Thank you for the feedback. Sorry for the long delay, I have so much going on. I hope you enjoy this chapter.
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"Sam, why you in my kitchen?" Mimi tossed a dish towel over her shoulder and a tiny cloud of flour puffed up.
"I smelled me some cake baking in here, and I want some" he grinned. Sam's face stayed pleasant but his eyes looked weary. He sat down on a stool near the back door. Heat from the big wood burning stove distorted the air with waves of heat. The sweet aroma of butter and vanilla filled the house with silent comfort.
"Well if it ain't your birthday and your name ain't Emaline, you might as well move along" was Mimi's matter of fact reply. But then she saw the weary eyes. "What's the matter Sam?"
"Well I sees everything that go on 'round here. I hear stuff folks don't think I hear. I seen Master Edward eyeing little Emmy for a while now. I heard them girls talking about being grown, becoming a woman. And you know you's the closest thing to a mother Emaline got, don't ya?" Sam leaned forward and rubbed his palms together.
Mimi pulled the chair back from the table and sat down gingerly. "Lawd, my bones ache." Rubbing her knees, she caught Sam's eyes and smiled. "Now listen Sam, you and me ain't got no nickel in that quarter. We can't do nothing 'bout what Master Edward fixin' to do with that child. Hmph...
child
? She ain't even a child no more" she chuckled at the thought. "I been talking to her 'bout him. At least she fond of him- "
"She what?" Sam perked up.
"All I'm sayin' is she could be a lot worse off than with Master Edward. I done heard some bad stories: Masters and overseers taking girls off in the night and raping them, beating the fear of God into them, and then making them sleep on the floor of their bed chamber- so they can be easy to get to whenever they want to use them again. Master Brickford's son, William, he is meaner than the devil himself! He used a girl up so bad, she could keep no baby in her belly. Wound up losing three little angels that never got a chance to breathe." Mimi stood up and offered a cup of water to Sam.
"Yeah, I guess. Still worried 'bout her though." He gulped the water down and handed Mimi the empty cup. He thought of Emmy like a daughter. Nobody knew about her real parents. She had arrived on the plantation when she was about 5 years old. When Sam first saw her shivering and scared, he had felt sorry for her. Missy Anne had a soft spot for the girl right away too. She kept her close and always seemed to favor her over the other slave girls. Even though Emmy was the color of molasses, she was a house slave right along with the light-skinned ones. Once she hit puberty, all the boys and the men noticed. Edward did too. Emaline noticed the new attention, and that's when she really started keeping her eyes down, all the time. Master Dawson and his wife Missy Anne thought she was the most humble slave girl they owned. But Sam knew, Emmy didn't want to see all the lustful stares searing through her body, making her feel hot with shame. She didn't even understand why she had the feeling of guilt- because she had done no wrong. Her only wrong was being exotically dark and exceptionally beautiful.
Mimi took the empty cup, catching Sam's hand in the process and held it for a moment. "She's gonna be alright," Mimi assured Sam.
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Edward was reeling in anticipation. He would finally get to savour the sweet nectar of his Emaline. He had pictured his pale skin hovering over her dark skin like a thick fog hovering in the blackness of night. He would be gentle enough to entice her yearning, but forceful enough to solidify his claim. She would know she was his, and no one else's. His plentiful length had begun to stiffen and twitch. This would be a long day. As he drew in a long deep breath, his nostrils filled with the glorious scent of Mimi's cake.
A high-pitched voice was the pin that burst his bubble. "Edward darling? Are you here?"
"Yes mother, I am here." Missy Anne came into Edward's room and bored him with her fussing about how expensive stationery had become, how much fabric to order for new clothes, which slaves caused the most trouble, and on and on.
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The party raged on with joyful songs swirling up into the night sky. Bellies were full, dancing feet grew tired, and sweaty brows searched for a breeze. Edward strolled leisurely around his property acknowledging the elder slaves with a slight nod. There was almost a mutual respect that remained unspoken between the master and his slaves. The older slaves understood their place, for with age comes experience and with experience, wisdom. They had resolved to their lives of servitude and had long since given up rebelliousness. Tales of woe traveled quickly throughout the south. There were stories of cruel masters, near death whippings, starvation, and punishments that would make the devil cringe. The elder slaves on Dawson plantation had the lesser of the evils, that almost didn't seem evil at all. They counted themselves lucky to have escaped the fate of the slaves from those other plantations, who suffered under the meanest and most brutal masters. And so the nod carried an understanding of this from both parties- master and slave.
