The Tithe That Binds (11 page)

It seemed as though time was passing quickly, and in a few years Elijah was approached for the position of principal elder. Shawn was stepping down after fifteen years, and with the exception of a few McEnroes who threw George’s name into the hat, Elijah won a sweeping victory with the clan’s vote. Even though he was often called on to make decisions and edicts, and the Preacher joined them at least once a week for dinner, it was nice to have the Master home at night.

Mara was halfway through her sentence as a tithe, and she found herself becoming uneasy at the thought of being released. Because of her contract to Gabrielle and Elijah, the other tithes and released servants were afraid of her. None of them wanted to bring attention to themselves by befriending the tithe of the principal elder. It was bad enough when Elijah had been lead acquisitioner, but now it was very much worse.

For Mara, her time spent as a tithe was lonely, and it caused her to form an even stronger bond with Gabrielle and Elijah. Although they continued to use her and punish her for any mistake, infrequent as those mistakes now were, Gabrielle had begun to talk with her occasionally. She even laughed and pointed out another mistake the clumsy new tithe had made.

The poor girl was a natural klutz, and Mara watched her staring at her stew bowl, walking so slowly it would be chilled by the time she set it on her Mistress’ table. The gravy still managed to spill over the side when she stumbled, and Gabrielle whispered, “Could you imagine her pulling a cart?”

“Mistress Pauline has quite a chore ahead of her if she doesn’t want to eat cold biscuits every night,” Mara replied. She straightened with her Mistress’ compliment and acknowledgement concerning her ability to proudly run her through the settlement while the other tithes glared at her through envious eyes.

Mara found the routine of a tithe held its own measure of comfort, even though Tara had been released and she did not get to see her as often. Gabrielle always seemed to manage a surprise encounter for them, and Mara appreciated her Mistress’ consideration for a mere tithe’s well being.

Epilogue

Mara walked to the kitchen to collect dinner for her Mistress. Her eyes searched out Tara, and she smiled and walked up to her. The other tithes had stopped being nasty to her years ago. Now, they just seemed to ignore her. They never became friendly, because of Elijah’s position as principal elder.

“Hi, Mara.” Tara stood beside her while their dinners were ladled into bowls and warm biscuits were wrapped in a towel. Mara smiled up at Barbra, who had whispered to her several years ago that she had been allowed to join with the camp worker.

Tara had remained her friend since Mara’s first year in the hills, even though Tara was no longer tithed. It was a concession Gabrielle allowed, and her Mistress continued to arrange for them to spend time together when Mara was especially pleasing.

“Two more years,” Mara whispered. “I hope Gabrielle is pleased and I get personal servant so we can have free time together.”

“I’ve been talking with Thad,” Tara replied, “and there’s a man working his way up from logger. Thad thinks he’ll be a guard helper by the time you’re freed.”

Tara and Thad had joined together a year after she had finished her tithe. She was determined to make sure that Mara had someone suitable, providing Gabrielle gave her a good enough recommendation. The two girls left the kitchen, and Tara looked towards the end of the street.

“How is she?” Mara asked.

“Mostly okay, I think. She doesn’t talk much, and the widows keep her busy when she’s not too far along.” The elders decided the widows deserved a personal slave because Elsa spent so many months incapacitated. Tara liked working for them, though it was difficult when the babies were born. It was not because they were taken from her; she barely acknowledged their leaving. Tara dreaded the births because it was the only time that Elsa screamed her hatred towards Debra. Tara could understand her threats towards her friend, even when she was gagged. The girl was somewhat insane in her obsession to try to find away to kill Mara.

Elsa had delivered nine babies in eight years, and Mara saw her swelling belly as she knelt in the garden. “Gabrielle forbids me to go near her. She says it will upset her too much.”

“I’ve been told that if I ever mention your name I’ll be sent to laundry,” Tara informed her. She saw no sense in telling her friend that Elsa had been duped into believing that Mara had been solely responsible for her horrible situation.

“Mara?”

Mara turned and saw Gabrielle standing on the porch, with the dreaded arched brow. “I gotta’ go.” She dashed to the cabin. “Sorry, Mistress.”

Angela was visiting for dinner, because Justin was collecting the tithes. It would mean another pussy to lick, so Mara wanted to hurry so that her dinner would not be too cold. Gabrielle handed Mara her filled ceramic bowl and she placed it by her Mistress’ feet. Mara felt Gabrielle’s thighs begin to quiver, when she slid beneath her skirt.

Mara’s hands had been freed so long ago that she barely remembered when they did not allow her to use them. It made it easier for her to pleasure her Mistress, and Mara smiled when she felt the flutter in Gabrielle’s belly and heard her begin to gasp.

Next, she shuttled to the other end of the table, and she smiled at the waiting bulge in Elijah’s pants. She freed his cock and his balls, and toyed with his sack while she sucked. She raised her eyes to see the piercing black gaze staring at her, with a hint of amusement in their depths. Mara remembered when she used to think of him as the devil. Perhaps he was.

Late the next afternoon, Gabrielle led Mara to the porch. Minerva joined them with her fourth Tara, and the girls knelt side by side between their two Mistresses. There was a shout, and Mara knew the acquisitioners were back. Angela came running out of the house.

Justin was leading the riders. He was the youngest man ever promoted to be in charge of them, and had replaced his father when Elijah became principal elder. Mara and Tara scanned the riders with the frightened girls bound and gagged in front of them. Mara tapped the other tithe’s leg twice, and they both focused on the second girl. It had become a game to pick out which girl… whose stupid and useless flatlander fantasies and dreams had been shattered… who would freak out the most when she spotted the tithes.

Gabrielle leaned down. “Which one did you pick?”

“Two, Mistress.”

“Nope, watch the fourth one. Justin put her in back for effect,” Gabrielle stated.

Sure enough, two began sobbing, but four began screaming behind her gag. She banged her head into the rider’s chest, and Mara felt the phantom squeeze of Samuel’s hand on her breast.
How long ago, and how frightened she had been.

Caleb stood at the door to the quarters, with Paula kneeling by his side. He had petitioned the elders and Preacher to keep her. As he had shown no indication of ever marrying, they had agreed. Holden had applied to keep Linda three months later. He also remained a bachelor.

Gossip among the Mistresses relayed that after she had finished two years in division, Lucy McEnroe was sent to the laundry. It was the furthest station from the grain bins, so Holden would not have to see her. Eddy had never forgiven her, and when he finally worked his way to guard helper again, he had settled with a former Alice tithe.

Abram succeeded in getting Thelma’s union dissolved. She was grateful to be Thelma Tilson again, and had been in charge of the camp kitchen since the second year of her punishment. One afternoon per week, the elders allowed her to visit with Jenny at George and Vera’s cabin. She was not permitted to see the twins, but she caught a glimpse of Debra once when she was walking with the worker she had joined with. She was pleased to see the smile on her daughter’s face.

Chris McEnroe had only promoted off the wheel for a few months at a time. They would catch him screwing off with his brother Tommy, and the two of them would spend their time cursing and walking in circles for another year.

On the flatlands, Sarah petitioned the elders and won a successful bid to dissolve her union with Tommy. She and Mason Elliott were married at the farm, and Henry was pleased to have the extra help. The men planted an oak tree at the edge of the property, where a small rusted car lay buried beneath the dirt.

Sarah smiled at Katie as she walked back from the barn with a basket of eggs. She had remained a respectful girl, bringing their family much happiness with her calm disposition.

Sarah’s mother had been right… she rarely thought of Debra any more.

The End