The Surf Between the Waves:
Chapter 3: New Arrivals
AN: Sorry for the long delay, I have been without internet since I moved into my new house 9 weeks ago, I nearly died. But I have returned and brought with me the third chapter to my story! Hip Hip! Hooray! I will try to have the next chapter updated hopefully on Tue but I do have other stories to update too so that may change. I will keep you posted on it though. I hope you enjoy this chapter, thanks!
I can't say that I slept terribly well but I was comfortable for most of the night. That is until Nancy started snoring in the early hours of the morning, after that there was no use in going back asleep so I decided to get up. It was too early to fool around with a gown and layers of petticoats so I nimbly pulled on my brother's trousers and his cotton shirt. What did I care if people thought I was a man?
The door creaked as I opened it just wide enough for my exit; then like the cat giving chase to a mouse I dashed down the hallway bare feet and all. I stopped suddenly at the corner checking all of the shadows for movement, but the house was as silent as a tomb. With my clearance justified I waltzed over to the balcony doors opening and shutting them peacefully before I took off down the stairs. I forced one last glance up at the windows of Ms. Selton's house to make sure no one had noticed before I was satisfied with my morning adventure.
The odd thing is I could probably run off and no one would notice until dawn or until Nancy and her big mouth presumes me dead in a river somewhere. Nancy, what a strange lass she is, oh well not my problem. I began my walk through the gardens gazing at all the decoratively colored blossoms and the sweet scented roses. I had always scorned myself for being ladylike but viewing flowers had become a great joy of mine and for the life of me I couldn't understand why.
I was never a social gabber or dainty dancer but flowers, especially roses, brought the best out of me. To me they symbolized a sort of freedom and just over all the cycle of life, but it is so much more than words can offer which is the difficult part. How can you love something that you don't understand?
"Miss Ruther, is that you?" The deep raspy morning voice of Aster shook me from my primitive thoughts. "Could you clip some roses and daisies for Ms. Selton, she just adores them!" She was half extended from an upstairs window her hair not yet wrapped in her patterned cloth and her robe still cloaked over her body.
My smile had faded and my spirits had been run through the mud once more, I was a servant and nothing else. "Yes Ma'am!" I waved my hand at her leisurely as I grabbed up the clippers from the porch. "Stupid flowers," I muttered under my breath as I clipped the first rose from the hedge, its velvety crimson top falling heavily to the ground. Then the next and the next until I had a bundle of atleast two-dozen roses, which was almost nothing compared to the abundance of rose bushes that lined the fence.
After I had finished clipping the daisies and roses, and had removed all of the thorns from the stems of the roses, I hauled the load of flowers into the house supplying them with vases and fresh water. Then distributed them throughout the entire building.
I slumped down in a chair just outside of my room ignoring everything else around me except the smell of fresh muffins being made outside in the kitchen. What I wouldn't give for a couple of blueberry muffins, those were my favorite.
WHAM! In an instant my door was flung open creating a loud thump and then several rattling noises to echo through the wall. I leapt up from my seat only to stumble to the ground in a hurried frenzy. My brown tresses of hair lay in a disheveled mess across my eyes though I could clearly see the cause of my terror, Nancy. Her back was stationed against the frame of the door her curly flame red locks sat neatly draped down her shoulders ending suddenly at her chest. Nancy's eyes were wide with joy and excitement and her mouth gabbing out laughter the entire time.
"Did you see your face?" She barked out insanely, "Oh wait that would be a physical impossibility wouldn't it?" Her face was turning red from laughter and her eyes all the while stayed just as happy as before. I, on the other hand, just gave her the worst glare that I could muster behind my curtain of mahogany fuzz.
"What in blazes is going on down here?" Aster shouted as she marched over to us triumphantly, I kept my gaze. "I heard one of you scream, what was wrong?" Scream, had it happened so fast that I didn't even realized I had screamed?
"She must've saw a spider or something, I don't know I just stepped out here a moment ago." Nancy lied innocently, secretly hoping that the red in her face had disappeared. I stood up straight running my fingers through my hair with the goal of righting the mess, but as my luck would have it of course it wouldn't fix. "You know, they have brushes and combs for that? But then again your hair might break it with its rat's nest appearance. Well good day Aster, jungle beast." She turned and slammed the door shut in my face.
I stood there for a moment starring at the blank door, maybe it would move, I didn't know. "Miss Ruther she is just-."
I turned to her my eyes mini balls of fire ready to burn the first person I came in contact with; "I can not complete my duties properly if I am forced to live with- with that thing, whatever it is!"
"Miss Ruther please," Aster tried to reach out and calm me down but I shoved passed her pacing slightly.
"No, no! Pack my bags and sell me to another household if you have to but I cannot work with her! Anyone but her!" I shouted, nearly on the verge of screaming. I shoved myself back down into the chair I had been sitting in just moments' prior. I wonder if Nancy could hear me rant and rave, if she would use it against me later.
