CHAPTER EIGHTY SIX

CHAPTER EIGHTY SIX
Delora

Since I arose at dawn all I have been able to think about is the man from yesterday. He looked so frail, close to death and it disturbed me greatly. To an extent, I think I saw him appear in my dreams asking for help.

I had been curious yesterday, but today, I was even more curious, especially with the way Esau's father acted when he saw me. It was like he had been caught doing something he should not have done, and as much as I knew it wasn't my business, I wanted to find out.

I was so lost in my thoughts as I made my way to the farm for my duties that morning that I bumped into Esau’s father, and he looked really angry.

“Sorry” I said apologetically as I steadied myself on my feet.

“I didn't-”

“What did you see?!” 

Before I could under what was happening he had grabbed my hand and was holding it in a very uncomfortable manner.

“You are hurting me!” I said trying to free myself from his grip.

“Why were you in that building? Who sent you? Answer me now or I swear I-”

“Nobody sent me anywhere and let go of me, you are hurting me!” I said again this time putting more force into freeing my hand.

“I shall warn you and I shall warn you only once. Stay away from that building and pretend like you never saw anything”

“I don't think you have been informed but I have been asked to live there from now on, I'm sorry but I can't stay away from the building” I said. 

I had more things to ask him but I doubt with the mood he was in right now he would answer me. He left me and moved back a bit. His anger had lessened and I knew that because he sighed and rubbed his face.

“Just mind your business if you want to keep living there” he said then he turned and walked away. I wanted to call him but I decided against it. If he wasn't going to talk to me maybe I should just mind my own business. Helping out was the one thing that got me into this mess in the first place.

As I walked towards the barn I saw Esau waving at me to come to where he was tending to the cattle.

“Hii” I said with a huge grin on my face. I was glad to see a friendly face.

“How are you?” He asked smiling. I was so happy we were back to talking. It would have been difficult living on the farm and not talking to him.

“I am fine, my back just hurts. I guess I didn’t sleep properly” I said still smiling.

“I heard you were sent to the farm. Where did you sleep?” He asked patting the floor next to him for me to sit. I had work to do but how could I refuse him.

Settling myself beside him I replied “At that old abandoned building behind the pigs' pen” I said and he frowned.

“That place is no place for a person to live” he said and I smiled sadly.

“I know, but that’s where Lady Odessa asked me to stay”

“Why?” He asked and I shrugged.

“She told me not to return to the castle and continue my punishment from here. Guess it’s part of my punishment” I said leaving out the part where I was pregnant. 

“They really are making you work huh?” He said and I chuckled. They were. To think it was a punishment that had no expiry date. 

“I am definitely going to die doing this” I said and he held my hand.

“You won’t. Soon it would be forgotten and who knows you might get pardoned” he said and as much as I knew his words weren’t true I hoped they were. Dying as a slave was not what I wanted because it would obviously pass it down to my child. Another reason why I wish I could put a stop to it before it happens.

“Umm, earlier I uhh saw you talking to my father. He seemed angry and uhh you have red marks on your hand. What happened?” He asked.

I didn’t realize his father left marks on my arm from where he grabbed me. I looked down and saw the red angry mark.

“Oh uhh. I bumped into him so he uhh was not in a good mood I guess, so he held me to steady me but I guess he grabbed me too hard” I said and he nodded his head slowly. 

I had no idea if he bought that excuse but it was the best thing I could think of.

“And uhh he was letting me know that I had a lot to do on the farm and that I should stop slacking around” I added just in case he asked why we spent a lot of time talking.

“Oh, okay. I don’t know what happened but he definitely didn’t wake up in a good mood today” Esau said and I nodded slowly. 

Something was definitely going on with the person I saw yesterday and it seemed like Esau knew nothing about the man in the abandoned building.

“He would be fine. Uhh, I know i should not ask this but did you have any leftovers from breakfast today?” I said.

It was embarrassing as I struggled with the words but I had to eat. If not for me but for my child, I wanted my baby to be strong and healthy.

“There were no leftovers but I saved you something. I was thinking of giving it to you after work but if you are hungry I can go get it now” he said and I smiled.

“Thank you, now would be fine please “ I said and he got up to go to his house while I sat there and waited for him.

I hoped in my heart that there would never come a day when he would stop talking to me. He and Denise, without them I would have taken my own life.