by Asia
Emerald froze in her place. she didn't know what to do. she wanted to warn Sam but couldn't move her feet.
"Emi, are you okay ?" Sam was worry and came out to see what happened "oh god, I didn't anticipate that."
Emerald woke up from her shock as she heard Sam's whisper. thought running through her head while her mouth murmured a plea. "don't let him win. don't let him win." just as he was about to go up the stairs an idea popped in her head.
"Pol..." she said in a trill voice. "what are you doing here ?"
he smiled an evil grin "your father asked me to come and watch after you, he didn't want you to do anything stupid."
Sam gritted his teeth, how much he wanted to kill this guy.
"would you like to come up ? though everything here is a mess. Nanny is rearranging everything in boxes now, so I would have my things at our home just as we get married."
Sam looked at her with awe, what a great idea, why didn't he think about it ? he looked over the parapet and saw Pol hesitate, he was about to make a choice when Emerald add "I have a great idea, why won't you wait downstairs and we'll go to the dinning room and have some tea ?"
Pol looked relieved. mess wasn't one of his favorite things. he nodded.
"I'll be down in a second..." she smiled one of her beautiful smiles. then turned around to Sam and said quietly "go and pack as fast as you can, and when everything is ready come and save me."
Sam nodded and squeezed her hand in reassures. "everything will be okay " he whispered in her ear.
she smiled at him with gratitude and went downstairs with determinate steps, she won't let him win.
"well, darling, what stupid things my dad thought I would do?"
"why would you care ?" Pol charged.
Emerald came near him and caressed his cheek "just curious." she felt she was about to puke.
Sam returned to Emerald's room to find Nanny on the floor packing things. she looked up at him with gleaming eyes "I was so scared he would get up here." then she sigh "she is something isn't she? "
he nodded in agreement. "do you need any help ?"
"thank you dear, but not now. I have more things in my room but I can't get out this bags while he is watching."
"I don't think he would see you, Emerald got him wrapped around her finger." he laughed a bitter laugh. "now, let's finish it and go to the dining room. I don't want to leave her alone with him, beside, it's almost lunch time."
Nanny looked through the window, she haven't notice the time. "I should go see how Astel is doing. you can go, I'll be at the kitchen in a couple of minutes."
*****
Sam got near the dining room with Brandy by his side. Nanny took Grace with her to watch over her while she was packing. they could take no more risks.
when he entered the room he saw Emerald and Pol near the table. it took Sam a moment to control himself from laughing. Emerald acted very seductive. she touched her hair all the time, moving it from side to side. her voice was low when she talked about something not much important, clothing or something. though she was the total opposite of what she'd been playing, he could swear that if he didn't know her he would have believe that.
Pol's posture made it perfectly clear that it worked. he didn't even notice Sam.
Sam looked down on Brandy and find it harder to control his laughs. she was sitting on her hind legs her head prone to the side and her eyes wide open from surprise, wondering what happened to her owner.
finally Emerald noticed him, Pol turned around to see where she was looking. "what happened to you ? some lady tried to kill you ?" Pol remarked sarcastically when he noticed the bandages on Sam's arm and the cane he walked with.
Sam looked at Emerald and ignored Pol "is lunch ready yet?"
"I don't know, why won't you ask Astel ?"
"why won't you help her? you can't do anything manly with that injury anyway." Pol couldn't miss the opportunity.
Emerald could see the vein in Sam's neck pumping as he tried to stay calm. but he turned and walked to the kitchen. in that moment Emerald had another idea, and it was perfect.
*****
after lunch Emerald told Pol she had to go to the clinic with Sam.
"but I want you to be here to entertain me." Pol wasn't going to let her go that easily "Sam can be real 'entertaining' but I want YOU"
"I must replace his bandages Pol. it won't take long"
"can't the doctor do it?"
"the doctor is not in the clinic in the afternoons. why won't you go with us ?" she laughed inside when she saw him pale "I have better idea... why won't you go out and have a look at the farm ?" she leaned close to him "it is going to be yours, you should see it..."
he smiled an arrogant smile "you are right. iI will meet you here in half an hour."
she winked to Sam "let's go".
