The Widow of Rose Hill (The Women of Rose Hill Book 2), стр. 70
With a great push, Lottie delivered a squalling baby. Moisture sprang to Natalie’s eyes, marveling at the miracle of life.
“It be a boy!” Harriet held up the plump little fellow so Lottie could see him. Tears rolled down the new mother’s face, and Natalie felt the warmth of wetness on her own cheeks. With deft hands, Harriet cut the cord and tied it off with string before wrapping the baby in a soft blanket Carolina held ready for her.
Natalie thought Harriet would hand the baby to Lottie then, but she turned to face Natalie. “Lottie has some more work to do. Would you hold this little fella?”
With arms more eager than she realized, she took the sweet bundle, cradling him like she’d cradled Samuel. The baby quieted, making the noises only a newborn could make. He looked up into her face as though he knew exactly who she was and didn’t mind in the least that a white woman held him.
“Hello, little one.” She ran her fingertip across his soft cheek. He turned toward it, and she laughed. Oh, what an amazing gift God had given Lottie.
When the new mother was ready, Natalie placed the baby in her arms.
“He the most beautiful thing I ever did see,” Lottie said, staring at her son.
“He be the first Negro chile born on Rose Hill since freedom come,” Harriet said, her voice soft, almost reverent.
Natalie stared at her, stunned at the revelation. She turned back to gaze at the little boy, born into freedom rather than into bondage. It was almost as though a heavy darkness lifted from the land. The old ways were gone, the new had come, revealed in the birth of a tiny baby.
“My boy ain’t a slave,” Lottie said with wonder, looking into the face of her sleeping son. She glanced up at the women, eyes shining. “I gonna name him Jude Liberty. Jude after my pappy, and Liberty ’cuz he be free.”
A more fitting name could not have been found.
After excusing herself from the room, Natalie went to her bedroom. She pulled out the small chest she’d brought back from Langford Manor and carried it awkwardly to the guest room. Carolina sent her a puzzled look when she approached to help.
They set it on the floor next to the bed, and Natalie raised the lid. Yellowed paper greeted her, which she tossed aside until she came to what she knew was hidden there.
“These belonged to my brother,” she said, a lump forming in her throat as she carefully lifted out a small nightshirt made of soft material. She’d wanted all new things when Samuel was born, so hadn’t ever seen these tiny clothes. “They’re a bit old and musty, but you might find some things you can use in here.”
When she glanced at Lottie, Natalie found the young woman’s eyes wide with wonder. “Miz Natalie, I can’t take these sweet things. They be yours.”
“I want you to have them.” She took out another small garment. Lottie’s eyes shone with interest. “Jude Liberty needs a wardrobe fit for a free young man.”
“Oh, thank ya, Miz Natalie.” Lottie accepted the small garment.
Natalie stepped back, and Carolina moved in to see what other treasures the chest held. She picked up a tiny bonnet and made Lottie laugh when she put it on her own head.
Harriet stood beside Natalie while the two younger women chattered and laughed. “That a real nice thing you done. I didn’t know your mama had a boy chile.”
“His name was Samuel. He died when he was two years old.” Harriet wore a thoughtful look. “Guess it don’t matter what color skin a person has. Pain and sorrow find you anyhow, seems like.”
Looking at the baby, his skin milky brown and beautiful, Natalie smiled. “That may be true, Harriet, but not today. Today, we celebrate joy and new beginnings.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Admitting he was wrong didn’t come easy to Levi, but the proof stared him in the face.
“Three?” he asked, frowning at Moses.
They stood among Rose Hill’s lush green cotton plants, where thousands of pods with puffs of white poking out were nearly ready for harvest. The grand plantation house rose in the distance, giving the whole scene a picturesque look. But all was not well. Corporal Banks arrived back at camp yesterday evening with news of the workers’ disappearance. Although Levi’s first instinct was to jump on his horse and comfort Natalie, he hadn’t done it. Seeing him would no doubt be more upsetting to her than a few missing workers and supplies.
“Yessuh, three. I had me a suspicion them fellows and Jezro was friends, but I shore didn’t want to take a job away from a man willin’ to work hard.” He shrugged. “Guess they figure on findin’ somethin’ better than what Miz Natalie offering—a place to live with three good meals an’ the promise of cash money in they pockets when they’s done.”
His sarcasm was justified.
“I have to admit I didn’t expect this.” Levi rubbed his beard. “I assumed men who had only known slavery would jump at the opportunity to work for wages. But first Jezro and now these three have sufficiently proved me wrong.”
Moses shrugged. “Don’t beat yo’self over it, suh. Men is all the same, no matter what color skin cover their bones. Some is good, some ain’t. I known me some mighty fine Negroes, and I known me some that are this side of worthless. I ’spect I can say the same about the white men I known, too.” He smiled, seeming to remember something. “That Mistah Brantley that run off with Missy Ellis, he be one o’ the good kind.” His eyes traveled back to Levi. “You remind me o’ him in a way.”
Levi had heard enough snippets of the story to piece it together. George’s sister ran away with the overseer, helping several slaves escape as they went. He wasn’t sure if this Brantley fellow was a hero or a villain, but Moses seemed to think