Chapter 21 — Creeping into the Cradle

Even though it was Friday evening, the atmosphere felt still – quiet and surreal. It was only gently puffs of breeze blowing; caused Ella Bradshaw to feel as though she was still existing.

Somehow, acknowledging the fact that both her parents were devils and needed to reside in the pits of hell. She was clueless to the fact that someday, she would come to turns that such, should be her sister’s Hyacinth’s faith as well.

Because, all along, she thought, it was only the five siblings of them against the hands and tongues which had done them many wrongs. Severely abusing each and every one of them for far too long. Until, Corporal Banks had stepped into the picture – into their troubled lives, on that blessed Saturday afternoon; saving their sister Lillian from being physically strangled to death by the hands of her own father.

But just like mother and father, so was daughter; not caring about the aftermath of the pain they inflicted upon others.

Reflecting upon what her sister hand done to her, Ella’s heart felt the brokenness once again and now the tears wouldn’t stop coming; streaming from her eyes and trickling slowly down her face like a waterfall experiencing a bad season of drought.

“How could Hyacinth do something like this to me; knowing damn well, I have Dion and Devon to send off to school and the utilities to be paid in this house?”

Came the spewing out of her sobbing words.

“I was the one, who nursed the center of her back when our mother placed the scorching hot, clothing iron there! I was the one, who comforted her and encouraged her when the scabs were healing! Strategically, placing one mirror at her back while she looked into the other mirror on the vanity to see how well she had been healing. I was the one, who massage the scars on her back with coconut oil, minimizing those disgusting scar tissues; so she could still damn well, wear alter-back and spaghetti straps!”

Ella reminisced and ranted in tears.

“Maybe, just maybe, it’s my own retribution catching up with me! I know, I’m not perfect… I sent my own brother to jail. And, I made my mother kick her own bucket, sending her off to an early grave! This is my punishment, I guess; since the Lord knows, I honestly can’t manage that place call jail!”

Uttered Ella, pitifully, while the waterworks kept on going in more than one direction on her face.

Her appetite was gone, and now, she was burying in, the cruel act her sister had done to her.

Mr. Marshall showed up to see her just like he had promised, after paying his staff and closing the gates to his company. And seeing this young girl who was mostly vibrant, now buckled-down in tears, weeping away about her circumstances; he felt compelled to pull her towards his chest, throw his large masculine hands around her and grant her some comfort.

And so he did, with Ella shakenly, submitting to his loving embrace.

“Don’t cry, Ella, everything is going to be all right! I am here for you… Dion and Devon is here for you, and need you to be strong for them!”

Came the comforting words from Mr. Marshall’s lips, as Ella’s head rested against his big broad chest.

This act of betrayal had not only touch a nerve, but broken a nerve in the deepest core of the teenager’s mind, heart, body and soul. Her teardrops were plentiful and ongoing like a river, and Mr. Marshall thought, she wouldn’t have ease her head from where she had it rested – upon his chest. And certainly, he didn’t want to tell her otherwise. Luckily for him, this time around she wasn’t getting weak in the feet… losing strength in her knees, slobbering on the ground and pleading with him to hold her up.

Nonetheless, he too had been receiving, certain amount of tactile pleasure and satisfaction from her body being so closely connected to his.

Her young growing breast pressing against his midsection, her soft and gentle face leaning against his chest and his arms around her, hugging so lovingly, made him felt his younger years resurfacing in front of his lusting eyes. Meanwhile hoping it would persist forever. But, even Ella knew, she couldn’t kept on crying for the rest of the evening, or seeking his bolstering arms forever.

And when the eventuality of easing away from his chest came fully, she looked into his face and wholeheartedly apologize. But instead of accepting her apologies, the Good Samaritan now became her rescuing savior; dipping into his pocked, bringing up a pile load of cash, peeling off some of it and handing it to her… a big chunk of it.

“Business was very good this month!”

Mr. Marshall said with a pleasant and soft grin on his face, as he handed Ella the fat chunk of dough.

“Get yourself in order… find yourself a school nearby and register yourself there. And as of next week, Dion and Devon will be doing some visiting with you… but only on weekends!”

The kindhearted man expressed.

Scratching his head, looking down on Ella’s chest, he continued;

“My wife’s decision, not mine… she seems to be willing to take some of the load; off your hands… care for those children’s schooling… she just felt like you needed a break!”

