Writings for Got

House Martel/week 4/prompt 5/story

A Window of Opportunity

Times were changing in St. Louis and there were slaves that remained slaves and there were the ones that were able to free themselves. As the city grew there were a few handful that were actually more wealthy than some white folks. That wasn't the case for Acacia. She was a slave and a strong girl that stood her ground. She had morals that she held dear to her heart. One day she would even marry and be free herself. That wouldn't happen any time soon however. Her master Hugn Alludy was never going to give up his slaves and he made sure they kept in line. His plantation was under a bit of hot water and slaves were not as potentially profitable anymore. He was hanging on to the bitter end.

It had reached a point when Hugn would take Acacia to town with him. It allowed other slave owners to see what he had. He was hoping to rent her out for extra earnings to keep his plantation going. With so many free slaves now and leaving them to rent themselves out for next to nothing made this process even tougher. So Acacia was given special treatments to more frequent bathing and new attire as they went to town.

This was the day that Acacia made eye contact with another man of her color. He had hazel eyes and was so strong with suitable clothing, making him look as though he was his own free man.

“Acacia, stay here in the buggy while I get some tabaco. You know girl what will happen if you run?”

“Yes master, I do know.” She held her head down but out of the corner of her eye she kept a hold on that strange handsome character.

Grafton held both of his hands in his front pockets of his vest. His hat tilted just over his brow as he scoped up and down the streets. It was then that he saw her. Their eyes met and it was as though they both knew it had to be.

“Why what is a beautiful lady like yourself doing in town all alone?”

Acacia smiled but said nothing. She was afraid to talk and had no idea what to say in any case.

“Are you with your master or are you free and with your husband?”

There was no time to reply as Hugn came back out of the store and curddled the words from his throat, “What in hell do you think you are doing? Get away from her! You piece of scum!” It didn't end there as he back handed Acacia for even making eye contact.

“Hey now, sir. Is there any reason to hit her? She said nothing! I was doing the talking here. Are you okay miss?”

“Listen, I don't know who you are but your master will hear from me! Go find yourself someone that could use you for their benefit and maybe you will survive the night. Now! Get outta here!”

Hugn turned the buggy around and heading back to the plantation.

This was when Grafton knew what he had to do. He had more money than Hugn and he knew it. He was being judged by his color but little did Hugn know he was a free man with a small fortune. A gift from his previous owner that led him to St. Louis to claim his rightful place in the world. Grafton also knew he had the right to offer an amount of money for the pleasure of keeping Acicia for a night.

A few days later there was a meeting between the two men and they came to an understanding that Hugn needed the money and Grafton wanted his slave. He saw no more to it than that. It was a deal between two men and Hugn needed to come down a notch wiping out the idea that he was making a deal with a slave. It was the times changing in St. Louis and something that not everybody was willing to do. Pride got the best of Hugn and keeping his plantation running was more important than who was going to help him do it.

“She is the best I have so make sure you can afford her, understand?”

Grafton tilted his hat, “Of course sir. I will pay you half when I pick her up and the other half when I bring her home. I do hope that she is all that you say.”

The first night that Grafton and Acicia met was conversation between two people who shared the same heart aches in a cruel world. Hugn was satisfied with the agreement and allowed this mutual exchange to go for some time. He had no idea that the two had fallen in love. Not until a couple of months later when Acicia found herself with child. She tried to hide it as long as she could. Yet she couldn't hide it forever and that is when Hugn stopped any longer meetings between the two. He swore if he caught Grafton near his home he would shoot him.

Grafton stayed away as long as he could yet his heart ached for the woman he loved and their unborn child. He also knew the more he pushed the worse Hugn would treat Acicia and he couldn't bare the thought.

At night Acicia would leave one candle lit to let Grafton know she was okay. Grafton would leave wild flowers in a place he knew his love would find them. Then on a chilly night heading into the fall season Grafton didn't see that candle in the window. He didn't understand after many nights what had happened to Acicia or their child.

He thought she had died and he couldn't bring himself to confirm anything. There was only one thing to do and that was to leave St. Louis and find a place where he could bring his family and be safe. He would make plans to free Acicia by whatever means it took.

Time was everything and no time to waste. He couldn't let himself be known of his plans so he left knowing that he would be back.

Acicia was well on her way back to health after giving birth to their baby boy. A boy that didn't live more than a week. She was devastated and had no way to reach Grafton. She left the small light on every night and waited to find the flowers in the path leading to the main house. There weren't any, but she had faith and waited. She filled up with anger towards Grafton and crept into the mansion with only one thing on her mind. He had to die for all he has done.

Creeping through the kitchen, Acicia reached for a knife and tiptoed up the stair well. She knew the house all too well and there were no need for lights of any kind. With his head turned towards the wall, Acicia felt less guilty when she slit his throat. There was no need to watch the shock on his face, just knowing he could never keep her from her one true love.

It wasn't long before people found out about what happened to Hugn and Acicia knew they were coming for her. She lit the candle one more time crying for Grafton as she took her own life, right there in the window for all to see. They found her slouched holding wild flowers that were dry and old with a yellow ribbon holding them together.

Years later the plantation turned to dust, the mansion's frame began to slouch and nobody ever claimed it since that night. So the story goes that Acicia remains in the house, right there at the window, waiting for Grafton. They say you can hear her broken heart. People say that the window was an opportunity of freedom for Acicia to finally break free. Yet her she couldn't leave.

1336/words