Southern Rhapsody (Closed for Homerun2611)

[Homerun2611]

Jack rolled the hand made cigar in his fingers, and wafted it under his nose. Was there anything better than the smell of fine tobacco? Well of course there was and he turned and looked up to the window that had just had a lamp turn on. He had inhaled Levenia eariler, her sweet perfume, my God she was a woman. It was a time of reflection. Jack had been with more than enough woman to sense when his advances were meeting a more welcoming posture.

He had felt her melt in to him a bit, to be truthful it had taken him aback, almost in surprise. He was like a master fisherman, who had chased that single fish he had seen once jump out in the lake. The fish had slowly consumed his every waking thought, searching every nook and cranny, until he finally felt that tug.

That was the moment of truth, wasn't it? For once you land it, whether you eat it, or stuff and mount it, you will never quite have that thrill of the chase again. Lavenia was no fish, she was so much more. Jack had long since tired of bedding whores, whether they were professionals or mere amateurs, spreading their legs to catch a wealthy husband. He looked up again at that window, and watched the light go out. He thought about the woman, the body, sliding between her fine sheets. Was she thinking of him as he was her, could he really go through with what might happen next?

He had no better friend than her brother, Frank, doubted he ever would. He was in many ways more of a brother to Jack than to Lavenia, as they had shared so much, and this was his sister. No greater treasure could he possibly steal from them. He also liked her father, deeply and warmly, he reminded him a bit of his own dear father, except he had a zest for life and an enjoyment of the wicked, that his own father sorely lacked. Again his eyes went up, and Jack shook his head.

He had wanted this moment from the first second he had gazed her, and then her bare back in the water, the fisherman and his epic catch. But this was a character check, he would not move forward lightly....his reflection was suddenly broken, a deep moan rolling from her window...and that was that. If Jack was waiting for a sign, whether it was holy or from the fiery depths made little difference, it was a sign, and Jack had his answer.

That moan would now be his chalice, his holy grail, the call to arms to take every opportunity he could, and make her feel that over and over, but deeper and far more satisfied. That was it, the moral dilemma answered, her body was calling for him, and it was a call he would answer.

He enjoyed the rest of then night, smoking his cigar, and filling the snifter two more times. Frank had come in and seen him and laughed, he and Jack had seen each other in similar states countless times. He clapped once loudly by Jack's ear, and was not shocked by the string of unmentionables that followed. "Well, I don't know how you will be in shape to charm my sister later, yet why am I so confident you will? Just remember Jack, she is my sister, and should any man take her flower, he better be ready to make her an honest woman, or swallow lead." He slapped his hung over friend on the back and walked out laughing to be seen off by his sister. It wasn't a threat, it was a promise, between best friends.

It was four hours later before he got up, a drink of water, then a second, third and fourth. Cobwebs were cleared, somehow he never saw Lavenia. He took a long ride and took a swim where he had once found her. He hadn't had a bite, but he was dressed in his finest clothes, and best polished boots. He was even wearing a tie. He went down well before Levenia, he knew not to dishonor her. He was famished and started to fill his plate when she walked in, sashaying around and taking a seat in easily the sexiest dress Jack had ever seen.

Whether or not it was simply the gown, the mask or the woman it so deliciously revealed was open to debate, he guessed, but the pack, oh Gawd the package beyond compare. He cocked his head, smiling. "This vision can't be Levenia, can it? Not the woman in the pink, high collar dress from last night." He chuckled. "That is why you wear the mask, for a thief always wears a mask, and I most surely expect you intend to steal my heart."

He walked around the table and took her hand, kissing her gloved knuckle, and whispered, "I can't help but tease you, but you truly look spectacular. A more desirable or beautiful vision, these eyes have never seen, and I mean that. I only hope that I can show that dress, and the woman in it, the night it so richly deserves."

