There were still traces in the city that showed evidence that it had burned up in 1901. However, it had gotten back on its feet and the people had returned and it was once again thriving. As they road along in their buckboard Miriam explained to Beatrice and Wysteria that after the fire the residents had all gone down to the riverside and swam. They had little else to do having lost everything.

"We saw the smoke from Old Town," Miriam said as the horse and buggy moved up the street. "Even folks and Georgia and Miami claimed to have seen the glow. It was so big it looked like the sun was rising again. The streets were filled with chaos and people pulled guns on folks fleeing in wagons and demanded they take them and their stuff."

"What madness," Wysteria said, holding tightly to the reins.

"What surprises me is that only about seven or so people died," Miriam said. "Mostly because they didn't want to leave their homes or their things."

"I would be sad over my home but what is it if I'm dead?" Wysteria said. "It is a shame they had to die." She looked over her shoulder into the wagon bed. "How are you doing back there, Beatrice?"

Beatrice tilted back her head and looked from under her wide brimmed hat. "I can feel every bump," she said. "And this table keeps sliding. It better not get scratched."

"How much to you think it well fetch at auction?" Wysteria asked.

"I'll be satisfied with three fifty," Beatrice said.

"Listen at yourself," Wysteria said. "Three dollars and fifty cents, the nerve of you, Beatrice you should be pleased with one."

"If they find out you're colored they are likely to start the bidding at half a penny," Miriam said.

"You two don't know art when you see it." Beatrice said. "This is black wood with floral inlays. I spent over a week getting the surface smooth and even longer on the polish." She hugged the table's leg. "It's a masterpiece!"

Miriam snickered. "When is the wedding, Beatrice I didn't get an invitation."

Beatrice narrowed her eyes as Miriam and Wysteria laughed. "Mock me as you please but I'm going to sell furniture across the world one day and you two can spend your old age rocking in chairs made by my company."

Wysteria and Miriam burst with laughter.

"Oh look!" Beatrice said standing in the wagon bed and pointing. "That must be where the auction is going to take place."

"Look at all of those people," Wysteria said pulling the reins and stopping the horse outside the park. "Are you sure you feel up to this, Beatrice we could just sell your table."

"But I want to see their faces when they reveal it," Beatrice said. "I want to know how many people will want it." She jumped down from the wagon. "I'm already signed up; I just need to get the table behind those curtains there."

"Beatrice, someone will see us!" Wysteria said judging the distance between them and the stage. Men and women strolled the park as children ran about challenging each other in various games. Carriages and their horses were parked in four rows and people sat in some of them having lunch and gossiping.

"I have everything under control," Beatrice said. "I signed up only using my last name and told the man in charge that I'd be delivering the item for Mr. Winters who has been ill all spring."

"Beatrice, God will punish you for lying," Wysteria said.

"Well I can't help that I live in a world where my skin color makes me disenfranchised," Beatrice said untying the table legs. "We have to do what we can to have an equal chance. Both of you should know that." When she looked over her shoulder she saw a man in a hat coming their way.

Miriam nearly fell out of the wagon when she recognized him. They were had. "Mr. Christenson's son. Beatrice, Mr. Christenson's son is in charge of the auction?"

Beatrice shrugged. "How was I supposed to know what he looked like?"

Miriam wanted to grab the reins from Wysteria and send the horse galloping but that would leave Beatrice behind and she was no good at driving.

"Afternoon," Charles greeted. "You girls here to watch the auction?"

Miriam slowly turned to face him and recognition flickered in his blue eyes. "Afternoon, Mr. Christenson, sir," she said. "Lovely day."

"Perfect day for an auction," Mr. Christenson said. "The rain earlier this week had me a bit worried but the ground is dry enough and as you can see we've had quite the turn out." He looked down at the list in his hand. His eyes went to Beatrice then back to Miriam. "So, ya'll dropping this off for Mr. Winter's are you?" He stepped forward and pulled the cover from the table. His lips perked and he whistled. "She's a beauty."