He said.

Ella, however, had clearly heard what Mr. Marshall had just said to her. But her thoughts were only about the pile of money in her hand – how long would she have to work to pay him back, for all of this lump-sum of cash?

“Boss-man, how much are you going to withdraw from my weekly pay to cover all of this?”

Asked Ella, with surprise written all over her wet face, and hands outwardly stretch with the bundle of money resting on top of it.

Eyes peering wide open, gazing into hers, Mr. Marshall, placing the rest of cash back into his pocket responded;

“Consider this your lucky day… no paying back is going to take place between us! You will come to work as usual, get your weekly or bi-weekly salary in the full amount! I know, things are pretty rough with you right now, and I’m just here to help you through it!”

Experiencing this warm, loving, welcomed act of generosity, Ella dropped to her knees on the stony ground, kissing Mr. Marshall’s feet, as she offered to him numerous amounts of thank you.

“Ella, I don’t want to see you being this pathetic over a little handful of cash… where the hell do you think we are living; in Istanbul!”

Mr. Marshall shouted at her while hands clutching underneath her armpit, supporting her back onto her feet.

“I know, you are not any Jesus! Neither am I, any Mary Magdalene! But, I just can’t help, showing my sincere appreciation to you in this fashion! Because, you have just saved me from a lot of troubles, and that means a whole lot to me! I thank you very, very much, Sir! I sincerely thank you!!”

Pronounce the teenager with watery eyes and bowing head.

“I see, you have done well in your religious studies!

Said, the kindhearted man, with a trickling of laughter coming from his mouth.

Few seconds later, the warmhearted, Mr. Marshall, was rubbing her on the shoulders and telling her, it’s all going to be okay!

His generous offer had her feelings liberated once again. And now she had thoughts of wanting to extend that same generous gesture back to someone whom she had done some terrible wrong. She felt the need to buy some goodies and bring them to her brother sitting in the jail house.

And since the year was coming to a close; to an end, she also wanted to give the interior of the house just a little sprucing up… a bit of Christmas decorations. Hoping such would appease her youngest brother and sister when they came, visiting her on the weekends. Just the thought of doing such things had eliminated most of the heartache resulting from the act of betrayal which had been done against her, by her sister Hyacinth.

Nonetheless, with Friday evening getting darker and darker, Mr. Marshall, thought it best to part his company with Ella, and journey on home. A moment which had brought them once gain to lovingly embrace each other, before saying their final goodbye for the night.

“Lock-up the doors, get yourself something to eat before going to bed, and I’m looking forward to seeing you Monday morning.”

The boss-man said with a smile, while gently caressing the curving of Ella’s neck with the back of his fingers.

“I will certainly do that, Sir!”

Ella responded, smiling back at him.

Happily, Ella began walking towards the house, and upon turning around to close the door behind her, she waved goodbye to Mr. Marshall, before slamming the front door of the house shut. She could then hear him starting the engine of his truck and removing it from the front of the yard.

But she had no interest of watching him driving off the property so she went about closing up the two backdoors of the house; that to the kitchen and the other to the bathroom.

Returning to her own bedroom, Ella stood there with a sad face, observing the spot where Hyacinth had stolen her money from. She began contemplating to herself, that she would never ever hide her money there again. Neither would she hid it under the mattress, because she knew, that would be the very first place, crooks would come looking, whether they were related to her or not. Therefore, she went inside of the kitchen, removed one of the flour canister from there, and safely, she hid her money inside of it before duck taping it, behind the headboard of the bed.

“No one will ever find you here, unless they are tearing apart this damn bed!”

Ella said loudly, pushing back the headboard back into its position.

Feeling crush and crumbled all day long, not even a cup of hot water gone to her mouth, ever since, she woke up that morning. And now, she was feeling the full effects of it.

Warm milk and toast would do the trick for her before resting her head on the pillow and going off to sleep. And a splendid sleep she did experience, until, morning came along.

Feeling as though the gods had forgiven her, it seems, Ella got out of bed Saturday, close to midday. Not that she didn’t want to get up earlier that morning, but she was so damn drained from the day before from the calamities that her sister had put her through. But, it was a new day and the sun was bright and roasting hot!

And from the bed, Ella arise, took a wash, got herself dressed and minutes later, she was out the door, ready to catch a ride into town. Peeling away just a tiny bit of the dollars which Mr. Marshall had so generously handed to her for her schooling.

