Saved By Her

by Michelle Horst

  I start to shovel some into the wheelbarrow. I notice that Miss Ella is waiting for me so I pick up the pace even though my body is protesting.

  “Morning, Miss E,” a man calls out. I quickly hold the shovel in front of me, ready to fight. I was told no more sex but I’m not sure I can believe a word any of these people say.

  “I told you before and I’m telling you for the last time, my mama named me Ella not E!” Her voice sounds harsh but there’s a smile on her face as she looks at the man. “Theo, this is Jack. He’s new here so be kind and not your usual crazy self.”

  Theo keeps his distance, which is a good thing as he’s much smaller than me. He smiles at me. “Welcome, Jack.”

  “Now run along and go work.” He listens and with a quick wave he runs off in the direction of a huge building. It’s made of sturdy wood, and it’s huge!

  As soon as Theo is gone I get back to shoveling the manure into the wheelbarrow. When I’m sure the wheelbarrow can’t take anymore, I stick the shovel into the manure and take hold of the wheelbarrow. Without a word Miss Ella starts walking back and I follow behind her.

  When we get back to the house, she goes straight into the kitchen.

  I bring the wheelbarrow close to the piece of ground I’m working with, and start to work the manure into the ground. It takes me a long while to get all of the manure nicely worked into the dry ground. I need water.

  I hook the hose to the tap next to the steps by the backdoor. For now I just need one hose, but I’m sure with time I’ll use all three.

  I set the nozzle to a fine spray and take my time wetting the ground. When I’m happy with the ground, I grab the first tray of flowers and start to plant them.

  With each little plant going into the ground I feel my heart swelling until something inside of me bursts and tears spill over my cheeks. I don’t bother wiping them away.

  This is all that mattered, and it’s all that will matter. Plants, trees, flowers – nature - it’s where my soul finds a sliver of peace and happiness.

  I don’t know how long I’ve been working, when Miss Ella calls to me from the kitchen door. “Come have something to eat and drink. No use in you dying out in the heat. Who’s going to do the gardening then?”

  She disappears back inside and I quickly rinse my hands. I dry them on the back of my pants and then go inside. It’s cool and my eyes immediately fall on the stack of pancakes and orange juice. It looks delicious.

  “You can sit here with me, Jack.” Miss Ella moves around the heavy wooden table and takes a seat. She has a plate filled with pancakes, as well. She takes some syrup and pours it over the pancakes.

  When she cuts off a piece and pops it in her mouth, I move closer to the table. She takes another bite, and I quickly go to sit down. I don’t bother with the syrup, I’m too hungry.

  I scoff the food down, and take huge gulps of orange juice. I want to get back to the garden. Just as I finish Master Ryland walks into the kitchen with Sophia following him.

  My heart constricts and I freeze.

  “Morning,” he says in a calm manner, then he looks at his watch. “It’s more afternoon than morning. You two enjoying your brunch?”

  “You know I love a snack here and there. At my age there’s no such thing as watching my figure. Who knows what kind of foods they have in paradise. I want to get my fill while I still can.”

  “Excuses, excuses,” Master Ryland laughs at Miss Ella, and then he says, “Nanna, do you have two more plates?”

  I wonder why he calls her Nanna.

  Miss Ella quickly prepares two plates and I move to get up when Master Ryland sits down in front of me and says, “Stay a while, Jack.”

  I slump back into the chair, disappointment scratching at the scabs on my heart.

  I watch as he pours two glasses of orange juice for himself and Sophia. She’s so quiet next to him. I haven’t seen much of her in the past three days.

  He fills my glass again and then says, “I’ve noticed you’ve started on the garden. I’m glad you’re feeling better. There’s a chapel close to the river. I’d like to go show you. I think you’ll be able to do something with it.”

  “Yes, Master.” I try to keep my voice toneless, but it’s hard and even I can hear the suspicion and doubt lacing my words.

  “My name is Adam Stone but you can call me Adam. There are no masters and mistresses here.”

  They keep saying that and the question slips from me, “Then why did you call yourselves Master and Mistress Ryland?”

  “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.”

  We sit for a long while and practice the two words over and over.

  “Ten minutes to dinner time,” Miss Ella says from behind the pots.

  “Let’s do your name quickly.” When Jack looks at me I ask, “What’s your last name?”

  “Hawkins.”

  My mouth goes slack with shock. “But that’s Cameron’s last name,” I say feeling confused.

  Jack’s whole body tightens up. “He married my mother,” he says abruptly.

