Nora stared out the window of her room, deep in thought. The past couple of months had not been exactly what she had expected them to be. First of all, she thought it would be wonderful not having to be one of Master Harris slaves.
"John," Nora corrected herself in her head. "Not Master Harris...just John."
She had discovered that he actually was a very pleasant man. He would tell her jokes and talk to her like she was a normal person. He even listened to what she had to say. One night Nora told John that she had learned to read from her former mistress. The next day he brought home a Bible and thick novel for her to read. He took the time to learn some of her favorite foods and made sure they were on the meal menu a couple times a week. Though he had been so assertive at first, he was showing her a much softer side and acted like no white person she had ever known. Their relationship had not moved to a physical level. Once in a while John would give her a kiss on the cheek, but that was the extent to the physical relationship. However, it was still enough to make her tingle.
Nora thought that not being John's slave would make her a free woman, but in reality, it did not. Seeing the other slaves working in the kitchen and going outside and seeing the others working in the fields made Nora feel that she was really just like the rest of them, expect that she wore pretty clothes and got to call the master by his first name. She knew that as soon as she stepped off the property, people would only see her for the color of her skin and she would become a slave all over again. Also, there was always the thought of John meeting another woman in the back of her mind. Then what would happen to her?
Her rumbling stomach interrupted her thoughts. "It's almost dinner time," she said to herself, "John must be down stairs by now." Nora stood up and headed downstairs to see what had been prepared for dinner that day. Coming closer to the dining room, she could hear the laughter of a woman. It doesn't sound like Margaret, she thought to herself. She was suddenly feeling more curious as to whose voice it could be.
Nora walked through the dining room doors surprised at the sight that she saw. John was sitting at the dining table with a blonde woman directly beside him who was laughing and smiling, probably at a joke he had just told her. She looked very regal wearing a light blue dress with a low neckline and with her blonde hair piled on top of her head. John smiled back at her and leaned forward to brush back a strand of hair that had fallen down in front of her face.
Nora was ready to make a quiet exit, but John suddenly looked up at her, seeming both surprised and ashamed. The blonde then turned her head to see what had taken John's attention away from her. She did not seem at all pleased to see that Nora had interrupted them. The woman looked back at John and then tried to continue the conversation with him.
"You are too funny John," the blond woman said. "Now go on with what you were saying," She was surprised to see that he did not answer her. His attention was still focused past her on Nora. "John!" she yelled this time. "Don't tell me you'd rather sit there and stare at that ugly ole' slave of yours than look at me," she said with a nervous chuckle.
John quickly turned his attention back to her and just smiled, rather than answer her question.
"John," she said with a wicked smile. "You cad. Now you didn't answer my question. So...?"
"Sarah," he said acting confused. "What in the world are you talking about?"
The blonde woman turned her attention away from John and stared squarely at Nora. "Slave, why are you just standing there like you have nothing to do. Go fetch us more wine right away." She held up the wine glass in front of her, which was actually more than half full.
Nora gave her a grim smile and then walked towards the kitchen doors reluctantly, wondering to herself she was bothering to do it. After walking into the kitchen she went downstairs to the wine cellar, and grabbed the first bottle she could find to bring back. As she walked back up the stairs, she realized there were tears coming down her cheeks. Here she was, serving someone once again, although it had been declared to her that she was not a slave. Such a short-lived freedom. Not only that, but she had thought that possibly John might have feelings for her. Now that theory was thrown out the window. Nora walked over to the counter and rested her head on it, trying to calm herself down before walking back into the dining room. How could he??? First he had taken her from her home, raped her, and then acted like he regretted it so much and actually cared for her. Now, he was already courting a woman and worst of all, letting her stomp all over her.
As Nora leaned her head against the counter, she felt a hand begin to stroke her hair. She figured it must have been Margaret. However, he she looked up, she saw it was John.
Nora quickly stood straight and wiped the existing tears from her cheek. "I suppose you're both waiting on this," she said, holding the wine bottle out. "Sorry I took so long."
John took the bottle from her hands and sat it on the counter. "Don't worry about that," he said, reaching up to stroke the side of her face. "Don't worry about her, you're not her servant. You're not anybody's servant now."
Nora looked at him wondering whether or not she had the right to ask him her next question. "Who is she?"
