Snippets

Sneaking around

Baker's Plantation,
St. Joseph, Barbados,
October 15 1742

The wet morning dew had settled on the tall stalks of sugar cane. William Baker had just woken up placing his wig upon his head, and placing a hat atop it. Today was the day to start harvesting crops. The sun was hardly up by the time all the slaves had flocked into the field. The slave drivers showed the newer slavers how to cut and clean the sugar cane. The strong men were handed their machetes, and the women were tasked with providing drinking water. In the distance a white colonial house sat in the distance blocked by some trees. The reminder that their masters were always looming overhead

Inside the house a hoard of blonde daughters were waking up to the smell of breakfast downstairs. As they all woke up, a black woman got work styling their hair, and cleaning their rooms. The same routine every day.

As the men worked the fields, the women were refilling water jugs for their fellow slaves. A young teenage girl with a blue head wrap held the jug under the water pump. As she pumped the water, a finger behind a palm tree beckoned her to come closer. She looked to make sure nobody was nearby. She put her back to the tree, and whispered. "Your grandfather will beat the both of us, if he finds you here." She said quietly. "He'll beat me, for coming out here. I think he wishes I was a slave too." He looked down. "Hold out your hand." Something brushed against her hand. When she saw it, it was a breakfast scone. "I saved this for you." He said his back against the same tree on the other side. She scarfed the scone down. It tasted heavenly on her tongue.

"I have a bouquet I wanted to bring you, but I know it would raise suspicion." He said trying to be discreet. He looked at the tree, and pursed his lips. "I wish you were in the house." He said almost in a beg. Still it was obvious his grandfather wouldn't ever have a teenage slave in the house, when a well experienced adult did all the needed household chores. She shook her head, and squeezed his hand. "Don't you dare ask that James Baker! Do you know what a man like him would do to a girl like me?" His lip trembled. "I know." He said taking her hand. "I love you, Nora." He said tears streaming down his face.

"I love you too James." He cried so much his body shook. He pulled her to his side of the tree and held her face, kissing her passionately. He took handfuls of her clothes never wanting to let go of her. Once he got his fill of her lips, he hugged her to his body. Her warm soft arms wrapped around his shoulders. He led her to the back of the tool shed so he wouldn't be caught with her. "Let's runaway! Start a family all our own! Tortuga is a lawless island. They wouldn't give us a passing glance." He said hugging her to his body

Out of nowhere James felt himself yanked off his female companion. A wrinkled grey hand jerked him away. "What are you doing off the field? Get back to work girl!" He said threateningly. She ran off getting her jug getting her jug to get back to work. However Grandfather Baker had plenty of punishment for his grandson. "Last time I checked, these were my slavers not yours. When you treat my leaves like yours, there are consequences. Trust me."