Chapter 42: Chapter 42

Chapter 40: The letter.

With his bag of peanuts, Thomas was sat under a tree. It was his turn to head the cows, as he watched them graze... he had his peanuts. He put one leg on top of the other, a sunhat, comfortably in peace. He thought of many things, how Merri had went off with Austin. Mrs Brown had informed him that, he was sorry enough to take her to get medical attention as she had not fully miscarried and the pain was unbearable as she was indeed still bleeding. Thomas only prayed she was alright, regardless of the shame she had caused him and the pain. He cared for her and he wanted her to be alright. Thomas had noted that he was not the only person who was inlove with Merri, Austin was too and maybe he should have noticed on their very first encounters when he had all those questions about Merri. Not wanting to be played for a fool, he only took Mrs Browns word because she was an elder and a respected elder. She had no reason to lie, therefore Thomas believed that Austin was inlove and remorseful so he took Merri to get proper help. Thomas knew Merri was not doing okay, now that she did not have any hair... he felt bad for not finding her beauty. She looked rather odd, suppose he had to get used to her first. Short hair always looked good on her but seeing her bald had thrown him off. It had been weeks now and her short hair had grown, something he adored. He had asked for space but now he missed her. He missed her dearly, a thought of regret... he wished he never pushed her away. Thomas was only hurt and angry at the time.

"Can I have some?" Faith stood in front of him.

"Of course." He said handing her his bag of peanuts.

"Mind if I sit next to you..?"

"Not at all." Thomas shrugged.

"It must be lonely without Merri?"

"Yes, I miss her dearly. What's the plantation without Merri... she brightens everything up and it's hard not to miss her."

Faith nodded. "I'm so sorry.."

"Excuse me?"

"I heard what she did.."

Thomas cringed immediately from shame. He did not want any pity from anyone. "Merri and I are inseparable, we're simply giving each other space for a bit but we will be alright."

"You plan on taking her back?"

Thomas shrugged, breaking a peanut shell and throwing one in his mouth. "I love her."

"She is manipulative and only uses you."

"I do not like you making wrongful claims about Merri. What has she ever done to you?"

Faith rolled her eyes. "She is shameful for causing you all that pain, all those whips you received at the county because of her adultery ways then she returns to the house and has Austin deep between her thighs. She definitely isn't sorry."

"I will never understand how one could develop so much hate for a person... Faith did you see the state Merri was in. She is traumatized and hurt, still healing from physical wounds that he caused her. Your claims I do not justify."

"I never claimed to hate Merri.." Faith replied.

"Then why are you speaking so despicably of her in her absence?"

"I saw her Thomas, with my own two eyes."

A sinking feeling foundered in his chest. He started chewing slow as realization hit him... he stopped chewing.

"You did?" He said confirming, his voice low and a little broken.

"Yes, her legs were wrapped—"

"Please no! It's fine, I get the picture. It is alright really, no need to go into detail." Thomas chuckled, hurt he put his peanuts away. "Uh... it probably time I get the cows all rounded up.."

Standing up to dust himself. Faith followed, she could see the agony he tried to hide. She could see how hard he was trying to keep his composure.

"She does not deserve you, Thomas."

With a smile, he looked away. "It's really alright Faith, sometimes people just aren't satisfied."

"It's not your fault. You gave her everything. You're a stunning hardworking gentleman yet she still wants a Caucasian who will smoke to his death."

"I'm afraid I cannot take a compliment if it's meant to degrade others." Thomas said sadly. "But thank you Faith."

"What now?"

"Now? I round up the cows and get my work done."

"No Tom, I meant what now... regarding Merri the cheat?"

"I can only continue living as I have in the past."

"Without a significant other?"

