Out line of Slave Girl- this is story of Hestie, from my novel Another Place Another Time.





At the age of six, Hestie is taken from her parents, Lorissa and Martin, and sold to Mister Richard as he playmate for his two daughters, Sophia and Saundra. Hestie's brother Abram, 12 is sold as well and works as a stable boy.





When the story opens, 8 years have passed. Hestie now 14, waits on the twins, doing their hair, helping them to dress, listening to them chatter. To them Hestie is no more than a servent, another possession along with the many others they have. Hestie hates being a slave to these two selfish and spoiled girls but sees no way out of this life. She tires to find happiness where she can.





Jo, one of the other stable boys and friend to Abram has begun to notice Hestie. And she, to her embaressment, has begun to notice him as well. With her older brother's blessing, as well as the masters, the two make plans to "jump the broom." The twins are furious. "How dare she find a husband before they do!"





When Hestie protest the unfair treatment of her brother, the master hits her in the mouth, knocking out two teeth.





Flu hits the plantation, many die including Abram. Before he dies Abram charges Jo with looking after his sister and threatens to haunt him if he doesn't. Hestie who is pregnant at the time, also comes down with the flu.





The flu takes the life of the Mistress. With medical bills pilling high and the deaths of his wife and six of his slaves, Mister Richard finds himself in near financial ruinon. He must sell off some of his slaves, Hestie's husband Jo, being one.





Hestie still sick with flu can not leave her bed. Jo tells her that they will meet again. Afterall, he'd made a promise to her brother.





With the help of Delilah, Hestie's mentor and friend, Hestie gives birth to a girl. Hestie names her Lorissa, after her mother. However the child only lives a few hours-too small- she dies in her mother's arms.





As soon as she well, Hestie is sold. She sobs in Delilah's arms. The older girl had taken Hestie under her wing nearly 10 years before when Hestie first arrived, a frightened little girl to the Green Hallow Plantation.





Hestie's new master, Mister Willard and his wife arrive to pick her up. She is to be a birthday suprise for their eldest daughter, Abigail. (This is where the story Another Place Another Time begins.)



At first Hestie thinks her new mistress will be just like the others. "Spoiled, high and mighty, too wrapped up in her self". Only caring about beautiful gowns, balls and catching a beau. Hestie soon discovers though that Abby is not like other white girls. She is kind, and treats Hestie like a person, not simply a servant.



When Hestie takes Abby's new brooch, "Just for awhile, to pretend..." Hestie is shocked when Abby doesn't have her whipped. A close and forbiden bond begins to form between the them.



At Abby's birthday celebration, Hestie hears one of the guest Christy Balis, humilate her mistress. Christy reminds Hestie of the Sophia and Saundra. Anger comes bubbleing up inside her. All the times those two got her into trouble, humilated her, treated her like she was nothing...without thinking about the costs, Hestie "trips" while carrying a full tray of cocktails, and ruins Christy Bailis' gown.



The old maturnly woman Adele, takes care of her in the sick house after the beating. Tells her it was a "mighty foolish thing to do." Chester who is there also agrees but admits, he wished he seen it-the "high and mighty white girl, brought down".



Hestie missus her husband Joe terribly, but doubts(to spite his promise) that she'll ever see him agian. Though a part of her feels guilty, she falls in love with Chester, the stable hand



Chester and other slave, Samual hear signals being passed from other plantation slaves. An escape is being origized-the underground RR. Chester tries to talk Hestie into going too. She wants to, but at the same time, the idea frightens her. Not only what would happen if they're caught, but what if they do make it to freedom? What would become of them, how would they live? Hestie hates being a slave, but she knows nothing else. She knows what to expect with her life as it is, the unknown of freedom frightens her.

When Chester is killed, Hestie is heart broken and feeling guilty at the same time. Maybe it would have gone differently if she had gone too. She wishes she hadn't been such a coward. Her distrusst of whites begins to grow again, it had begun to abade. She even begins to be distrustful of Abby."she's one of them afterall..."

When Chester treatens Abby with a gun, Hestie trys to reason with him. When that doesn't work she risks her life to russel it away from him. He runs to a north bound train. Hestie at first is tempted to follow. But again her fear of the unknown, and the better part of her nature...she cares for Abby's wound and gets her back home.

The bond between the two grows closer. Abby shows her graditude by teaching Hestie to read. The lessons stop however when Abby learns the danger she could be putting Hesite in. Hestie was able to learn a lot in a short time.

One night Abby is attacked by a suitor. Hestie hears her scream and comes to her aid. With strainght she didn't know she had, she raises the heavy cast iron skillet over her head and strikes the attacker, killing him.

Hestie is terrified, knowing she will be put to death. With Abby's and Aunt Catherine's help she is able to stay hidden until she can saftly run away. With a little money, food and careful direcitons, Hestie is able to make her way north. She finds different stations on the underground RR. It is not an easy jurney. In time she makes it to Canada and struggles to make a life for herself.

When she left Willow Glen, Abby gave her a picture of herself with the instructions to send it back when she made it. She does this at once. Abby also insists that Hestie take the brooch for luck. Hestie manages to keep it safe though almost lost it on a few occasions.

Almost right away she meets up with the overseer from her childhood. The one who carried her off to be sold and who killed her mother that day. At first she is filled with haterd towards him. But her heart softens when she hears his own tail. He left the plantation and works to help runaways.

Five years pass. Hestie works doing hair for rich ladies, making a small but liveable income. By chance she meets up with Joe, who also had escpaed via undergournd RR. They are married legaly in a small Negro church and Hestie feels a happiness, she had never felt before. Shortly after her marriage she gives birth to another baby girl. Hestie names the child Abigail, and declares that it would be a tradition, all frist born girls in her family will be called Abigail. Along with the name, the brooch also gets handed down through the generations.