Page 4 of 1000 of You
He could have thrown her on thepallet and had his way with her.
But he hadn’t done so. He had donenothing but show her kindness and consideration. His actions led her to hopethat, if she remained with him, he would continue to treat her the same. He maynot even beat her when he became angry, or drank too much wine.
This could be her one chance athaving a halfway happy life. Why would she risk leaving?
The fire popped, and a piece ofburnt wood broke apart, collapsing to the side. Going over to the small pile offirewood, she pulled out two more logs, placing them in the pit. Gritting herteeth, she prayed to the Ancient Mother, and knelt beside his bed. Cautiously,she joined him on the pallet, drew the skin over the both of them,thenstretched out along his length. He was his own blanketof warmth. As the chill left her body, and her muscles relaxed, he began tosnore. Cuddled against his back, she laid her head on her arm, to fall asleepalmost instantly.
The morning arrived before she wasaware of it. Sunlight peeked through the door flap and spilled across her face,awakening her. Opening her eyes,Govahad to take amoment to remember where she was and who she was with. Sometime during thenight, she had rolled onto her other side, and so hadMuam.In fact, he had spooned up behind her and draped one muscular arm over herwaist.
She debated whether or not to risk lying there and continueabsorbing the welcome warmth, when the fire popped. During the night, theflames had melted down to cooling coals. The hut’s interior had grown nippy.Regretfully, she carefully eased away from his embrace, hoping not to awakenhim.
The cold air washed over her body,penetrating the thin shift as if it didn’t exist. Stirring the embers, shebrought the fire back to a low flame, then added more wood. Taking the bowl andragMuamhad used the night before, she went outsideto dump the dirty water, and to find a spot to relieve herself. When shereentered the hut, she was surprised to find him sitting up in bed. The look onhis face made it clear he was shocked to see her.
“I thought you had fled,” heremarked, confirming her assumption.
She gave him a small smile. “I hadto take care of my needs. Forgive me if I woke you.” Replacing the bowl on itsshelf, she picked up the water bucket. “Which way is the well?”
He pointed behind them. “Go aroundto the right and keep walking. You will eventually see it.” Without answering,she left the hut again to get more water.
People glanced at her walking by asthey went about with their daily work. She knew they didn’t recognize her. Theyknew she was a stranger. Until they figured out why she was there, they wouldeventually ignore her. But once they discovered she wasMuamKai’s slave, the gossip would fly fast and thick. She slowly shook her head.Things would get worse if they ever found out she wasOrshii,but she couldn’t hide the color of her eyes.Govakept her head down as she approached the well. The posture would tell everyoneshe was a slave. And, for the time being, it would also help protect herheritage from being discovered.
Setting her bucket on the rock lip,she bent over to draw the well’s bucket up from the depths. As she reached forthe rope to pull it over to her, she stopped to stare at her reflection in thewater below. The face looking back at her was unrecognizable.Govaran a hand through her hair. It needed washing, as didthe shift she’d been wearing for more than a month. The only timeKolisgave her a new one was after he had torn the previousone from her body before he had his way with her.
Hadhis way with her.She wondered when and ifMuamKai would demand that of her.Kolishad mocked theman when he said he knewMuamhad no woman. Was itbecause her new owner did not prefer women? Or was it because he had lovedbefore but lost her?Maybe he prefers toremain solitary. Maybe he has chosen to lead a celibate life.
Her thoughts were interrupted by thesound of children laughing. Several meters away, three boys were kicking arounda rag ball. Their exuberance was almost contagious. Behind them,Govasaw merchants pushing their carts and heading for whatmust be the middle of town where they would set up to sell their wares. Andbeyond them, open land.
Open land. No fences, no barricades,no guards to hold her back.
How hard would it be to leave thiswell and start walking? How difficult would it be to leave this village andnever look back?
No.No, I cannot leave.
Out there lay the unknown. Out therewere other men who would take her and use her, and eventually destroy her. Buthere…
She glanced over her shoulder. Sheneeded to get back beforeMuambecame suspicious…orworried.
Filling the bucket, she hoisted itonto her shoulder and hurried back to the hut. She was almost there whenMuamcame around the corner. Again, his eyes widened insurprise, and she knew he had half-expected her to make a run for it. Sheglanced down to see him fingering something in his palm.
“I…I was on my way to the market toget us something to eat,” he almost stuttered.
“Let me do that, as soon as I putthis bucket back inside.”
He hesitated, silently debating withhimself.Govaknew why. “At some point, master, wemust learn to trust one another.”
“Do not call me that. Call me by myname,” he gruffly admonished her, but his tone did not intimidate her. He heldout a hand and gave her two copperduas.“Give me the bucket. I will put itback. I will be in my shed if you need me.”
She took the money. “Is thereanything in particular you want?”
“No. You choose.”
“Is there anything you do not likeor want? Or prefer not to eat?”
She was answered with a humorousgrunt. “I have never been picky. If I am hungry enough, I will even eat it raw.”
Bobbing her head, she hurried awayto get them something to last them through the day, if not longer. She resistedthe urge to look behind her, to see if he was still standing there, watchingher. But she wouldn’t be surprised if he was.
Chapter 4