Aster kneeled down in front of me grasping my knees in her strong hardworking hands. "Listen to me child, Nancy is just a lonely girl. She has had no one remotely near her age around her since she arrived here at the age of six. I know you know how hard it was for you to start out in this cruel predicament at the age of fifteen, could you possibly imagine six? This girl has worked hard to maintain her order and her status and then here you come with your mind just as stubborn as hers and your work reflecting your undoubted ability to maintain order and a station for yourself. Nancy believes she must not like you because you're different, because you haven't felt her pain; maybe all you need to do is open up to her. Do you understand child?"
I bit my bottom lip and nodded she meant for us to share our weakness, how can you share a weakness with someone who'll use it against you? But nonetheless I agreed and then as if triggered directly by the thought of weakness my memories of my father's farm drifted back into my mind and a tear fell from my eye. That was my pain.
"Oh child, you're too sweet to cry. Now come on, lighten up and for God's sake change out of those men's clothes before Ms. Selton sees you." I couldn't believe it, was I laughing? I knew Aster had some sentimental attachment to Ms. Selton because she wasn't a very good cook or well at dusting but she was capable of listening and giving advice.
"Aster! ASTER! They're here, look!" Ms. Selton shouted from the parlor window as she watched Pete, whom I had come to learn was mute, carefully carry the luggage into the house.
After setting up the presents around the fireplace, Aster, Nancy and I were stationed in a line next to each other awaiting the guests. Ms. Selton stood in the doorframe welcoming them all. We watched as the children poured into the house galloping straight over to the presents. Children will be children I thought as I watched them tear through the wrappings and dig into their new gifts.
The last 'child' to enter was not a child at all but looked as though he was seventeen or eighteen years of age, I dubbed him as being Gabriel. I watched him enter his hair was a mess under his leather hat and his shirt wrinkled from a long days drive, but in a boyish sort of way he was appealing. Aster's elbow found its way into my side and I realized I had been starring too long; it was beginning to be noticeable.
Then came Ben Martin with his sister in law plastered to his side, that man had power written all over his face though I knew he did not seek it. He didn't appear to have any thirst for war or glory; I suppose he lost that after the French and Indian war. "Ben, I would like you to meet my newest servant, Miss Christiana Ruther."
"What a pleasure. How do you do Miss Ruther?" Martin asked his voice humble but somewhat off in a distant land.
"I'm very well, thank you sir. And you, sir, how are you?" I asked somewhat unconventionally.
"Well, I must say much better now that I am here and in the presence of family." He replied with an excited grin as he turned to face his children who were eagerly playing with their new gifts.
Ben Martin walked over to his youngest boy amazed at his joyful nature, leaving us servants to our own bewilderment. I found my eyes floating back over to the likes of Gabriel but what I found surprised me more. His bright amber eyes were watching mine with amusement, I quickly lowered my gaze not intending to be rude but I feared my cheeks might burst. He was beautiful.
When Aster had finally encouraged the close-knit family to move into the dinning hall Nancy pulled me aside with great force. "Don't you be getting any ideas about Gabriel Martin, you hear? He's a fool for ladies, his talk his smooth but he's not be trusted. He'll have you in the sack before night falls, have my word on it!" With her speech read she stormed off down to the kitchen occasionally turning back to gaze through the open doorway.
Was she trying to protect me or trick me? I shrugged off the thought and gingerly waltzed into the dinning hall to receive orders from Aster.
The sun was setting in a haze of golden red that washed over the entire sky in a mystical wonder. I stood in the garden after supper gazing through the leafy trees watching the light of day be snuffed out by the dawning night. I heard heavy footfalls bounding behind me and assumed all to quickly that it was the annoying Nancy coming back for more harassment. "Nancy, if you're here to continue your nagging assault on my life you might as well save your breath for I have no mind for it at the moment."
I steadied my gaze through the few trees towards the end of the establishment not wishing to face my life head on. "Well I know not of my name being changed to Nancy, but I assure you Miss I am not here to 'continue a nagging assault on your life'."
My body spun around, petticoats and all waving with the sudden movement. "Forgive me kind sir," my words had failed me and my eyes were nearly watering. I would be whipped and locked in my room for the next day without food or water for sure. "I meant no harm by my false accusation."
"Please Miss, don't humble yourself." He paused stepping closer, indeed catching a glance at my frightened and bewildered state.
"You stare at me, young Mister Martin, as though to judge my soul." I said in a faint whisper praying to God that I would not be punished harshly.
"No, no." He backed away, "I simply wished to look into the face of the woman who so easily could be human."
"Human, sir?" Several pieces of my hair had fallen from a hard days work and lay lazily at my cheeks. My hands were a shaking wreck so I nimbly wretched them behind my back.