He picked up her plate and looked at her, "Let me fill it for you, I hope your appetite is as strong as last night, the food is delicious and I want you to be full strength." He leaned over and this time kissed her cheek, his lips lingering several seconds longer than proper. "Do you remember our conversation of last night....our kiss....I never mentioned, I was not wrong....!enjoy our time tonight" He looked up and smiled at her, going and filling her plate to the maximum. Set it back down in front of her and filled her wine glass in a fine chablis he had pulled up from their cellar.

 

[scarlettnuit]

Lavenia stiffened her back as he kissed her, doing anything in her power not to tremble at the delicate yet incendiary kiss he placed upon her cheek. When he finally moved away and she was seated, she was glad for distance. She had never felt this way about a man before and she worried that she might not proceed in the way that one should. It certainly didn’t seem as if a completely lady like approach was called for, nor did she wish to appear wanton, and thus leave him with the impression that her attitude towards him was a regular occurrence towards men. She watched his broad strong back fill her plate as she contemplated everything. Her heart yearned to be close to him, to feel his warm body against hers and never let go, but that was hardly decent or proper. She took some comfort that at least there was no one around to witness any improprieties she might commit. Then again, the lack of chaperone, should word get out, would be just as damning.

“Why steal your heart when I could steal your soul?” she grinned mischievously under her mask.

When he came around the table and kissed her hand, she looked down, trying to hide her smile, happy that the low light of the room hid her blush. She only looked up again as she heard the soft gurgle of wine being poured into her glass. Oh, how she wished to let go! To be wild and act in the way her heart screamed for her to do. She took a deep breath and then slowly removed her mask, not wanting anything to interrupt her view of the man who sat across from her. She brought the Chablis to her velvet lips and took a sip before setting her emerald green eyes upon him again.

“I do hope you weren’t overly bored today. Getting Frank ready to join father in town, along with all the things father requested, and of course my stubborn brother’s needs for the journey, proved to be quite time consuming,” she began, wishing she had something more interesting to talk about, something more salacious.

“I trust you enjoyed your ride today at least. One of the stable hands told me you had been riding today.”

For the briefest of moments, she thought of Jack reclined and shirtless, the pool of rich red wine pooled at the cleft beneath his throat. She dreams of the taste that puddle of wine might have, it’s sweetness mixed with the earthly musk of him. She blinked, as she realized she had been quite transfixed, and cleared her throat.

“I hope you find dinner to you liking,” She said softly and averted her eyes to her own plate, no trusting that they would not once again become transfixed upon Jack. What was it that drew her in so? It was almost as frustrating as it was exciting.

 

[Homerun2611]

Jack laughed a hearty laugh, "Well my hear is strong and beats of rich blood coursing through my veins, but some might say that my soul is a bit dark, allowing myself to dabble in the enjoyments that some might find quite questionable?" He lifted his brow and let the ideal linger, "Of course, I guess it would depend on the appetite of the lady herself, and perhaps her willingness to understand the enjoyment that might be found on the fringes of right and wrong."

He looked at Lavenia, she was undoubtedly a fine woman and he sensed she wanted to think of herself as quite pure of heart. However, in ad odd way Jack gave her much more credit than that. He understood and had heard more than his share of the preaching of the righteous and supposedly Christian men. However, he had found men like himself, or her dear brother, and Jack had a feeling her father too, they did not live in a black and white world. Quite to the contrary, they understood most of the world was various shades of gray, and some of the most thrilling and daresay erotic moments, the kind that made your toes curl and left the sheets soaking wet, if not in shreds, often came in the darkest hue of that gray.

He looked at her, "Lavenia, I have little care as to what others think is right and wrong, but I care deeply in what you do...all I ask is you consider having an open mind, being free to test new experiences, and then and only then make your own decisions and follow those convictions. You are a spectacular woman, I dare say perhaps the finest in many ways I have ever met. I would hate for you to limit all of that potential trying to live up to someone else's sense of convention." He wasn't flirting here, he was being serious. In so man ways he was experiencing feelings and desire, that even for a man as experiences as he, was quite a new and thrilling sensation. She was making him feel, want things that were not his usual, and in fact were quite wonderfully unique!

