Chapter twelve
Tobias walked down the road, growing more and more watchful was he neared his master's house. It was dark, and Tobias knew that if he were caught out this late, it would be disastrous…
Quietly, he snuck closer to his home. A lamp was lit inside – he could see its light.
Taking a deep breath, Tobias ran to the front of the house (staying in the shadows), and placed a shaking hand on the door. Before he even turned the doorknob, it was flung open. His master was standing there, obviously drunk. He pointed a wobbling finger at Tobias.
"You!" he barked, standing to the side to let Tobias walk past him, "making trouble again, I see." He wiped his hand over his mouth, and laughed. Tobias slid past him. His master glared and pulled his arm, shoving him onto a small chair. He leaned close, and Tobias could smell his pungent breath.
He laughed again, "I could punish you severely, boy, but I have a better idea." With a cruel snicker, he pulled out a piece of parchment from his breast pocket. He waved it in front of Tobias's face mockingly. Then, still grinning, he sat down across from Tobias on a larger chair, and sighed.
"Ah, yes. Better punishment. You see, I have… connections." He laughed again and brandished the piece of paper again; "you do know of the war going on now, right boy? Well, it seems those damn Yanks are giving our soldiers a run for their money!" he pulled a bottle of beer from the floor and took a long swig, "they're asking for more men to fight." Tobias gulped, looking at his master in horror.
"W-what are you saying, sir?" Tobias asked tentatively. His master guffawed loudly.
"I figured," he said, "that if I can't deal with you, then the army will." With another laugh, he pulled out a stack of dollar bills, and looked at them with a smirk playing across his face.
"What do you say?" he asked, holding out the stack to Tobias disdainfully. Tobias looked at the bills in fascination. He had never seen that much money – anywhere. With that amount of cash, he could help his mother… maybe she could be treated with more expertise. Tobias felt lightheaded.
"For me, sir?" he asked, looking at his master. His master burped and laughed.
"That's all you'll be getting, boy, if that's what you're wondering." He looked at Tobias like he was a piece of unwanted trash; "but… it will help your sick mother, and it will get you off my hands. You're too much trouble for what it's worth. Slaves are easier to deal with," he laughed, "where I come from, boy, slaves are as easy to find as beer in a liquor store."
Tobias looked at his master in sudden curiosity, "where you come from?"
His master choked on his beer and slapped his knee, "you actually think that this is where I live, boy? No, this is just a getaway. With you always cleaning the stalls and tidying the house, I don't have to be here all the time. I'm a very rich man where my real house is!" he chuckled, "my wife worries. Calls me crazy, she does! Doesn't expect that I'm only a forest away from her…" he sighed and drank some more, "I needed somewhere to go – a sanctuary. I had no place to drink," he leaned closer to Tobias, "she doesn't like the way I smell afterwards!"
Laughing, his master sighed and smiled, "got myself a pretty daughter too. Pretty, but vicious. She doesn't like to cooperate."
Suddenly, Tobias grew cold all over. Eyes wide, he leaned closer to his master, ignoring his horrible breath, "in what way?"
His master looked at him suspiciously, seeming to break out of his drunken phase, "it's none of your business, boy. Anyway, back to your proposition. I give you this money, you leave, I get the rest of the profit… we're all happy. Now, boy, what do you say?" he held out the stack of money. With trembling hands, Tobias looked at the wealth. He needed it - that was for sure…
But, something held him back… Rachel…
Was she actually his master's daughter? It couldn't be true… it was impossible, absurd…
If he established this offer, then he could help his mother. But, Rachel. He would have to leave her. Tobias sighed in his head, realizing that it would be easier to leave. Tobias loved her, but he wasn't positive that she loved him back. Also, it was illegal and unholy to have an affair with a person that is going to be married, even if it is against his/her will. It would be better if she forgot about him, and he forgot about her.
Gritting his teeth, Tobias blinked regretful tears out of his eyes.
"I accept your proposition," he said, taking the money from his master.
omg. It took me so long to write this chapter. I was sort of at a writers block, ya know… anyways, I know exactly what I'm going to do next. My friend and I arranged an awesome plot, if I may say so myself! ^_^
I hope everyone will be patient. I am actually doing research on the civil war to make this story realistic. *ahem* anndddd… I'm doing a historical autobiography in US History that is set during the civil war… *rolls eyes* too much work! Ahhhh!
Please don't be too mad at me! The next chapter should be up sooner than this one!
Jump over a Yeti.
Tic-Tac ^_~
