Vanessa had returned from finishing school in grand style. Father had showered her with gifts and treated her to a lovely weekend in the city. The only detail left was her coming out party, which Mother had been planning forever-or at least it seemed that way. She had been hearing about Mother's coming out party since she was a child. Positively EVERYONE agreed that Victoria Barnaby had had the grandest affair they had ever seen. Even the servants reflected on it fondly in their memories, even though it was they who did all the real labor that fed and entertained half the county. Bessie, with skin the color of ebony, would never tire of speaking of "Yo' Momma's Ball" as she brushed Vanessa's long strawberry locks before bedtime.
But that was nearly a generation ago. Now it was Vanessa's time and Mother assured her that this party would make hers look like a "square dance." (With all her charm, Mother could be positively brutish in her descriptions, at times).
Vanessa's looks would draw half of the state's eligible bachelors out of the woodwork. Daddy's money would bring the other half out. Like so many children of the extreme upper class, Vanessa was spoiled and virtually oblivious to the thought of living in any style other than the one she was accustomed. Servants, slaves and the lower class existed to meet her needs-and the needs of her family and friends. And, that was that!
She stood admiring herself in front of her oversized, full -length mirror in her new ball gown. Mother had ordered it directly from Paris, along with matching shoes! It was a grand, dazzling white gown, trimmed in lace and pearls. She turned to the right then forward and back to the left, taking stock of her own beauty and the way the gown so wonderfully accented it. She bent slightly forward to see how her breasts would look to a taller man. She fussed, debated and experimented with her long, lush, strawberry locks. "Hmmm, should I wear it up or down, oh, it really doesn't matter," she laughed to herself. "In this gown, who would ever notice her hair?" None the less, she would have it primped and perfect for her coming out. The diamond necklace Daddy had given her upon her return was the perfect finishing touch. Everything was in perfect order.
A gentle knock on the door roused her from her reflected daydreams of self-admiration. From the hallway, Janey, the young Negro wench who was in training as a chambermaid reminded her that it was nearly time for her morning ride. Oh, all right! She exclaimed in a spoiled whine. I'll be along! Now, go AWAY! Why did she even have to bother with a morning ride, anyway? There was just so much to do. And this was such fun! Oh well. She hadn't really had any real exercise in nearly a week. It was a crisp morning. Perhaps a ride would be a nice diversion. Besides, she'd been hearing all week about the new stableman. This would give her a chance to dress him down. "How in the world could anyone see ANYTHING in a man who shovels horse excrement?" The very idea made her skin crawl. Still, all her old friends who had come to visit since she'd come home had raved about him. Even prim and proper little Janine had made nearly sexual intonations about this-this "groomer." It was disgusting! A good dressing down should do him a world of good. And who better to give it than the plantation princess. (God, how she loved that nickname. It always made her smile).
Vanessa rarely hurried. But, she reasoned that if she got to the stables before the horse was prepared for her, it would be reason enough to put the "human stud" in his place. Had she attended such pedestrian events as local fairs, she would most likely win a blue ribbon in the "dressing down" category-if they had one, that is. Whatever or whomever she found at the stable was in for a big surprise. She smiled an evil smile to herself as she called for Janey to retrieve her riding clothes and properly store her new gown. Janey obediently scurried about in Vanessa's bedroom suite to assist her. Even though she was ready in near-record time, Vanessa couldn't help but to take a few warm-up swings with the young black servant.
Janey? Janey! Come here this instant!
Janey hurried from the closet, which was actually bigger than the whole cottage she shared with her mother and two sisters.
"Yes ma'am?" she asked, her eyes to the floor to avert the gaze of those evil turquoise eyes.
Vanessa spoke to the woman as though she was a child-even though she was actually only a year younger than she was. "Now Janey, just look at these boots! Did you shine these boots?"
"Yes Mizz Vanezza. I surely did!" Janey could actually see her reflection in the boots as Vanessa extended them out in front of her.
"I don't believe you did, Janey. I believe you forgot to shine my boots. And, furthermore, I believe you are standing here in my father's house lying to me. You should be ashamed of yourself."
"Yez, Mizz Vanezza," was her only response. Janey had been warned to NEVER dispute Vanessa ON ANYTHING.
"It's too late to do them over. But when I return this morning, I want you to shine them. And, it had better be done correctly. Do you understand me?"
