Free Over the Barrel by Breanna Hayse Page A

your opinion regarding children."
    "I
considered your words regarding children.   You were correct, as much as I hate to
flatter your ego.   In truth, it is
not really the children I deplore, it is the parents.   I do not wish to come toe-to-toe with an
individual who justifies the raising of a hateful child or who holds their
child captive to society's demands."
    Sloan was
silent for a moment.   "Not all
parents raise their children in such a formal or confining manner.   Out here," he gestured to the
cloudless, blue sky, "survival is more important than attending balls or
acting the debutante.   Perhaps you
are more fearful of being forced into marriage to satisfy society's idea of
virtue."
    "That
is one concern, yes," Blair admitted.   "The other is becoming trapped.   Should I take a position of raising
another person's children, and never having any of my own, I fear that I will
be looked down upon as being a spinster."
    "Like
your great-aunt?"
    "Yes.   She was very wealthy and had a great
amount of power, but people always talked behind her back about how undesirable
she was as a wife, and that was why she had never married.   I do not wish people to be discussing my
life in such a negative view."
    "Did
your grandfather ever remarry?   You
commented that your aunt forbade you from staying with him because he had no
wife."
    "I know
nothing of him except what Aunt Imelda told me.   She said that he came out here after his
dying father left all the family possessions and wealth to my aunt.   I had asked her why he had done so and
she stated because her father felt that she was the most deserving, even though
Malcolm was the eldest."
    "That
seems to be odd.   There must have
been more to the situation than that."
    "All
was kept very quiet.   Imelda only
referred to him when she threatened to send me here.   It was as though either he, or this
place, was considered wicked."
    "In the
eyes of the well-to-do, who are accustomed to being served, and they know that
all of life's desires are readily available, pioneer life can be viewed as a
sort of hell."
    "Yes,"
Blair said contemplatively as she watched the scenery slowly go by.   "Enough about me.   Tell me about your life.   You said you were born in Boston,
correct?"
    "Not
much to tell.   Yep, born and raised
in a well-to-do family, the youngest of three boys.   The oldest is a lawyer and works for my
father's company, and the other one is a missionary in Africa.   I went to Texas to get a life for myself
apart from Father's business."
    "My
parents were both missionaries.   Do
you think that is where I get that need to escape the confines of life?   My aunt said it is just my rebellion.   She says it reflects in my clothing as
well as my behavior.   My refusal to
adhere to fashion was a constant source of grief to her.   I attempted to explain that it was
because it is too confining."
    "I wish
I had an answer for you, Squirrel.   I guess people like us just can't be tied down in a place where we can't
breathe.   The Cherokees use the term asequui adonvdo .   It means free spirit."
    "That
is what I feel, as well.   Your wife
… was she also a free spirit?"
    "She
hated every pebble outside of Alabama," he chuckled, looking out at the
horizon.   "Leila was quite the
southern Belle and very proper, although she did enjoy the more intimate things
in our marriage.   Her papa owned
himself a big ol' cotton plantation with well over one hundred slaves.   Ne'er a day went by that she didn't beg
for a servant to take care of our house."
    "I do
not believe in slavery.   It is
cruel.   We had house servants, but
each was free to live their own lives once their work was completed.   Aunt Imelda treated them as well as she
did others who were not in her class," Blair commented.   "She even treated them better than
she treated me."
    "Mr.
Dibbons was a good man.   He educated
his slaves, provided medical care, and paid them for their labor.   If a