“That was all a show to fool the fuckers who had you, Jack.” I’m surprised by the sudden burst of anger and hatred coming from him. “No one has the right to keep another human being as a slave. It’s wrong!” He shakes his head and gets up so fast that the chair skids over the floor. “Fuckers, the whole lot of them!” He walks to the door, leaving Miss Ella with two plates of pancakes. He looks to Sophia and his voice is tight when he says, “Stay with Miss Ella.” Then he looks to me. “Come, Jack.”
My heart falls to my stomach and it makes the pancakes churn in my stomach. I get up and follow him out the door. The further we walk away from the house the heavier my heart feels.
We cross some sort of bridge, wide and strong enough for a car to drive over. It’s beautiful out here and even my fear can’t keep me from seeing it.
Master Ryland swerves off to the right and I follow him into a small clearing. On the one side are old trees, reaching high into the skies, and on the other side is the river. I lose my breath from all the beauty around me.
“This is the chapel, at least that’s what we call it.” Adam stops and stands a distance from the small structure.
I move closer, looking at the bricks and the two small benches. It’s currently shaded by the trees, but as the day grows old it will receive sun. The bougainvillea they brought this morning would do great here. It can crawl up the back of the brick wall.
“If you need to get some of your supplies here, just let me know and I’ll help you drive it down. It’s too far to walk up and down with everything.”
I’m really confused. I stare at Adam, not sure what to make of his kind gesture. He must read my mind because he looks right at me and says, “You’re safe here, Jack. River and I will make sure nothing happens to you.”
He doesn’t want sex from me? River doesn’t want sex from me? Could they really be that good?
~*~
Chapter Ten
River~
I’ve been keeping an eye on Jack from a safe distance. He’s been working non-stop. Miss Ella now has pretty flowers right outside her kitchen, and she’s so delighted with them.
Jack also made a nice garden with sturdy shrubs out front. I was worried when I couldn’t find him this morning until I saw him and Adam drive off in the direction of the river. Knowing he was safe with Adam, I go to the office to do the books for the plantation. We treat the plantation as a business and that means someone has to do the boring job of keeping track of all the funds. That someone, is of course me.
I work until the sun hangs low and the shadows stretch far into the office. My back feels stiff from hunching over the computer. I switch it all off and then stretch my body, trying to rid it of all the knots. Rubbing the back of my neck, I look out of the window and see Adam and Sophia walking in the direction of the wetlands.
I walk to the kitchen and quickly have a glass of water, before heading outside. I wander in the direction I last saw Jack heading in. When I reach the river, I wonder where he could be. I stand and listen to the water rushing over the rocks, the sound calming my insides.
When I turn to leave, I spot movement by the chapel. I walk through the clearing and then see Jack’s head pop up from behind the chapel wall. On my side of the wall, he’s already made a garden. I slowly walk around the chapel and then smile. He has clay pots littering the sides of the chapel, all different sizes. A few have tiny trees in them. Jack is rubbing his one bicep while he stares at the pots.
“You’ve been busy,” I say softly, not wanting to scare him.
His head snaps up and he takes a step back.
I take a step closer and point to the empty pots. “What are you going to do with those?”
He looks back at them, a perplexed look clouding his features. “I want to fill them with bonsai trees. The shade will be good for them.”
“Bonsai?” I lift an eyebrow in surprise. “You like bonsai trees?”
“Yes, Mistress.”
I sigh heavily and then with all the patience in the world, I say, “River. Say my name, Jack.”
He frowns and then whispers, “River.”
I point to the river to the left of us. “Just like that, Jack. You call the water a river and that’s my name too. You won’t call the water mistress so please don’t call me mistress.”
His green eyes are intense and I know he’s trying to get a read on me.
“Why don’t you make a list of the bonsai you’d like and the tools you need and I’ll send one of the men to get it for you tomorrow.”
His mouth drops open and for a moment he’s stunned, but then he frowns again. “I can’t make a list.”
I take another step closer to him, hoping he’ll get used to being around me. “Why not?”
For the first time color tinges his cheeks and then he whispers, “I can’t write.”
For a moment I’m shocked at what Jack just told me, but I recover quickly, not wanting to make him feel self-conscious. “And read?”
He shakes his head. “No.”
“Would you like to learn?” I pray he says yes. It’s something I can help him with, something that might help us bond.
He stares at me intently and then whispers, “I would.”
“We can start tomorrow but for now you can just tell me what you want and I’ll make the list for you.”
“Thank you,” the words burst from his lips and for the first time ever he takes a step closer to me out of his own free will. “Thank you for being kind.”
“It’s only my pleasure, Jack.” Not wanting to push him too much I start to walk away. “I’ll get the list from you over dinner. Don’t stay out here too late.”
I can feel his eyes follow me for quite some distance. I’m going to win Jack’s trust. I’m going to show him that there is good in this world.
~*~
I’m itching to go see what Jack did with the new supplies Colby and Ian went to get him this morning. I hope they got everything he asked for.
Last night at dinner I asked Jack if he would meet me in the kitchen an hour before dinner. I know Miss Ella and Sophia will be busy cooking then. I’m hoping that their presence will help make him feel safe while I teach him to write and read.
I’ve just poured two glasses of lemonade when Jack comes in. He’s filthy from head to toe and I can’t help but laugh. He looks like a little boy who’s been playing in the dirt all day long. “Go shower and then meet me here, Jack.”
I’ve printed a list of flowers from the internet. I place the sheet and some paper, and a pen on the corner of the table Miss Ella said we can use.
When Jack comes back his dark hair is shining and all the traces of dirt have been washed away. “Come sit next to me, Jack.”
He takes a seat but moves it a few inches away from me.
I place the sheet with names and flower pictures closer to him, and his eyes instantly go to the pretty picture of a shooting star. “I’ve gotten a list of flowers for you to start with, seeing as you love them so much.” I point to the shooting star and say, “That is a shooting star, Jack.”
I pick up the pen and scoot closer to his right hand but then I stop and ask, “Which hand is your stronger hand?”
He holds up his left hand and I get up. I lean over his left shoulder and feel his body stiffen. I take hold of his left hand and position the pen between his fingers. Guiding the tip of the pen to a blank sheet of paper, I help Jack write wobbly words. His hand is shaking lightly beneath mine.
I take a seat to his left and pick up another pen. With my right hand I write as neatly as I can. I spell the words shooting star out as I write them down.
When I look up there’s a frown marring Jack’s face. “Why do you use your right hand, but I use my left?”
“Not everybody writes with the same hand. Some are left-handed and some are right-handed.”
I place my sheet of paper in front of Jack and point to the words. “Try to copy my letters.”