Hidden

Responsible

Rose carried a tray of food to the dining table where her parents and sibling sat. Now they had three square meals and used to have meat once a week but they had meat everyday now courtesy of Tom.

Tom and Rose were now so much in love with each other and had various love nests in the farm. They loved the vegetable farm where the plants were so beautiful and low and well planned irrigation channels, making the place green and watery.

But they made the relationship secret even though there her mother was suspicious. She went out every evening, around 4:00PM and would come back by 7:00PM. She would come back with meat, fruits, cookies, and snacks.

The mother asked her how she got them, she said she had a boyfriend but she never disclosed his identity.

“She is an adult.” Stephen would say. “Whoever she is seeing is definitely responsible.”

“Your definition of responsible is having money and giving her gifts.”

“That shows that a man can take care of our daughter.”

“You don’t care about etiquettes, do you?”

“What is morality without money? You have all the good ethics in the world and you are plunged in abject poverty, what good is your ethic? It may show that God does not like you but anyone that is rich is loved by God.”

She pouted.

“In that case, think about what you did to God because by your perspective, god does not like you”

“No Martha. God loves me and I realized that since the day he gave Rose to me. Can’t you see what she brings every day? We are the only family, apart from the rich that eat meat frequently. She brought one thousand [pounds last week which we will add to our saving. That is indirect love from God.”

She knew how much her husband loved money so she did not bother to keep arguing with him.

Rose dropped the tray containing beef soup and they began to enjoy the meal. It was while they were eating they heard sounds of horses.

It was on a Sunday and they usually did not go to work. They attended the church service and after the service, they would enjoy lunch as they were doing now.

“What is going on?” Stephen asked.

Abel got up and peeped though the window.

“Oh my God!” He exclaimed. “Father, it is the cart I told you about the other day. The most beautiful cart in the world.”

They all went to peep and saw Wellington’s cart, with three other carts and over ten horses and twenty guards, all armed to teeth.

“You only motioned the cart.” Rose said. “We have an army here. What is going on?”

They saw the guards come to stand by the sides of the car as Wellington came out swaggeringly, elegantly dressed. He nodded and some of the guards began to offload some items and began to move them to Stephen’s cabin. The other families were also watching through their windows.

“Martha” Stephen called. “Do you know who that man is?”

“No but I guess he is responsible.” She replied

“Yes my love. That is one of the most responsible men on earth.”

“Who father?” Marcus asked.

“That is Sir Wellington of Dransvalle.”

“You mean the richest man in Europe?” Martha asked.

“Yes and they are bringing those things right here. What is going on?” Abel asked.

“Go and clear the tables. He is coming here. Oh my God! He is coming to my house! Sir Wellington is coming to my house.”

Rose, Abel and Marcus quickly moved to the table and started clearing the empty and half finished plates. They were in the middle of the meal when they heard the movements.

One of the guards knocked at the door and before he could knock again, the door swung open and Stephen stood with a wide grin.

“Good afternoon, sire. His greatness, Sir Wellington himself is here to see you.” The guard said ceremoniously while Wellington stood majestically behind.

“It is a great honor to have you here sire.” Stephen said, his grin as wide as the ocean, and he came out, bowed and extended his hand.

Wellington shook the hand. Stephen felt the soft palm which was not used to hard labor.

“Thank you for having me in your house.” Wellington said with a smile. “I have a little present for you. May my servants take them in?”

“Yes ,sire. They can take it anywhere in the house they feel is suitable. Let me call my children to help.”

“No, mr….”

“Stephen Jacobs, the son of Jacob Ricaba, the son Ricaba Twain of Yorkshire.”

Wellington saw that he was not going to have problem with this man who looked so avaricious. The guards began to move the goods inside. They were clothes which will fit the members of the family because he had information concerning the members. Then packs of preserved meat, dry meat, wheat flour, flashlights, cosmetics, perfumes, soaps and lots more. Martha directed them on where to put the goods.

When  the guards were done, Stephen said, “You may come in sire.”

