Not once, had he to worry over food, and yes – she provided without him realizing how she'd done so – because he'd slipped in his duties, neglecting all because she saw to it. He had not taken her shopping, made her familiar with the ways of getting supplies from the town merchant, so yes – he realized, what else could she have done, not to disturb him? Had she been his wife, his white wife, she would have had to disturb him because there would be no food – but Suga had made do.
“Aaah Suga, this is my fault isn't it? Already, I've taken your presence for granted, and – you have done – what I forced you to do, provide for us.”
“No, you treat folks, they give, you bring'em back, and I make do like that.”
He stepped away from her, turning for their parlor taking hold of her hand to pull her along with him. Once inside, he sat her in his chair, he took the stool to gaze up at her, holding her hands.
“Suga, look at me, look right into my eyes.”
His eyes were dark blue, like the blue of the sky deep into dusk before the dark of night; she could look into those eyes forever.
“I want you to know, that I will do better, I promise you I will do better. No more taking you for granted. What are you feeding Moose, he's growing with quite the speed.”
“He hunt wit me, at – night, while you sleepin'.” She confessed.
“At night, Suga? You go off into the woods at night?”
“Got to, I give him firs' catch, so he full, then bring back for you too, and me.”
He couldn't believe what he was hearing, but he knew that it was true, days had gone by, he'd eaten well, felt great in fact and barely questioned where the food was coming from – conveniently assuming most had been from the cupboards where he'd stored food stuff – figuring if they were out, she would say so, and since she never murmured a sound, not the tiniest complaint, he'd been able to get back to his experiments, his studies, which in truth is what he wanted, before being called upon by the town-folk.
“This cannot go on this way; I cannot have you – out – as I saw you today, and most certainly, not in the night.” Thunder rolled, Quinton gazed at her, “You are a lovely, exquisite creature, and I am blessed – forgive me please – I have berated you, when it is I in need of discipline. Do you, forgive me?”
Suga couldn't wrap her head around what he was saying to her, it didn't make sense to her way of thinking, “Can't forgive you fo’ somethin’ I can't see. I done my bit, you do yours – that's all I know.”
“Tell me Suga, tell me what would you have me do, and I will do it.” He offered, his conscience riding him as he looked back over the previous three and half weeks, seeing his actions and neglect of her as unforgiveable.
Her eyes looked off over his head, thinking about his words, “I's gone be col' soon, we gots t'bring all our meat in, what I hunt – we'ah be okay for winta' wit' what I got. If you want, I can bring it in myself; me and Moose.”
“I won't hear of it, you lead me to it, and I will see that it is brought back to store. What else?”
“Hens is layin', again, i's gone be col' soon, we gotta see ‘bout them so they be okay.”
Quinton nodded, “Whatever you wish me to do, I'll do. And you, as you say, the climate is filled with chill, it will soon freeze – you will need more clothing for the winter, many more things than you have.”
“Got me three gowns now, three chemise, two – uh, uh blooma's...” She blushed, looking away from him bashfully.
Quinton rocked back on the stool laughing from the gut, “Oh Suga, you bring light and laughter into my dark world, for this true gift, I must have done something right. Yet, I've neglected you, no more – this I vow as a gentleman, no more. We have things to do, as the day clears, the next three, I give solely to you, unless of course there is a matter of urgency that takes me from you, otherwise – my time has come – to repay you.”
Chapter V
The very next day, before dawn as the rain continued to drizzle, Quinton was wide awake - his mind on many things from the night before, he searched through all of his books, taking those he would use in teaching Suga to read; she’d slept in his bed the previous night, because he had insisted upon it, refusing to take no for an answer. She would be up soon, he could hear Moose excitedly moving about, as if trying to wake her - no doubt he needed to go out. Sure enough, the door opened and down the stairs he barreled, his growth was startling, one could guess his solid weight by the sound of his movements – even though he was still a young pup, his size was showing what he would one day be. No sooner had he reached the hallway when he stopped by their front door to bark at it - aware of a presence.
Quinton and Suga barely said good morning to each other before a banging started, Moose had known. A young male came calling – beating upon their door. Quinton had never seen him before; he appeared to be a man in his mid-twenties. His wife was now in labor and suffering terribly, according to him, it was her first and the child was not coming - she had been in labor all night.
Suga rushed to let Moose out, splashing her face and rinsing her mouth out as she listened to the men down the hall.
