But decency within slavery is a narrow and fragile claim.
Three years earlier, his wife Catherine had died of fever. They had two children: Richard, twenty, studying law in Richmond, and Margaret, seventeen, preparing for marriage to a neighboring planter’s son. Riverside Plantation ran smoothly enough, but Thomas lived with a quiet loneliness he never admitted aloud.
When he traveled to Richmond for the monthly slave auction, he did not intend to buy anyone. His workforce was sufficient. His finances were stable.
Then she was brought onto the platform.
The Auction
Her name was Sarah.
She appeared to be nineteen or twenty, striking in appearance, with light skin that caused murmurs in the crowd. Some whispered she might be one-eighth Black. She held her head high — too high for the expectations of submission placed upon enslaved women. There was defiance in her posture.
The auctioneer warned buyers that she was trouble.
“She’s been sold three times in two years. Won’t breed. Fights other slaves. Sharp tongue. Needs a firm hand.”
But he also made clear that her beauty and intelligence made her valuable.
The bidding began at $300.
It climbed quickly.
Thomas found himself raising his hand, competing with several other buyers. He told himself it was practical. Perhaps she could serve in the house. Perhaps she could be a suitable companion for Margaret. Perhaps she might even be a gift for Richard when he returned from his studies.
He would not admit to himself that loneliness also played a role.
He won at $750 — nearly one-third of his annual profit.
As he signed the bill of sale, Sarah lifted her eyes to meet his. She did not look afraid.
She looked as though she had been waiting.
The Journey Home
The wagon ride back to Caroline County took most of the day. Sarah sat bound in the wagon bed while Thomas attempted conversation.
He asked about her previous owners. Her skills. Her background.
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