"Sarah? She's nobody, really." He looked deep into Nora's eyes seeing she didn't believe him. "Trust me, alright?"
"So, what are your plans for tonight? Will you be making love to her?" Nora knew she was treading on thing water. However, she was starting to care for John more than she would have liked and her feelings of jealousy were beginning to take over like a tidal wave. "Or will you savagely take her like you did me? That's your thing, isn't it...Massa?" Nora was equally as shocked as John probably was by the words that had just tumbled from her mouth. Bravely she stared back at him, giving him a smirk. Though she acted quite composed, her heart was racing a mile a minute. There was so much anger boiling inside her, that she couldn't stop the words from coming out of her mouth. She wondered what John's next move would be. Saying such words to any white man would get her beat, possibly killed.
John's hand dropped from her cheek and he stood still for a moment. But he then quickly reached out, grabbing both her arms and roughly dragged her up against him. "First of all," he growled, "I told you that I have never raped another woman in my fucking life. I'm sorry that I did that you, but both you and I know that we do feel something for one another. Secondly, nothing is going to happen between Sarah and myself after this meal. In case you didn't notice already, I'm a bit of a gambler. I played against her father, I was betting for one of his horses, he was betting for a date with his daughter. I am a very wealthy man, my dear, so this was a pretty good deal for him. Unfortunately, I lost. Quite honestly, I've had my share of bitchy woman and they've left a rather bad taste in my mouth." He took a deep breath and then continued more softly, "Lastly, don't push me, sweetheart. I am the man of this house so I suggest you respect me. Do you understand?"
Nora looked down at the floor and nodded her head.
John let go of her arms and took her chin in his hand, lifting it up so that she was looking into his yes. He leaned forward and gave her a soft kiss on her cheek and then taking the bottle of wine, turned around and walked towards the dining room.
Nora wanted to begin crying again, but felt it was a waste of time. Hearing that John had no feelings for Sarah did not help her feel better. Living with John would be a hard situation. He was right, for some reason, she did feel something for him, but it would only make things more complicated. One day you would find a woman who he would court and possibly marry. Then what would happen to her? Certainly he wouldn't allow her to live freely with his wife and children. Would she become his slave again? Or would she be cast away and sold to someone else?
Then and there, Nora decided she had to leave. Perhaps she could find a way to escape up North. She recalled hearing something about an underground railroad from slaves in her previous home. Maybe she could find it. She did not know where she was going, but she could not stay with John a moment longer. Nora realized that there was another doorway in the kitchen that led to the hallway where the staircase was. It was a long route that she usually did not take, but it was best to sneak upstairs that way so not to interrupt John and Sarah. She quickly and quietly made her way to her bedroom where she grabbed her most important belongings and then tied them up in the robe that John had bought for her. She made her way back downstairs, through the kitchen once again, and then exited through the backdoor of the house. In front of her was an empty field and then a cornfield that led to the woods. She did not know if it would be the safest place, but she decided that her chances may be better than taking the road. If she took the later, a white man or woman could easily spot her and she would be captured soon.
Nora took a deep breath and then moved forward towards the cornfield. She realized that she was the only one outside and that the slaves must have retired for the evening. She shivered at the thought of being by herself for the night. It was not yet dark out, but she sun was beginning to set and would probably be down in about an hour. When Nora stepped from the grass into the cornfield, she suddenly heard a very loud horn.
"What is that?" she asked herself. She looked around wildly and then spotted where it was coming from. A top of a flat section of the barn sat a slave with a horn. It dawned on Nora that this slave's job must be to watch out for runaways. "It's now or never," she whispered under her breath. Nora turned back towards the cornfield, and then took off running, straight forward towards the woods.
Behind her, she could hardly hear the commotion of other slaves gathering outside to find out what had happened. Minutes later she was unable to hear John yelling to her at the top of his lungs.
Running as fast as she could, Nora made it past the cornfield and into the woods. She wasn't sure of what direction to take, or if she should even be running away. But the thoughts of what could possibly happen if she was seized pushed her on. She had heard too many stories of slaves getting caught after running away and she did not to risk the punishment it could bring. She knew John had a nasty side and didn't want to face it again. She zig-zagged through trees, trying to avoid going in a straight line. However, she wasn't paying as much attention as she should have. Out of the blue, Nora felt herself trip over a thick tree root. Her head hit the ground, and then all was dark.
