Chapter 8: Merrigold.
In he entered the kitchen with his Remington hunting rifle, he held it so close like an expert. A giggle followed behind him, I could not help but feel some sort of annoyance as I continued to cut the green peppers and onion.
"I could have sworn you were a professional.." She said softly followed by a giggle. Her voice reminded me that of a child, a little girl. Anything Austin did, she was wildly impressed. She held onto his arm as she continued to serenade him with compliments. With the hatred I felt for him, I'd never take pride in complimenting him. I saw him as a vulture, a hyena that preys on the helpless and already dead.
"My best mates father Joshua Gallagher used to take us hunting as kids. I could have done a better job honestly..."
"Those helpless birds were lucky then." She smiled dreamily watching him.
"I would not have wanted to look murderous with a stunning lady in my presence.."
With a pink tint on her cheeks. "You look rather handsome and invincible in such a stance."
"You think so?" He raised an eyebrow milking for more compliments.
"You're stunning Austin, I fail to understand why you have not been taken by other already as it is. I feel very lucky, you're wonderful and I enjoy every moment with you." At this point my eyes water with tears not from her naivety but from the onions in front of my eyes. I had tried hard to contain it and face the cutting board but I couldn't anymore. For a moment I faced up and my eyes made eye contact with his.
"You're just as majestic my dear Harriet." Austin said taking his eyes away from mine. I was quick to wipe away the tears.
"So what now?" She asked. "Would you like to meet my parents? I have written to them all about you and how well this visit has been. I'm glad, I decided to visit Edward otherwise I would not have encountered a fine lad like yourself."
"You flatter me, Harriet." He smiled giving me a smirk. "I'm a simple young man who likes the simple things in life. Petite, brown eyes..." He stopped when our eyes met yet again. Harriet has not even realized, myself and two other housekeepers were present. Her infatuation with Austin bewildered me. Would she love him when she finally realized the devil that lied within—
"Blue eyes, Austin, blue eyes." She corrected him with a small smile.
"Yes, yes the fine things in life petite and blue eyes—"
"Honestly Austin, I was not sure if the married life was for me but I can not help but dream of us as husband and wife. I have never felt this way about a man before. You—" she grinned. "You're everything I prayed for."
Austin only chuckled and laid a soft kiss on her forehead. "Mhm.."
"You make me feel.." she blushed. "After what we did at the river, I can not help but picture how much more ecstasy you will make me feel once we fully give in."
"Now now darling, not in front of the negroes."
She blushed turning to finally look at us. "Afternoon everyone."
"No need to greet them Harriet, they're just workers." He shrugged.
"But I have to have them know my allergies!"
"No need, I have the carriage ready for you."
"I assumed we would share a nice dinner before my departure?"
"It is getting quite late, mosquitoes can be vile at this time of the night down here considering we have a river close by. Wouldn't want those sweet rosy cheeks getting perked at because that is only my job!"
Harriet giggled as she looking up at him adoringly.
"Always the considerate gent." She mustered boring on her lip.
"I suppose.." He added leading her towards the lounge aiming for their exit from there on. A feeling of annoyance raveled within me. For some reason they made me feel uneasy and rather discontent. I excused myself from the other maids for a bit needing some fresh air. I had never been asked to work in the kitchen but as of now, I had to. I always helped out but this time I had not choice. Master Austin had made it clear that I was to perform more physical duties and that I leave finances to him. At first the thought of physical duties gave me a fright but after hearing the full sentence, I felt much better. Still uneasy, I had not seen my brother and Thomas in a week and a half. I wondered when would they return. Austin had sarcastically said 'Will they ever? Who knows?'