"Yes, I was not insulted by your statement. Just humored that someone with such up right manners, as yourself, could speak so frankly to another woman without care." He took a step beside me peering straight ahead at the twilight that loomed on the horizon. "We are human by nature, I'm pleased that you do not fool yourself."
I forced a smile onto my face; how regal Gabriel stood, he was the perfect reflection of his father. "Thank you, sir if you'd excuse me I have duties to be completed." I gave a hurried curtsey before sauntering off into the kitchen. My heart fell in my chest, and I couldn't help but sigh with content and yet some anxiety.
The next couple of months were a blur of events. Of course there was the long awaited meeting due to discuss South Carolina's opinion on the up coming war. We voted for the war and youthful Gabriel Martin enlisted into the Continental Army against his father's will. Nancy scowled at me for the first couple of weeks that I serviced the Selton home for a number of reasons, some important and others just petty. I found out that she had previously had a secretive courtship with the suave Gabriel Martin and that was her reason for the barrier between him and I.
After a while we grew to work well with each other though we still have our bickering moments. Well let's say we never actually got over the stubbornness between us but we do take it a little lighter now.
It is fall now and the days are grayer with the tinge of winter looming in the air. I stood by the window, the curtains pulled back just marveling at the markets bellow. "Ivie, quick come here!" I turned my head and gazed back at a troubled Nancy.
She ran to my side pulling me from the window, "Ivie the red coats. They've arrived just north of us. They come to seize Charleston. Ms. Selton has ordered us to pack only what we need and load it into the carriage as soon as possible. We leave for her southern plantation."
"Red coats? Here in Charleston?" My eyes were as wide as the ocean.
"Yes, you thick headed wench! We must leave now!" Nancy yanked me from the window and nearly pulled my arm out of its socket as we ran down the hallway to our quarters.
We ripped everything from the closet, rummaging through everything we had and combining our necessities into one trunk. We made it out of the front door and into the carriage when Nancy started to shout. "My poppet! I need my poppet!"
"Forget it Nancy we must leave, they'll be here any moment." I braced her shoulders.
"It was my mother's I can't leave it!" She howled, not crying just screeching in pain. I had never seen her this way before.
"Pete's ready to leave Nancy, we can't go back in!" My heart broke for I knew what it meant to her, I also left something dear to me behind, my brother's four-piece dress suit.
"I have to get it!" She ripped free of my hold and dashed up the stairs to the establishment.
"Nancy, Nancy you crazy minded child! Get back down here!" Aster screamed from the carriage.
I took off stepping on my numerous petticoats and ripping several as I chased after her. I could not let her stay here and be enslaved by our country's enemies. My feet were aching from my heels as I reached the doorframe. "Nancy, come on lets go!"
Her dress had gotten caught on a piece of wood that was sticking up from the floor. She tripped and fell onto her back, tears sliding from the corners of her eyes. I raced to her side and helped her up. "We should have never sided for this war, Ivie, it will tear our country apart and destroy so many." Nancy sobbed in my ear while clutching her arms around my neck. "Perhaps it would be best to die at the beginning of this treacherous battle before the devastation begins."
"Now if we did that there would be no way we could sway the outcome of it, now would there?" Though my words were positive my thoughts were bleak. If we didn't leave this town soon we might actually live to fulfill her theory. "Come now, we must be off before it is to late." I pulled her from the floor and we headed for the open door, I prayed all along for a safe and easy passage to the south.
As I reached the door I grimaced at myself for never befriending Pete; the carriage had taken off leaving us without a hope in the world. "They left us Ivie!"
"I know, come on we have to get out of here. Maybe we can fetch a ride with Mr. Kensington our neighbor." But I doubted that too. Nancy had no other family than this household and now it had gotten up and left her, I felt for her. But above all I felt for this town, it we mark a deadly blow for the south if it were taken.
"Colonel Tavington, I will no use of brutality on these people they are our allies when this war is over and I would have you restrict your men so that I may handle this honorably in the King's name. Is that understood?" Lord Cornwallis reprimanded his officer from the white stallion on which he rode.
"My lord if I may-." Tavington started but was interrupted just before he could finish his request.
"Tavington, I will not have your bloody tactics used on these innocent people or so help me God I will send you back to England and let the king deal a rightful punishment on you." He stated enchantingly with a slight irritation howling under his breath.
"Yes, my lord." Tavington forced a half grin to appease the lord's anger. As the higher ranker gentlemen steadily headed into the town Tavington couldn't help but curse himself for ever believing in this insignificant cause. He rode on pushing back a few stray auburn hairs.
AN: Well we have a little of the fine Colonel towards the end but have no fear he will appear a lot more in the next chapter! Please review and tell me your thoughts! Thanks very much!