Free The Fancy by Mercedes Keyes, Lawrence James Page B

someone, al by herself, with him standing by,
    not interfering – trusting her to get on with it.
    The entire event felt wonderful; she wanted to
    soak it up. She felt reborn, renewed, given a taste of
    something she was good for, other than being a
    fancy for a man’s bed - even though, she'd avoided
    being that for Quinton - she was not sure for how
    much longer he would let her get away with it, his
    hints, looks, brushes as he passed her by, touching
    her back, shoulder, hands; al was happening with an
    her back, shoulder, hands; al was happening with an
    intensity. “One – day? I see – should I be concerned
    that you wil hold out the best for someone else, while
    I stand by – hoping for the day, you'l – ful y – trust
    me?” He asked gently.
    Suga sat chewing on her bottom lip, trying to
    think of what to say, they were moving through town –
    even with the wind chil ing al in its wake, there were
    stil people out mil ing about going for things;
    regardless of the grey day. Many of them who saw
    Quinton's carriage driving by, stopped and cal ed out
    to him waving - they al knew who he was by now.
    That day, the town folk - noticed that there was
    something different – noticed that someone rode
    with him; al eyes searched and widened noticing the
    black female sitting next to him.
    Their curiosity would not be satisfied that day,
    because Quinton did not stop, his eyes were on the
    road and the woman beside him, his glance was
    fleeting to those they passed. Quinton didn't seem to
    pay them any mind, but Suga felt them look, and
    knew the questions that went through their minds,
    who was she? Did they just see a Negro woman?
    Why was she riding with Dr. Caine? Knowing this,
    made her shrink further into the carriage's cover top
    and sides to hide herself from those who stopped to
    look closely – she was afraid and by her next words,
    Quinton knew it.
    “Shhh, Quinton – stop talkin' t'me, look at
    th'road.” Suga whispered at him, feeling paranoid.
    “There's no need for you to hide Suga, they wil
    have to learn soon enough that I have a girl, servant,
    maid – what have you – there is no way to avoid it.
    Come out.”
    “Hush! Don't be talkin' t'me – ignore me, talk
    t'them.”
    He waved to them instead, continuing on
    home, thinking about Suga's fears once more. Glad
    to see his home, his yard and the path, he went
    straight for the barn, taking the carriage in, Suga
    hopped down, grabbed her new things, not waiting
    for him to come around for her, and ran for the
    kitchen door to let Moose out into the yard.
    Quinton sighed and turning back, he led his
    horse inside to unhitch it. While in the barn –
    brushing his horse down, he thought about Suga.
    He thought about how it seemed that no task
    was too great for her, or test of endurance too long,
    no matter what she must go through, she went
    through it with calm acceptance and steel
    determination to survive in a way that would be best
    for her. She dealt with life and what things presented
    themselves, with a cleverness that did not surprise
    him, yet - gave him a sense of pride in her, yes, he
    felt it, deep in his chest.
    He was learning many things about Suga, she
    did not panic or fret. She did not flap or hesitate;
    there was no whining or complaints. She was his
    fancy, and now – he wasn't so sure if the term meant
    what he'd always imagined it to mean; given, due to
    their looks and beautiful bodies - certainly for the
    pleasure of any man able to pay for them. If the term
    fancy did mean that, wel , Suga – was so much more
    than that – her beauty was second to the strength
    and grit within – her looks, they were the bonus.
    By the time he started walking from the barn,
    he noted a few people riding by that end of town,
    looking towards his place, towards him. He waved
    and nodded; they did the same, but were looking for
    more beyond him, visual y deflated when they did not
    find what they were looking for. He noted this,