She desperately wanted to get a Christmas tree and some toys to brighten the faces of her brother and sister when they arrived home to be with her the upcoming weekend.

It was the least she could do now. Especially, since their elder sister had robbed her blind and made a run for it. But, there were no more crying over spill milk, because, through Mr. Marshall, the gods had openhandedly truly blessed her.

The ride came and dropped her off at her destination, where she splurge on a small Christmas tree and decorations for it. She then went on to purchase a medium size fire truck for her brother Devon and a plastic tea-set for her sister Dion.

And knowing that school was in order for them soon, she also went ahead and bought, hair ribbons and panties for Dion and then eight pairs of brown colored socks, which half of them would be shared for each sibling. And whatever other little nick-nacks she knew that would prepare them for schooling and have their faces lit up after opening each parcel for Christmas, she made the coins stretched just to obtain them.

Upon returning home on that day, Ella spent the evening, wrapping presents for her brother and sister, and patiently figuring out, how to reassemble and decorate this green plastic tree in front of her for Christmas. Even though, cumbersome, it was a moment which had brought her much joy… joy which had override what fun she had experience with her sister Hyacinth at the beach few days ago.

The Christmas tree finally standing, with dangling decorations and blinking lights, Ella smiling, stood to her feet and exclaimed;

“This is really beautiful… It might not be gigantic, but at least, it’s ours!”

The intrusion of darkness came into her surrounding space without much warning. And once again, Ella closed the doors to the house, ate supper and went off to bed. Now, her mind was quite busy with plans for her future and what she would like for it to be like. But carefully analyzing her past… all the trouble she had been involved in, led her to believe and decided on doing something that she could be of help to others. And in her mind she concluded that she wanted to be a nurse.

She also thought about her brother, Philip, and how taking on such a profession would assist him if he ever needed it. Inwardly accepting the fact that she was the one who had placed him in this horrible position, robbing him of his freedom. She thought about how she could be of some assistant to him, however, she had no intention of going back on her word that she was the one who had badly beaten Corporal Banks.

Head on pillow, mentally debating and deliberating about how she could be of help to her brother, rotting in jail, Ella fell asleep with those unresolved thoughts on her mind.

And although alone, Sunday morning straight upon till evening was a beautiful day for Ella.

The majority of her day was taken up with admiring the Christmas tree which she had bought for leaving an impression on her brother and sister’s mind when they came home to visit. And when her childish admiration wasn’t being fulfilled, she was either preparing food or clothing for the day that would follow – Monday morning.

It was going to be the day for her return to work at the Crushing Company. And not only that, it would also be a day for her going in search of one of those learning institutions, conducting evening classes for some teenagers, young adults and older persons as well.

She clearly remembered the tone in which Mr. Marshall had made such a commanding suggestion to her, and knew, he was damn serious.

“Get yourself in order!”

He had firmly stated to her, leading her to reflect on his position of him; constantly giving her and her family a helping hand, and now, it was doing a number on him. Or even causing serious issues in his marriage. And sending Dion and Devon home, to stay with her on weekends; had cemented that conclusion for her. If such were the case, such a matter would be coming to an end very soon. Thought the teenager.

Early Monday morning, Ella walk to the Crushing Company, after having her breakfast. The wire gates were lock and no other worker had arrived there as yet. And from where she was standing by the gates, she clearly could have seen the high heaps of chopped gravels left there from the previous weekend.

The sun wasn’t fully out in all its glory, and so Ella decided to start with the backbreaking work before the sun hit one hundred and its glares became scorching hot. And just like she had done couple of weeks before, she began putting one foot above the fence, climbing to the top of it. Upon reaching the pinnacle of it, she made that leap down to the ground off the ten foot fence.

Retrieving her bucket and shovel from their storage place, Ella got herself busy and started digging the small stones, loading them into her buck and transporting them to the takeaway heap for exporting. She had already done over thirty bucket loads when her co-workers and boss-man arrived on the scene.

Surprisingly, Mr. Marshall asked;

“How long have you been here working? Since last night?”

Tiringly, removing the damped rag stuck between her baggy pants and waistline, and wiping away beads of sweat from her forehead, Ella responded; “No, Sir! Only from six o’clock this morning!”