Beatrice held her head up proudly until he looked at her. "Nicely done, where did...Mr. Winters get it?"

"Uh," was all that came out of Beatrice's mouth when she opened it.

"From a very talented carpenter," Miriam said. "Do you think it will do well in the auction?"

Mr. Christenson nodded. "So long as the carpenter doesn't cause a scene I don't see a reason why not." he said eyeing Beatrice. He looked back down at his list. "And he and those with him should know that word shouldn't get out about this for I will not help them if there is trouble." He looked up. "Am I understood girls?"

"Yes sir, Mr. Christenson," Miriam said. "Thank you for your help, sir."

Mr. Christenson nodded. "Just leave the wagon here and I'll have someone along to collect your piece. I suggest you watch from the back row when it starts." He turned away tipping his hat to two passing women who flirted with sweet smiles.

"That was close," Miriam said jumping down from the wagon. "Beatrice, I could throw you in the lake. Young Mr. Christenson never does favors. He just let us off the hook because of his father is fond of my own."

"How was I supposed to know?" Beatrice said. "He didn't act that suspicious when I signed up."

Wysteria climbed down and joined them. "Maybe he recognizes real talent," she suggested. "He and his mother can't get enough of Ottaline's pies."

"Maybe," Miriam said glancing back at the man now talking with two others. "Come on, we still have an hour before the auction starts and I could use something to eat."

"I saw a little place not far from the park," Beatrice said as they walked away. "And maybe we'll have time to see the alligators too." She flipped her un-kept hair and walked off proud of her accomplishment.

/

When Beatrice, Miriam and Wysteria got back from lunch they found their buggy. A boy was going around asking people if he could water their horses and Miriam made a point to avoid him wondering if he had scooped the water from the algae covered alligator pond in the park.

When they reached their buggy they were surprised to see Young Mr. Christenson standing beside the horse.

"There you are," he said. "The auction starts in fifteen minutes; I thought you weren't coming back."

Beatrice was still chewing on a chicken bone and tossed it as she finished then popped some popcorn in her mouth.

"How might we help you sir?" Miriam asked.

Young Mr. Christenson lit a cigarette. "I have a proposition for you," he said then took a long drag. "I want to buy that table off of you outright." He went on quickly before they could speak. "Now I've withheld it from the auction and at your word I can put it in but I'm willing to pay a good price for it." He searched their faces. "Ya'll know I'm getting married shortly. Your sister Selene is making a dress for my wife and we will need furniture for our new home here in the city."

Beatrice nodded. "How much are you willing to pay, sir?"

Young Mr. Christenson removed the cigarette from between his lips. "Five dollars."

Beatrice felt her heart skip. That was far more than she was hoping. "I don't know sir..."

"Six dollars." Mr. Christenson said.

Beatrice mouth fell open and she turned to her sisters.

Miriam had to step forward. "Could you give her time to think about it, sir?" she implored him. "You might have noticed this is coming as a shock."

Young Mr. Christenson nodded. "Very well," he said. "I'll put it last in the auction, which should give you enough time." He checked his pocket watch. "I'd better get ready. You gals remember what I said about watching the auction." He turned around leaving smoke rings behind him.

Miriam and Wysteria turned to Beatrice.

"I'll need time to think about this..."

"Beatrice!" Miriam snapped.

"I meant that as a joke," she said. "Six dollars!" she spun. "Can you believe it? And you thought three was haughty." She pushed back her wild hair. "I think I'm going to do it!"

"The auction or sell outright to Mr. Christenson?" Wysteria asked.

"I'm going to sell to Mr. Christenson," Beatrice said. "Though I did want to see everyone's reactions."

"This child has lost her mind," Miriam said. "I'm going to find Mr. Christenson right now and tell him what you've decided." she lifted her skirts slightly so not to let them drag in the dust then she went into the grassy park.

