Chapter 1: The Punishment.
Eliza lay beneath her, overweight, lug of a husband, as he grunted, and throbbed out his pleasure within her small frame. It was all she could do to stifle the yawn, welling up. But she controlled herself, knowing how cruel he could be when angered. One final shudder and he was finished. He rolled over and fell immediately asleep.
Adjusting her night-gown, Eliza, carefully climbed out of bed and crept out of the room. She knew all to well how angry her husband would be if he knew what she was doing. But she couldn't sleep knowing that Ben was in pain. He had been so good to her, and she had always tried to treat him with respect and dignity in return, well as much as one could treat a slave.
Gathering together some bandages, and water, she set out for the stables. Her husband had beaten him severely tonight, taking out all his frustration at this years, nearly non-existent, crops. She had watched, helplessly, as her husband brought that long, wicked looking whip down, again and again on Bens' back. But now she had to help him.
He looked up at her shocked, as she used the dampened cloth to clean the cuts covering his dark-brown back. She didn't speak, looking deeply into his dark, almost black eyes. Trying to convey just how sorry she was. She continued, and he laid his head on one arm, wincing occasionally when she touched a sensitive area.
"Well, well, well, isn't this a pretty scene,"
They both jumped at the voice behind them. Eliza stood immediately and turned to face him.
"Husband!" she spoke trying to keep the shock and fear out of her voice.
"My wife, cleaning a nigger," his voice boomed.
It was then that she noticed the Smith & Weston in his right hand.
"Husband, please," she pleaded, lost for words, her mind muddled by fear
"My wife cleaning the slave!" his voice just got louder, his chubby round face, red with rage. "My wife the slave lover - My wife the nigger lover," smiling a little as she cringed away from his crude language.
"Husband, No! I was just trying to help. A slave is no good to us dead, I was just - AH!" she was cut short, as he slapped her, hard. She crumpled to the ground, crying softly, terrified of her husbands wrath. Afraid for herself, but she was shocked to find that she was even more afraid for Ben.
"My wife and the nigger, sneaking out after dark"
"No! Husband please, it wasn't like that I swear I just wanted to help. I'm sorry my husband, so sorry."