Everyone who showed up for work that morning took their position and started working, including, Ronald Marshall. But whatever had been eating at his mind, ever since he encountered Ella Bradshaw’s beautiful smile, occupied his unsettling thoughts for most that Monday morning.

Lunchbreak time had come, twelve-thirty to one o’clock, and since Ella had been there working from the break of dawn, she was the first one to drop her bucket and shovel, race off to use the restroom and then get a quick bite. And just before resuming to her duties, she had been unexpectedly called to the office upstairs by Ronald Marshall. As she made her way up the small office space, she could hear her boss shouting out through the windows to one of the male workers;

“Hey, Tiger, work on Ella’s load for me, and give yourself an extra fifteen minutes break!”

As the teenager climb the steep winding steps to the boss tiny office space, her mind perplex with wondered; what this sudden change was for!

The office door already wide open to welcome her in, Ella entered the tiny eight by eight room, stood firm, as though, she hadn’t been working from morning. And so she went on to ask;

“What do you need me for, Mr. Marshall?”

“I want you to go through these filing cabinets, sort out all these names by alphabetical order and attach all receipts to each of them; understood?”

Answered, Mr. Marshall, explaining.

“No, Sir! I don’t understand!”

Ella, replied.

“Let me show you!”

Mr. Marshall said, while making his way towards one of the filing cabinets behind his desk to give her a demonstration.

Both hands on her shoulder, he gently shifted her out of the way.

His hand then pulled open one of the cabinet drawers, pulled out a folder and then placed it on his desk.

“You see here; Barrington Brown, the receipt for Barrington Brown must be attached to this application sheet with his name on it, and then stapled to the folder. Therefore, whenever I need to get some information about this person, all the information should be right there in one place.”

Explained, Mr. Marshall, carefully.

“It’s not hard… you’ll catch on to it, soon enough… all the names on the receipt mush match with that on the application and place into the folder with the name on it… just like when you’re dressing up, your bag and shoes must match your dress, or else, people will say you’re not looking good or fashionable!”

Mr. Marshall reiterated making sure she understood his command.

Once again, his hands were on her shoulders, directing her over to the filing cabinet while encouraging her, that she could do it.

Completing twelve of the folders, neatly stocking them together on his desk, Mr. Marshall watching, took them in his hands and keenly gave them is examination. Soon a smile burst from his face and he then proudly announce; “Doing an excellent job, Ella!”

Unsure, if she was honestly performing an excellent job, as he had declared, Ella barely lifted her head and gave him a faint smile then continued on with the tasks at hand with her full concentration.

In all honesty, he was actually sincere about her functionality with the task at hand. Looking over at Ella, intensely reconstructing each folder, Mr. Marshall with a smile said to her;

“As of tomorrow, this is where you’ll be working young lady! So, tomorrow please wear something a little dressier than you have on now, to the office in the morning.”

Ella’s entire face lit up like a hundred watt bulb, and now she was in a state of complete disbelief.

“Thank you Sir! She uttered nervously concluding that the Gods had actually pardon her sins.

And before the closing hour, Ella expressed to her boss, she needed to leave from work early; because, she wanted to go and get some information from the schools. Information about their classes, the subjects they were offering, the fees required, and also what time she was expected to be there during the evenings.

“By all means, go ahead! I will see you in the morning!”

He said.

Hasting home, Ella change out of her dirty clothing, got washed, dressed and was on her way to the Morris Pen Learning Center.

There, she meet, one sweet talking Mr. Borden who immediately began eyeing her from head to breast while telling her about the various classes and extended classes that the school offers.

But his reaction towards her suddenly changed when he learnt, that she was only fifteen years of age going on sixteen.

Immediately, he came from behind the counter, slid up beside her, and then push his hand up against her p breast, as if, he was placing something underneath her bra. Quickly, he then removed his hand as she turned her head to see what was touching under her breast or assaulting her.

However, the evidence of his action was no longer present as he open the door and returned swiftly behind the counter, leaving Ella standing there with bulging eyes and a puzzle look on her face. Soon his demeanor changed and he was calling a female from the back office to attend to her needs.

“Mathematics, English, Social Studies, Accounts and all the Science Subjects we offer here! You can either take Math or Account to obtain a job or to enter into any other learning institution for higher learning.”

Explained the receptionist with her greetings of smiles and waving of hellos.