I hated him for controlling every single aspect of my life. I hated him for threatening to cause harm and distraction amongst everyone at the commune. Every since he had started conversing with the blonde girl, he seemed less determined to torture me. He seemed more occupied, as far as to forget some of the duties that requested of his signature for the well-being of the ranch. He hardly spent his days here anymore, it was only here and there that he would be around. It did not bother me. I felt some sadness as of late, for Thomas because I missed him so much. I missed his smile and laugh. He always reminded me that kindness exists and goes a long way. I missed my brother always scolding me to be careful for the most ballistic stuff. I missed our old lives before Austin came along. Standing on the porch, for a second I closed my eyes and imagined when life was simple.
I was startled by footsteps. "I thought, I had made it clear that I will need you to cook for me everyday. You can not just up and leave the kitchen because you do not feel like it while they do your job."
"Why?" I dared him, it was after sunset. A cold breeze passed by messing with his jet black hair. The sound of crickets enveloped us. He heaved a sigh letting his shoulders sag. His eyes seemed confused as if he had not been expecting me to ask him why? But I needed to know why all of a sudden... I was his cook. I was better than that, I had acquired skills that could be of better use but he had me cutting peppers and so on to put me in my place and make me feel like nothing. I'm well spoken and—
"No questions!" He said aggressively biting on his lip.
"No, I won't." I crossed my arms.
"You will not what?" He asked daring me.
"Fair enough, this may sound selfish but you may go on forcing yourself on every woman on this ranch to spite me but I will not take your petty orders." I said clicking my tongue at him.
"Fine, Merrigold. Do you feel good and empowered? Do you feel delegated? Privileged enough to talk to me in such a manor. Fine enjoy your little feel of victory. I will wipe that smug of your face.." He said slowly and careful enough that I heard every word with each written promise behind it. Unbuckling his belt, letting his zip down. I felt fear convulse within me, tongue tied, my little bit of confidence disappeared. He suddenly grabbed my arm forcing me to loosen my grip from my crossed arms. Forcefully bringing my hand down his underpants. I died a little... "You will beg for this Merrigold just you wait."
Closing my eyes and breathing hard from fear. I grabbed my hand back, the feel of it made me feel nauseated. Thankful for the dark and my not being able to see it. He roughly turned me around forcing my bottom to face his manhood. I could feel every inch of it and how hard it was even through the amount of fabrics between us. Breathing hard himself, he brought both our bodies so close there was no space in between. The warm air from his nostrils behind my ear, made my nipples harden. Something that had never happened unless I was cold. Not even with Thomas, it confused me. My stomach churned, forcing me to feel something I had never wanted before or felt before. It felt foreign.
My bad subconscious told me to turn around and kiss him. My good subconscious told me to smack him. We stayed in the same position for what seemed like eternity. I was captured in his arms against his chest, my mind said no but my body said yes. He pressed my behind even closer to his manhood. For a second I was confused, my vagina throbbed as if it had its own heartbeat. The sound of crickets continued to envelop us. We both refused to move, I heard him mutter incoherent curses. I felt wet liquid against both the fabrics that kept us from going insane. I did not understand what had happened, I had assumed he had peed on me to degrade me. My tears threatened to spill.
He let me go. Looking away, we both seemed embarrassed and angry with ourselves.
"Master should we serve?" It was nice to hear someone at this moment. Someone other than us.
"Wait a while, I will be right there, might take a shower." He said with a hoarse voice. With that she went back inside.
Buckling his belt. I thanked God, he had kept his underpants on during this whole encounter. I looked away, hoping he would leave without a word. I did not like this.
"Do not act naive, you know exactly what you did Merrigold. I have not ever cum my pants not even as an adolescent. You're—" He said aggressively finding it hard to find the right word.
"I did not do anything!" I yelled back, tears immediately falling. There was nothing that hurt me more than being wrongly accused, I felt vulnerable. My body was reacting in a such a way I had never experienced. Confusion and guilt was all I felt.
"Stay away from me Merrigold, I beg of you stay the bloody far away from me." He cursed, running his fingers through his messy hair. He stormed off. Leaving me confused... I hated this just as much as he did.