One More Mouth to Feed

Evangeline lay on the floor of the barn, tired and weak from lack of food. She was being punished yet again, for a crime she had never committed. Stealing! They accused her of all people of stealing. Her, the poor little immigrant girl who had gotten here four months ago and barely knew English well enough to not slip back into her native French. Her, the girl who would be beaten to an inch of her life if she even thought about stealing. She knew well enough to stay quiet and do what she was asked. She didn't know how to not behave, and wouldn't have stolen anything from anyone, least of all her master and his family.

She worked for Elijah Crane, one of the leading cotton growers and manufacturers in Georgia, and probably all of the American South. He had three sons, all aged in their early teens, no daughters, and as of a year ago, no wife. Evangeline was their cook, cleaning woman, and caregiver all rolled into one young, feminine package. She was only 14, and back in her country, she'd have been married by then, pregnant with her first child. She missed home. Home was where her mother and father were, and her five older sisters and brothers. She was the baby of the family, and here she was being told how to be a mother, in basic terms. 

The Crane boys, all blue eyed and golden haired, reminded her of angels she had read about in stories. Tall, and fair, and charming, with the looks and poise of a prince. They were upper class boys, always dressed well and taught properly, and they did everything they were supposed to for the public eye. 

Behind closed doors was another matter entirely. 

Isaac, age 16, had a deadly accuracy for hunting. He knew exactly where to get each animal so it wasn't damaged, and was perfectly edible. He could work a bow and arrow, knife, fencing foil, and could work a whip like nobody his age should have been able. His father occasionally let him punish the slaves who weren't working well enough or fast enough, and Isaac adored it. It frightened Evangeline what that boy knew how to do, and he had punished her twice now as well, for nothing besides him being bored. 

SImon, age 18, had an intellect that was only matched by the university professors, but then again, he would probably be their equal in a matter or a year or two. He knew every scientific term for probably everything scientific known to man, and his ambition was to be a doctor, which was fitting, since he knew the anatomy so well. Hell, he was even the one to tell his father all about the female anatomy, so he knew what to do to Evangeline later. 

And then there was Joseph. Joseph was Elijah's pride and joy, wanting to take over the family business from his father when he was unable to tend to it any longer. He was a cruel, boorish boy who was always making trouble for anyone he could, especially Evangeline. His clothes were always muddy, requiring numerous amounts of time scrubbing, sometimes until her hands were chapped and bleeding, and he ate the most, requiring her to make more food in the middle of a meal, and in the house he was a notorious flirt who felt it necessary to point out how "delectable" she was at any opportunity the

y were alone together. 

There was a reason she had pretended to be a mute. She didn't have to say a word to any of them, which was a lovely thing, since she hardly knew their language, and didn't wish to spend any of her breath on talking to them. But then, at the same time, there was a disadvantage.

She couldn't defend herself when they accused her of something. 

Isaac had beaten her black and blue until her body was bleeding and it hurt to move anything, and his father had swiftly parted her legs and slipped her into agony. There was enough pain in that to make her want to die. She had worked so hard not to say a word, not to make a sound, and now she sobbed into a bale of hay, for a lack of a better place to cry. 

"Eva?" she heard, spoken so softly she could have cried. She looked up. Luke.

Luke Deprine was a field hand on a farm next door to the Crane's, and he was always coming to visit her at night. He was kind to her, and compassionate, and he didn't try and hurt her, or call her suggestive names, or order her around. She loved him for that. He was the only one she felt safe with. She was the only one she ever spoke to, knowing he wouldn't share the secret that she could.

"Over here." Evangeline croaked. 

Luke looked over his shoulder, checking to make sure the coast was clear before coming and sitting beside her, his brown eyes sparkling. She could see he was crying. "Oh, darlin', what happened to you?" he asked, stroking her hair and scooting her carefully into his lap. She winced a bit, and he bit his lip, murmuring an apology softly. 

"What did they do to you?" he asked, as tears trailed down his cheeks. She bent up to wipe them away. 

"Nothing they have not done before." she whispered. 

"Are you in pain?"

"No, now that you are here." She smiled happily and he leaned down, kissing her lips gently, cradling her cheek with one hand and pressing her closer to him with his other. 

She felt her stomach drop and quickly got off Luke's lap, retching into the bushes outside the barn, rasping for breath as she realized what was happening. She hadn't eaten a thing in two days, there was only one reason this could have been happening.

"Eva?" Luke asked from behind her, but she hardly heard him, the horrible thoughts swirling through her head. 

"Evangeline?" Luke asked again, coming to stand beside her. He put a hand on her shoulder and guided her back into the barn. "Darlin', what's wrong?"

"I'm....I-I'm......with child." Evangeline whispered, her skin as pale as paper, her entire body shaking.

"You couldn't be....he just.......he did this tonight, didn't he?" There was no need to elaborate who he was talking about.

Evangeline shook her head. "It's every night, Luke. It's every night."

He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. "Shhh. It's going to be alright, Eva. We'll get out of here, we'll go far away from here." 

She cried softly into his shoulder, wishing to stay there forever. 

Reviews

[zainul]

Abbie,I adore your efforts.
I suppose you have presented a good story while introducing your characters properly.
Did you write this thinking Roots of Alex Haley?

[bookworm0812]

No, actually, but that is sort of the idea. Thank you for the review.

[zainul]

OK.
Carry on.
I like the idea.