“I’ll do three subjects… Math, English, and one of the Sciences.”

The teenager said.

“How much will that cost?”

Ella went on to ask.

“Three thousand, five hundred for each term and two thousand dollars for registration fees.”

Came the response.

“Sign me up please!”

Ella informed her, and soon, she was back on her way home.

Oddly, on the rest of her ride home, Ella in a state of discomfort as if, she had just contacted the plagues of Egypt, continued touching and itching at the very same spot on her body where she had been rudely assaulted by the dean of the school. Leaving her sensations which caused her rushing to the shower as soon as she stepped into the house. Anointing herself with rubbing alcohol and body lotion, ease the discomfort of the condition, and soon she was off sleeping.

Reaching work a little later than the previous morning, Ella out of her crop baggy pants, attired into a dark green skirt with a scrub top, very ready for work Tuesday morning.

She had moved up the ladder!

Not only was she promoted to getting out of the boiling hot sun and into a cool shaded office. She also was given keys for opening the gates and office doors to the company.

But would this coveted position of working in the boss-man’s office and pushing papers, be the ideal place for her?

Putting herself to work that morning, Mr. Marshall showed up to the office a little later than usual.

Her back turning towards him, attending to the pile of folders in the middle draws of the cabinet, Ella felt a very close movement against her buttocks. Immediately causing her to wonder if, he was trying to obtain something in the small space and had accidentally touched her, in doing so.

Or, did Mr. Marshall, purposely just rubbed his manhood against her protruding or bulging ass!

For a moment, Ella stood still, reflecting, or trying to come to terms with what had just happen to her!

“Did he really just touched my ass, or, was it my imagination?”

Ella questioned herself in a state of puzzlement.

But, only time would tell, if he really wanted to captivate her with his projecting presences.

Clocking out from work, Tuesday evening, Mr. Marshall was quick to tell Ella, that she had done a very good job. In which, she politely thank him for the compliment before heading home.

Things were looking up… looking quite rosy for Ella Bradshaw!

She would be starting evening classes the following Monday; the fees for doing so, were already paid up to three months in advance. Her duties at the crushing company, though, unpredictable and still tedious, had her feeling very grateful. Grateful, because, they were far less difficult or grueling than graveling up stones in the boiling hot sun and having very little time for hydrating one’s self while working.

Upon reaching home, she sat relaxing in the living room chair for a while, staring at the decorated Christmas tree. Which, had her thinking about Dion and Devon, and how lucky they all were. She missed them dearly and wanted them home with her, but she also knew them staying with Mr. Marshall’s wife was the best thing that could ever happen to both of them. Even though, she had never met the woman before.

Nonetheless, time was going and getting up from the spot where she had been sitting, Ella got undress, went straight to the shower and stayed there for a while.

The loud and strange noise coming from the front of the house had her shorting her time there.

Peeping from the kitchen door naked, she recognized the big red truck and realize that it was Mr. Marshall who had come to pay her a surprise visit. Since he hadn’t made mention to her that he was stopping by when she clocked-out from work.

The honking of the truck horn had subsided, so was the uttering of her name which was only mentioned once.

“Probably, he realize, I’m in the shower and went back to his truck to wait.”

Ella thought to herself.

And so, Ella still dripping with water from the shower, made her way through the living room, tip-toing, then carefully made it into her bedroom, with the hopes of her boss not seeing her naked. But upon gently opening the door to her bedroom, she was shockingly surprise! Shockingly surprise, to see Mr. Marshall, laying on her bed fully naked, massaging his balls and displaying the biggest grin on his face like he had just enjoyed a plate full of cheery pie.

Easing from the bed he grabbed the teenager and began kissing her passionately. Ella tried struggling away from him, but every time she made an escape, his masculine hands gripped her body, pulling her against him again.

Her young flesh close to him felt very good and he was determined that he would have to have her now and then.

Jerking herself away from his grip, he roughly ask;

“You are not a lesbian; right!”

Ella frown at his question, and continued to struggle.

He became exhausted of fighting with her, sat up on the edge of the bed and then pulled her onto his lap, like a loving father, coercing his child with comforting words.

“You know that I adore… I have done all that I can for you! And you just can’t give me a little loving in return?”

Mr. Marshall said gripping Ella firmly with one hand and stroking her upper thigh with the next.

“You have job now and your school fees are paid; right?”

