The Kitchen House Part 4

Hearing Dory's tone, Mama was about to join the conversation when a dark, thin figure standing back in the shadows caught her attention. It was Jimmy, baby Henry's father. He beckoned to Dory, and when she saw him, she almost tripped over Beattie in her haste to follow him into the dark woods. "You be careful," Mama whispered to Dory as she left.

After the two slipped away, an exceptionally dark and reed-thin woman approached Mama. Her hands nervously rubbed her jutting round belly. f.a.n.n.y identified her to me as Jimmy's mother, Ida.

"What we gonna do, Mae?" Ida asked, looking over her shoulder. "Rankin say he kill my Jimmy if he go by Dory again."

"I talk to the cap'n," said Mama. "I see him before he leave. I gonna ask that they jump the broom."

"You knows they don't want the mens from the quarters mixin' with the womens in the big house. You knows that, Mae," said Ida.

"Those two don't stay away from each other, that what I know," said Mama. "I tell the cap'n that Jimmy a good man for Dory. The cap'n always like Dory."

"If the cap'n say yes, Rankin don't like it," said Ida.

"That overseer don't like hisself, how he gonna like anything else?" asked Mama.

The talk stopped short when, as though summoned, the captain and his portly brother-in-law stepped into the light of the fire. Marshall and another tall man followed. The music ceased.

"Don't stop!" the captain called out. He raised two more jugs of whiskey over his head. "Would any of you be wanting more of this?" A cheer went up, and the music began again.

"That Mista Waters, the tutor," f.a.n.n.y whispered to me, pointing out the man standing behind Marshall.

The odd-looking man had my attention. He stood with his hand firmly on Marshall's shoulder and stared arrogantly at the people of the quarters and their surroundings. He leaned down occasionally to say something to Marshall, and it struck me how distressed Marshall looked, though he made no move to distance himself. I realize now that even as a young child, I guessed the vile nature of this man, and though I did not understand, I already sensed Marshall's entrapment.

"Go get Dory and Jimmy," Mama said to Ben, and he sprinted off into the dark woods.

The captain looked around the outside circle until his eyes rested on Belle. He did not pause, but came immediately over to her. "Belle," he greeted her, "you look lovely."

"Thank you," she said quietly, looking down.

The captain turned to Mama Mae, who had been seated beside Belle but now stood.

"Mae," he said, "that was a fine feast you and your family provided for us today."

"Yes, Cap'n," Mama Mae answered.

"Does your family have everything they need for a good holiday?" he asked.

"Cap'n, we sure do have plenty," Mama said.

"Good, good," he said, and as though at a loss for words, he turned to look at the dancers.

"Cap'n?" I heard Mama speak again.

He turned back. "Yes, Mae?"

"Cap'n," she said, "I needs to talk to you. It about Dory."

"Mae," he said, "I know about the baby. I was sorry to hear it."

"That not the problem, Cap'n," she said. "Dory wantin' to marry Jimmy from down here in these quarters. He the daddy of her baby."

"Well, Mae," he said, "I don't know about that. Rankin was talking to me about getting Jimmy with another girl. He seems to think that Dory is trouble for Jimmy."

"I think he wrong about that," said Mama.

"Do you, Mae?" the captain asked.

"I think it be good that they jump the broom," Mama said. "George think so, too."

"Well, Mae, you and George are family to me, and Dory means everything to Miss Martha. I suppose we could make an allowance here. But Jimmy would have to stay in the fields, and Dory would have to live up at the big house."

"That be fine," said Mama.

"When were they wanting to do this?" he asked.

"Quick as you say," Mama said.

He laughed. "Tell you what, Mae. If you think it a good idea, they could marry here tonight. Would that suit you?"

"That suit everybody just fine," said Mama, "but it maybe not good with Mr. Rankin?"

"He'll be back in a couple of days. I'll talk to him then. Don't worry, Mae; I'll take care of it. Now," he said, looking around, "where is the young couple?"

Fortunately, Ben had found them, and they stood together next to Papa George. Mama waved them forward, and they came, with Papa George taking the lead.

"Dory, your mama says that you want to marry this young fella here," the captain said.

Dory had been crying again. Her eyes were swollen almost shut, but she nodded.

"And Jimmy, you are wanting to jump the broom with Dory?" the captain asked.

"Yes, Cap'n," Jimmy said, "I sure do."

"Somebody get a broom," shouted the captain, "we're going to have a wedding."

The music stopped, and the crowd gathered around. There was a low murmur of voices, and someone produced a broom.

"Now the two of you hold hands," the captain instructed Dory and Jimmy, "and I'll perform the ceremony."

