Ransom of Love (15 page)

“That’s right,” spoke up one of the young men. “Lots o’ riches!”

The old man bent his head downward a bit and said, “Whatever riches this Ol’ Mose might have in heaven are only because of the grace of God.”

At their usual Sunday morning late breakfast, the Colvin family was discussing the slave auction that would take place at the outdoor arena the next morning.

“Pa, how many slaves you planning on buying?” George asked.

Finn thought on it a moment while chewing a mouthful of pancake, then swallowed and said, “Well, we’ve had two women and one man die since the last auction, in addition to Nathaniel. So I
want to pick up at least two women and two men. It will take a good one to fill Nathaniel’s place. He put out a lot of work. I just wish he hadn’t let his stomachache keep him from going to the field that day.”

Martha looked at him levelly. “It wouldn’t have hurt you to be more understanding, Finn.”

“No lectures, dear,” he said flatly. “I do want you to go with the boys and me to the auction tomorrow, since I’ve got to buy a couple of women. I need your sharp eye, as usual, to help me in that department.”

Martha nodded her consent.

Just after noon, the Moores were heading home from church in the family carriage.

Evelyn, who sat in the driver’s seat next to her husband, said, “Charles, are you still planning to buy a husband and wife tomorrow?”

“Yes. That’s all we need right now. I’d like you to go along, honey, so you can give me advice on the woman.”

“Sure. No doubt the Johnsons will be there. Catherine and I can sit together.”

From the rear seat, Priscilla said, “Papa, may Dorena and I go to the auction with you? We have always enjoyed going.”

“Sure, honey.”

Priscilla looked at Dorena, then said to her parents, “I sure hope the Johnsons bring Angeline. We three girls didn’t get our time together last week. I really missed it.”

Catherine chuckled. “Well, girls, maybe things won’t be so hectic around both plantations this week, and you girls can get together for your regular visit.”

T
HE
NEXT
MORNING
, after the slaves were fed, Thomas Green addressed them and explained that they would be taken from the barn into the arena about thirty minutes before time for the auction to begin. They would be placed in a fenced pen at one end of the arena and sent out to stand on the auction block as directed by Jim Lynch. Before the auction began, the prospective buyers would pass by and look at them. If any of the buyers asked questions of the slaves, they were to politely answer them.

Green set his eyes on Benjamin and motioned for him to come forward. Green took him aside and said, “Benjamin, this may mean nothing to you, but you are my prime slave in this sale. When all of you are taken into the arena and placed in the pen, I want you to stand right up close to the fence so you can be plainly seen … and stay there. You will be the last slave to go on the block. Do you understand?”

Benjamin nodded morosely.

“Get that sour look off your face, boy! I want a pleasant look on your face when you’re in the pen and on the block. Got it?”

“Yes,” said Benjamin, ridding his face of some of the gloom.

Green studied Benjamin’s features for a few seconds and said, “Well, that’s a little better. Now, before you go out there, clear it up completely.”

Just after nine o’clock, the crowd of plantation owners and those who accompanied them began to enter the arena and take seats in the bleachers.

The Moores and the Johnsons had chosen seats together. Lewis Moore placed himself somewhat aloof from the rest of them.

When the Colvins entered the arena, Finn spotted the Moores and the Johnsons and pointed to them, saying to Martha and his sons, “Let’s go sit right in front of them.”

“Why do you want to do that?” Martha asked.

“It’ll make ’em nervous.”

“Why do you have to be a thorn in their side?”

“Just because,” Finn said.

When the Colvins were seating themselves in the row directly ahead of the Moores and the Johnsons, Finn greeted Charles and Zack. Both men returned the greeting in a pleasant manner.

Martha ran her gaze to Evelyn and Catherine and smiled, saying, “Hello, my dear friends.”

“Nice to see you, Martha,” said Catherine. “Glad you could come.”

Martha chuckled. “Had to. Finn wants my advice if he sees a slave woman he thinks he might want.”

“Well, at least he knows whose advice he needs,” said Evelyn.

