Kevin weren’t gay, she’d try with them too.”
“They’re gay?”
She nods and then explains, “Yeah, they’re a couple. The people around here think I don’t see them sneaking around, but I do. Nothing happens on this plantation without me knowing.”
I clear my throat and then ask, “So you know about Christopher and Maddie?”
“Yeah, I know. Christopher is good for Maddie. He makes her feel safe.”
“So they’re a couple because he makes her feel safe?” I’m trying to figure out what makes them different from all the other people I’ve seen.
“Yes. He’s very protective of her.”
“Okay,” I say, thinking the information over. I turn to River and ask, “You’re protective of me and I feel safe with you, does that make us a couple?”
She starts to laugh. It’s not her normal spontaneous laughter, but more like a nervous chuckle. “No, Jack. We’re not a couple, we’re friends. Friends also look out for each other.”
I sigh, not understanding any of this. “I’ve been watching them,” I admit.
“Who? Christopher and Maddie?”
“Yeah,” I look at River again and then my eyes drop to her mouth. “I’ve been watching them kiss. They make it look like it’s a nice thing to do.”
River stands up quickly and she shoves her hands in her pockets. “I suppose it could be a nice thing for two people to share if they like each other.”
“You haven’t kissed someone?” I get up, too, walking closer to her.
“No … I mean … yes.” She takes a deep breath, her eyes looking everywhere but at me. “I kissed that stable boy once. I didn’t like it and you know the rest.”
I take another step closer to her and I like that she has to look up at me. It makes me feel strong.
“I haven’t kissed someone,” I whisper. I wonder if River will let me kiss her. “Will you kiss me, River?”
“Me?” she sputters and takes a step back. “You don’t want to kiss me, Jack. Wait until you meet a girl who makes your heart beat faster and gives you butterflies. Let your first kiss be special. When you find that girl it will so be worth the wait.”
I feel a sliver of disappointment crawl into my heart but I understand what River is saying. We walk back to the house and after I’ve eaten we spend some time working on my writing. I can make all the letters from A to G. River says she’s proud of my progress and it makes me feel warm inside that I’ve done something to please her.
~*~
Chapter Fourteen
River~
I’m glad Jack didn’t turn back into himself after the episode with Beverly. I could have killed that woman when I heard what she did! I had Kyle blindfold her and take her a few towns over before he made sure she got on the bus. Most of the slaves are blindfolded or out cold when they come here, so that no one can find us if they choose to leave.
It’s a few nights later that Jack asks, “Can I ask you something?”
I snuggle into his chest. It’s become my favorite place to be. “Sure,” I answer sleepily.
“After the party you told me that you like to watch, that it turns you on, was that the truth?”
I look up at him. “Why do you ask?” It’s been weeks, almost two months since Jack came here. I’m surprised that he even remembers what I said that night.
“I was just wondering.”
I love when Jack talks to me. I don’t want him to ever stop. I answer his question hoping it will keep him talking. “I don’t like to watch, Jack. It’s just a cover I use for the parties so I can get in. They think I have a collection of slaves that I play with, like someone might play with a doll. It’s the only thing I could think of so it wouldn’t be expected of me to have sex with slaves.”
His hand comes up and he takes a few strands of my hair between his fingers, just playing with it.
I can feel how tense he is so I try to encourage him. “Talk to me, Jack.”
“It’s just,” he twirls the strands around his finger
“They’re gay?”
She nods and then explains, “Yeah, they’re a couple. The people around here think I don’t see them sneaking around, but I do. Nothing happens on this plantation without me knowing.”
I clear my throat and then ask, “So you know about Christopher and Maddie?”
“Yeah, I know. Christopher is good for Maddie. He makes her feel safe.”
“So they’re a couple because he makes her feel safe?” I’m trying to figure out what makes them different from all the other people I’ve seen.
“Yes. He’s very protective of her.”
“Okay,” I say, thinking the information over. I turn to River and ask, “You’re protective of me and I feel safe with you, does that make us a couple?”
She starts to laugh. It’s not her normal spontaneous laughter, but more like a nervous chuckle. “No, Jack. We’re not a couple, we’re friends. Friends also look out for each other.”
I sigh, not understanding any of this. “I’ve been watching them,” I admit.
“Who? Christopher and Maddie?”
“Yeah,” I look at River again and then my eyes drop to her mouth. “I’ve been watching them kiss. They make it look like it’s a nice thing to do.”
River stands up quickly and she shoves her hands in her pockets. “I suppose it could be a nice thing for two people to share if they like each other.”
“You haven’t kissed someone?” I get up, too, walking closer to her.
“No … I mean … yes.” She takes a deep breath, her eyes looking everywhere but at me. “I kissed that stable boy once. I didn’t like it and you know the rest.”
I take another step closer to her and I like that she has to look up at me. It makes me feel strong.
“I haven’t kissed someone,” I whisper. I wonder if River will let me kiss her. “Will you kiss me, River?”
“Me?” she sputters and takes a step back. “You don’t want to kiss me, Jack. Wait until you meet a girl who makes your heart beat faster and gives you butterflies. Let your first kiss be special. When you find that girl it will so be worth the wait.”
I feel a sliver of disappointment crawl into my heart but I understand what River is saying. We walk back to the house and after I’ve eaten we spend some time working on my writing. I can make all the letters from A to G. River says she’s proud of my progress and it makes me feel warm inside that I’ve done something to please her.
~*~
Chapter Fourteen
River~
I’m glad Jack didn’t turn back into himself after the episode with Beverly. I could have killed that woman when I heard what she did! I had Kyle blindfold her and take her a few towns over before he made sure she got on the bus. Most of the slaves are blindfolded or out cold when they come here, so that no one can find us if they choose to leave.
It’s a few nights later that Jack asks, “Can I ask you something?”
I snuggle into his chest. It’s become my favorite place to be. “Sure,” I answer sleepily.
“After the party you told me that you like to watch, that it turns you on, was that the truth?”
I look up at him. “Why do you ask?” It’s been weeks, almost two months since Jack came here. I’m surprised that he even remembers what I said that night.
“I was just wondering.”
I love when Jack talks to me. I don’t want him to ever stop. I answer his question hoping it will keep him talking. “I don’t like to watch, Jack. It’s just a cover I use for the parties so I can get in. They think I have a collection of slaves that I play with, like someone might play with a doll. It’s the only thing I could think of so it wouldn’t be expected of me to have sex with slaves.”
His hand comes up and he takes a few strands of my hair between his fingers, just playing with it.
I can feel how tense he is so I try to encourage him. “Talk to me, Jack.”
“It’s just,” he twirls the strands around his finger
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