"to replace my bandages ? where was that from ?"
Emerald nodded to the guard at the gate and waited for him to open it. when they entered and the guard disappear she answered "I had to get him off our back."
"so why did you ask him to join us ?"
"because... I knew he wouldn't come, and if he did he would have waited in another room anyway."
Sam chuckled "you sure do think of everything... but why we are in the clinic anyway ?"
"well, I thought we would need to take some medicines to the journey, you can never know what would happen." she pointed at one of the closets "get me some gauze from there and some bandages..." she took a bag and put some medicines there with what Sam brought. after they finished she got to another closet who was locked, she took a key from her pocket and opened it, then she took a bottle and looked carefully at his contain. she smiled and put the bottle in her pocket.
*****
"Pol, how was your walk ? you look thirsty...would you like something to drink ?" Emerald massaged Pol's shoulders.
he pushed himself towered her and closed his eyes. "it was tough walk, but I'm okay now. just keep this massage."
"you know, you can get heatstroke from walking in the sun like that. I make a very good cocktails"
he looked at her for a minute "I've promised your father that I won't drink. I am suppose to watch over you."
Emerald looked disappointed then she grinned "but he won't know, and it's only one drink...of course if you don't want I can make it without alcohol." she bite her lips with anticipation.
Pol saw her lip biting in completely another way, and find it hard to concentrate. Emerald saw it and made an advance move. she leaned forward and whispered in his ear "my dad doesn't have to know about a lot of things...like tonight..."
Pol got caught completely off guard. all he could do was to nod.
Emerald giggled "I'll be right back"
she went in to the kitchen and took a glass off the closet. she opened the closet with the liquors and took a bottle of rum. then took the jar of lemonade Astel made earlier and mixed it with the rum. she tasted it and decided to add some sugar. when it was sweet enough she took the little bottle off her pocket.
"what took you so long " he was angry now, that the mood has gone.
quickly she got to him with the glass in her hand "I had to make it perfect for you " she smiled. she dipped a finger in the liquid and brought it to his lips.
his mood came back quickly, as he tried to lick her finger.
she dipped her finger again and this time let him lick it. then gave him the glass.
"what about you ?" he wondered.
"I would have one, I just wanted to see if you like it."
"I do" he smiled and pulled her closer.
"then why are you not drinking ?" she made a sad face.
"here, I'm drinking...just keep doing what you did " he took a long swallow.
she massaged him again "I'm glad you like it"
he took another sip and relaxed. and soon he finished the glass.
"how are you feeling now ?" she asked after a few minutes.
"a bit tired...I shouldn't have drank..."
"would you like to go to my room ?" she whispered in his ear.
he got up and made a step, then turned around to her "I'm a bit dizzy..." and fell flat on the floor.
*****
Emerald calmly watched him fall, she kneeled beside him and checked his eyes. she felt sorry for him for a second, then she remembered what he did to her and the sorrow disappeared. "I'm sorry, but you brought it on yourself." she talked to the sleeping man lying on the floor. thinking of the way she acted made her feel sick, she remembered his breathing on her, his filthy hands touching hers, and the worse...his mouth. she felt her stomach churned and suddenly she could take it no more, she ran outside and emptied all that her stomach contained.
she felt suddenly that her hair was lifted up while she was throwing. when she finished she looked up to see Nanny holding her.
"it's okay." Nanny murmured trying to calm her down "it's okay...everything will be okay now..."
Emerald smiled at her with gratitude and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. after a few moments of breathing hard she heaved her head "we should put him to bed before anyone see." she felt exalted now.
Nanny smiled at her "let's go honey. there is a lot to do."
Sam entered the dining room a few minutes later. when he saw Pol on the floor he couldn't help but smile "that girl is a genius ".
he looked at Nanny and Emerald while they drag him to Emerald's room. he wished he could help them, but it was impossible with his injuries.
they reach the room, put Pol on Emerald's bed and covered him with a blanket.
when both women went to Nanny's room to get the bags he walked to the bed, lifted the cover and took a long look at the man he despised so much. he looked so calm and it angered him to think that Pol put Emerald to so much suffering and he won't pay. so he kicked him with his good leg once, then another one, and soon Nanny and Emerald had to pull him away to stop him.
