“Will cow manure do? There’s plenty of that. Those cows just eat and crap the whole day long. Let me go show you where.” She walks by me and then calls back, “Bring your shovel and wheelbarrow!”

I quickly grab the shovel, place it in the wheelbarrow and then follow her. We walk quite a distance and I can feel it’s going to be a hot day. My body is itching from all the scabs.

When I see all the cows, sheep and pigs, my eyes grow huge. I’ve never seen animals up close. My feet slow down until all I can do is stare.

“Over here, Jack,” Miss Ella calls out, and I rush over to where she’s standing. There is large heaps of manure. Wow, I’ve never seen so much manure!

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.