Beloved Captive Read Online Free PDF

Emilie. “The Lord, He sees it all. What happened is past, and neither you nor Isabelle can change it.”
    “Isabelle.” Emilie leaned away and looked up at Mama Dell, her image swimming through the veil of Emilie’s tears. “She knows.”
    “I reckon she does,” Mama Dell said. “Though I thought you did, too. I told your papa he ought to write those letters to set things straight while he still could. Andre was to take them to both of you.”
    “He did,” Emilie said, “but Isabelle read hers, then threw both letters into the fire.” She paused as tears fell afresh. “She said they weren’t fit for a lady to read.” Her lips trembled, and the room swam. “She knew, and she chose not to tell me. She chose to remain a slave so I could stay free.”
    “No, child,” Mama Dell said. “You’re as free as she is. Your papa signed the papers, and it’s all done. Why, the Reverend Carter, he made sure it was done.”
    “Reverend Carter knew?” She struggled to make sense of it all.  
    “Yes, he knew. Your papa, he knew he’d likely not see old age, what with the life he lived. So, he asked Reverend Carter to see to the freeing of his daughter with Sylvie on her twentieth birthday. I believe that’s how it was to go.”
    “But Isabelle is the one who escaped.”
    “That’s right,” Mama Dell said. “And I let it happen. I knew I couldn’t leave with you ladies. Someone had to take care of your papa. So, I did my best to look like I’d changed sides. I hated it, but I had to do what was best for Jean Gayarre. He would’ve died sooner if both of us had left him at the same time.”
    Emilie looked at the woman and realized she’d never really known her. “You care for my papa, don’t you?”
    Mama Dell looked surprised. “I suppose I do, in my own way. He’s been good to me, though I’ll never know if it’s to keep me happy or keep me quiet.” She stepped back and lifted the corner of her apron to dab the tears streaming down Emilie’s cheeks. “You’ve got every right to be mad at all of us,” she said, “but just you know that what we did, we did out of love for your mama. Sylvie, she was special, and so are you.”
    She cupped Emilie’s face in her callused hands, then gently tilted her chin until their gazes met. “The Lord, He don’t see color, and He don’t see slave nor free. That’s the evil in this world speaking. His Word says He looks beyond those things to what’s inside.”
    “But I lived the life I did not deserve.”
    “Baby girl, none of us get what we deserve,” she said softly. “But I know for a fact, it all got paid at Calvary, and now I don’t have to fret about it. It don’t sound like our Isabelle’s fretting either, so just think on that and not on what’s over and done with.”
    “I don’t know if I can,” she managed.
    “Then you just gone have to try ‘cause ain’t nothing going to change who any of us is. Nothing and nobody. Just settle yourself to that.”

Chapter 4

    Benning Plantation, Santa Lucida

    His homecoming was a jubilant affair that lasted for far longer than Caleb had the tolerance to stand. While his mother greeted him with the exuberance he expected, she also seemed to relish the ability to care for the ailing Fletcher. In turn, he could stand in Caleb’s stead and help Mother with any decisions. The pair certainly got along famously.
    Caleb slapped at another mosquito and tried to ignore the tug of his conscience as the rebellious thoughts continued. Indeed, a man with his training would, given the time, likely do more harm than good managing such a venture.  
    That’s not it, Spencer. Admit it. You’re less fearful of becoming a failure at planting than you are of becoming a success at privateering .
    At the thought, Caleb rose and began to pace. True, nothing back in Washington had managed to stir his blood like the sight of the vessel Hawk’s Remedy limping away defeated after battle. Truer still, only Fletcher’s