“Thank you.” Wellington said, displaying his fictitious humility. He went into the living-room and looked around condescendingly. Before he sat on the sofa, a servant wiped the sofa with a small piece of cloth.

Wellington sat down and crossed his left leg over the right leg.

“Martha!” Stephen called. Martha appeared and bowed at Wellington.

“This is my wife, Martha, sire and….Abel, Rose, Marcus come over here.”

“Good afternoon, sire.” Martha greeted.

“Good afternoon, Mrs. Stephen. I am highly delighted to meet you.”

“The honor is ours, sire and thank you for the plenty presents.”

“You don’t have to mention that. I promise you will get more

The three of them appeared and all greeted him but Wellington lost his balance for a split second as he saw Rose.

He had to confess that he never felt so nervous before a lady and it was disturbing.

“Good afternoon young men and lady…Oops! Ladies first, so I redirect my chronology. Its young lady and men.”

“It’s okay, sire.” Stephen said, still smiling like a goon. “That is Abel, my first son and a very good lumber jack carpenter. That is Rose my first daughter and second child. Apart from knitting, she is a very good cook. And that is my last son, Marcus who is Abel’s apprentice. My specialty is farming and fishing and my wife Martha is one of the best fabric makers in Yorkshire.”

“I am quite impressed Stephen. You have a very industrious and ambidextrous family. We are glad and proud to have you join us here.”

“Thank you sire”

They said almost in unison.

Wellington only heard the distinct voice of Rose and he did not miss the flashing of her immaculate white teeth and the rolling of her tongue. He missed no detail and when his eyes met hers, he felt a spark that ignited the room.

“You are welcome. Without any delay. Once again, I Sir Wellington welcomes you to Dransvalle. I did not introduce myself officially. I am the husband of Isabella who hired you all and I am touched by the story her cousin told us about the help you rendered to him. Timothy is a very hardworking and industrious boy whom we highly appreciate. He suggested that you should be brought here and we agreed.” He lied. He only knew about their existence the day he brought Tom here.

“I feel it is pertinent to come and say thank you personally once again and to reassure you that you will have a serene and productive stay here.”

“Thank you sire.” Stephen said with the wide grin not leaving his face for  a second.

“I must say your kids have great potentials that should be put into more productive measures. You, Abel right?”

“Yes, Sire.”

“I will pick you as my official carpenter who handles the carpentry jobs of my house and you will have a steady monthly wage of one thousand dollars and allowance for each job you do and that includes the companies.”

Abel’s joy knew no bound.

“Then you…Rose, am I right?”

“Yes sire.”

“How much do you earn now?”

“Two hundred pounds.”

“In the fabric company?”

“Yes sire.”

“You will be made a chief cook in the mass cooking department of my house where you will conduct the cooking for the servants and that attracts a monthly wage of two thousand pounds.”

“Praise the Lord.” Stephen exclaimed. “Jesus loves me.”

A guard secretly chuckled.

“Thank you sire. I will think about it.” Rose said and a dead silence took over the room for a second.

What did she just say?

For the first time, the permanent wide grin on Stephen’s face vanished.

“Uhhmm..he meant sorry she meant she is grateful and has been dreaming and thinking about it.”

“No Stephen.” Wellington said. “She knows exactly what she said and I think it a good idea to think about anything you want to venture into. I know hundreds of thousands would travel here from around the world to get such a job but Rose may have reasons we don’t know about.”

“Thank you for your understanding sire.”

He smiled at her.

“It will be wrong to take all of you away from Isabella so I think you will remain here, I mean you and your wife and at least the Marcus. Abel will be coming back home daily and if Rose agrees to take the job, she would be coming home every weekend when another conductor will take over.”

“Thank you sir and I am so sorry about her behavior.”

“She had done nothing wrong Stephen. She has one week to think about it . Your wife will be on my monthly welfare package of one thousand pounds and you will get two. These does not include what you earn from here.”

This time, Stephen’s grin was so wide and he had tears in his eyes.

“Jesus Christ of  Nazareth!” He exclaimed.

