Nora tightly held a small bag with all her worldly possessions as Master Thompson turned the carriage they were riding in up the path to a large plantation. "Things are going to be different dear, things are going to be different," Nora's soon to be former master muttered quietly, giving her a sympathetic look. "Please, do whatever he tells you to without any questions. He's known to have a bit of a...temper." Nora nodded her held, swallowing hard, dreading what lay ahead in her future.
Nora had been a slave of Master Thompson's since she was born, as had many of her brothers and sisters. He was a fair man, never beating any of them, always providing them with plenty of food, shelter and clothing. However, he did have a weakness that had gotten him into trouble, many a time. Master Thompson was a gambler and had lost several slaves in bets through out the years. Nora could not stop crying for days straight when he had first lost her mother ten years before. Years later her sister Sarah and her brother Nelson were also lost in bets. Now it was her turn.
***
Two days prior, her mistress Mrs. Thompson had ordered Nora to go to the saloon in town to fetch Mr. Thompson to let him know his dinner was getting cold. Nora did as she was told and when she arrived at the noisy saloon she glanced around the room and finally noticed her master at a table in the middle of a card game with a handsome man younger than he, but about ten years her senior. She walked up to the table behind Mr. Thompson, unsure if she should interrupt him from the conversation he was having. Silently she stood, waiting for the chatter to die down.
Suddenly the other man cleared his throat to speak to her master, "James, it seems there is a lovely young women behind you trying to get your attention." Nora looked at the other man to discover his eyes on her, running slowly down her body as he leisurely smoked a cigar. He had dark, piercing eyes and dark brown hair that fell past his chin. Stubble ran across his handsome face. Nora felt uncomfortable with the way this mysterious man undressed her with his eyes and instinctively wrapped her shawl tighter around her shoulders.
"Nora, what is it? What are you doing here, interrupting me in the middle of my card game?" her mastered asked her, oblivious to the look his card partner was giving his slave.
"Sir, Mrs. Thompson requests that you come home now. She says that your dinner is getting cold."
Looking at his watch, Mr. Thompson's eyebrows raised, surprised to see the time. "It seems I lost track of the hour. Let me finish this one hand, Nora."
Nora nodded her head to her master, and quickly glanced again at the man across from him. He was still looking at her, but this time with a half smile on his face. He put down his cigar and took a swig of the ale in front him and then slowly licked the juices from his lips while he looked like he was pondering a great idea. "James, let's sweeten the pot a bit, shall we? " Mr. Thompson looked up from his cards to his opponent to find his staring over his shoulder at his slave.
"Nora," grunted Mr. Thompson, "Step outside, please. I'll be out soon."
Nora turned on her feet and quickly exited the saloon. She could feel the eyes of the mysterious man on her back as she walked away. He had made her feel most uncomfortable and like a piece of meat, but there was something about him that was so masculine and so attractive. Minutes later her thoughts about the man were interrupted when her master stepped through the swinging doors of the saloon empty handed with a grim look on his face. He was silent throughout the walk home and did not speak until he entered the doors of the house. He looked wearingly at her before speaking to his wife. "Betsy, we need to talk. Nora...please, excuse us."
"Yes, sir," Nora answered, looking at her mistress and master quickly before turning from the room. She didn't need to stay for the conversation, for she already knew what would be said.
***
