Princess Ces'alena (86 page)

‘
Hope…I’m sorry…mommy didn’t leave you. I didn’t leave you. But I don’t know where I am…or how to get back to you? Janis did you go and see about her? Did you get a hold of Josey? Oh please Manny, please…please have our daughter, please God…let him at least find her. I know he has…I know it.’
She thought surely as she walked. Her stomach began to churn with pain at the thought of Hope being lost as she was. “No! Don’t be stupid…Manny has her. They found her alone, and Janis sent for Josey, and Josey has her now…even if Manny isn’t back yet.” She stopped and closed her eyes feeling herself on the verge of a sob. “Manny please…” She whimpered. Then looked around at the houses that stood behind her. They were built close together, and some had wrought iron fences around them.

She turned a corner, winding aimlessly, feeling herself grow dizzy once again. An occasional carriage would drive by with its side lamp burning in the night. She rubbed her arms, it was growing cool. Suddenly, on the opposite street at a corner from where she stood, a couple was on their way about to cross towards her. With tears in her eyes, she waited for them. Praying to God they would help her. She would ask them how far she was from Jackson. As they crossed over, almost on her side of the street, she cleared her throat and reached out to them, “Please…excuse me…please…forgive me, I’m - I’m lost, and I was hoping… you wouldn’t mind helping me, please – I beg you.”

She implored them in a voice soft, so tired.

The couple looked at her a moment, then at each other with a smile, the man spoke up first. “Sure, if we can. How may we help you?” Lena stared a moment dumbfounded, having expected them to ignore her and walk on by, or shun her approach.

“I was stolen from my master’s plantation. I was able to get away and I don’t know where I am. I need to get back to Jackson. If you would please, help me get back there, my master will reward you…he will. I just need…to get back there.”

They looked at each other confused, then back at Lena.

She was nervously wringing her hands, praying that they would help her. “Have you no knowledge of Jackson, or maybe Vicksburg? My master owns a very big plantation there? Webster Fields, his name is Maynard Webster? His father is Morris Webster? Or maybe you’ve heard of Harvest Gold plantation? It’s the - the - the biggest in the area?”

Lena was breathing deeply on the verge of a breakdown as tears slid from her eyes. “Please…can you help me?”

“What is your name?” The man asked sympathetically.

“Lena…my name is Lena…and I don’t know - I don’t know where I am, because these men…they - they took me - I don’t - I don’t know-…”

She began rambling while the tears continued to flow.

“Lena…listen to me. First you must calm down. You are obviously frightened and alone, why don’t you come with us-…”

“No! I have to get back to Jackson! Please understand …that is where he’ll come looking for me…he’ll - he’ll be there - he will… I have to be there - when he comes.” She explained trying to talk through her tears. “I’ve been gone… maybe - I don’t know … a week … maybe more … yeah … maybe more … yes more – but not – much more. I have to get back.” She spoke with increased urgency, obviously shaken and misplaced.

“Here now, you’re upsetting yourself. We want to help you, but we have no knowledge of this place…Jackson? We are not from this land.” The woman spoke.

“Sweetheart, she is talking about the South. I have heard a great deal about it, I think we have a case of slave snatching here. Look at her, is it no wonder.” He whispered softly to his fiancé.

“Where am I?” Lena asked.

“You are in New York.” The woman informed her gently. Lena’s expression grew even more worried. “Ne-New York? How far is that from Jackson?”

“Noooo! It cannot be! Nooooo! Pleeease – it cannot be!” Lena stared at them shaking her head, “It cannot be!” Her heart pounded in her chest so hard it shortened her breath.

She was in New York! Not Mississippi! No where near Jackson, or any plantation for that matter! No where near Manny.
‘He’s come already!! I missed him! I’m not there!! I’m not there!! How will he find me? Oh God – how will he find me?!!’

“Lena? Come now, you must calm yourself! We’ll help you to somewhere safe, calm down.”

“Oh – God, nooo - nooo.” She moaned, dropping to the ground as the man charged forward catching her in time.

To be continued…

Amber Swann Publishing Inc.

Webster Fields

Book Two

Gold Raven

Book two continues the family saga of Webster Fields. Questions such as, what happened to Michael Ramsey Webster? Will be answered. What of Red Crow, son of Chief Long Bow and Red Dawn? (Josephine O'Brien) And last if not least of all, what happened to Lena & Golden Hope Webster?

All these questions will be answered. I invite you to travel further with them in their journey to reunite a proud family torn asunder.

Lawrence James
- the editor and collaborator of Webster Fields book one...
Princess Ceś alena
, will be joining me in the final draft and clean up of Book two, for which I am very thankful. I could not have gotten through this one without his diligent input, research and direction. As for me, I'm Mercedes Keyes...and I thank you dear reader for choosing to go with Amber Swann Publishing Inc. for your choice in quality IR fiction/drama literature!