  I can see he doesn’t want to talk about this, but I need to know. “Cameron is your step father?”

  Jack gets up so quickly, I flinch away. He storms from the kitchen and I stare after him feeling a tendril of fear slip down my spine. If he’s Cameron’s son the man might come looking for him.

  “Jack’s mom died when he was young. Cameron sold her and the Master killed her,” Sophia suddenly says. “Cameron had a son with Jack’s mom and that’s the only reason Jack never tried to leave. He did it all for David. He promised his mom that he would look after David. ”

  The new information hits me in the gut. “Jack has a brother?” I get up, feeling a wave of panic hit. “Are you telling me we left Jack’s brother back there?”

  Sophia cringes back and shakes her head. “No. David is Cameron’s son. David was the one who had me and Jack whipped. Jack started a fight with him when he saw me giving David a blowjob.”

  Now I’m confused. “Let me get the story right. David is Jack’s younger brother, but he’s just like Cameron?”

  “Yes,” there is a sad look on Sophia’s face when she whispers, “I think that broke Jack’s heart.”

  That’s so sad! Jack went through years of being used for David and it turned out that David was just like Cameron. Something like that is bad enough to break anyone.

  “Thank you for telling me, Sophia.” I look to Miss Ella and ask, “Will you keep two plates for us. I’m going to go check on him.”

  I rush out the back door and head in the direction of the chapel. I don’t know how I’m going to fix this.

  ~*~

  Chapter Eleven

  Jack~

  Anger is suffocating me! I’ve managed to switch off in some way over the past few days, but it’s all gone to shit.

  David. The name burns through my heart. I’m torn between feeling like I failed David, and feeling betrayed by him.

  I just walk blindly, until I reach the chapel. I take a seat on one of the benches. Night is falling and the trees cast dark shadows around me.

  David was my life for so long, the only reason I let those filthy fuckers touch me. I’ll never forget his last words to me. ‘Thanks for all the money you made us you dumb fuck. Sadly, every hole has an expiration date and you’ve reached yours. No use in pretending anymore.’

  He was working with Cameron all along, cashing in on my stupidity. They let me believe that David was being sheltered from that life, that he was at college making something great of himself, but instead he was being formed into a spitting image of Cameron.

  He was the only reason I let people fuck me. Never again! I will never bow to another single person. I will never bend over for another man or let another woman climb all over me. I will never submit again.

  “Jack?” River sounds cautious and she should be. I’m not a little puppet anymore!

  I hear her come closer and I growl, “Stay away from me!”

  She stops somewhere behind me and then she whispers, “Sophia told me about David. I’m so sorry, Jack.�
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  “She shouldn’t have!” I snap under my breath.

  “What they did to you,” she sucks in a deep breath before she carries on with a tear filled voice, “I’m so sorry, Jack.”

  “You said that already.” I get up and stalk over to her. I need to let go of this consuming anger and hatred and she’s the perfect target. “You pretend to be different. You pretend just like Cameron and David pretended. You’ll use me just like they did! You’re a monster …” I suck in some air before I hiss out, “You are just like them.”

  She folds her arms around herself, as if she’s trying to protect herself from my words. “I’m not,” she snaps back, her façade of patience gone. “I am nothing like those monsters and don’t you ever dare compare me to them!”

  I take another step closer to her and I spit the words out, one for one, “You are just like Cameron!”

  She spins around and walks away from me, “I’m not doing this with you. You’re looking for a fight with the wrong person.”

  She takes a few steps but then swings around again. She stalks all the way back until she’s right in front of me. “I’m nothing like Cameron,” her voice cracks with emotion. “My mother was sold too! She’s somewhere out there and I can’t find her, and it kills me a little every day.” She points to the bonsai trees I planted today. “These plants … they were bought with the money my father made off his slaves. I also grew up seeing people being raped and beaten every single day.” She sucks in gulps of air and then tears spill over her cheeks. “I’ve never raped someone. I’ve never beaten someone. I haven’t so much as touched someone without their permission. I use the money my father made from his slaves to save people. I’m giving it all back.” She hisses, “I’m not a monster.”

  River turns away from me and then runs off into the dark night.

  ~*~

  That night I can’t sleep. With the lights off, I stand in front of the window staring into the dark night. I’m trying to process everything she told me. Her mother was also a slave?

  I spot movement in the garden and see that it’s River. She’s walking towards the chapel. I quickly put on some clothes and then run to catch up with her. I follow behind her, not sure what to say to her. I feel bad for the way I behaved this afternoon.