Chapter 27
TWENTY-SEVEN
ZINNIE
Mr. Allen. Bayard. Beltram. Ten vaqueros.
And two sheriffs. Such was the posse that snatched us from Santa Monica’s mountain range.
Our departure was swift and precarious as we fled the region not fully knowing what was occurring.
No one spoke. We huddled together. I prayed until I cried wanting Buck, Annabelle, and July to miraculously be where we were going.
“Senora.”
I startled awake much later, alarmed I’d succumbed to fatigue versus remaining vigilant.
The driver motioned me forward in the cold dawn, becoming insistent when I hesitated, offering what might’ve been assurance in rapid language. I accepted his help off the wagon, watching as he did the same for Ella and the children. I kept everyone close as he lifted Alretha and the newborn.
“Vámanos!”
My children clung to me as we hurried around the side of an adobe building and entered the rear. A damp, musty smell assaulted the dark interior. Rain dripped from holes in the ceiling. It was a strange place filled with eerie sensations that made me want to run the other way.
“Y’all the ones Bayard Allen sent?”
My tribe and I froze when a tall white man holding a lantern appeared in the din. “Yes, sir.” I nodded.
“Come on before he and Sheriff get here.”
I picked up Hattie to calm her crying and grabbed the hand of Lovie’s little bit closest to me, comforting them despite my misgivings as we walked a short distance.
“In here.” A door of iron bars squeaked when the burly man opened it. Were we being imprisoned?
“Mama, I don’t like this.”
Abigail’s whimper mirrored my apprehension.
We hadn’t committed a crime, but I had to trust whatever Bayard Allen was doing.
“Everything’s gonna be okay. Y’all rest on that hay over there.
” I directed my children to piles of straw in the corner, praying they weren’t rodent-infested.
“Sir… please… she has a newborn.” I indicated Alretha in the arms of the senor.
Our jailer lifted his lantern and looked at her before leaving. He returned moments later and dropped a bundle of blankets on the floor. “There you go.”
Ella and I quickly assembled them into a pallet for mother and newborn.
“Senor Bayard… be here soon.” The driver followed the man from the cell, leaving us locked behind iron bars.
“Sweet Jesus, Zinnie, what’s going on?”
I didn’t know and couldn’t answer Ella. Hattie hid in my skirts as I ordered everyone to grab hands and pray for mercy and grace.
Our jailer provided apples and hardtack, and a pail of water to drink. There was a bucket in a corner to relieve ourselves. Otherwise, the cell was empty. We’d finished our paltry breakfast when the sound of galloping horses streamed through the cut-out high in the wall.
I meant to be braver than I felt but my heart thudded as heavy footsteps came down the corridor. Daylight streamed through that wall cut-out, highlighting them as our jailer unlocked the cell door for a stranger and Mr. Bayard. I raced forward, seeing July and Annabelle.
“Thank God!” I held my children, realizing my husband was missing. “Where’s Buck?”
“Ladies, Sheriff Kimpton.” Bayard Sr. presented the white man beside him as if he hadn’t heard my question. “He’s Los Angeles County’s law enforcement.”
The sheriff doffed his hat. “I received a complaint from Coraline Allen that you were being abducted against your will. Ryland Tolliver says you all chose to leave California with him. Is that accurate?”
I’d never contradicted a plantation man, but I couldn’t stomach the deception. “No, sir. It isn’t.”
“Very well. Ryland Tolliver and Widow Peterson will be served with legal papers. You’ll remain here until Judge Warrington hears Tolliver’s rebuttal. You’re now under my protection.” He or his turnkey guard would always be present. “Rest well. I’ll keep you updated.”
Ella and I hurled questions at Mr. Bayard when Sheriff Kimpton exited.
“Hold on, now. I can’t answer everything at once.
Yes, ‘widow.’ Peterson drew his pistol and refused to surrender.
” He shrugged. “No, you haven’t broken any laws.
You’re here so Tolliver can’t abduct anyone before the matter’s heard in court.
“Miss Zinnie.” He pulled me aside gently. “Buck didn’t return before we left. He might’ve gotten lost or… maybe he ran.” He promised to search again once the weather cleared. “Coraline’ll bring food and whatever you need.”
I offered sincerest thanks and he left. My head was spinning.
“Why Massa Marion going to court? California cares about a plantation man taking his slaves with him?”
“Ella, I don’t know. Maybe ‘cause the complaint says it’s against our will?”
“Our whole life been unwilful. Why’s this different?” She snorted and moved away.
I stood there trying to understand the complexities of this thing, head aching, until I heard soft mewling and turned towards Alretha nursing her baby. “Lord… there’s been so much disorderliness I forgot to ask this sweet baby’s name.”
