The voice belonged to Joaquim Lacerda, owner of Quinta de Santo António, an average-sized coffee farm of 320 hectares, with around eighty forced laborers.
Joaquim was just over fifty years old. His hair was gray, his beard well-groomed, and his clothes simple but clean. He was neither rich nor powerful. He was a man who lived in debt and calculated every expense, every harvest, every possible loss.
The other buyers laughed. Seven cents for that woman they considered useless. In their opinion, Joaquim was losing his mind.
The auctioneer, relieved not to have to return the merchandise, intervened. Benedita was sold.
Joaquim climbed onto the platform, removed the chain from his ankle, and led her away. She followed him without saying a word, her expression impassive.
They walked three kilometers to the farm. Joaquim arrived riding his old brown horse. Benedita followed him on foot, chained, her feet bleeding from the dirt path.
When they arrived, the sun was setting. The sky was tinged with orange and purple. Joaquim dismounted his horse, tied it up, and then led Benedita straight to the stable.
An Unexpected Proposal
The barn was a wooden building where tools, sacks of coffee, and some animals were kept. Joaquim closed the door, lit a kerosene lamp, and then sat down on a stool.
He watched Benedita for a long time before asking her a simple question:
“Can you read?”
She didn’t answer.
He tried again:
“Can you fight?”
This time something flickered in her eyes. Almost imperceptible, but enough for Joaquim to notice.
He went to get a large hunting blade, held it by the metal part, and extended the handle toward her. Benedita didn’t take it. She eyed him suspiciously.
Then Joachim laid his sword on the ground between them and took a step back.
He explained that he didn’t want to hurt her or send her to the countryside. He had another plan, but he needed her to trust him a little, at least for that night.
Then he told her his story. Ten years earlier, he had had an only son, Vincent, a clever and brave boy. One day, on their way back from the city, they were attacked by bandits. Vincent tried to defend his father and was stabbed in the chest. He died in Joachim’s arms.
