Disclaimer: This story is every bit a fantasy. It is not meant to diminish the harsh reality of the cruel and unfair treatment that many endured during slavery- specifically in the southern United States. Some may find it offensive. This story is really about a relationship that would have been uncommon, but would not have been impossible. So I encourage readers not to dig too deep, just enjoy the sex!
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Edward Dawson was a fair man. Well, yes he was very pleasing to the eye. But he was also equitable, just. He never whipped his slaves unless it was absolutely necessary. He was not interested in torturing any of them for sport the way he'd seen others do. Old Mr. Brickford's son was known for being especially cruel. He terrorized his slaves into submission. No, Edward didn't want to be feared as much as he wanted to be respected. His reputation was important to him. He hoped to partner in business with another wealthy landowner, and he preferred to work with a like-minded fellow. Since he took over running the plantation for his aging father, he figured out the old way of doing things was not always the best. He was only 28 years old, but he was sharp minded and had big plans for the family property.
Edward had control over fifty slaves. He knew them all by name- even the kids. He learned to be stern and commanding, yet decent. While he acknowledged the slaves were his property, he also acknowledged them as human beings. The older female house slaves had helped raise him. The male slaves that humbly served his father, gave him their loyalty too. That, he could not ignore.
It was the young female slaves that held his attention the most. He always admired the beauty of their dark skin. He watched them adoringly whether they worked in the fields with sturdy legs, or cooked in the kitchen with gentle hands. He knew about the slave masters that raped their girls. Of that, he had no interest. He wanted the girls to yield to him willingly. He had already picked out a favorite- Emaline.
The darkest, sweetest girl on the plantation was without a doubt Emaline. Her eyes were always downcast both out of submission and shyness. Her voice was quiet like a soft summer breeze. Her hair was soft and wooly like the cotton that grew on acres all around them. Edward had started working on her when she was 17 years old, soon to be 18. He went out of his way to smile at her warmly whenever he could. He paid attention to her routine, observing her work and leisure time (the little bit she had). He always liked to hear the younger slave girls giggling and playing. It was as though they were oblivious to the hard physical work they were already used to doing.
One afternoon Edward passed the garden where Emaline and Celia were seated on a burlap sack, shelling peas. The sun beamed down on them. Beads of sweat glistened like little magical crystals across Emaline's forehead. She chatted and smiled while her hands worked methodically. Her raw beauty stopped Edward in his tracks. He marveled at how carefree she seemed. Free. She was enslaved but seemed quite free. There was a lightness to her voice. She jumped up to grab a nearby basket, but instead of walking- she skipped. She floated and hopped like a little girl. But as Edward watched her silhouette stand out against her airy cotton dress, he noticed that she most definitely was no longer a little girl. She had blossomed into a curvaceous young woman. His mouth hung open as he watched her perky breasts bounce with each skip and hop she took. She was divine.
Celia suddenly stopped talking as she looked up and noticed Master Edward watching them. Emaline quickly turned to see what was the matter and instantly caught her master's intense green eyes.
"We's almost done here Master Edward. Just one more basket to fill. We gonna finish up here and get back up to the house real fast, sir." Emaline turned her eyes down to the grass nervously and grabbed the empty basket.
"Well now Emaline, don't you get yourself all in a hissy over there now, gal. I can see y'all are working. Just you don't keep Mimi waitin' too long. She's promised to cook up some of them there peas y'all are shelling for my supper. You don't want to have my tummy over here a' grumblin' now do ya?"
"No sir, Master Edward sir." Emaline's eyes never left that lush green grass.
"Well I didn't think so, you gals are much too sweet for that. Go on and finish up now."
"Yes sir!" they both chimed in together. Celia had never looked down. She thought Master Edward was quite handsome. She only wished he would pay attention to her the way he did Emaline.
"Humph" Celia let out as soon as Master Edward walked off. "Sweet. Yeah we's sweet, but he be SWEET on you Emaline for sure!"
"Hush ya mouth! No he ain't!" she protested.
"Oh yes he is! I knows it for sure I tell ya. He look at you like you's the sun and the moon."
Emaline just shook her head and started filling the basket with more peas. She didn't want to think about it. She knew Celia was right though. Master Edward had always been gentle with the slave girls. He rarely yelled at them, and sometimes he even let them stop working earlier than the boys. She'd seen him stop in the kitchen to talk to Mimi all the time. He would regard her with a pleasant glance. Mimi would sneak him a taste of the stew right out of the pot on the stove or slip him a warm biscuit and then shoo him out of there. He would have a mischievous grin like a little boy, but he always listened to whatever Mimi told him to do.
