*WARNING -- PLEASE READ FIRST
This is a story set in the American South during the period of slavery. It is an accurate depiction of the period. As such, racism, racial slurs and racist attitudes are included as key elements of some characters. If you are not comfortable with the topic of slavery, racial supremacy/subordination, or even seeing the "n" word used in a demeaning way, I urge you NOT to read on. Thank you.
This is a part of the Noah Hamilton series. I will not recap previous chapters in the current chapter. So, for this story to make the most sense, please review prior chapters.
December 24, 1810
Four weeks passed since that fateful day.
Every couple of days, Noah would travel out to the Hartley farm (soon to be his farm!) and check on the farm. Then he would fuck the previous owner, Libby Hartley.
But a dark cloud swirled in his mind. He had not seen any of the Stewarts since that day -- the day he caught Abe Stewart fucking one his male slaves in the ass out in the barn. The Stewarts had been very quiet from town life and the community was talking.
On this day, he decided to stop at the Stewart farm before going to his future property. As he rode up the lane, the dutiful young slave Sarah came out to meet him. "Is Mister Stewart in?"
"I'm sorry sir, you just missed him. He has left for the day," spoke Sarah in her soft angelic voice. And yet, Noah knew she was lying. But he would take the opportunity to engage with her.
He dismounted his horse and moved closer to her. Closer than a gentleman would normally get to a slave that was not his, but maintaining a distance that nobody would question. "Sarah, I know you are lying. And I know he told you to lie." She averted her eyes, but said nothing. "Do you know what he was doing in the barn that night?" She nodded yes one time. "And he does that to you too, doesn't he?"
"No sir. I'm only 17." Noah's heart lept. She was still cherry.
"But he will, won't he. When do you turn 18?"
"Sir, I turn 18 on the first of May."
"Sarah, you run along and tell Mister Stewart that Dr. Hamilton came by. He was sorry to have missed him. You also tell him that Dr. Hamilton says, 'we need to talk'. Don't tell him anything else we spoke about."
Sarah turned and headed inside. Fear was in her chest and she headed up to Master Stewart's study. She found him at the window, he had seen their discussion. He turned to her and said, "Well?"
"Master, you had a visitor, but I sent him off like you instructed. Dr. Hamilton came calling and he gave me a message to give to you. He said, 'he was sorry to have missed you and we need to talk'."