She mentioned his afternoon and she would see the trouble in his face. "I did not mind assisting your brother at all, and I quite enjoyed the ride to and from the city. However, from what I heard in the City, I believe we are moving in a direction that suggests the life that you have known is forever changing."

He swallowed, "It has been a year since the Confederacy's losses at Gettysburg and the toll the Siege of Vicksburg took, and ever since the Union has only strengthened its position, while Jackson has died, and Lee and the Virginia army have been in retreat trying to muster a final stand. Now, Grant and Sherman are each heading South and I fear...."

Jack did not really have a political position, he had been a profiteer making money in liquor, he had always thought slavery wrong, as no man should "own" another, but he also knew that Lavenia's father had been a benevolent master, and most of his slaves were cared for in a way that was far more filled with genuine affection than many factory and sharecroppers experienced.

Again his life was about gray, not black and white. He swallowed and continued, "...I am afraid my dear lady, I think it as likely we will need to go rescue your father and brother, than they are able to come back to us." He knew he had allowed the night to get serious, but he respected Lavenia enough to not try to hide the truth.

He came around to her side of the table, "If you are through, I would like to take you into the parlor. If we don't know how much time we might have here, or what might come next, I would like to do our best to enjoy every second that we do have!" He was now standing strongly in front of him, his hand extended, and there was no place he would rather have been at that moment!

 

[scarlettnuit]

Lavenia knew well of the war. While her father had tried to shield her from it, as well as many truths of the world, she refused to be left ignorant and in the dark. She often would sneak into his study after he was asleep and read through the papers and correspondence that he would not have let her see otherwise. She hated slavery, hated that any many thought they could own another, even if the staff they had on the plantation were treated more like family than slaves, they should have the choice to be there. If it were up to her, they would have been freed and paid wages if they cared to stay. Of course, it also worried her what would happen when the slaves were freed. The entire economy of the south depended on them, and thus, they would not be met with friendly smiles when they applied for work.

She decided to pull her thoughts from this, as there was very little she could do at that very moment with none of them there. They were alone in the house and to tell anyone they could leave at will, would indeed be heard by none that it would benefit. She decided instead, to enjoy the evening and deal with reality on the morrow.

“Let us not talk politics tonight Jack. Let’s pretend all is well with the world and enjoy what may well be the last night of peace and hope that we will have for some time,” she said as she looked up into his handsome visage and then to his strong hand. She hoped that hand would survive all the turmoil that swirled around them. She would very much like to hold that hand for a very long time.

She finally took his hand and allowed him to lead her into the parlor. She walked to her father’s bar and poured them both a few fingers of whisky. She picked up the glasses and walked back towards Jack, placing one of the glasses in his hand before she sipped her own.

“And what shall we do with our last night on this peaceful piece of make believe?” she asked, the sound of cricket chirps came through the open windows, their sheer curtains dancing gracefully in the cool breeze that blew in off the river.

She shivered slightly and downed her drink as if to warm herself, though she hoped it gave her to the courage to follow through with her desires.

 

[Homerun2611]

Jack had feared he had spoken to long, and too harshly, and could have kicked himself for possibly ruining the moment. However, Lavenia pushed away any such concerns, and brought him, and them back into the moment. “Let us not talk politics tonight Jack. Let’s pretend all is well with the world and enjoy what may well be the last night of peace and hope that we will have for some time,”

Jack took her hand and as he escorted her into the room he acknowledged what a unique and spectacular woman she was. "Of course, I should not be surprised, your beauty can only be matched by your keen understanding of the moment and the opportunity it presents."

