CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
The home of Senor Lopez was large and, by the look of things, very expensive.
Like his father’s place, this one was built on just one level. Yet, there was quite a difference in size.
Pedro led the men into the main house by the front door. This was interesting, because servants usually used the kitchen. That had been Lane’s normal experience.
They went down a hallway and arrived at a closed door. It was made of solid wood. That was obvious, for it sounded solid at Pedro’s knock.
The voice on the inside was deep and spoke in clear Spanish.
Pedro informed the person on the other side of the door that Lane was present, and the voice inside invited Lane to enter.
Both he and ZIBA were ushered inside. Lane was surprised by the size of Senor Lopez. The man was head and shoulders above anyone else in the room.
“Welcome to my home.” Senor Lopez began what turned into a very interesting conversation.
Lane responded to the greeting. “Thank you for having us, but I’m not really certain why we have come.”
Senor Lopez smiled. He liked that Lane included his cousin in the conversation. “We’re here to talk business, Lane.” He paused. “I hope you don’t mind that I refer to you simply as Lane.”
Lane knew it strange that a Spanish man would speak so informally, but he chose to go with it. “I’m not offended. You’ve been very helpful to my family.”
That seemed to straighten Senor Lopez’s spine, for he seemed to grow taller. “I recognize your father, Lane.”
Panic suddenly surged through Lane’s system.
Senor Lopez saw the look on Lane’s face, but he spoke to set him at ease. “I don’t mean that I know your father, Lane. I’m saying that I used to be your father.”
Both Lane and ZIBA looked to Senor Lopez for further explanations, for his words made no sense to them.
“I’m saying, Lane, that I once lived as a salve.” Senor Lopez clarified.
There was now room to breathe. Lane knew there would not be a threat coming from Senor Lopez. “You say that you were once a slave. You’re free today?”
Senor Lopez smiled again. “Yes. It took money to set me free, but I am now a free man.”
ZIBA spoke up now. His Spanish wasn’t good, but he was following along. “Tell us how we can help!”
Senor Lopez pointed to the doorway. “Let’s take a walk.” He invited. “I want to show you something.”
They went back out into the hallway and noticed that Pedro was no longer in the area.
Senor Lopez continued to speak. “My family didn’t have a lot of money. My father sold me to pay off a debt, and I worked in the cane fields in Cuba.”
“You worked in the sugarcane fields?” Lane asked.
Senor Lopez nodded. “That’s right. And, that’s how I recognized your father. He moves like a man who has done heavy work.”
There was moving outside the house now, and they walked toward another building. It was something between a barn and a second house.
Entering this second building, Lane and ZIBA were confronted with a family of four, a father, his wife and two young sons.
“This is Jose.” Senor Lopez introduced the father to Lane and his cousin.
“He works for me, him and his wife Maria.”
Both Lane and ZIBA stepped forward to greet Jose. As was the custom in this new land, they extended their right hands to shake hands with the man.
Senor Lopez kept on talking. “I helped Jose nearly one year ago to part company with the man who used his strength to enrich himself.”
Jose smiled and added. “You are still helping me.”
“That’s right, Jose. We are friends.” Senor Lopez said this.
Lane looked Senor Lopez in the eyes. “I still don’t understand how I can be of service to you.”
Senor Lopez took out a cigar and offered one to Lane. Lane politely declined.
Senor Lopez offered on to ZIBA, but ZIBA explained that, though he appreciated the offer, it would be an offense against the Lord to pollute his body with smoking.
Senor Lopez smiled and put the cigar back into his pocket. “I guess I never really thought about it like that.” He looked at Lane and his cousin. “That’s why I like you people.”
Lane made one more attempt to bring the topic back to the reason he had been invited. “You said you had some kind of business idea?”
It was then that Senor Lopez explained it. He’d paid enough attention to Lane’s family, and of course to Captain Matthew, to realize that the Princess was still in their possession.
The Princess was a very quick moving boat.
For some years, Senor Lopez had done what he could to assist those ensnared by slavers. He’d purchased some, like in the case of Jose, and he’d given them honest work and the chance to earn a wage.
The idea being that men like Jose would eventually be able to stand on their own.
Senor Lopez was aware that the island between himself and Spain were littered with merchants guilty of slave trading. And, he wanted to put a stop to what he called the dishonest abuse of his fellow man.
“I’m not saying I’m against what you’re proposing.” Lane told Senor Lopez.
“But, I still don’t understand why I’m here on this particular day.”
“I want to hire you.” Senor Lopez explained.
Lane had been certain that this would be the answer, but he wanted more information. “Hire me to do what?”
“The Fabien is fine for making trips to the old country.” Senor Lopez told him. “But, she’s not fast enough to run, if there comes the need to move.”
ZIBA spoke now. “What you’re talking about sounds very dangerous.”
“Look!” Senor Lopez met the challenge in ZIBA’s voice. “I’m going to lay my cards on the table here. I will look after your families out of love. That’s a real promise. And, It doesn’t matter to me whether you’re too busy to help me out. What I need is somebody with a fast boat who’s willing to intervene from time to time.”
Lane was frank about it. “ZIBA’s right. This sounds dangerous. But, I’m going to pray about your offer, Senor Lopez. I will speak with you again on this matter.
Senor Lopez was very happy. “That’s another reason I decided to speak with you.”
Confused, Lane asked. “Another reason?”
Nodding, Senor Lopez explained. “I heard you praying one day . And ]though, I don’t understand your language, I did understand that you were talking to the Lord.”
“You have respect for the Lord?” ZIBA asked.
Both Jose and his wife joined Senor Lopez in nodding, but it was Senor Lopez talking. “We read your stories every day, the Bible I mean.”
That changed Lane’s estimation of the value of Senor Lopez and the man’s offer. “I will return after I’ve had the chance to speak with my crew, Senor Lopez. What you say is interesting. I’m going to ask the Lord about it, but I’m trusting He brought us together today.”
Lane and ZIBA saw some of the rest of Senor Lopez’s place. They met others, like Jose. Every person on the ranch claimed to work for Senor Lopez, there wasn’t anyone obviously enslaved to him.
They started back to Lane’s father’s place some time after dark. It wasn’t a very long walk.
“What do you think?” Lane asked ZIBA.
ZIBA didn’t need to be reminded about what Lane wanted his opinion about. “I think we ought to ask the Lord. It’s His world, and He knows what he wants us to do.”
Lane smiled. “You’re right. And, we need to speak with our families.” ZIBA stopped. “Can you hear that?”
A wolf howled in the distance.
“I wonder what he’s howling about?” ZIBA said.
Remembering their conversation over twenty years ago, Lane gave his cousin the same answer. “He’s praying to the Lord.”
ZIBA nodded. “I was thinking that, too. He’s giving the Lord thanks.”