Inquired Ella’s boss.

Ella shook her head.

“Then let me make love to you!”

He suggested.

Considering all the circumstances that she has been facing, and him being by her side due it all. Fearing that he would end up changing his mind about helping her presently and in the future if she needed it, Ella gave-in to the demands of the Good Samaritan. Allowing him to hug her breast with his lips, sexually grope at her body and eventually sliding the full length of his manhood inside of her, while proudly believing that she was his virgin girl.

Compelled to entering her and finding it much easier than he hand imagine, the man almost twice her age, suddenly stopped in his track and started to seek answers.

“Ella, you’re not any virgin?”

The young girl, a bit shy about expressing what Corporal Banks had put her through, laid there, speechless.

But, Mr. Marshall was persistent to know which other man had touch his Ella… taken her virginity from him at her tender age.

Pausing from his vigorous motion, he was now sitting up on the bed, looking down at Ella and making his interrogations.

“Ella, who touch you… what man had screwed you before now?”

He questioned with eyes open wide and seems to be blazing with fire.

Ella laid there still as a log with her eyes close, as if, drawing back the moment in time when Corporal sexually assaulted her and had gotten her pregnant.

“If we’re going to do this thing call love, you have to be truthful to me, Ella! There is no other way but truth and honesty!”

Mr. Marshall express gazing into her eyes as though he was talking to her soul.

Ella’s hear leaped within her when he used the word ‘love’ to her. And now her eyes were wide open staring into his.

“You love me!” Ella stressed asking.

“You haven’t figure that out by now?”

Mr. Marshall questioned gently caressing the side of her cheek.

She was now willing to fill him in on who had taken her virginity, but she had no intention of divulging to him all the details of it.

“If I tell you, you promise, you won’t tell anyone else?”

The teenager ask, looking upon his face with skepticism showing in her eyes.

“It was Corporal Banks… he took my virginity... he gave me a baby!”

Confessed, the teenager.

“That fucking server and protector of the law; I want him dead!”

Mr. Marshall shouted getting up from the bed.

“He was the one who ordered his men… sent those troopers after you, to beat that baby growing inside of you, and then, have the nerves to pretend as if, he is missing by some criminal elements!”

Mr. Marshall presumed in a state of anger.

“If he shows his face around here, ever again, I’m going to kill him!”

He continued to voice angrily.

Meanwhile, Ella’s heart went racing like a runaway train, eagerly wanting to tell him that the corporal was already dead. But, fear came over her nudging her not to do so; because of all the various questions that would follow suit, just because of her tongue.

“Well, he hasn’t come around here for quite some while now, so let’s forget about him now… thank God, he doesn’t want to be found after all he had put me through!”

Expressed Ella, trying to sound confident and mature the situation.

“Ahhhhh!” Mr. Marshall groaned furiously; “I hate that pretentious son-of-bitch!”

Butt, naked, he then left the bedroom, went straight into kitchen and fetch himself some water. As though, touched by an angel of love, he shortly returned to Ella’s side with a completely different countenance covering him. He then started at full force, making love to her.

Now, they had become one! All these months he kept himself hitching onto the land and family of the Bradshaw’s, he finally gotten his payday… what he had wanted from growing young girl.

Would Ella now be his secret mistress?

How long will their sexual excitement last?

Would he be true to her until the end?

To him, Ella was like a breath of fresh air, and after they had finish with thrusting body parts together, they laid on the bed hugging each other. He mesmerize by her smile and youthfulness, and she, captivated by his generosity and patience towards her.

A bigger issue, however, was consuming Ella’s mind!

How could she ever, face Ronald’s wife with her dignity intact after sleeping with her husband, after she had given so much of herself towards her and her family problems?

The thoughts of meeting and greeting her caused Ella to cringe.

Easing from her position and staring into Ronald’s face whose eyes were close as if he was in deep meditation, Ella asked;

“What will your wife do to us, if she ever finds out about us sleeping together?”

A nonchalant chuckle came from Mr. Marshall, with such, he pulled Ella closer to him, kissed her on the forehead, and told her not to concern herself with such matters.

“You’re a married man, and married to a woman who is presently caring for my little brother and sister… what the dickens you mean by, I shouldn’t be concern?”

Ella spoke roughly, staring into his face.

But, once again, he pulled her closer to his sweaty body, with her young firm flesh pressing up against his, while telling her to hush!