She poured them whiskey after he sat down and then came to join him as they each took a hearty sip. "Well there is much we can do, but I have arranged a little surprise...Gentlemen, if you will..." Jack had taken the time to get to know the various slaves, he liked them, and wanted to learn their stories. In doing so, he also learned of their talents, and so, just outside, out of sight but not out of hearing distance, a combo of fiddling, washboard and drums was ready to play music for them. Something akin to a combination of the early stages of jazz with the underlying beat of African rhythms and christian hymnals.

Whatever the inspiration, it was a lovely sound and Jack stood up..."Lavenia, there is much I want to do, much of how I would like to enjoy the night and make it memorable...but ever since I saw you...and certainly since that day at the swimming hole...I have longed to enjoy you in my arms, and move you around a dance floor in the way a woman like you should dance...would you do me the honor, for I have a feeling that once I have you truly in my arms...I may just never want to let go again?"

 

[scarlettnuit]

She was surprised at his answer, only in that he had seemed more confident and self-assured during their short time together. Now he seemed almost like a boy, afraid to touch her for fear she was a fragile thing that may break easily.

She smiled softly, walked towards him, and allowed him to take her in his arms for a dance. While there was no proper music, the tune of the owls and crickets outside provided all the music they needed as he glided her gracefully across the floor of the parlor.

As he guided her along, she could not help but feel his strength. His hands were rough and strong, yet clean and well-manicured. His height towered over her, indeed, if her shoes had not been heeled, she doubted her head would have reached his shoulder.

Beneath her left hand, she felt the strength of his bicep through his jacket, the slight flex as he danced with her. She chuckled softly as he gave her a spin, the sound of her skirts swishing over the rug adding to their ethereal dance music. She wanted to rest her head on his chest, she wanted to hold onto him and not let go. She wanted so many things.

After several moments of their dance she looked up at him and finally spoke, “Here I am Jack, handed over to you on a silver platter, almost as if it were all planned. What do you plan to do with me?”

 

[Homerun2611]

Lavenia seemed surprised, almost taken aback that he had asked her to dance. Yet it was only this morning her brother, his best friend, and her father had left. Jack had spent his entire adult life as a cad, bedding women as fast as he could with little regard to their feelings or any repercussions. That was simply not possible with Lavenia. If Jack would have had a brother it would have been Frank, and even though her brother and Jack followed the same indulgent lifestyle, he knew it was quite a different story when the target of his debauchery was Jack's younger sister, the clear apple of his eye.

When they first started to dance, she was very slightly off step, graceful and beautiful, but clearly her mind was elsewhere. "Ssshhhh! Gentlemen please a bit louder, we want to enjoy your talents." The slaves had been reticent, but they were talented and soon they were firing out a lovely beat, and Jack was swirling Lavenia about the room. "They are good men, talented, in the coming days we must work to do right by them, as the carpetbaggers who will descend from the North are unlikely to be their friends...and it will be worse for the women."

That was enough of politics, they had the next few days for that. This was about her, and as he held her, he became more and more confident. Lavenia was unlike any women he had ever met, and as he felt her in his arms, her body reacting to his every move, her eyes so alive with intelligence and spirit and life, he found himself completely lost in being with her, lost like he never had thought possible.

The dance a single dance, and as it ended, she spoke to him as no women ever had. She was not a wilting flower, nor some submissive, something he had experienced to often and had no desire to repeat. He wanted a woman who could be his equal his partner, and still, ignite fires that could never be put out. “Here I am Jack, handed over to you on a silver platter, almost as if it were all planned. What do you plan to do with me?” He laughed, "Oh Lavenia, you humor me, for I have worked harder to get to this point than I ever thought I would consider, but trust me, having gotten here, I will not miss the moment."

Jack had spoke softly, for he would not let outsiders question some obsolete notion of proper Southern ladylike behavior. He cleared his throat, and spoke to the band, the only witnesses of what might take place hereafter. "Gentlemen, thank you...you have done your task and done it superbly..." Jack had already closed, his hands on Lavenia's waist, his body nearly pressed against hers. "...but I think we will not require any more of your service tonight..." He looked her directly in the eyes, lifting her chin up to look at him. "I will take it from here...thank you!"

