyone was downstairs waiting for me to come down and eat with them. I made my way down the stairs to the dining room where everyone was seated. As soon as Michael and Michelle saw me they got to their feet and moved away from the table. I took the empty seat beside Michelle and they retook their seats at the table. I took the plate of bacon that was offered to me and scooped some onto my plate before passing it to Michael.

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Publication Date: 11-04-2013

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