Grace followed suit. “I do not wish to disrespect a woman of your experience and status as a mambo. However, you tell me nothing specific. How can I credit what you say as truth when your words lack substance?”
The mambo sighed. “I see you will not believe me now. I will speak of it no more. However, I must give you this.” She fished in a pocket and revealed a white velvet pouch, tied with string of woven black and red strands. She opened it, removing a folded red tissuepaper from inside before offering both pouch and paper to Grace. “This is for you, so you must be the one to open it.”
She reached for the objects.
“Handle everything with great care.”
Grace set the pouch to one side and centered the paper in front of her, then opened the folds. Nestled inside lay an amulet. She gently lifted the chain of tiny black seed pearls. At the bottom of the chain dangled an intricately carved octagon of black coral. Eight tridents were engraved in the coral, all crossing in the center. Some sort of red dye or paint colored the engravings. The four cardinal tridents were larger, with the ordinals slightly smaller. Three dots decorated the edge of the octagon above the cardinal tridents. Between each of the eight shafts was a shape vaguely like a barbell. None of the hazy shapes touched. In the center, where the eight shafts intersected, a small faceted red stone gleamed. On the paper beside the amulet lay a bracelet size chain of tiny gold links. A lone ornament—a small gold cylinder with miniscule latch—dangled from the chain.
Leaving the amulet alone, Grace lifted the cylinder and chain. She unhooked the latch. Inside lay several small, inscribed gold leaf sheets. She moved to take one of the sheets, and the mambo’s hand shot out to grasp her wrist.
“Not now. Read those only when you use the amulet.”
“Very well.” Grace closed and latched the cylinder, placing it on the paper. Next, she held the amulet up to the light. “It’s beautiful. Thank you.” She returned the amulet to its original position, then folded the paper around both pieces. With all restored to order, she pushed the paper and pouch back to the older woman. “I cannot accept such a valuable gift.”
“Once given, I cannot take it back.” Mambo Ayezan shoved the pouch and paper forcefully at Grace. “Ungrateful girl. Would you anger the Loa by refusing their gift?”
She reared back. “I am not ungrateful, and I apologize. I meant no offense.”
“If you truly mean no offense, then accept the gift.” The mambo lifted her chin.
“Thank you.” Grace carefully put the wrapped amulet into the pouch then placed the pouch in her pocket. “You are welcome.”Mambo Ayezan smiled. “This is a very powerful charm. The symbol belongs to Loa Eshu. Eshu will protect the wearer from harm. But you must not wear the amulet all the time. Eshu is very busy and does not like to be called on for no reason. Wear it only when you need it most. When you do, wrap a sweet in the red paper and leave it for Eshu. The cylinder on the gold chain contains instructions that explain how to empower the amulet and harness Loa Eshu’s good magic to your needs.”
“If I ever believe I have need, I will do as you have said,” Grace said, trying not to scoff—or lie.
My rifle is all the protection I need. However, she saw no harm in accepting the object to keep an old woman happy. Her intent was benign, and rather sweet.
“Good, good,” Mambo Ayezan leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes.
“Mambo?”
Only silence met her question. A second slightly louder query received a snuffling snore in response.
Uneasy, and uncertain, Grace left her guest asleep in the kitchen. Morning would come soon enough. When Taddy brought the delivery, Mambo Ayezan could leave with him. Grace’d ensure the old woman had enough money to hire transport from Duval Point to New Orleans. She left the kitchen by the servants’ stair. The dogs padded after her, slipping into the stairway before she could lock the door.
Placing a fist on each hip, she stared at them. They stared right back.
“What am I supposed to do with you?”
The pup with the white ear whined. His companion cocked its head.
Grace sighed. “Fine, you can come up with me, but you sleep on the floor.”
She locked the door to the kitchen and started up the stairs once more, the dogs in tow. Once in the hall, she secured the second level stairway door, before heading to bed. In her room the dogs settled in front of the closed door. she placed the amulet and pouch inside hersilver keepsake box, then wound the mechanism. She climbed into bed and closed her eyes.
I wonder what Luc would make of Mambo Ayezan. On that thought, Grace drifted off to sleep.
Chapter Eight
December 04, 1911, Waxing Gibbous Moon
Sweet Dreams Plantation House
When Grace woke the next morning, Mambo Ayezan was gone, but the dogs remained. “I hope that old lady doesn’t exhaust herself, going home,” she said aloud, as she fed the dogs and gave them water.
On the other side of the kitchen, the black cat nibbled at the saucer of crawfish she’d set under the tall cast iron stove where the dogs couldn’t get at it. Given how hesitant the little beast had been so far, she’d been rather surprised to find her still in the house. Back in Boston, Grace had felt like the cat, cornered and too frightened to seek help.
Shoving bad memories aside, she let routine tasks soothe her. Grace fed the horses, then hobbled them near grass so they could graze. She was washing up the last of the breakfast dishes, when the dogs barked, rushing to the door. As she followed, she heard the jingle of wagon harness. Her deliveries had arrived.