"Well, there you are Emmy." Emaline looked up from her conversation with Celia and Nessa, feeling slightly started, although she didn't show it. "It is time for you to receive the gift I have for you. Come." Edward beckoned her with the curling of his fingers from his outstretched palm. Nessa and Celia exchanged a knowing look.
"Oh. Well, yessir Mastah Edward." She rose from her seat quickly and glanced back at the two girls with a look of trepidation. Celia's eyes gave unspoken encouragement and Nessa smiled shyly. They all knew what was to come. Emaline was about to about to receive the "gift" of womanhood. Master Edward and Emaline walked off toward the main house. The party had started to slow down and clean up had begun. Sam sat near the fire, resting back on his elbows. When he spotted the pair walking together, he sat up and watched them with a slight sinking feeling in his gut. Although he knew she was aware of the situation, he hoped Mimi had not noticed them. For Sam, it was like watching a sheep being led off for a shearing.
The house was quiet. Missy Anne had already gone off to bed. Edward led Emaline into the parlor. "Did you enjoy the party Emaline?"
"Oh it was real nice, sir."
"Good. I saw you dancing and laughing. I tell ya Emmy, you've got the brightest smile I've ever seen. And them boys sure can play, can't they? I mean that fiddle had me movin' a bit myself."
"Yes sir, I seen you," Emaline chuckled and lowered her gaze.
"Well now wait a minute Emmy! Are you laughing at my dancing?" Edward started a little cakewalk to prove his skills. He circled Emaline with steps and slides, bending at the knees and swinging his elbows. "Let- me- see- you move yo' feet, to- and- fro, hear- we- go." Emaline couldn't help but giggle at the unusual spectacle. She covered her mouth in embarrassment. She had never seen Master Edward being so silly before. He delighted in her innocence and stopped right before her to tip his imaginary hat and take a formal bow. "Come on now." He grabbed her hand and continued his dance for a few more steps. Keeping the tune of his little song, he made up sounds for forgotten words, "Unh- unh- unh, da- da- do, here- we- go, me and you!" With the last word he swung Emaline around and pulled her body in close, prompting a genuine laugh followed by a surprised gasp.
"Ah, um, Master Edward... I-" He captured her open mouth with a kiss. His lips pressed into her hard and warm, causing a wave of shock to surge through her body. She tensed against him, caught off guard but didn't try to pull away. She realized she was staring right into his deep green eyes that flickered in the dim candle light of the room. There she saw him searching for her reaction. Then she felt the warmth of his lips radiate across her face. Her eyes drifted closed and her tense body began to slowly relax. This was a familiar feeling, like the kiss near the flowers before. Shock was the wrong reaction- she told her brain. Excitement. You are feeling excitement. Anticipation. She felt that too. Sensing her shift, Edward softened his kiss and pulled back to look at Emaline's face. And there he saw it. Excitement and anticipation. The rush of heat their bodies had begun to exchange shot down to his loins.
"Your gift," he smiled. I'm guessing from the look on your face, you'd be wanting it now wouldn't you?" He knew she wanted more, even if she did not yet realize it. Emaline's eyes fluttered open. She knew he'd seen them still closed seconds before.
"Yessir." The words came out in a breathless whisper.
"Well come now, let me not keep you waiting any longer." He lead her over to the bookcase and pulled out a small book wrapped with twine. "I know Mama's been teaching you to read over the years, but I guess you never have a chance to do it unless you are with her. So I want you to have this little book that you can keep for yourself." Emaline looked up, not sure what to think about the gift. Slaves didn't read. At least not out in the open, they didn't. This seemed to be a forbidden fruit. When could she sneak away to explore the pages? Edward understood her trepidation. "It's alright, just find a secret place to read it. After your chores are done of course. Maybe on Sundays." She wondered how he knew what she was thinking.
"Master Edward, I thank you sir. I ain't neva got no gift like this before." Her appreciation was obvious as she trailed her finger down the binding of the book. "Can I look at it now?"
"Course ya can, Emmy. Go on, open it." She carefully untied the twine and peeled the cover back. The stiff pages cracked into the silence of the room. A thin translucent film was inside with a wild flower pressed between its layers.
"Oh my goodness!" The pressed flower slipped onto the floor and Emaline quickly bent down to retrieve it, as though if it hit the floor it would disappear. She examined it closely and realized it was one of the deep burgundy flowers Edward loved so much. He'd said they reminded him of her. "It's a mum!"
"Yes. My beautiful... dark... flower." As he spoke each punctuated word, he stroked her temple down to her chin. "I want you to stay with me tonight Emaline." His words came out almost as a command. When they registered in Emaline's ears, a sudden pang of fear twisted in her stomach.
