Chapter Ten
685 Words
I stood there standing at her door a moment, wondering if I should knock.The decision was made for me when the door swung open.
"Well! Hello there! I thought I'd never see you again!" She said with a huge smile. I smiled back with embarrassment.
"I've been thinking a great deal about you lately and I was wondering when you were going to come see me!" I smiled widely, my embarrassment still present.
"I thought I'd drop by and visit a while. Please forgive the hour."
"Oh no worries. Please come in and have some biscuits. I made them fresh just now."
"Oh, I'm not hungry, miss Rose. But thank you."
"Well, come in and visit wont you?" I stepped inside and sat at the kitchen table.
"So..." she began. "What have you been up to lately?" She asked, looking at me and waiting for a response.
"We got some new slaves." She looked at me surprised.
"Didn't you already have slaves?" I didn't know what to say to that. I had to think of something and quickly.
"Oh... yes... um well, we left them to friends in London. We thought it best to get a new bunch." I said, leaning forward with my arms folded on the table.
"Oh. That's interesting." She smiled. I was thinking of Helios the whole time and feared what he might do if he caught me there. I stayed there visiting for a long while before relieving myself to go.
"Will you be returning tomorrow?" She asked as she walked me to the door.
"If it pleases you."
"Oh yes! We can take a nice stroll on the hill."
"I shall enjoy that."
"Until tomorrow then." She said, smiling and closing the door. I smiled too.
But my heart was pounding. What is this feeling? I thought. Am I in love? I shook the thought out of my mind and headed home. I returned to the plantation in a smitten daze. Smiling as I thought about her. But that fear came over me once I entered the house. Helios would never permit it. I thought. But I had to see her again. I couldn't stand her up that way.
When I entered the sitting room, Helios was standing at the window. I knew then that there was something bothering him.
"What's wrong?" I asked, walking to his side.
"That woman is trouble Erin." My heart jumped into my throat. He knew I was seeing her. He knew I cared for her. He seemed to know everything.
"What do you mean?" I replied with a tickle in my throat.
"Don't play dumb Erin, it is not becoming of you. You know exactly what I mean." I put my head down in shame.
"She's not a danger to us, Helios. She doesn't know."
"Not yet, but she could find out. Where did you meet her?"
"On her plantation. I was walking and found myself there. She was crying. She'd just lost her husband and I went to comfort her." Helios shook his head in disapproval.
"You should have left her there to cry."
"Helios!"
"Let me tell you a story! A story of my ignorance and shame. You see I am to blame for my maker's death! I fell in love with a woman who turned out to be a hunter. She killed my maker and I was not there to protect her! Not a day goes by that I don't feel guilt! I am not saying this for my own sake! I care about you Erin! I am not going to tell you what to do. I may be your maker, but I am not your master! I don't work that way! I am not concerned for myself. I'm concerned for you! Please try to understand. If I lost you it would devastate me."
I saw the concern in his eyes. He teared up and I felt such a heartache. I put my head down again in shame and nodded.
"I understand. I'm sorry Helios. Can I at least say goodbye to her?" Helios smiled warmly.
"Of course you can."
- Writer