You could hear them packing up, murmuring as they head back to the slave quarters. He waited until they were out of earshot. "What do I plan? I plan to slip that dress off of your body, my only question is if you would prefer here, or that I carry you to your bed chambers....tonight I plan to enjoy a magnificent woman, and you enjoy a most worthy man...we may not have many nights like this Lavenia, I think we should make the most of it....I have wanted you since the first moment I saw you...this is your last chance to walk away...but it would be a mistake...trust me!"

He took her in his arms, and lifted her up, latching his lips against hers, his hands moving up her waist, caressing her back and waist, pulling her tight, as mouths opened and tongues probed and then wrestled. Such adrenaline, endorphins raging, they held the kiss an impossibly, glorious duration. "So where? Here or your chambers?"

 

[scarlettnuit]

Lavenia let out a small squeak as he lifted her up and kissed her. His lips upon hers set fireworks off through her body. How could something so simple as a kiss make her body feel like it was on fire? She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer, never wanting to let go.

When her body finally slipped down to the floor again, even as it felt like it was still floating, the direct question of where to go made her turn bright red. She looked up into his eyes and stammered for an answer, only looking away as a high-pitched sound came whizzing through the air and a vase near the wall exploded. She looked towards the window only to see more panes of glass smashing as bullets crashed through them.

Jack pulled them both down to the ground and the room was bullets flew into the room until suddenly, they stopped. She looked at Jack in confusion and was about to get up when three men climbed in through the now non-existent window. They were big brutes, and the moment that Lavenia saw them, she wished she hadn’t sent everyone away.

“Alright gents, go through and take what you can find,” he said as he pointed a gun at Jack and looked at Lavenia.

“Who knew we’d find at whore at the grand estate?” he grinned, and Lavenia immediately felt shame for having ever ordered the dress she now wore, much less, putting it on, “If you all hurry, maybe we’ll have a little dessert before we leave,” he grinned.

 

[Homerun2611]

It had been an interesting dance they had danced to get to this point. Slow and filled with fits and starts, but know it was as if they were about to launch into a sensuous argentine tango, heat and passion, culminating in an epic climax. His hands on her waist and torso, her hands around his neck and the kiss both satisfying and hungry for more. He had asked the question, but it seemed there was no doubt where this was headed, the only question, where?

When the fireworks began, Jack was feeling such an intense desire it almost felt like the action was self induced. It took a moment, but only a moment to realize they were under attack! Pulling Levenia down, Jack tried to shield her from the shattering glass and musket balls lodging in the back walls. "Who...why...?" Jack muttered, speaking to himself as much as her. The barrage of gunfire was short lived but they were inside before Jack had any chance to move them to safety.

Jack's initial concern that this was some rogue military group, advanced scouts of a looming invasion, quickly dissipated. These were carpetbaggers, likely deserters, scum and thieves, but none of that meant they weren't ruthless. They were cocky and repugnant as they came in, and the way they looked at the lovely, and admittedly provocatively dressed Lavenia, filled him with a rage he could barely disguise.

The man, the one with his gun pointed at Jack, appeared to be the leader and he ordered the man to quickly ransack the house. The good news was they took the order and both bounded up the stairs, and as their feel covered their voices, Jack whispered to Lavenia, "Distract him...slowly bend over..." Jack was not proud he had to make this rquest, to use Lavenia's substantial sex appeal, but it was the only trick at hand.

Jack had a small pistol in his bot and if only given a second he could pull it and quite confidently lodge a bulled tin this man's head. Then all hell would break loose, but that was something he was prepared for...having all hell break loose was something he quite enjoyed..."NOW!" He again suggested...the men would soon be coming back down and then they would be outnumbered....

 

[scarlettnuit]

Lavenia was as shocked as Jack as the rogues came swarming in. She had been protected from the war, for the most part, and while shocked at first, she soon remembered her younger years, years when she would play with her brother who had no reason to discriminate against her sex.

