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Gabriel's Hope Plantation
Chapter 5
Dinner was nearly always quite informal if they had no guests, and it was not unusual for Joshua's family to eat with them. On this particular evening it was just Joshua and Miss Hathaway.
"Miss Hathaway, you have already seen we are quite informal here. I would like it therefore if you adopted first names for all the freemen. My mother is Sarah, Joshua's mother is Oprah, and his father you'll find in the blacksmith's shop working under our smithy, his name is Landon. The children you already know and I am happy to answer to Gabriel."
"Thank you Mr. Sinclair. That may take some getting used to but I'll try. I would be delighted to be called Ann."
All smiles and the conversation became very relaxed.
"I engaged a new farrier today Josh. He looks as though he's going to be very good, knows his horses. He's not much older than us. I got him for a good price because he's a boy lover so no good as a stud."
Josh laughed and couldn't help giving the game away.
"So I suppose I'm sleeping at home tonight."
"Well, yes that might be a good idea, although you are very welcome to stay as well."
More laughter and Gabriel changed the conversation.
"Ann, I've talked to my mother and she thinks it would be nice if you ate with us, but if you wish you can eat in your own house. The girl can cook and will be at your disposal all the time."
"Thank you Gabriel, she is already proving very capable."
"She's the daughter of my senior overseer. Oh, Josh, the paperwork for Fernando is on my desk and tomorrow morning I think it would be a good idea for you to sit down with Ann and discuss a salary for her. I'm going to work with Zeke all day tomorrow."
"If 9 o clock in the morning is ok Ann, we'll meet in the study and afterwards I'll take you down to the village to the school house and you can settle in, I'll also brief Abe, our village overseer. He will make sure all the boys and girls are gathered out the front to watch. The three urchins will be there tomorrow as well."
"Huh, it looks like I could sell off all the under 16s and save myself a load of money, they aren't going to be very productive sat on their butts outside the schoolhouse every morning."
Ann looked shocked until she saw the grin pass between Josh and Gabriel.
"Did you enjoy being Joshua's school teacher Gabriel?"
"Oh yes, that was a labour of love for eleven years. He has always been my best friend."
Once again Ann saw the look of love pass between the two men and it dawned on her that there would be no new mistress of Gabriel's Hope, Sarah had the job for life. This was a situation she had never come across. She had heard about men that loved men, but never seen any that she knew of. These two looked so manly, how could they do things to each other of a sexual nature. The only thing to do was watch and learn, she certainly had nowhere else to go in this area.
Ann's life became a game of two halves. Teaching, which she loved, and being able to teach black children was the icing on the cake. The other half was Gabriel watching. She realised he was very promiscuous, bedding many different young slaves, but keeping a special place for Joshua. The amazing thing was that she saw no resentment from the young men, being used for something alien to most of their natures. Of course, the reason was that they were all aware of how badly most slaves were treated by their owners in comparison to Gabriel's treatment of them. So, a cock in their ass or their mouth wasn't what they would take by choice, but it didn't happen very often, and Gabriel was always gentle and considerate.
Female slaves were not really terribly productive, but Gabriel was loathe to sell any that had family. It was Josh who gave Gabriel an idea to work on.
"Some of the gentle women in town can't afford to buy a slave, Gabriel, but they could afford to pay a small amount to keep one. Why not offer some of the teenage girls as maids to these ladies for a monthly fee, allowing them to remain in the area to see their families?
Gabriel thought about it, talked to his mother and Oprah about it and eventually started a training programme to get the young ladies to a competent standard for maid service. It worked. Mr. Balfour drew up contracts and Gabriel advertised the service. Sarah took charge of the placements and surprised everyone when she insisted that the girls had one day off per week, Sunday's, so that they could socialise with family. Gabriel arranged a cart to fetch them all from a joint meeting point and it was a happy singing bunch of young women who returned to the plantation every Saturday night and departed again quite late Sunday nights having spent the day with family or their beau.
The scheme was so successful that the second year profits were even better than year one.
Josh was surprised at the end of that second year when Gabriel told him he was going to drive the cart into the bank.
"Before that though Josh, you are going to learn to use a firearm."
None the wiser, because Gabriel wouldn't disclose the reason why. Both men practised loading, firing and reloading pistols until they were very proficient. They also learnt how to use a sword adequately.
When all was ready, Josh found himself at the reins of the cart, double harnessed with the strongest of the work horses. At the bank there were four mounted law officers. All of Gabriel's gold was loaded into the cart and they set off for the plantation. While they were still some distance from home Isaiah and Jess rode up sporting pistols in their belts. Gabriel dismissed the law officers with his thanks and a fat bonus, to keep their mouths shut. The small party continued to the plantation and the boxes were unloaded into the study. When Josh and Gabriel were alone Gabriel locked the door and explained.
"I don't trust banks Josh, so we are going to keep the majority of Gabriel's Hope money here."
He showed Josh the secret partition and the basement room. Josh was amazed when the second room was revealed. They stowed all of the gold in it and closed the partition, the empty gold boxes were left in the first room.
"Can you see anything that would give the second room away?"
Josh inspected the floor and the walls in minute detail.
"That's amazing Gabriel, I know where it is but I can't see a thing."
"If this room is ever found, they will think I have moved the gold somewhere else, just leaving the boxes. Only Mr. Balfour and we two know of this Josh. This is our rainy day money if we ever hit on bad times.