The broom was placed in front of the couple; the captain asked if they would be good to each other, not go with anyone else, and have lots of babies. They both answered yes, and then he told them to jump over the broom. They held hands and jumped together, but when Jimmy tripped, everyone laughed, including the captain. if they would be good to each other, not go with anyone else, and have lots of babies. They both answered yes, and then he told them to jump over the broom. They held hands and jumped together, but when Jimmy tripped, everyone laughed, including the captain.

"Well, Jimmy," he said, "we know who will be the boss of this family."

That was it. Belle told me they were married.

"Now we celebrate!" the captain called out, and he sent Ben up to find Uncle Jacob at the big house to get more liquor. The music began again, and I was surprised when the captain came to Belle, extending his hand. "Belle," he asked, "would you dance with me?"

Belle rose. When they approached the dance area, the other couples moved back, and as they dropped away, Belle and the captain were the only couple left dancing. It grew quiet as the two moved together, their feet pulled by the haunting strains of a lone fiddle. When Belle looked up at him, her beautiful face was flushed from the brandy. The captain gazed down at her with pride, and as he guided her around the circle of fire, his love for her was clear.

I looked for Ben, but I couldn't find him. Then I saw Marshall. The tutor had left, and Marshall stood alone, watching the dancing couple. A chill pa.s.sed over me when I saw his look of hatred.

CHAPTER SIX

Belle

IF M MISS M MARTHA KEEPS DIGGING at me, one of these times I'm gonna hand her the truth. Trouble is, if I do that, for sure the cap'n will send me away. at me, one of these times I'm gonna hand her the truth. Trouble is, if I do that, for sure the cap'n will send me away.

Christmas is always the worst time for me. It's what I remember best, living up there in the big house. And now Marshall is sleeping in my old bedroom.

Uncle Jacob knows the story about my real mama. He says the cap'n, thirty-four years old and still not married, was down in Richmond, walking through the yard where they was selling Negroes. The cap'n sees them poking at this woman who's standing tall on the box, looking away, like she's the tree and they're the dirt. When the cap'n says, "I'll take her," everybody laughs, and they say, "You best watch out. She's the kind that kills you in your sleep."

When the cap'n brings her here, his own mama, Mrs. Pyke, was real sick. My black mama knows how to work plants and gets Mrs. Pyke back on her feet. The cap'n stays here over that time, and don't you know, that's where I come in. But when I was born, my mama got the fever and died. They say the cap'n carried on like she was a white woman.

Ben was born that same year as me, 1773, so when Mrs. Pyke sees that Mama Mae is nursing, she brings her up from the quarters to feed me, too. Mama Mae is a hard worker, and before you know it, she's helping Uncle in the big house and then cooking in the kitchen house. Thing was, Papa George was already working up in the barns.

Uncle say I was like the light of day to Mrs. Pyke. My grandma showed me that there is always something to learn, that everybody got something to tell you. She got Uncle Jacob to show us how to write the Arabics, and we listened when he told us about his Fou-lah tribe and his Allah. showed me that there is always something to learn, that everybody got something to tell you. She got Uncle Jacob to show us how to write the Arabics, and we listened when he told us about his Fou-lah tribe and his Allah.

After Mrs. Pyke pa.s.sed on, everything changed. When she was living, the big house was my home.

DORY ALWAYS SAYS HOW M MISS Martha changes when the cap'n's home, but Dory says it surprises her beyond all else the way Miss Martha's like another woman with her sister in the house. She's never seen her this happy. Martha changes when the cap'n's home, but Dory says it surprises her beyond all else the way Miss Martha's like another woman with her sister in the house. She's never seen her this happy.

Dory still misses baby Henry, but jumping the broom with Jimmy worked out good for her. Mama say, "Thank the Lawd. I always worryin''bout those two gettin' caught together." Surprising me, Mama asks me about Ben. "I watch the two of you dance," she say, "that tellin' me somethin."

"And you and Papa? You both in your forties and still dancing like that. That tells me something, too."

Mama don't smile. "That don't tell me what I'm askin', Belle."

I get up to start cooking. "Maybe Ben is the one for me," I say.

"Belle, you best be careful. You know the cap'n gonna give you the free papers and that he wantin' to take you away," Mama says.

I don't tell her that Ben and me already have a kiss. When we was little, Ben was my best friend, but this year he's more quiet and looking at me in a whole different way. It makes me smile, 'cause I'm looking back. One time, back of the henhouse, he catch me and pull me to him for a kiss. I say, "No, Ben." He looked hurt, like I don't want him. Then I take his sweet face in my hands and kiss him so good that he pushes me away. "Don't you know what you doin' to me?" he asks.

"You don't like the way I kiss?" I say, teasing.