She looked to Jack briefly as he suggest she bend over, which she did as she slowly rose from the floor. What the muskeded would be attacker didn’t suspect, was the sharp hard right hook she then turned into his jaw.
With the bandit now fallen to the grounds, she picked up his gun with shakey hands and quickly gave it to Jack, know her own hand too disturbed to aim accurately.

Stupidly, in the brief seconds of their encounter, she wondered if the bandits thought her a hussy for the dress she was wearing. However, needs must, and she quickly turned her attention to Jack, who looked used to these types of encounters.

“There are two left, what should we do? Are they from the northern army? I wish I had freed everyone while I had the free chance to do so….bugger the rights of a woman,” she admonished her herself in quiet whispered that would have been screams in any other circumstance.

 

[Homerun2611]

Lavenia moved, partially, but not entirely, as Jack expected. In any form Lavenia was a woman who commanded attention. However, in that dress, with significantly more of her abundant assets on display than usual, well, she was smoking! So, as she slowly rose, guns firing at him would not have made the invader remove his stare from her cleavage. Jack almost laughed at the hunger in the man's reaction, however neither Jack nor the robber realized that the rattler as she shook her sexy tail was preparing to strike.

When she did it was fast and thorough, as her right hook knocked him near unconscious. "My...remind me to never really kick up your dander, I guess I am lucky I left that pond alive!" Jack may have been teasing but he was also moving and while he took the gun from Lavenia, he had a better solution. Grabbing the long knife from the thiefs belt, Jack defly brought it to the would be killer's throat and with one slash, ended the man's life.

"We don't have long, get out of here now...great job, but I won't risk you with the other two. Go to the cellar and lock it, do not open until I knock and say "Blackjack!" got it...now get!" He could see she was uncertain, so he gave her a pat on her sexy bottom. "Get Lavenia...please!"

She was barely out of the house when he heard the other two call from upstairs and not getting a response headed down. Jack took cover and knew he had one chance to take them by surprise. he would either get both or likely fall to the one he didn't. Hiding behind the ceiling to floor drapes on the far side of the room from their fallen comrade he took cover and waited, in hiding.

It wasn't long. They were either over confident or none too bright, likely both, but they came down guns out but not drawn. At first they did not see the fallen third, and when the did it took a second to register, "What the fuuuu...." They would never finish that statement, nor any other. Their backs turned away from him, Jack came out of hiding firing. His first shot hit the one man in the back, his second as the other turned raising his gun hit him right between the eyes.

The second was dead, but the first fell and attempted to fire, but the shot as he fell sailed high and right of Jack, clattering down plaster from the ceiling. That was all Jack needed as his third shot hit the man, now on the ground, right in the Adam's apple. Jack felt the adrenaline, but took a deep breath. The living room parlor was now filled with dead bodies and blood.

He would clean that up soon enough, out he walked and found the cellar door shut and locked. He knocked, and heard nothing but silence. "Blackjack!" He smiled and waited, and then he heard the lock click open....

 

[scarlettnuit]

When she heard the magic words, she flung open the door to the cellar and found herself pressed against Jack, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck. After a few moments, she managed to detach herself and walked haughtily into the house. She paused by the entrance to the parlor, noted the bodies, and then briskly walked into her father’s study.

Once inside, she began pulling out drawers and ruffling through papers. Once she found what she was looking for, she pulled out a quill and ink and started forging her father’s signature. After several minutes, she walked back out to the front of the house where the servants were now standing.

“You are no longer owned by anyone but yourselves,” she called out in a loud, clear voice, “You may stay and work for the fair going rate of a white man, or you may leave. If you choose to leave, we will provide you with a small stipend to see you on your way. I and my family thank you dearly for your service, but we no longer wish to be part of damnable institution. I give you your papers now, however any stipends will be given out on the morrow, as will the beginning of our wages. I urge you to stay if you will, you are all dearly loved to all of us, but I understand if you wish to go.”