End of the year and most of the young men were no longer gracing Gabriel's bed. He had Blaine to thrill with the huge cock, which he had learnt to take in his butt. Jess when he wanted to gently fuck someone. Josh as always for the most exciting sex with someone he continued to love deeply, but it was Fernando that graced his bed the most often. The young man was the black equivalent of Gabriel when it came to sex. He loved to fuck, but he loved Gabriel to fuck him even more.
The only tiny cloud on Gabriel's horizon was his almost overpowering desire to make love to Joshua completely. He knew he could, anytime he wanted, but he had promised Josh that he would only fuck him on request.
End of the third year and it was obvious that Matthew, at eight years old was outstripping all other children in his absorption of knowledge. Gabriel called a family conference.Landon and Oprah, Sarah and Ann, Josh and Gabriel.
"I've called this conference because I believe we need to do something about Matthew's schooling, and I don't know what. Ann, tell us about his abilities."
"Matthew is at the same educational level as a twelve year old white student. I believe he will be ready to go to college anywhere in the States in three more years if he continues to absorb knowledge at his present rate."
Everyone's jaws were hanging open.
"There is nowhere in the South that my brother can go to college and Ann has admitted he is outstripping her ability to teach him. The only solution I can see is to send him North to continue his education, but I have no idea where, and more importantly, whether you all think that is the correct decision."
Josh was the first to speak.
"Gabriel, if you do things your way it will cost a huge amount of money. You have already raised the living standards of this family beyond anything we could ever have expected. To do this on top would be more than I feel we deserve."
Gabriel walked round the table and to the surprise of everyone else, kissed Joshua quite passionately on the lips before returning to his seat.
"Apart from my mother, Josh, you are the dearest person in my world. There is nothing I wouldn't do to please you. Landon is the only father I have ever known, and Oprah is like a second mother to me. Your three siblings have brought me nothing but joy in the three years we have lived here. Now tell me what price you can put on that."
No one could say anything for ages and then Sarah spoke.
"Let's take this one step at a time Gabriel. Landon and Oprah, are you prepared to let Matthew leave home to go north for his education?"
Oprah looked at Landon and the tears came to her eyes.
"There probably isn't another black in the South who will have an opportunity like this Landon. I don't want to lose him, but Gabriel's offer is mighty difficult to turn down."
"I agree with what Joshua has said Gabriel, and with what my wife says. I trust you, Son, to make a decision that is best for the family but more than anything protects Matthew."
"Ann, any ideas for a school for Matthew?"
"Yes Gabriel. There is a school in Boston that caters for exceptionally gifted students. I wasn't qualified enough to gain a position when I applied. It is mixed race and all ages. It's also very expensive, but they say tomorrow's leaders will come from there."
"If I purchase a house close to the school, would you be prepared to go with Matthew and look after him?" Ann was torn now, of course she would, Matthew was her prize student and they got on so well.
"I would love to, Gabriel, but what about the school here?"
"Matthew will need you more than the school will and I promise to do everything in my power to replace you. My mother, Joshua and myself will try to devote sometime to teaching while we find a new teacher. I'll travel to Boston and make all the arrangements and I'll send staff from here to run the house. Their gift will be their freedom." Joshua had become a good bean counter and he was totalling up the costs as Gabriel spoke.
"Gabriel, even without the school fees the cost is astronomical."
"Josh, how much has my fortune increased since I came here?"
"Too much to mouth at this table Gabriel."
"Earned by a hundred black slaves. Now I can repay them for their hard work by sending a boy of colour to take on the world. I'd do it for a slave as well if we find one as clever as Matthew."
That appeared to be settled. Gabriel would leave Joshua to run the plantation and advertise for a new teacher, black or white. He and Ann would head for Boston to organise everything, with Matthew in tow.
Double first class compartments was the only way Matthew could travel with them so the rail trip to Boston was carried out in luxury with Matthew virtually glued to the window all the way during daylight hours and he slept snuggled up to Gabriel every night.
Gabriel and Ann were at their most persuasive with the principal of the school, but after Mathews test results were seen they needn't have bothered.
"The boy is amazing, and you say he has only been in education for three years?"
Ann nodded and explained how.
"He is too young to board, but I will accept him as a day boy."
That was it. Gabriel managed to purchase a small cottage with servant's quarters, close to the school. A pony and trap were also purchased but left with a caretaker until Ann returned.
"You'll need a driver and a maid, Ann, do you want any more servants?"
"No Gabriel that will be more than adequate."
Back at the plantation and it was all hustle and bustle as Matthew and his entourage were made ready for the trip back to Boston. A newly married young man that had shown promise driving the carriage was asked if he and his wife would like the job. Of course they did and were even more amazed when Gabriel drew up the papers giving them their freedom.
"Miss Hathaway has authority to sign those at the appropriate time. You must look after Matthew and her while they are in the school, and then you can return here as freemen or remain in the North."
Buckets of tears, eased when Gabriel promised they could return home for every school holiday.
The first night that Matthew was away, Joshua came to Gabriel.
"I know that to complete your happiness, Gabriel, you would like to make love to me completely. I will never be able to show you in any other way my deep love and respect for you and my gratitude for what you are doing for my family, so tonight I want you to bury your cock in my arse the way you have always wanted to."
Nearly 23 years old wasn't too old to cry. The tears of happiness would have almost floated a boat before Gabriel pulled himself together and ordered hot water for a bath. The two of them would fall into bed squeaky clean, and Gabriel would take them both off to Paradise.