Free B017GCC62O (R) by Michelle Horst Page A

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