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Edward couldn't get to sleep. He lay in bed thinking about Emaline's round ass and smooth looking skin. He imagined walking over to her in that hot sun and wiping her wet brow with his handkerchief before planting a kiss on her full pouty lips. She was so nervous around him, always being careful to stay in her place. But he wanted her to really look at him. He longed to see her deep brown eyes staring right into his own. He would make it a point to get her attention. He wanted her to want him.
The following morning, Edward decided to work outside with the slaves who were repairing a wooden fence along the back of the house near the kitchen. He knew Emaline would be helping Mimi to prepare the food for the day. Three young strong slave men were chopping wood and stacking pieces in piles. Their black muscular bodies shone in the sun. They worked while just wearing dingy pants and work shoes. With each swing of the ax, their toned backs flexed. Emaline was near the kitchen window, and she noticed. She turned her attention to rinsing and peeling potatoes. Once she finished she glanced up again and almost dropped her knife when she noticed Master Edward had joined the men working. She couldn't tear her eyes away. Master Edward was shirtless too, pushing a wheelbarrow over to the broken fence. His body was lean and strong. Mimi cleared her throat and Emaline snapped out of her trance.
"Whatcha lookin' at missy? You ain't got nothin' ta do with what's goin' on out there. Where's my potatoes?" Mimi walked over to see what the distraction was and when she spotted Master Edward she knew. "Oh, I see," she said with a chuckle. "You ain't used to seein'
HIM
out there is ya? Can't blame you. He certainly grew up to be a handsome man. I was there when he was born. I knew then he was gonna turn out like that. Matter of fact, his pappy used to be fine lookin' jus' like him."
"Old Master Dawson?" Emaline couldn't imagine it.
Mimi laughed. "Well yes girl. He wasn't always old and sick. Where you think Master Edward got it from? But look here now, you be careful 'round him. I knows him well, and he likes
Y'ALL
more than he likes his own kind. And you 'bout ripe for the pickin'"
"Whatchu mean Mimi? Emaline innocently asked. Although she was pretty sure she knew.
"Aw, now come on Emmy. You knows what I'm talkin' 'bout. He be lookin' at cha like you's a flower he wanna pick."
Emaline covered her mouth and looked down. "Don't say that Mimi!" Just then they both looked up and out the window. Edward emptied his wheelbarrow and looked toward the kitchen, tipping his straw hat and bearing a smile. Emaline gasped and covered her mouth with the dish towel she had clutched tightly in her hand. She couldn't believe how gorgeous Edward was. But mostly she couldn't believe she had only really noticed it at that instant. A tingling heat rose up in her belly. She quickly rushed over to the bowl of freshly peeled potatoes and started cutting them into chunks. She needed to get her mind on anything but him. Mimi just laughed and started rolling out the dough for bread.
Over the next several weeks. Emaline did her best to avoid Master Edward, but Edward did his best to seek Emaline out. They would meet in the kitchen, and Emaline would suddenly realize she had some other task in some other part of the house that needed her immediate attention. Edward would smile, Emaline would look down. Edward knew Emaline's birthday was coming up soon. She would be turning 18. He could not wait to welcome her into womanhood. When his slaves had birthdays, they would all get together after the day's work was done to celebrate. They would gather outside their cabins and dance and sing into the night. Sometimes, Edward would watch from a distance as the young pretty girls swayed their bodies to the rhythm of the music. They seemed to have a natural talent for moving around gracefully. His eyes were always drawn to the girls with skin as dark as the night. The flicker of the fire would reflect off their faces, wet with moisture from the southern humidity. It was a most joyful sight to see.
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Harvest season was coming to a close. A slight coolness began to fill the air. Emaline's birthday was in two days on October 25th. She looked forward to the treats she knew Mimi would make for her. She looked forward to dancing to merry sounds around the fire at sunset. It was late in the day when Mimi asked her to go out to the well to fetch a pail of water. Emaline made her way outside and walked around aimlessly for a while enjoying the cool autumn breeze. She gazed up into the afternoon sky noticing the warm hues of pink, purple, and orange. Not paying attention, she walked right into Master Edward. He had been standing near the side of the yard watching her the whole time.
"Oh! Master Edward, I sure is sorry sir. I wasn't watching where I was going," she stuttered out.