She was trying to keep up with what Quinton was doing, rushing to gather all that he needed. After calling Moose back in, putting him in the wood store, Suga stopped Quinton, “I'ah help, if you wan' me to?” Looking at her, something told him, take her.
Nervous and fearful, the young man had confided that he and his wife were alone, strangers to all as they were new to the area and just settling in. “Yes, Suga - come along – please. Take my cape, cover yourself with it, the season has grown brisk.” Eager, Suga gathered what she had collected of her own herbs and remedies – and slipped her feet into the moccasins she'd made for herself from animal hides. Once more, Quinton felt his face burn, he'd completely forgotten that she didn't have shoes and once more, she never made a complaint.
They were soon off – all three in the carriage – with Quinton driving it as fast as he could. When they arrived, the laboring wife was screaming out in fear as they rushed through the door. The husband, Erwin, hurried to his wife's side behind the curtain in their quaint dwelling – it was rustic and showed they hadn't been there long, but it was clean and warm.
“I'm here; I've brought help, the doctor! His servant girl came – she says she can help you with the pain.” He rambled off to his wife and then turned to Suga, asking immediately, “Is it true, can you help her not to hurt so much?” He pleaded, obviously very much in love and frightened for her.
“Ain't nobody can make it not hurt, but I’ah help to make it mo'easy.” Suga explained, taking over, never looking Quinton's way after entering the home. The wife was trying to relax – but she was afraid of the next wave of contractions, they were growing steadily stronger, giving her a sensation to push. “Gone – move! Make sure we got lots of clean, hot water to clean up wit' – gone!” Suga ordered, the shy woman that Quinton knew was left behind in the face of what had to be done.
She sat next to Erwin's wife, whose eyes were intensely upon her, “It hurts so bad, I've never known such agony, what am I doin' wrong?” She begged.
“You been pushin'?” Suga asked.
“I feel like I have to, to get it out.”
“Ain't too sho' it's ready to come out yet, gone have to look and see – you gone lemme look?”
Ellen eagerly nodded, glad to have a woman with her.
Outside of the curtain, Quinton stood wondering should he step forward, and thought he would ask, calling out, “Suga?!”
Of course being in the same room she heard, “Yes sa’?”
Hearing her address him that way froze him, then it occurred to him, they were before others, he sighed in acceptance, “You gonna need me?”
“I'mo need me a bowl o'fire, string, need that now.” She answered. Both men looked at each other and then at the fire place roaring and crackling. “Well?” Quinton posed the question to spur the husband, Erwin, on. He rubbed his face – a nervous, looking
around the room. As an idea came to him, he quickly took a baking pan and grabbed a small chip of burning wood – flames clinging and licking the air; immediately finding his wife's store of wicks he brought the items to Suga, “Here you go.”
“Put’em down, now gone!” She ordered him away.
Taking out her pipe, she stuffed it with a strong smelling herb; lit it with the wick she’d used to pick up the flame, puffed on it to get it going, and handed it to Ellen.
“Smoke that, inhale all it, till i's gone an' ain't no more.” Ellen looked at the pipe, then at Suga, steeling herself, she took it, she hadn't a clue why – but she was willing to do anything she was told not to hurt so much, however the herb caused her to cough, she looked up at Suga.
"Don't matta', it'ah do that, keep smokin' it." Obediently, Ellen finished it, Suga emptied the pipe, cleaned it out and set it back in her bag of tricks.
“How you feelin' now?” She asked Ellen.
“Ever so strange – something coming over me.”
“Good, let it, hopin’ it get in ya' fo'that pain come back. When it do, don't get scared, just let it. You gots’ta’ride it like you on a big'o'mean bull – an’ let that baby do what it got t'do t'get here! My mama say, you got to let go, open yo'body, t'free that baby, hollerin' and screamin' lock it inside you, the baby die, you die – 'cause you fightin' somethin' you can't win. Don't fight – calm yo'self, let everythin' loose so it can happen – you hear me.” Ellen smiled, nodding her head, “I hear you, Suga? That your name?”
“Yes ma’am, Suga my name.”
“Nice to meet you, Suga – pretty name – for a pretty gal.”
“Thank ya'. An' wha's yo'name?”
“I am Ellen, Ellen Udora Murray.”
“Tha's a pretty name too.”
“You stay by my side Suga, don't you go nowhere.”