"Yez, ma'am," she replied
"Good! Now help me put these filthy things on so I won't be late for my ride." Vanessa sat on the edge of the bed with her feet planted firmly on the floor. Try as she might, Janey could not easily lift the woman's feet and wrestle with the knee-high boots to get them on properly. Vanessa smiled to herself and she watched the girl struggle to 'help' her.
"Hurry up!" she goaded. Finally, with sweat trickling from her brow, Janey finished the task and stood obediently to wait the next command. Vanessa stood and walked in a slow circle around Janey. Janey stood rock-still hoping Vanessa would just leave the room. She didn't see her pick up the leather riding crop from the dressing table. The stinging pain of the riding crop lashing her backside was sudden and excruciating. She dared not move or cry out. That could mean her whole family losing their home. Instead, she stood there whimpering silently, as the leather weapon struck her bottom and upper legs a second and third time. She remained silent, but the involuntary tears streamed down her face as Vanessa offered her a word of advice.
"Don't ever lie to me again, Janey. Do you understand?"
"Yyyyezz, ma'am," was all she could force out her mouth as the searing heat spread over her lower body.
"Good," Vanessa nearly sang, "then we shall get along swimmingly. I have to go now. But, you be a good, good girl and have this room in shape when I get back from my ride, won't you? Oh, and turn down my bed. I think I'd like to take a nap this afternoon."
She didn't wait for a reply. She knew she would find everything in perfect order when she got back. The little nigger really was quite efficient. And after all, she had done a wonderful job on the boots. Vanessa turned quickly, her long blonde hair flipped neatly over her shoulder and she strode out of the room. When the sound of the boots was out of earshot, Janey fell to the floor and sobbed as quietly as she could, being careful not to let her tears fall onto the gleaming oak floor of the bedroom.
Vanessa lingered at the top of the stairs to admire her shape in the hall mirror. Her riding uniform fit snugly and accentuated her physical features. She turned her back to the mirror and stretched her neck to admire her buttocks. With a final adjustment on her riding cap, she turned and bounded down the stairs. She met her father in the kitchen and hugged him around the neck from behind as she greeted him in her cutesy, little girl voice.
"Good morning Daddy. Did you sleep well?"
"Oh yes, princess. Knowing my little girl was home to stay was enough to make me sleep like a baby. You're going riding?" he asked with great interest.
"Yes, Daddy. After all, I don't want to get fat," she replied. "A girl's got to stay in shape, you know."
"Yes dear, of course you do!" he said in a very serious tone. "Your mother never left herself go. So many wives do, but Mother is every bit as beautiful as the day we married. You'll be the same way. It's all from good breeding, you know."
"Yes, Daddy. I know. I love you Daddy."
They exchanged another hug and Vanessa strode out the door where a carriage and driver were waiting patiently for her. Vanessa still felt satiated from the scene with Janey. She could skip berating Luke. He had been driving the plantation's carriages for as long as she could remember. Time had not been his best friend over the years. His black skin was dry and cracked from decades of exposure to the Georgia sun. His gray beard looked like sparse, dead tumbleweeds strewn about his face and his hands trembled nearly uncontrollably as he gripped the reigns of the carriage. She could remember a time when she had treated him decently-with kindness, even. But once she'd figured out their stations in life, there just wasn't time for that sort of thing anymore. She was pondering the innocence and naivete of youth as they rounded the corner to the horse barn. She released the memory quickly as she steeled herself for the confrontation she was about to instigate.
Her adrenaline was coursing through her heart and she could feel the blood pounding in her ears as she dismounted the carriage with Luke's feigned attempt at helping her down. She didn't bother to thank him. Why should she? He and his family would get a hot meal today. That was thanks enough. She excused him and he turned the wagon around in a wide arc and clicked his tongue to urge the horses back around the corner of the road from which they came.
As she marched toward the barn, Vanessa couldn't decide what she was looking forward to the most. Getting a look at this new man-beast, giving him the inevitable tongue lashing or bragging about it to her friends. Well, no matter! She would get to savor and enjoy all of it. She could always decide later which had been the most enjoyable.
When she got to the door of the stable, she stopped and peeked around the corner to see if she could spot him. "Oh no," she thought. "I don't even know what his name is yet" Not that it mattered. When she called, he would come. He was, after all, no better than the other animals grazing the grounds. She started to smile at her own wit when she saw him. The sight of him caused a lump to form in her throat that made it difficult to take a breath. Man, woman, child or beast, he was the most beautiful creature she had ever seen.