Martha shrugged and turned back around.

Suddenly someone in the crowd shouted, “Here come the slaves!”

All eyes in the bleachers went to the Negroes being herded through the big doors and into the fenced pen.

Thomas Green motioned to Benjamin and showed him the spot next to the fence where he wanted him to stand. Benjamin forced a pleasant look on his face and obeyed.

When the slaves were all in the pen, and Thomas Green and Jim Lynch were positioned at the gate, the owner of the arena and director of the auction, Lawrence Fowler, mounted the auctioneer’s platform. Raising his hands to gain the crowd’s attention, Fowler soon had the crowd quiet.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” he said, “welcome to today’s auction. Mr. Thomas Green, as you know, has just brought in a shipload of
slaves. Our auctioneer, Clem Samson, is here and ready to begin. But first, Mr. Green has a few words to say to you.”

There was light applause as Green took the central spot on the platform. “Good morning,” he said in a cheerful tone. “I believe I have a choice load of slaves to offer to you. All of them were brought from South Africa, which you know is under British rule. This means that all of them speak English. Some of them can even read and write.”

An approving murmur swept through the crowd.

“We will now give you fifteen minutes to go down to the pen and look them over,” he said. “If you want to ask questions of any of them, feel free to do so.”

Most of the viewers who left their seats in the bleachers were men. A small percentage were women. Soon they were collected at the pen and began to talk to some of the slaves. Some pointed to specific slaves, asking them to come to the fence so they could talk to them.

As the viewers scrutinized the slaves, not one person overlooked the stalwart, muscular Benjamin, who stood staring as if at some distant object. Only when spoken to did Benjamin look at those who addressed him.

Finn and Martha Colvin discussed two of the single slave women. Even as they talked, Finn’s eyes drifted to Benjamin. Martha gave him her opinion about the two women, pointing out two others. They agreed on which two Finn would bid for, then he said, “Did you get a good look at this boy over here?”

Viewers were pressing close as Finn pushed his way up to the fence and waited while another plantation owner looked the muscular young man over. Charles and Evelyn Moore and Zack, Catherine, and Dan Johnson were right behind the Colvins.

Martha turned to them and said. “Isn’t this one something?”

“That he is,” said Zack, running his gaze over Benjamin.

As soon as the man ahead of him stepped away, Finn moved up, looked at Benjamin, and said, “What’s your name, boy?”

The use of the word “boy” made Benjamin’s blood heat up, but
he did not show it. Barely moving his lips, he said, “My name is Benjamin, sir. And yours?”

Finn chuckled. “Did you hear that? The blackie wants to know my name!”

“Tell him,” Charles said flatly.

Grinning at Benjamin, Finn said, “My name is Master Finn to you. Master Finn Colvin.”

Benjamin had an immediate dislike for the man. Looking him square in the eye, he said, “I don’t believe you are Master Finn to me unless you hold my papers, sir.”

Finn’s smile vanished. “Well, let me tell you what, Benjamin. I am going to buy you. With your physique, you’ll put out enough work in a day to make up for two men. Then you will call me Master Finn, I guarantee you.”

Benjamin did not reply, but inside a hope was born that some other plantation owner would outbid him.

Finn said, “You alone, or do you have a wife?”

“I am alone. I do not have a wife.”

Finn looked back at Charles, Dan, and Zack. “Yep, I’m gonna buy this one.”

“And make him do the work of two men?” Zack said.

“Sure. Look at him. He can handle it.”

“Maybe for a while. But in time, you’ll kill him off.”

Finn laughed. “I doubt that. But even if I did, it wouldn’t be any of your business, would it?”

Zack only stared at him.

Chuckling, Finn said, “Come on, Martha. Let’s go sit down.”

Finn glanced over his shoulder as they walked away and gave Benjamin a sly smile.

Benjamin heard someone in the crowd collected at the pen say, “Yeah. Finn will buy him, all right. He’s the richest man in the county. What Finn Colvin wants, Finn Colvin gets.”