"Please Faith, I need time to myself. Please excuse me." He said walking away, he whistled to catch the cows attention. After a couple of times they started to follow his route. Faith watched from afar... she did not understand why Merri would want to lose such a good man. Thomas did not deserve this at all. Faith understand how the sun glistened in his dark skin, his short hair was always combed, smart as could be. She watched him ruffle some of the cows. She watched him as he helped a calf remove a the unbearable thorn that was stuck on it's front foot. Eventually Faith walked away back to the plantation, away from the reeds and empty space.

—

Back at the house, Mrs Brown was dusting when she heard a visitor at the door. Hearing a carriage she had assumed that Austin and Merri were back already but it wasn't. It was Stella Ward, she gracefully came out of the carriage, two little boys giggled behind her. She let out an annoyed expression.

"What is it that you rascals are giggling about? I should have left you both at home, I reckon."

"Mother..."

The other boy suddenly hit the younger one as they continued their little dogfight. "Do not tell her!"

"Tell me this minute before I give both of you a beating with your father's belt."

Knowing how their mother could be sometimes. The boys stared at her, fearful. "George...said...Mandyisavegetable."

"I did not quite get that?"

"George said Mandy is a vegetable... because she does nothing except eat and her tongue is always out... you said she is our big sister but she still has her baby teeth." They giggled yet again. Stella was shook, offended and angry.

"I will deal with you both the minute we return, I'm telling your father!"

"...at least she can't tell Mandy because Mandy can not do anything about it." Her nine year old son whispered giggling at the younger brother who snickered at the banter. Stella held her tears, she could not believe that her boys were being so cantankerous and ignoble. She had raised them to be better than that. How they had formed these opinions about Mandy cane to her as a surprise. Perhaps, bringing Mandy in their lives was never a good idea.

Mrs Brown watching, she was shocked at the scene and wondered who Mandy was. The little boys seemed to be very disrespectful at their mother.

"Is Austin Cunningham home?" Stella asked, the red lipstick she wore... greased her teeth a little. Mrs Brown could tell that Stella was trying to maintain her youth but unfortunately... that ship had already sailed off.

"This is the Cunningham residence, I reckon there could not be any other Austin..."

With a bored expression she replied. "And your point is what exactly frail old lady?"

"My point is there was certainly no need to say his last name." Mrs Brown said softly giving her a smile.

"Do you have any idea whom you're speaking to?"

"Yes, I do. I'm speaking to a mother who can not control her kids and she is here overdressed for many reasons I do not understand."

Touching her pearls Stella, felt embarrassed. Was she really overdressed? She only wanted to look her best.

"You're fired, I will let my in-laws know that from here on you will be working there down there in the dirt with the other niggers!"

"Go ahead sweets, by the way I'm Mrs Brown... you must be Stella Ward all grown huh? Austin told me many graceful stories about you from when he had no pubes to his arm pits..."

Stella went cold. Her kids were fighting each other at the back making a ruckus. She turned around and harshly grabbed one of them by the ears. Giving him a beating at the back of the head. Mrs Brown was stunned, was this how any mother ought to act? Even when her children were misbehaving.

"...behave...you're lucky I do not have daddy's belt this minute!"

Red cheeked the boys, stood afraid and teary eyed. Stella then turned back, a smile on her face, a little friendlier.

"Nice to meet you Mrs Brown. I've had a lot about you as well. Stunning dress you have there... uh I had simply came to drop off this letter. It is from my husband to his brother. If he isn't there it's quite alright. I trust you want them to resolve their little feud. Please pass my greetings to Austin. We will be leaving now."

"Uh alrighty then but I'm sure the boys would have loved some cookies and milk."

"YES PLEASE!!" They said in unison. Their mother immediately gave them a death glare talking eye. Shaking their heads they replied. "We're quite alright thank you." With that the carriage was off. A young man who had accompanied them had been told to go off as fast as he could control the horses out front. For a moment Stella regretted coming here.

The minute Mrs Brown closed the door. Opening the letter... it read Austin my love. Feeling her stomach churn with disgust, she threw the letter in the scotching fire place. Watching the paper dissolve into dust. She took her feather duster and pretended nothing had occurred, simple continued on with her day.