46

THE DELIVERY

CHESTER LAWSON WAS A MAN of means. He ran a thriving livery stable in town and was well respected by the community. He was a devout man of faith and a leader in the Quaker church. The money he earned from leasing stables and buying and selling horses with three busy blacksmiths enabled him and Sarah to live comfortably on Crescent Farm a few miles out. It was a working farm where he trained free slaves to farm and care for livestock. This working arrangement was how the Lawsons were able to provide the freedom of many slaves throughout their years of secret involvement with the Underground Railroad.

Chester had met Isaiah Tanner years earlier after a severe thunderstorm had driven his foreman’s wagon off the road, breaking an axle. Isaiah appeared at the livery stable seeking help for his foreman, who sent him running back to town for assistance. After the storm let up, Chester drove Isaiah back to the scene of the accident with the necessary tools and a few hired hands to assist. During their delayed time together, Chester discovered a sincere Negro man of faith seeking freedom with God’s help. In exchange for fixing the broken axle, Chester worked a deal out with the Negro foreman to hire Isaiah to work on the farm twenty hours a month. The money Isaiah earned would be split evenly with the foreman if he “looked the other way” when Isaiah disappeared from the cotton fields a few days each month. With this secret arrangement, Isaiah earned his freedom papers because Chester went to the plantation owner to “purchase a slave.” He selected Isaiah from the lineup and paid top dollar for his friend. Isaiah, as a free slave, was able to return to the slave quarters to live beside his wife and three young children.

However, the plantation owner made the discovery that the slave foreman attempted to buy his freedom with the money he had earned through Chester. The plantation owner demanded to know where the foreman earned enough money to buy his freedom. The ruthless plantation owner beat the slave but never got the answer before the foreman died from loss of blood. When Isaiah heard what had happened to the foreman, he was too terrified to leave the slave quarters again. He stopped working, even though he possessed freedom papers to come and go as he pleased. It was years before Isaiah Tanner would ever see Crescent Farm again.

Chester and Sarah had no idea where Isaiah was or what happened to their long-lost friend, but the couple lovingly and passionately prayed for his safe journey back to them someday. That day came when Lilly appeared in the slave quarters as a frightened stow-away. Isaiah found his courage when God spoke to his heart about helping the child.

“Well, we can’t keep her hidden forever, Isaiah,” said Chester while rubbing his bearded chin. He and Isaiah were in the barn pitching hay together. The muscular man stopped to lean on the pitchfork. He gazed at his friend, who continued pitching hay for the few horses they kept for traveling. “Sarah says the girl’s a refined young lady from high society in Savannah. She’s somebody’s ward. They must be looking for her. I haven’t been back to town in three days, so maybe there’s an advertisement in the newspaper.”

“Sumpin’ ain’t right ’bout this whole thing,” said Isaiah, pausing to peer into Chester’s probing eyes. “If she from da si-dee, then why did she get sold for money?”

“Well, she can’t travel these roads. Too many patrollers looking to cash in on her capture. I told the child I’d deliver a letter to her home in Savannah. It will take me all day to get there, so I plan to shove off at daybreak. Sarah believes her story about being kidnapped, but there’s some wild account about a mysterious bloodstone ring and an evil baroness who had gambled all the family’s money away. This sounds too far-fetched to believe, but who am I to doubt an innocent child?”

“But if it be true, then the man buyin’ her might be out for blood. Don’t think it safe to go back to the quarters jez yet. I might be headin’ for trouble. Shouldn’t I go with you?”

“No, you better stay put for now. We don’t have any workers now, so while I’m gone, I need someone watching over Sarah and the girl. We don’t know what’s behind all this. I’ll only be gone two days. When I return from Savannah, I’ll drive you back to the quarters and pledge your security with the cash you’ve earned working this week.” Chester returned to pitching hay. It was settled. No need for further discussion.

“Yes, sir,” he said as he resumed his chores. Isaiah began to whistle as he pitched hay twice as fast as his friend. “I sho love seein’ my wife and babies soon.”