A soft smile lifted Alretha’s lips. “This is Nettie.”
I scooped that precious baby into my arms when she’d finished nursing and repeated her name like a sweet litany, forever thankful old Peddler Pete had delivered my message.
Coraline and Bayard Sr. brought fresh food and blankets the next day. I hugged and thanked her profusely for sending that complaint. We weren’t certain how any of this would end, but without her actions we’d be en route to Texas.
At least we’d all be together.
Mr. Bayard spoke as if privy to my ruminating. “The twins and my men are searching for Buck. Keep praying until we find him.”
They didn’t find Buck. Buck came to us.
I recognized the clomp of boots striding down the corridor with the turnkey. My heart plummeted instantly. “Sheriff says they stay in the cell so check on ’em from here.” The turnkey walked away, leaving us with Ryland Tolliver. Buck stood behind him, worn by the weather.
“Good seeing everyone’s safe.” Massa Marion made sure of the turnkey’s absence before continuing. “When we get before the judge y’all clean this up.” I stepped back when he approached. “Make sure he knows y’all wanna go to Texas. Do that? Y’all can marry.”
I locked eyes with Buck. He subtly shook his head.
“If not, your brats’ll come up missing.” He walked away, smug in his dominance. “Buck!”
My love shook his head more vigorously—mouthing “don’t do it”—before following.
“I hate him!” Annabelle’s sentiments shocked me only in that they were spoken.
“We ain’t even safe locked in here.” Ella’s hazel eyes cried angry tears.
I scooped Hattie up when she ran to me, not understanding all that was happening, yet terrified, nonetheless. I held her tightly as she burrowed her face in my neck.
I was sick and tired of being terrorized by plantation men.
I comforted Ella and Annabelle while kissing my Hattie, thankful for Buck’s safety and wondering how long ours would last.
Habeas Corpus. It was a fancy term meaning we couldn’t stay behind bars when Ryland Tolliver stood in court. He demanded our appearance. Judge Warrington granted it, leaving me swallowing to keep from choking on that lawyer’s bald-faced falsehoods.
“Your Honor, my client’s their legal guardian and relative. Not their owner. He’s not holding anyone against their will. They gladly traveled from Mississippi with him. He exercises no more control over them than his children. Just ask them!”
“Mr. Stone, we’re both aware it’s illegal for a Negro to testify against a white man. Sheriff Kimpton, who’s representing them?”
“The attorney the Allens secured isn’t present, sir. Ryland Tolliver bribed him—”
“That’s the foulest lie under heaven!”
I squeezed Ella’s hand at Massa Marion’s wild shouting.
Judge Warrington remained calm. “Mr. Stone, advise your client I don’t tolerate hijinks in my courtroom. I’ll subpoena this absent attorney. I want to speak to him. We’ll reconvene tomorrow.”
The devil arrived within minutes of Ella and me being returned to jail.
“Get over here, Zinnie!” Spittle flew from Massa Marion’s mouth when I didn’t move.
“You think bars’ll keep me from hurting you?
” He laughed demonically. “You tell that judge y’all are leaving voluntarily or your last time seeing Buck was yesterday.
Soon as we get to Texas, I’m selling your asses. Ain’t none of y’all safe!”
He threatened violence and chaos before stalking away. His threats clogged my head like a stand-in captor when he didn’t appear in court the next day. However, our lawyer did.
“You’re present. Now, Tolliver isn’t?” Judge Warrington’s irritation was evident. “Did he bribe you to not appear yesterday?”
The lawyer the Allens hired answered honestly. “Yes, Your Honor. Since Coloreds can’t speak in court against a white man, he gave me sixty dollars not to speak for them.”
The judge fell silent before deeming him guilty of dereliction of duty and fining him the money he’d been paid. “You’re recused from this case.”
There was silence as the man gathered his things and shuffled from the courtroom, red-faced. The remaining lawyer waited until he’d gone before diving into a lake of lies.
“Your Honor, my client has agreed to free these women upon arriving in Texas.”
“Mr. Stone, yesterday you said your client didn’t own them. He was a relative. Which is it?” The judge continued in the man’s silence. “Is there anyone else with pertinent information?”
I shuddered when the turnkey stood. The man had allowed Massa Marion to see us in jail. Twice!
How much did he pay him to lie?
“I know nothing about bribing, sir, but he said some vile things when visiting.” Nearly verbatim he conveyed the levied threats. “That’s what I heard. I know nothing else.”
Mr. Stone objected, something about hearsay.
“Sustained. Bring these women to my chambers so I can speak to them.”
My bones felt like liquid as we followed the bailiff.
“Which of you is Zinnie?” Judge Warrington questioned once we were sequestered.
I released Ella’s hand and stepped forward, eyes lowered. “I am, sir.”