"Belle," he says, "you know I'm wantin' you." He starts talking 'bout jumpin' the broom, but then I run back to the kitchen house. We both know that ever since I was little, the cap'n always says that one day he's taking me away to Philadelphia.

And now every time the cap'n's home, he's talking about making plans. But I always cry and say, "Wait, please don't make me leave my home." He don't know what to say when I cry, so he leaves and I get to stay. But he always makes me promise not to take up with any man, and I keep that promise. Until now.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Lavinia

ALTHOUGH THE HOUSE GUESTS STAYED for two more weeks, Belle and I were kept busy down in the kitchen house and had no further contact with them. One evening before they left, I overheard a conversation between Uncle Jacob and Belle. They were speaking of Miss Martha. "I don't know what she gonna do when these holidays over," said Uncle Jacob. "Her sista goin' back, and the cap'n leave again. Miss Martha gonna take to her bed, that for sure. I don't know what that man thinkin', to leave that woman alone again." According to Uncle, the cap'n had done this ever since he had brought her here as a bride, believing that she would take over running the plantation in the same way his mother had. for two more weeks, Belle and I were kept busy down in the kitchen house and had no further contact with them. One evening before they left, I overheard a conversation between Uncle Jacob and Belle. They were speaking of Miss Martha. "I don't know what she gonna do when these holidays over," said Uncle Jacob. "Her sista goin' back, and the cap'n leave again. Miss Martha gonna take to her bed, that for sure. I don't know what that man thinkin', to leave that woman alone again." According to Uncle, the cap'n had done this ever since he had brought her here as a bride, believing that she would take over running the plantation in the same way his mother had.

"He have his business in Philadelphia and Williamsburg," Belle defended the captain.

"I knows this, Belle. But it long past time for him to stay here. Miss Martha don't know nothin' 'bout runnin' this place. Every time he leave, Dory say she takin' more and more of the drops. And Miss Martha don't let that lil Sally outta her sight. The only one she trust that chil' with is Dory," Uncle said.

"She's so afraid she's gonna lose another one. Mama says Miss Martha's not acting right ever since she lost that last baby," Belle said.

"All I know is, it time for the cap'n to stay back and pay attention to what's goin on 'round here. That Rankin no good down at the quarters, and for sure that tutor no good."

"Is something wrong with the tutor?" Belle asked.

"There's somethin' not right with that man," said Uncle.

"What are you saying?" asked Belle.

"Why the man needin' to lock the door when he teachin' the young masta about the books? What happenin', I don't know, but I hears the boy cryin' more than once when I go past the door. I tell the cap'n, but he say to me that the young masta need to have some discipline, that it time for him to do book learnin' so he can run this place when he grow up."

Belle sighed.

"Time, too, for the cap'n to do somethin' about you," Uncle said.

"Well, I'm deciding I don't want to go," Belle said. "He's just gonna have to talk to Miss Martha. Why he's wanting to get me out of here now, I don't know!"

"Belle, you gettin' too old to stay. All along, Miss Martha thinkin' you Mae's girl," Uncle said. "Now, when the cap'n comin' down to the kitchen house, givin' you the combs and ribbons, she wonderin' what's goin on. It time for him to give you the free papers. He right, Belle. It time for him to get you outta here."

"Everybody's always saying I got to go. But you all forget, this is my home! I'm gonna tell the cap'n I'm staying here, maybe even marry Ben."

"Ben! You be careful." Uncle Jacob's voice was sharp. "Ever since you was lil you know the cap'n have other ideas for you."

"I best close up for the night," Belle replied, ending the conversation.

When Belle came up to bed, I crawled in beside her. She was turned away from me, but I knew she was crying, so I patted her back, as she often did mine. I was unsure, though, for it seemed that my efforts at comforting her only caused her to cry all the more.

WHEN THE HOUSEGUESTS LEFT, THE mistress surprised everyone with her continued good humor. The captain stayed home until mid-February, but this time, to everyone's surprise, Miss Martha remained in good spirits after his departure. Before the captain left, he gave permission for Papa to bring Jimmy up to work with him mistress surprised everyone with her continued good humor. The captain stayed home until mid-February, but this time, to everyone's surprise, Miss Martha remained in good spirits after his departure. Before the captain left, he gave permission for Papa to bring Jimmy up to work with him in the barns, and Dory began to smile again. Increasingly, Miss Martha began to accept f.a.n.n.y as an alternate caretaker for Miss Sally, leaving Dory free to spend more time with the mistress. in the barns, and Dory began to smile again. Increasingly, Miss Martha began to accept f.a.n.n.y as an alternate caretaker for Miss Sally, leaving Dory free to spend more time with the mistress.