Another man said, “You’re right about that. And if he gets him, he’ll work him to death.”

“He sure will,” said another voice. “Colvin isn’t human. He’s a beast. His poor slaves have to endure beatings, overwork, bad housing, and poor food.”

Benjamin’s mouth went dry. Why would this horrible thing fall on him? Wasn’t life as someone else’s property bad enough? Why would he have to be owned by a man like Finn Colvin?

Catherine Johnson whispered to Zack, “I fear what they’re saying is right. If Finn buys this young man, he will work him to death.”

Zack nodded solemnly.

“You’re right, Mom,” Dan said. “I sure hope someone besides Finn gets him.”

Benjamin turned his gaze inward and stared into space.

Dan stepped up to him and said, “Hello, Benjamin. My name is Dan Johnson. I’ve studied much about Africa … especially South Africa. What part of South Africa are you from?”

Dan’s soft voice and friendly manner caused the dread to ease within Benjamin. He looked at Dan and said, “I was a slave on a cattle ranch in the mountain country of Great Karroo, sir.”

“Oh, sure. That’s some two hundred miles northeast of Cape Town.”

Benjamin was surprised at Dan Johnson’s knowledge of his country. He smiled and said, “Yes, sir. That is correct.”

Suddenly the voice of auctioneer Clem Samson called out, “All right, everybody, time to get started! Find your seats!”

Benjamin watched the Johnsons as they took their seats in the bleachers. He was sure the man and woman with Dan were his parents. He looked a little like both of them. Then his gaze fell on Finn Colvin, who was seated directly in front of the Johnsons. His blood ran cold at the thought of that man owning him.

Thomas Green mounted the platform and stood beside Clem Samson. “All right, folks,” he said, “I’m going to give you a brief background on the slaves as my assistant, Jim Lynch, sends them to the auction block.”

The auction began with the slaves who had children. With each
family, Green read from information on a sheet of paper, pointing out their positive qualifications.

When the slaves with children had been auctioned off, the couples without children were brought to the block, two by two—the young ones first. Benjamin watched as his friend Jarod and his wife were sold, followed by Stamus and his wife. When all the young couples had been purchased, the older couples were brought to the block, some being so old they shuffled their way to the block and had to help each other climb up.

The younger male slaves had been sold for an average of 500 dollars apiece, and their wives for an average of 300 dollars. The older male slaves went for an average of 100 dollars, and their wives for 75 dollars.

Soon they were down to the younger individuals. The single women were put on the block first and sold quickly—two of them going to Finn Colvin.

At one point, Benjamin was looking at Dan Johnson when Dan happened to turn and set his eyes on him. Dan smiled, and Benjamin smiled in return.

Next were the single young men, who sold fast. One of them was an especially fine-looking man, and several plantation owners bid on him until Finn Colvin ran the price to 600 dollars and the others dropped out of the bidding. Benjamin watched the scene, knowing that the man was right who said what Finn Colvin wanted, Finn Colvin got.

The sun was at its zenith as the last man in front of Benjamin was taken from the pen by Jim Lynch and sent to the block while Thomas Green read his background and qualifications to the crowd.

Benjamin glanced Finn Colvin’s way and saw the man turn and look at him. Colvin grinned wickedly and Benjamin felt his pulse quicken. He turned his eyes away.

The man on the block was sold quickly for 450 dollars, then Jim Lynch opened the gate and said, “Okay, Benjamin. Your turn.”

Benjamin’s mouth was dry as a sand pit as he passed the gate and headed toward the block.

On the platform, Thomas Green said, “Now, ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the young man I have been holding till last. Take a good look at him and you’ll understand why. This is my choice slave.”

There was an approving murmur from the crowd.

Benjamin climbed to the top of the block as Green said, “His name is Benjamin, folks. He was a slave on a cattle ranch in the mountains of Great Karroo. His owner wrote that Benjamin is a hard worker, and I think you can tell by looking at him that he could handle a good day’s work.”