Bittersweet Endeavors (5 page)

“Then I
would say you have a
very
fat sister,”
Myra
called back.

The crowd resounded in a
roar of laughter.

“You’re an insolent child
,
at that,
”
he bit out
. He was
angered that s
he turned the crowd against him, as well as the fact that
the sister he was referencing was
indeed
of
healthy size
.

“I am nearing my
twentieth
year.” 

Seth detected a little less
fervor when she spoke
.  She cowered back within the line of people after the words left her well-defined ruby lips. 
He
knew
the ridicule
given
by him and the crowd
lessened her exuberance. 
Again, a
pang of regret flanked him.  Browbeating
wa
sn’t
his way, but he wanted—
nay
, needed—to prove his autho
rity.  His behavior
wa
sn’t
much different than those around him
, so
why should he feel
remorseful
?  D
idn’t
she deserve such treatment?  S
urely she must,
he concluded, or the girl—
Myra
—would
n’t
be
there
.

Seth approached her
again
and looked at
her with
disdain.  “You
say you
’re
near
your
twentieth
year?  Not only are you a probable thief or whore, but
‘twould
seem
you
extend that
in
to falsehoods
too.”

He didn’t
expect it
, but it came—a swift kick
that met
his shin. 
Although the p
ain
was
naught, the girl’s fiery reproach sent him reeling with anger.  His temper willed for
retaliation but h
is conscience refused
to allow
him to
act
on the urge. 

Unfortunately, he couldn’t say the same for the tradesman. 

The man raised his hand and slapped her ac
ross the face
and left
a bright-
red handprint in its wake.  Before Seth
was able to prevent
further reproof, the man drag
ged her off toward the wagon
that
the servants had earlier been placed until time of auction. 
On the trader’s return, the man apologized
profusely
for the girl’s conduct and
promised
more severe action
would be taken after
auction
.

Seth
didn’t find
consolation
in the man’s threat
against the girl
.
 
Did
n’t
he goad her into
the
recourse
she
’
d taken
?  He
went
too far
with his baiting of her
.  His father
would
be ashamed
of his behavior
and
Seth
felt
equally
embarrassed
by
his conduct.

He looked toward the wagon that sheltered the gi
rl.  Seth raised his hand
and placed i
t
on his
face
.  He
silently willed
that the girl’s painful welt be
transfer
red on
to his own
cheek
.  Regardless if
she was kept hidden
, many
of the
men who
came
w
ould
attempt a
bargain for her.  Many
enjoyed the spirit that a girl like
her
offer
ed
.  He
heard from a few men
—
outside the earshot of
elders
—
that a quick-tempered girl
kept
a man’s bed warm all winter. 
On his account,
she
reveal
ed
her
potential
worth all too well. 
Comprehending th
e full extent of his blunder,
he knew he needed to
prevent such an occurrence from happening. 

The trader stood nearby and Seth nudged the man’s arm
and gained
his
attention.  His voice lowered, intimidating and full of command.  “I demand more than an apology.”

Seth
kn
ew
th
e
trader well by previous
acquisitions
, and the trader kn
ew
them, the Preston family. 
They acquired many servants through his private, and less than legitimate service, and Seth counted on the man’s fear of losing their
business to another tradesman.

“I wish a side deal for this girl-servant.  That is the compensation I d
emand for her act of violence toward
me
whilst
under your charge.  There
shall
be others who
attempt a bargain
for her, but I see it my prerogative
in having
first choice, under the circumstances.”

The man
didn’t argue
.  After an exchange of tobacco that equaled three pounds, Seth assured the detainment of
Myra
’s services for the next four years. 
T’was
the best bargain their family ha
d
ever received for a servant.

No doubt, his father w
ould
be pleased.

“Has the devil gotten into you, Seth?” Anvil shouted.

“Of course not, f
ather.”
Seth retained a calm demeanor
and hoped it would
decrease
his father’s temper
,
but
Anvil’s
anger
escalate
d
with
each moment
passed.

“
Do you think I haven’t heard what they say of that child?” 
He paced the spacious wigwam that served as their temporary dwelling until the completion of their new plantation home. 
Anvil tossed a parchment of propaganda onto an ornate French chai
r
.  It
looked out of place in the
small abode
that
scarcely
equaled the quality of a military tent.

“She’s not a child, father. 
She
is
nearing her twentieth
year and
shalt
make a responsible maid
for
m
other.”  Seth grinned inwardly at his defense of
Myra
’s age
when he considered that was what started all the trouble. 
He turned his head and hid the smile that emerged when the humorous i
dea
of him kicking his father’s shin in her defense.

“She’s bedeviled!  That’s what they say!”  His father shook his head back and for
th
and l
ines of worry creased his broad forehead.  “Why, a maid to your dear mother,” he sniveled.  “Did
n’t she
kick a poor
gent while at the sale today? 
They say she angered the poor man insomuch that he nearly
took
his own hand to her.” 

Clearly
,
none of the townspeople had
the heart or nerve
to reveal
that i
t was h
e
who
had been
accosted.  Seth
attempted
speech
, but his father continued with his blustering and c
ut him off each time he
tried
opening
his mouth. 

“S
uch conduct would be most unchristian
, of course, but
bringing
such contempt among our own must say something of disfavo
u
r about th
e
girl.”

Anvil poked the fire’s dying embers and his words ignited as explosively as the flames that newly crackled within the hearth.  “Why, they even said that this man she
kicked — and they
say he
wa
s
a big man — could’
ve easily been beaten to mush if the trader
ha
dn’t interfere
d
!  I tell you, s
on, she is bewitched by the devil himself.”  He turned from the fire and looked Seth in the eye
and asked,
“
Did
you witness the deed yourself, perchance?”

Seth balanced
his
full
weight
on
to
one leg, and
raised
his knee
.
He closed his
eye
s
,
and
th
en
opened
again to
roll
them
h
eavenward. 
T
hankful for the discretion his neighbors used in not revealing it was he who p
layed the fool at the sale,
Seth felt pleased
.  Yet it wouldn’t be long before
his father
heard the truth by a less
restrained
neighbor.  Seth rolled down his silk hose from the bottom of his
breeches
and
reveal
ed
a
small, but
distinct swelling of a bruise
up
on his shin.

“
T
’
was you,
” Anvil clamored. “Then you turn around and purchase her?”
  Anvil’s mouth was left a
gape.  When his lips finally met, he opened them again
and
repeat
ed
the action.  “By th
e
faith, Seth, I cannot believe it!  Are you daft?”

“T’
was I who caused the trouble for her,
father
,” he tried
explaining
. 
“
Didn’t you advise me not
to belittle these people — these
bondsme
n
?
” 

His father refused
to give a response.

Seth sighed.  Chances were nil
that his father would budge,
and
being in
lather over it, he’
d
surely not change his mind.  As always, o
nce his father set his position,
it always proved final
.  Only God Himself could talk him out of it
, and Seth didn’t expect Him to make an appearance to help his cause. 
Nonetheless
,
Seth
made another attempt. 
“I goaded the girl and
brought
undue attention
upon
her
.  O
nce I saw my error, I correct
ed
it.”

“An apology would have sufficed!”

“Be practical,
f
ather.  The girl
is comely.  Surely, you must’
ve taken notice.”  The muscles in Seth’s jaw tightened, and he gritted his teeth when he remembered the intent stare
s
the men
placed
on
Myra
’s maturing curves.  “Rest assured
,
the
other men
noticed
.”  Seth walked to
ward
h
is father and rested his hand
on his shoulder.  “I believe her virtue
mayhap
ruined if the wrong
man
purchased her.”