"what has gotten in to you ?" Nanny scold Sam severely. "we are not trying to kill him."
Sam looked ashamed, he didn't plan on doing this and felt bad for loosing his temper. but the anger lingered.
Emerald caressed his hand "I understand... but there is no time for revenge now. we have to be prepared for the journey. it is much more important then him."
Sam nodded. she was right. the journey is much more important. "I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry too" Emerald add "I never wanted to use the drug, but he pushed us to the corner. they both gave us no choice..."
"now, that everything calmed down... let's check what is left to do." Nanny got them back to the real world.
"okay." Sam started to count "we got the clothes, winter and summer. tents and sleeping bags?"
"got them " Nanny answered.
"dishes ?"
"yep. cups, plates, cutlery."
"good. what about penknives ?"
"we got five. one to each and one extra."
"water bottles ?"
"forgot that... I'll go get some."
*****
Nanny went to the kitchen to look for bottles when she saw Astel sitting on a chair crying. "are you okay ?"
Astel jumped off the chair. she obviously didn't see her coming. "I'm fine " she wiped her tears.
"would you like to talk about it ?" Nanny kneeled next to her. she liked the stocky old woman, she always smiled and joked around, it was strange to see her crying.
Astel smiled slightly. "it's just that... I'll miss you, you know. and miss Emi. I can't believe I won't see you again."
Nanny didn't know what to say to her. but she got an idea "we appreciate your help very much. after we go, you can take everything from my room. I won't need it anymore."
"you aren't going to come back, are you ?"
"no Astel, we don't"
she wept another tear and got up. "the food is ready, I'll help you carry it upstairs."
"thanks " Nanny smiled "just let me get the bottles."
"where are we going ?" Emerald asked Sam when they were alone.
"I don't know, Joharran will lead us, he knows the way."
"do you know which direction ?" she pressed.
"why ?"
"do you think we could go to your house before we leave ?"
"I was counting on that. according to Joharran explanation it's on the way ,I am planning to get there tonight and change our clothes there." Sam was intrigued "why?"
"I just wanted to say goodbye to your mother, that's all."
just then Nanny walked in with Astel. Emerald got up to help them with the heavy load.
"the food in this bag is for this week, it's already cooked, so you won't waste valuable time." Astel explained. "the other two is for the rest of the way. I hope it would be enough"
"thank you." Emerald hugged her
"this is great. thanks Astel, very much." Sam got up and hugged her as well.
she had tears in her eyes "I will miss you all."
*****
Emerald looked at the bags standing on the floor. she tried to remember if she forgot something. she went to her desk and checked it again. she took everything she could, almost. she opened a drawer and pulled a small box out. she went to one of the bags and put it there.
"did you think which horse would you take ?" Sam asked her.
"I will take Star of course, and I think Nanny would like to ride on Ginger, she's a steady mare and she used to her, don't you Nanny ?"
Nanny nodded.
"I'm still having thoughts about a horse to Joharran. I thought about Shark, he is a strong horse, but Joharran is not used to horses and Shark is not a reliable horse. I don't think he could control the beast."
Sam thought of it for a minute. "what about a mare for him ?"
"Joharran is a big man..."
Sam nodded, there was no need to say more. "what about Night, the black one ? she is a big mare, and a good horse."
Emerald's face brightened "yes, she is perfect for him. quiet but strong. they would get along together."
Sam looked through the window, it was getting dark "so, let's go get them ready."
"I'll send Adam to help you take the bags." Nanny suggested.
"we don't want to much people to know about it." Sam reminded her.
"Adam is a good man, he won't say a word." Nanny defended the old servant.
"I didn't say he is not a good man."
"well, you can't do it by yourself. and Emerald can't take it too."
"she is right Sam." Emerald interfered "he won't say a word."
Sam sigh. "o.k."
"good" Nanny smiled "I'll go get him, and the food for the dogs."
"we will take everything to the stable and come back for dinner." Sam announced "we will meet Joharran in two hours in your usual place."
*****