Miriam finally located Young Mr. Christenson behind the stage talking with two other men around his age. All three were well dressed and the other two were smoking cigars. Some people passed in front of them as she approached and she detoured to the side.

"Do you stop by them, Charles?" one of the men asked.

Charles Christenson waved his hand. "The closest I get to Old Town is through Bessie and that new dress she's having made for our honeymoon. I would have picked a white woman but Fairchild's daughter is a good seamstress. She's the one they've been going on about along with Jethro St. Cloud."

Miriam paused as the men began to laugh.

"I always knew Jethro was an odd one ever since we were little," he said. "Ma didn't let us play with the Johnston boys and Jethro got sick so easily so we never had reason to go to Old Town either."

"I hear it's thriving now," the third man said. "How is it, Charles?"

Charles scoffed. "Like I said, I have no reason to go over there. I just wish Bessie would hurry and get this dress done. Fairchild's girl is even gossip among our maids. I have half the mind to refuse paying her when they work is finished."

Miriam didn't hear anymore. She had already started away and the voice of the auctioneer was now sounding loudly from the podium. When she reached Wysteria and Beatrice they immediately sensed something wrong.

"That no good mule!"

"What happened? "Wysteria asked.

Miriam took a deep breath. "Mr. Christenson is yonder gossiping about Selene and Jethro!" Miriam said trying to calm her fury. "How dare he just spread lies about her like that? He was just going on and on not caring an ounce for her reputation, he and those swine with him."

"Miriam, I've been thinking anyways," Wysteria said. "Your father said to avoid people who are spoiled. Maybe it's not right to accept such a favor from Younger Mr. Christenson."

Miriam presently nodded. "You're right. I don't know why I'm so surprised. It just infuriated me!" She turned to Beatrice. "How do you feel about this?"

"I did work so hard on that table."

"Do you still want him to buy your table after he said those things?" Wysteria asked.

Beatrice tossed her hair and held up her chin. "Wysteria, do let me make my own choices. I worked very hard on that table and now I shall speak with Mr. Christenson myself." She marched off in the direction that Miriam had come from and it didn't take her long to locate Charles Christenson seated at his table talking merrily about the fine items they had up for auction that year. She stopped short and fixed her hat. Clearing her voice she moved forward again at a more ladylike pace.

Charles looked up at her as she approached the table and smiled. "So, do we have a deal?"

"I would like to withdraw my table from the auction," Beatrice said Charles Christenson smiled brighter.

"I am glad."

"And neither will I sell it to you," Beatrice said.

Charles's smile fell. "Excuse me?"

"I will not be selling my table to you, sir." Beatrice said glancing quickly at the man next to them who was too busy flapping his jowls to notice anything amiss.

Charles scoffed and shook his head at her. "You do know, gal, that I can report you for entering."

Beatrice lowered her voice. "Yes, sir," she whispered. "But wouldn't this wonderful auction be a lot gayer if you just gave Mr. Winter's back his table." She turned around and smiled at the children playing, the women strolling and the men catching up on old times. She turned back to Charles who had been watching the same things.

Charles glared at her and followed her eyes to the men seated with him. He didn't want to cause a row. He leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. "Take your table and don't come back here again."

Beatrice smiled and turned away adding an extra dash of confidence in her steps. With help from a graying man she got the table back to the buggy and the sisters got on the way.

"Beatrice that was really brave!" Wysteria said. "I would have never had the gumption.

Beatrice rode once again in the wagon bed, having crawled beneath her table to keep out of the blazing sun. "I'm still thinking about that money," she admitted. "But then I think about Selene and how much I care for her and all of you." She crawled from beneath the table and knelt in the wagon. "I can't for a minute see giving something so beautiful to a man who speaks so vulgarly of the ones I love." She draped her arms over Wysteria and Miriam. "I love ya'll so much!"

"Beatrice I'm trying to drive." Wysteria protested which prompted Beatrice to hug her even more.