Sorry it took so long to post another chapter. My brother died not too long after I pposted the last one, and I couldn't write for awhile. This isn't that great of a chapter, because I have to develop more of a plot still, but I hope it'll do. Thanks for all of the reviews, I probably would have stopped writing if I wasn't getting any. Hope you enjoy! (Sorry it's so short too, it'll get longer, I promise.)
Chapter 3: "Bad Encounter"
I walked straight into a man named Mr. Daniels as I was walking home today. I barely recognized him as a man who had done some business with Mr. Jefferson a couple of years back. He stared right at me and grabbed my arm, grunting, "Don't I know you?"
My eyes grew wide, as I realized who he was, but I tried to keep my composure and said, "Unhand me sir!"
He let go, a little confused and kept staring.
"Is there some occasion that you stare at me so?" I asked, dreading him yelling that I was a slave.
"Ain't you from ol' Jefferson's place?" he asked, his eyes still locked on me.
"I don't know what you're talking about, sir, but I must be on my way," I answered walking away from the man. He followed me though, for I turned suddenly and he was right behind me. "Sir, if you insist on following me, I shall be forced to scream."
"I know who you are, and if you scream, I swear you won't like what will happen," he replied, hate evident in his eyes.
"Are you threatening me?" I asked, trying to keep my head up and act like a white lady, but inside I felt like a helpless nigra.
"Yes, I am," he answered, and grabbed my arm again. "Your one of his nigra bastards, ain't you?
By then, others on the street turned, and one man came up to the man and pulled him off me, landing a punch right in the middle of Mr. Daniel's face. "How dare you treat a lady that way!" he yelled at him and turned towards me. "Are you all right?"
I nodded, and turned away, frightened that Mr. Daniel's would scream my name, and everyone would know.
"Please, let me help you. You should file a complaint against this man. He assaulted you."
"No, please, I just want to go home. Let him be," I pleaded, looking up at the man.
Mr. Daniels was getting up, blood at his nose. Hatred was in his eyes, ad he came towards the man, throwing all his weight onto him. I scream as the two proceeded to fight along the street. Mr. Daniels fell with a sickening thud to the ground and the other man knocked him into a wooden beam.
"I'm sorry you had to see all that, Ma'am," he apologized. "My name is James Wyatt. I'd like to take this man down to the sheriff and have him arrested, for assaulting you."
"Oh please, Mr. Wyatt, can we just leave him be?" I asked. I could not sign a complaint against him. He would try to contest that I was a nigra, and I couldn't handle that.
He sighed and said, "He might keep bothering you if you don't, ma'am."
Mr. Daniel's was still out cold, so I said, "Well, how long will it take?"
"Just a minute, you won't even have to see this man again."
"Fine, let's go," I said hurrying him to the sheriff's office, a couple of men carrying the unconscious Mr. Daniels behind us.
They gave me a form to fill out at the office, and I nervously filled it out.
Name: Age: Color: Complaint:I looked at the name area and wrote Elizabeth Lackland, somewhat shakily. Once I got to color, I froze. I nearly even wrote black, but stopped at I had started the B. Quickly I wrote white, and wrote the complaint out. Mr. Wyatt handed it to the sheriff who put Mr. Daniels in a cell, and I breathed a little easier and hurried outside.
"Well, you never did introduce yourself…" he began.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Miss Lackland. Thank you for saving me, sir."
"It was my pleasure, Miss Lackland. Lackland… Are you related to the Lacklands who were lost at sea?" he asked.
"Oh… Yes, as a matter of fact, they were my parents…" I replied, afraid, he actually knew the real Elizabeth.
"Oh I'm terribly sorry. I'm glad to hear that you are all right though. From what I heard, all three of you were lost."
"Oh, no… I was supposed to go… but… well I didn't." I answered, hurrying more.
"I did not mean to upset you, Miss Lackland," he said, apologetically, fearing that I was upset to be talking about my parents, "Please forgive me?"
"Of course," I replied. "I really must be getting home though.
"Allow me to assist you home," he said, more of a demand, than a request.
Once we arrived at Jane's house, he smiled at me and said, "I hope to see more of you, ma'am. I hope we run into each other soon."
"Nothing would please me more," I replied and walked inside, thoroughly exhausted.
What still bothers me is Mr. Daniels. Now that he is in jail, he shall become even more upset. I can only hope he keeps his mouth shut and leaves me alone.