With that announcement she moved among the rich faces she saw and distributed their papers. Her father would absolutely murder her when he returned home, but she refused to part of the horror factory any longer.

“Tomorrow morning at 11 am, we will dispense with the monies. I would do so now, but as you might understand, I need to visit our financial institution first.”

Her eyes then glanced to Jack, who she was sure she shocked beyond belief, and then headed back inside the house, leaving the door open until he entered.

“My father will murder me, but I will endure their enslavement no longer,” she told him honestly and then moved to the stairway where she promptly collapsed.

She watched as some men came in and removed the bodies. She presumed Jack had instructed them to do so, but she had no idea. Nor did she know why two women moved in and cleaned up the blood. She wasn’t sure if she were stupid or simply in shock.

Her emerald eyes moved up to Jack’s as he stood before her. “I understand if you wish to leave. Given my current state of madness…and obvious undress given this stupid dress, I would understand if you would prefer to go.”

 

[Homerun2611]

Jack had pulled Lavenia into his arms, every bit as passionately and desperately as she had flung her arms around him. It was much more than the beautiful woman in the barely there dress, it was a woman who he had come to care for deeply, and they, together had just looked death in the eye and beaten back its advance.

As the first part of the adrenaline dissipated, and even while fully knowing there was some unpleasantness to remove from the front parlor, Jack had a significant part of him, again growing back to the dimensions of his pre invasion passions, that wanted to take Lavenia upstairs and engage in the completion of the dance they had begun before the most unpleasant interruption. Unfortunately for Jack, Lavenia had a new and far different agenda top of mind. He pulled back intending to kiss her, wanting her, invigorated with the idea he had just gotten rid of these intruders and wanting and very much needing to reap his just rewards. And....

...She was off, heading into the house, where Jack soon followed. At first he couldn't not find her, but he saw the parlor was a mess and needed to be attended to immediately before the fallen robbers began to ferment in the still warm night. When Lavenia reappeared she had a stack of papers in her hand and began describing how she had made the decision to emancipate and offer employment terms. Jack watched her and smiled, for he might well have done the same thing himself.

However, he also knew the recklessness of the action financially. For most Southerners, their slave inventory was a signoficant component of their wealth, and even if she wanted to, she would not be able to empoy all of the individuals who stood before her. Jack stepped up, and tried to offer a solution.

I want to talk to you all. Lavenia has done the right thing, but what she offers for those of you who choose pure freedom may not be all that you hope. This war has robbed many of their wealth and dignity. There are those of you who have been faithful house servants and may not find anyone able to pay you a wage necessary to survive, the same for you older field hands.


"If you leave here, you will be enlisted into the army or potentially taken advantage of. We will pay what we can, but where we can't we will offer a safe bed, decent rations and a small stiped, and you will never again feel a fear of the whip?" As the night went on, many that Jack had come to know and trusted him, came and asked about life outside the plantation. Jack was honest as to the desperation that now racked the countryside. Over time, most stayed but a few did leave, only to find the harsh truth of the "free" world for all but the strongest and most resolute.

Jack worked with three of the strongest to take out the bodies of the invaders and they were given a rightful burial in the shade of an old willow in the far recess of the plantation. What had begun as a celebration had gone a very different direction, but at last there was peace and Jack was dying to see Lavenia.

Finally they were alone, and Jack walked toward Lavenia and set his hand on her cheek. "I do love your passion and conviction...but let's try to work together. Your father needs this help to harvest this crop which may be his last, and they need it to. It is a harsh world we will be facing once this war ends, it may take years for the South to recover, and the world you free them to, may not be anywhere near as kind as the caring your father has given them here."

She was beautiful, passion still radiating in her cheeks, although he knew he was no longer the source. Despite that, he leaned in and craddling her cheek in his strong hand, he brought his lips to hers....