Wellington got on his feet at once.

“I will take my leave.” He said and gave Stephen a package.

“That is ten thousand pounds. Enjoy your life in Dransvalle.”

Ten minutes later, after Wellington had gone, he summoned a family meeting.

He looked at Rose.

“What on god’s world made you embarrass us?”

‘I am an adult; father and I have a right to choose for myself.”

“What right will make you jeopardize two thousand pounds monthly wage for two hundred pounds. Even in Yorkshire, I hardly made three three thousand pounds in a whole year.”

“I have the right to privacy.”

“Shut up! I am your father and can decide for you what yo should do and you are going to work there.”

“You will earn a lot yourself here father. I will not ask you for a dime.”

“Is it because you bring food daily? I can afford that now. Who are you seeing?”

“A responsible person.”Martha said. “Have you forgotten?”

“ No! Whoever it is -is not responsible enough”

“Are you just discovering that now?” Martha asked. “after the visit of the most responsible man on Earth.”

“Don’t be an ingrate Martha! Sir Wellington just transformed our lives.”

“And you forgot all about Tim all of a sudden.” Rose said and there was a silence.

“Is it Tim you have been seeing?” He asked.

“I never said that. He brought us here and we just leave his place of work just like that?”

“Listen to yourself little girl. They are the same. He owns all of them. He is the alpha and omega.”

“Now you may call him god.” Martha added.

Stephen was shocked.

“I never knew I have people who God love but they don’t love themselves.”

“I did not reject any offer.” Martha said. “But I am glad he did not make us leave. This place is owned by his wife and this should have come from her or Tim.”

“He is doing this for Tim.” Stephen said. “You people can’t see this with eyes of wisdom.”

“You don’t see it from the eyes of wisdom either but the eyes of responsible mode.”

Abel chuckled.

“This is not a time to argue, father and mother. It calls for celebration and even if Rose do not earn, we are rich already.”

“Did you just say I am greedy?” Stephen asked.

“Thank God you thought of the word yourself.” Martha said and laughed. Abel pressed down his laughter.

“Father, I don’t want  Rose to leave here.”

“I have to go out please.” Rose said.

“It is ritual time. Evening constant outing.”

“You used to remind her sometimes about going out, remember?” Martha said and got on her feet. “What has changed?”

“She is losing some of her senses.” He replied.

“So how do we share the ten thousand pounds?”

Stephen sprang up, put the money in his pocket and said, “I am Stephen and it is just a family name to you, None of you is Stephen by first name and the money was given to Stephen. The meeting is over. I am going out.”

“Enjoy wine, my love.” She said and laughed.

Rose was out already. She walked fast hoping not to keep Tom waiting. She could not trade anything for his love. She did not like Wellington and felt something fishy in his gesture. Plus, going for domestic work would deprive her of her freedom to enjoy the garden with the love of her life. Most importantly, she could not accept such an offer without Tom’s consent. She walked hurriedly until she got to their meeting spot.

She did not see him. He was late because he always came before her. Maybe something came up. She then caught sight of him, riding on his horse.

She felt her heart melting. She loved him so much and was more important to her than all the money in the world put together.

Now she wanted to play a prank on him. She ran aside and hid amid some plants while she watched him. He arrived their spot, alighted and tied the horse. He looked round and she laughed at him in his her heart. Even though she was eager to talk to him, tell him everything that happened, play with him and go into his powerful arms, she felt he needed a little prank.

Then she saw him turn his face back and grimaced. What was it?

Then a second horse came by and Rose froze. It was Isabella. She saw fear and shock on his face. What was going on?

She alighted from the horse with a smile on her face.

“What are you doing here?” He asked.

“Are you not pleased to see me?” She said coquettishly. “I saw you go out and I followed you. Wellington has gone to see the king over the disappearance of his friend John and his wife so I decided to come with you today. Coming to survey or mediated?”

Tom stood confused but trying to hide his fears under a smile. She drew him closer and kissed him on the lips.

Rose felt an explosion in her head.

Boom!