This time around, Ella willing obeyed him, rested herself cuddling closely into his arms before dosing off into a deep sleep. And having almost three hours of sleep, Mr. Marshall awoke from Ella’s side, and then began waking her wanting to inform her that he was about ready to make his trip home.

After several minutes of shaking her by the hand, slapping her on the ass, softly blowing in her ear and calling her his princess. She finally open her brown big eyes, stretching her arms regaining her strength, and in wonderment began looking at her lover strangely; as though, ready to start a fight. Presuming that he shouldn’t have been there.

“What the fuck are you doing inside my room, Mr. Marshall?”

Ella said, shouting.

Straight posture and hands on his hips, he asked;

“Weren’t we the ones who made love just now?”

Few seconds later, her temporary disillusionment disappeared and soon she sat upright on the side of the bed, hanging onto his hips and pressing her head against his belly.

“Sorry, I didn’t meant to insult you like that… just a little confused right now, that’s all!”

Ella expressed, remorsefully.

“You need to cut back on those profanities. I don’t want you using them here, on the job, in front of me, or any place else! Especially, in front of me while I’m with the workers!”

Mr. Marshall said in a demanding tone.

“You’re maturing into a young lady now… my young lady, and you need to act accordingly; understood!”

He continued, pushing her chin up with his fisted fingers, so she could look into her eyes.

Instantly, Ella swung her head from his touch and aggressively ask;

“What the fuck are you; my School Principal?”

“No, I’m your man!”

Mr. Marshall shouted back at her and immediately left the room, leaving her, marinating, in whatever she was about to rudely say to him.

Ella could hear the revving of his truck engine as he pressed his foot on the gas pedal.

She didn’t want their evening to end like this. His act of charity had been bountiful towards her and now she was feeling a sense of pity for how she had spoken to him.

Quickly, she got up from the edge of the bed, wrap one of the sheets around her waist, and immediately rush for the front door. But her presences there was only greeted by blinding headlights from the big red truck.

One hand shielding her eyes from the glaring headlights and the other, franticly waving, trying to get Ronald Marshall’s attention. But purposefully, he kept the illuminating lights steadfast upon her while reversing the truck onto the main road.

The truck heading in his direction for home, Mr. Marshall pressed his foot on the breaks, and rolling down the windows, he sternly uttered; “Fix your tongue… I’ll see you in the morning… love you!”

Not allowing or waiting for her to give a response, he swiftly drove off, leaving Ella staring in the pitch blackness of the night. An odd moment, which had her reflecting; that he could easily walk away from her life anytime he wanted to – terminating her position from his company or even, cutting off his support of Dion and Devon and returning them to her without even a red cent in hand.

Still in her mode of reflecting, the teenager fully came to terms that she would give her Good Samaritan the respect he was demanding of her, so their relationship could work out well and be peaceful.

However, heartbroken Mr. Marshall, refuse from making a straight ride home. Instead, he parked his truck on the side of the road after leaving Ella’s house, sat inside of it and bitterly wept. Strangely, his weeping wasn’t entirely about her blowing out profanities with her mouth and wanting to have her own way every minute. But mostly pertaining to Corporal Banks having slept with her… taking her virginity while pretending that he was an upholder of the law and being a decent friend to the Bradshaw family.

He had his mind made up at that moment, he was going to be her protector, her magnificent knight with a bunch of red roses. He was going to love her, cherish her, and as soon as she turned eighteen and had received her education certificate or diploma, he was going to allow her to be free. Free to take her pathway in this marvelous world and love whomever she wanted to. Because, he knew, the vast age difference between them and her rambunctious personality wouldn’t allow for a long-lasting committed relationship between them both.

Dressing his wounds, fixing his puzzle and pulling himself together, Ronald Marshall vacated the spot where he had parked his truck, and continued with his journey home. Meanwhile, Ella went and took another shower, washing away the complex emotions she had been having, before diving into bed and falling asleep.

One thing was for certain, her heart was falling for this man really hard. Because, he had been her saving grace throughout her many owes, and he cared without much judgement.

Though, only in her teenage years, her mind was steadily fixed; he was definitely the man for her, and no one could have told her differently. Not even that handsome lad in her classroom, a teacher with admiring eyes. Or, even a best friend could convince her that her mind could and would change about him later on down the road or in life.