~*~
Chapter Seven
Jack~
Every part of my body throbs with an aching pain. It hurts so much that I can’t sleep. I don’t dare put on any of the clothes Master and Mistress Ryland brought earlier in the evening, it will hurt my raw skin too much.
Sophia managed to put on a light dress. She’s currently sitting on the side of the bed, staring at me. She tilts her head, thinking hard on something.
Growing up with Sophia, I know everything about her. I know she’s lost much more of herself over the years than I have, and that’s saying a lot, seeing as there’s nothing left of me.
I wait, knowing she’s about to speak her mind.
She brings her feet up onto the mattress and folds her arms around her shins, resting her chin on her knees. She keeps her eyes on something outside the window, when she says, “It feels different here. Master and Mistress Ryland seem nice.” She looks at me and smiles. I don’t know how she manages to smile. I just want to die! “I think we’ll be happy here.”
I turn my back to her and grumble, “In order to be happy I actually have to care about life.” I’m done caring. I cared about David and those feeling were used to control me. Caring for someone only makes you vulnerable. I’ll never place myself in such a position again.
I hear someone come into the room and I don’t even bother to see who it is. Something is placed on the table between the two beds and then a soft voice says, “What’s this I hear of you wasting my soup, Son.”
I glance over my shoulder, but the movement only causes me pain. I watch as an elderly lady pulls a chair closer to the bed I’m on.
“My mama always said; waste not, want not,” she goes on talking. Her eyes are a vibrant blue and her hair grey with a purple tinge to it. “Now I’ve brought you another bowl of soup and you’ll eat every last drop. I’ve also brought you some pills for the pain.”
The painkillers get my attention. I struggle into a sitting position, my eyes never leaving the woman. Trust no one and expect anything.
“I’m Miss Ella and that’s what you’ll call me. Don’t even try to call me Miss E, I’m nobody’s missy. My mama gave me the name Ella and I expect you to use it.” She scoops a bit of soup up and then blows on the broth before she brings it to my lips. The action reminds me of Momma. She used to do that too, so I wouldn’t burn my mouth.
I take a few bites before Miss Ella asks, “What’s your name, Son?”
I don’t answer her. I don’t want to be here and I don’t want to get friendly with anyone.
Sophia clears her throat, “His name is Jack.”
Miss Ella smiles at Sophia. “Thank you, dear, and you are?”
“I’m Sophia.”
Miss Ella feeds me until the bowl is empty and my stomach full. I want to cry with relief when she places the painkillers in my mouth. I quickly swallow them down with some water.
“My room is the one right by the stairs. If the pain gets to be too much come wake me.” She gathers the dishes and then gives me and Sophia each a pointed look. “You need to eat all your food so your bodies can heal. There’s a lot of work to be done. Everyone works here to earn their keep.” An icy ripple spreads down my spine. Miss Ella looks at Sophia. “As soon as you’re up to it you can help me in the kitchen.” And then she looks at me. “River says you’ve been born with a green thumb. That’s a good thing because no one around here likes to garden, and I’m too old to be playing with flowers. We can do with some color around here, so as soon as you’re better you can fix the gardens up nicely.”
She looks pleased with herself. “Now get a good night’s rest and I’ll see you in the morning.”
I can go on gardening here? Miss Ella said nothing about sex. Come to think of it neither did Mistress and Master Ryland. That doesn’t mean anything! As soon as we’re better they’ll put us to work. After all, Miss Ella said we have to earn our keep.
I wake up in the dead of the night, my body and sheets soaked with sweat. The pain is like a fire, devouring every inch of me. The pain eats at me and I can’t keep the whimper in, “Sophia.” She doesn’t stir and I call a little louder, “Sophia.”
The light flashes on and I blink so my eyes can adjust to the sudden light. Mistress Ryland comes to the bed, a look of concern clouding her face. She’s still dressed in the shorts and shirt from earlier, her clothes now creased. I’ve never seen a Mistress who cared so little about her appearance. She’s not even wearing make up!
A flash of hot pain tears through my legs, bringing hopeless tears to my eyes.
“Do you need something, Jack?” she whispers. Her cool hand rests on my forehead for a few seconds.
“Painkillers,” I groan so softly I can hardly hear myself.
She pours some water into a glass and takes two pills out of a box. She places the pills in my mouth and then holds the glass to my lips so I can drink. I take a few sips. The pain is making me hot and thirsty.
Mistress Ryland rinses a cloth in a bucket and then presses it to my forehead, and then my cheeks and neck. I notice that she works gently as she wipes my body down. The cloth is nice and cool, and together with the painkillers it eases the relentless pain until I drift off to sleep.
~*~
Chapter Eight
River~
It’s been five days since Jack and Sophia were brought here. Sophia started helping in the kitchen yesterday. She’s healing nicely. She seems to have taken a liking to Miss Ella and I’m grateful for that.
A lot of the people we rescue cling to Miss Ella. They see her as a mother figure. She plays a big part in their recovery.
Jack should be up and about soon. He’s eating on his own and last night he slept right through, without having to wake for painkillers.
I walk to the kitchen and find Sophia busy peeling potatoes. “If you’re not careful Miss Ella will have you only peeling potatoes. She hates to do that.”
Sophia smiles her brilliant smile. Even with all the welts and wounds she’s still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. “I don’t mind,” she says softly.
“Hush, child,” Miss Ella says. “You know my old hands don’t want to peel and grate anything anymore.”
I laugh, always trying to get a rise out of Miss Ella. She’s so easy to tease.
“Actually,” I say, walking over to Sophia, “I wanted to steal Sophia for an hour. I think it’s time she meets everyone.”
“You can have her for an hour, but bring her back so she can finish helping me.”
I take Sophia’s hand and pull her behind me. “Thanks, Miss Ella.”
We slip out the back door and walk in the direction of the farmland. “We farm our own vegetables and fruits here,” I start to explain to Sophia. “We have some cattle and fowl, as well, but that falls under Tristan and Miss Ella.”
We approach a group of girls and they all smile when they spot us. Diane is still careful around us all. She was the last slave we saved. She’s only eighteen and her life has already been so hard. I don’t blame her for being careful. The other girls, Lizzie, Varsha, Jane and Kgomotso have all settled in. They work the piece of land we grow our vegetables on.
“Girls,” I greet them with a smile, “this is Sophia. Please make her feel at home.”
Varsha has a bubbly personality and she’s the first to step forward. She’s gentle as she hugs Sophia. “You’re going to be so happy here!” Varsha has been with us for seven years. She was taken as a child. We think she’s from the middle east. Most of the people come here with only their names, no past and no family.
Kgomotso is next. She’s an African beauty. She also hugs Sophia. “Welcome.” She’s not one to talk much, but when she does have something to say she doesn’t hold back.