“I'mo be – right here. When yo'body start doin' what it need fo'yo'baby – i's gone take yo'breath away, but you can't let it – you got's just – keep on breathin' and let it help that baby to come on out - but you can't stop it - you hear me? Just keep breathin' an’ ride that bull – don’ matta’ how it hurt.”
“Okay Suga, I'll do what you tell me.”
“I'm gonna have to look, see if I see it, no matter what, don't you go pushin' yet. Pushin' too soon make it harda' on you, on yo' baby - i's got to get where it need first.”
“Okay Suga...” Suga checked and didn't see any sign of the baby's head, “I'on like this, but – I'mo clean my hand, an' do what I see my mama do, I ask her once, why she do it, she say, to feel where the baby head at. You gone let me? I's gone hurt a lil' but I be careful.”
“Yes Suga, I let you. I feel so free Suga, so free – how odd, how positively strange, yet - good - I ain't feelin' no pain, nowhere - no ma'am, emmm.”
Suga smiled, glad she came.
Three and a half hours later, Erwin and Ellen Udora Murray had a healthy screaming baby boy. As for his mother, there was little to none screaming from her, the entire time, just barely a few cries as she pushed him into the world. After all was said and done, she too was healthy, happy and smiling. She remained relaxed and at ease and in awe of it all and more in love with her husband. Suga figured she'd never heard a woman say she love her man so much, but it was good still the same to see, both were so happy, they were crying over their precious newborn. Ellen felt so good, she was hugging Suga, holding her hand, thanking her repeatedly as if she'd found her long lost friend – asking if there was anything they could do for them once she was all cleaned up and settled in her fresh clean bed - courtesy of Suga.
As the carriage pulled away later that afternoon, Suga sat tall and proud to be in possession of three more gowns to wear, new beautiful gowns that had never been worn; two pairs of shoes and a ladies matching, winter cloak and bonnet – which she wore as they left. Quinton received a promise from Erwin that he'd be there first thing to get started on a proper chicken coop; no fox could get through – as well a reasonable size smoke house. Quinton and Suga learned that the Murrays were not poor by any means, just starting out new. Parents of both had sent them off with more than plenty to get them started on a good footing where ever they decided to set down and root.
Ellen was an exceptional seamstress, eager to get started on her own dress shop there in Weaver Port.
In journey to their new home, she had sat for hours, sewing, making new things, two of which went to Suga. As for Erwin, he was quite the carpenter/builder – he too would get his start there. The husband and wife would design furniture together, as well as pursuing other plans. They vowed loyalty to the doctor and his assistant mid-wife, saying to them as they departed, "Whatever you need, if it is within our power to provide, we will; that is our promise to you."
With Quinton driving the carriage, Suga sat back, grinning to herself, feeling proud, still a tad bit high from starting the pipe for Ellen, where instead of blowing it out, she kept a bit back to relax herself. In a state of slight euphoria, Suga felt such pride, she could not stop from smiling; she even giggled once, covering her mouth bashfully.
Quinton, beside her, leaned down and looked at her, smiled and then turned back to watching the road, nodding to anyone he passed on their way back home. After much thought on the matter, he spoke up, “Your pride is well deserved, very well deserved – for once, all there was for me to do, was keep the husband calm, sit with him through it, I didn't mind that, I didn't mind it at all Suga, not one bit. I predict, they will become close associates with us. Those gowns her husband unpacked for you, they are quite the way. When might I chance to see you in one?” He asked, flirting, enjoying the two of them strolling back together. He found it a welcome change from her waiting for him, and him, wondering if she was okay, home alone.
“One day.” She murmured softly, blushing - she couldn't look his way for grinning so wide, she wanted to laugh, but dare not, he might think she had gone daft on him, when in truth, her joy came from within. Her happiness stemmed from being with him, and then to have been taken along and to have helped someone, all 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; all was happening with an intensity. “One – day? I see – should I be concerned that you will hold out the best for someone else, while I stand by – hoping for the day, you'll – fully – 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 chilling all in its wake, there were still people out milling about going for things; regardless of the grey day. Many of them who saw Quinton's carriage driving by, stopped and called out to him waving - they all knew who he was by now.
That day, the town folk - noticed that there was something different – noticed that someone rode with him; all 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 will 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, well, 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, visually deflated when they did not find what they were looking for. He noted this, and began to add it up, he was a bachelor, keeping a 'female' servant was frowned upon.
The Fancy Page 6
