She had not been told what was planned for him, but she knew that tonight all of his cruelty would end.
The slaves were going to be given their freedom and allowed to go either to the Seminole village or elsewhere.
She was glad that their days of fear and hurt would be behind them. They would be freed of all the pain and humiliation they had found under Hiram Price’s rule since he had taken charge of their destiny.
After tonight, their destiny would be their own!
Once all of the warriors had left their canoes and gathered around Lavinia, Joshua, and Wolf Dancer, they set out. Nothing was said. They had already been instructed as to what to do.
First they would go to the slaves’ quarters and tell them the good news.
Then they would enter the mansion, find Hiram, and take him from it. Lavinia was to go inside to get what she wanted of her possessions, then leave and let the torches be lit to burn down the mansion.
Lavinia’s gaze went to the windows of the study, and then slid upward to Hiram’s bedroom windows. She saw no lamplight anywhere.
Her spine stiffened. What if he wasn’t there? And why hadn’t the servants lit the lamps in his absence, even if he was gone?
Perhaps they had all gone to bed early. Maybe that was why there were no lights on in the mansion.
She saw Wolf Dancer nod silently to his warriors. She knew it was the sign to move onward and take their places around the building.
Then Wolf Dancer nodded at Lavinia and Joshua. Lavinia lifted the skirt of her dress from the dew-dampened grass and ran between Joshua and Wolf Dancer until they reached the slaves’ quarters.
Soft light shine from the cabin windows. Voicescould be heard, and the smell of beans cooking wafted out to them.
Joshua ran on ahead of Wolf Dancer and Lavinia. Tears came to Lavinia’s eyes as Joshua hurried from one cabin to another, quickly explaining what was about to transpire.
Sudden laughter could be heard, and shouting. “Praise de Lord!” She could hear some people thanking Joshua and knew hugs were being exchanged.
One family after another left the slave cabins and soon were huddled together, their eyes wide and bright as they looked at Wolf Dancer. They could see the many warriors stationed at various places around the plantation grounds.
But when they saw Lavinia, they broke into large smiles, for Joshua had taken the time to tell each of them what she and Wolf Dancer were offering them. Total freedom, whether they went with Wolf Dancer and Lavinia back to the Seminole village or elsewhere.
Several women and children broke away and ran to Lavinia. They hugged her, their tears mingling with hers as she brushed soft kisses across their brows.
Wolf Dancer stepped closer to Lavinia, swept an arm around her waist, and as the women and children returned to stand with the men, he began telling them that they would be welcome in his village, but it was up to each of them to make his or her own decision.
When they finally realized what they were being offered, they clamored around
Lavinia and Wolf Dancer, giving them fierce hugs.
Finally Lavinia held up a hand for silence. “It is truly up to you where your freedom will take you,” she said, her voice breaking with emotion. “As Chief Wolf Dancer has said, you can either go with us to the Seminole village and live where I am planning to live as the wife of this wonderful Seminole chief, or you can go and try to find a decent life elsewhere. The most important thing is that you are free now to make your own decisions. I am so sorry for the hell that Hiram Price has put you through since my husband’s death. I wrongly neglected you while I kept to my room after my husband’s burial, trying to avoid Hiram. I was wrong. I apologize.”
Joshua stepped forward. “You have heard Lavinia and Chief Wolf Dancer,” he said, looking from one to the other. “We can’t wait long for your decision. We have Hiram Price to deal with, and then it is Lavinia’s and Wolf Dancer’s plan to burn de mansion.”
That brought gasps of wonder from the crowd.
“Yes, I will even help set fire to it myself,” Lavinia said with determination. “It has stood for all of the wrong things. It won’t ever again stand like an overseer, looking down on the slaves’ cabins and the fields where you have worked your flesh to the bone. It must go.”
They all gave a loud cheer.
Lavinia grew pale and looked up at the mansion. She expected Hiram to lean out of his bedroom window to see what was happening.
“You don’t have to worry ’bout Massa Hiram hearin’ our excitement,” said Caleb, stepping away from his wife Nada. “He ain’t been here fo’ two days. Aftah he threw your clothes from de window, he took off on his white mare and hasn’t returned. We finished collectin’ the tobacco and placed it in the tobacco barn. Since then, we have just waited in our cabins to see what de crazy man might do next. We were tempted to leave, like dose who ran away, but we were too afraid that he’d come and fin’ us and shoot us. Dat’s why we’re still here, Missie Lavinia. Dat’s de only reason except hopin’ to see you again. We’ve missed you, Missie Lavinia. Lots.”
Lavinia now noticed that many slaves were missing; they must have escaped since her departure. She could only imagine how furious Hiram must have been to discover not only her but also half his workers missing. She knew that the slaves who were still at the plantation were very fortunate not to have been shot after Hiram learned she was gone.
“We gathered your clothes and saved dem fo’ you,” Nada said, smiling sweetly at Lavinia. Then her smile faded. “But dey ain’t worth nothin’, Missie Lavinia. Massa Hiram tore and cut dem all with de scissors until no one could evah wear dem again. But since dey were yours, we saved dem for you any ways.” Stunned at this turn of events, Lavinia gazed up at Wolf Dancer, then looked at Caleb.