The Fancy (11 page)

what would he do? One thing was certain, at al

costs, he must protect Suga's honor, regardless of

his restlessness, his steadily growing need and

passion for her, he must keep a respectable

distance so that when the time came, part of the

community would be satisfied to know, their dwel ing

together had been nothing but respectful.

There had to be proof, that he had treated her

as a servant, nothing more - despite what his heart

and soul was growing in torment to do. Whatever

else could be done, he hadn't a clue and would think

on those matters as they presented themselves.

Obviously, Moose was done, he began playing

with Quinton, who laughed and returned the gesture,

chasing him about the yard - neither one of them

mindful of the wind chil , drizzle and moisture in the

air.

Suga stood in the window, staring out at them,

a smile on her face. She thought back to the first few

days there, when she'd asked him for his word on

keeping her - never letting her go. That day, riding

through town, she’d realized that was a promise he

would not be able to keep if others forced him to

conform. She would have to leave, she knew that

and before she went, she would see that he had

everything he needed, that, she felt, was
her
priority -

seeing about him. When Quinton and Moose re-

entered, it was to the sight of her adding to the stew

she'd been keeping alive the last three days. It

cooked constantly around the clock, they ate from it

around the clock, when things started getting low,

more water was added, roots added, herbs, spices

and fresh meat, whatever was available that might

not have been in it before, thus keeping it alive.

She spoke right away on seeing them enter,

"First light, we need t'take that mule an' ol'buckboard

out so we can bring in al I hunt for…"

"Sure, Suga, we can - I told you, whatever you

wish; Moose - wood store until you dry!" He ordered

the animal.

"You like m'bread, I'mo sho' you how I make it,

real fast - won't take you no time."

He thought that odd, "Might I ask, why you

cannot carry on preparing it?"

"I - I ain't gone be here much longer, just wanna

make sure everything right, 'fore I have to go."

"You're not going anywhere, Suga, not as long

as I live."

He answered immediately, knowing that it was

true. She was right for him,
'Hmph.'
He chastised

himself, Suga was right for any man - but not any

himself, Suga was right for any man - but not any

man, was right for Suga. He was right for her. One of

the things that he’d concluded in his mind was that

she was a gift far greater than Henry Bancmen had

given her to be. Quinton had never given a thought of

what his mate would be like, because he’d never

considered taking on a mate, a woman to court and

then, marry – not once. Even though back home in

England, that is what he would be now facing, had he

not taken off into adventures of his own choosing.

He looked back and realized, he must have

been guided by something, or someone greater, in

order to be in place, to receive the best gift any man

could possible receive, and that gift would be, his

other half.

Suga, was – his other half – the part of him that

had been missing; ironical y, he hadn’t known that,

until that moment.

Everything about them together, felt right to him

- right in the way that you never want it to change.

"I like knowin' that, but you can't promise it,

can't give your word; I should’not'ah made you say it.

When time come fo'me t'go, i's gone hurt, but I'ah be

okay – just wanna make sure, you okay – ‘fore I do."

Quinton walked toward her, stopping at the

edge of the huge inglenook fireplace. His move

made her feel nervous, Suga stood turning to face

him, the warmth swarming between them, each

flame dancing to feed the glow to their skin.

"Suga, I have said not a word from the moment

of our meeting that was not true, especial y those,

vowing that you are mine until I die - I meant that

especial y."

"I'on know how you gone stop it. They seen me

today, I wish I ain't go wit' you - I know better, that

was jus’ stupid."

"El en Murray needed you to be there today.

Were it not for you, her husband might have been

burying her today, along with the child."

"You was there, you wudn't let her die."

"I would not have done, what you did, Suga.

She, she would have suffered in my care, I'm afraid.

You are needed here. Therefore, from this moment

forward, each cal - you and I - wil attend together.

I'm asking you to help
me
Suga, help
them
. Wil you?

Wil you help me?"

"How I'mo do that?" She asked, stunned.

"The very way you did today, especial y so,

when it comes to urgent matters involving women,

and those giving birth. I - wil assist
you
, how is

that?!"

She gazed at him, accustomed to him by now,

that he pretty much let her speak her mind if she was

inclined to converse with him.

"Why, Quinton - them is the most foolish things I

ever hear you say, is you done gone crazy, Quinton?

These people ain't gone want me near t'trust when

they feelin' sick, at they worse."

Quinton swayed back laughing, doing a jokers

jig, giddy as a drinking sailor, tickled and thril ed by

her fleeting acts of aggression. To see it, made him

high from the shot of joy he felt witnessing it.

Suga’s face contorted, shaking her head, "Why

is you laughin' - you sho' is crazy!" She was grinning

next, turning away, trying not to laugh at him;

returning her focus to the stew.

"Ahhh, Suga..." He finished off his moment of

mirth, "...come, leave it for now, sit, so we can

discuss this." He invited her, smiling stil , always

when with her. Taking a seat opposite him, Suga sat

and listened.

"Starting this day, you wil learn al of my

instruments, what they're cal ed, why they are used.

While you cannot yet read, you wil learn al I wil

teach you - including, to read. Ah, don't flash your

eyes at me - you can do this Suga, you can do this.

There is so much intel igence and wisdom inside of

you, you need this to give those things a purpose - a

place to be used, or else, find al wasted by the road

side.”

His

eyes

gazed

at

her

with

gentle

understanding, “No, not while with me - you wil learn

and -
you
wil teach me things, I should know. As for

the town-folk, leave them to me, and trust me, please

- wil you?"

Having no other choice in the matter, Suga

nodded, "Yes, Quinton."

Frightening to Suga, but true to his word he

was tenacious.

The rest of that day, he began schooling her,

laying out before her everything that he used as a

physician, explaining just as he’d promised.

Then
came reading, he explained the structure

of letters, their sounds. How they were put together

to form words. How the words were linked to form

sentences they used each day to communicate.

He explained how to take what one hears, and

how to apply it to what one sees in letters, missives,

and journals and in books - thus, cal ing it reading.

He made her sit with his quil , the ink wel and a

new journal book - where he taught her to write the

letters and words she said each day; in one instance

while teaching her, he leaned over her shoulder, his

larger hand, cupped over her smal er one, directing it

on what was a comfortable position while writing. He

found his face, just a bit too close to hers; his body

instantly reacted to being so near; thus a battle not to

kiss her, inhale the scent of her, not touch her lips

with his own - giving into urges that bombarded his

mind daily. Snapping himself out of it, he moved

quickly away, pointing her attention back to the

booklet, and off of him. “You must learn to write your

name.” He directed her.

“Suga?” She asked, smiling, excited at the

prospect of seeing her name.

“Yes, Suga
Caine
.” He added, his gaze lost on

her lovely features. Suga nodded and looked away.

Did she notice? He knew that she had to have

noticed that he had feelings for her; yet, he could only

wonder, did she think those feelings were merely

what he as a man felt because he desired her in his

bed? He couldn’t be certain exactly what she thought

of them, but what was clear was this thing, between

them, it existed - this relationship that should be

more, but wasn't, because he would not force her to

take what he would give, as a man would a woman -

that knowledge was like a steadily growing beast

that sat alive in their midst, mocking them both -

wondering
which
one would come through it, to get

to the other.

As a consequence of what was happening

around them, Quinton knew to touch her would be

foolhardy - a move he would come to regret, thus -

he kept a respectable distance, while certainly

tempted to do otherwise. The key was to stay very

busy and focused; he returned to correcting her. Her

speech was soon improving, with him guiding her on

her grammar each time he heard a way of speaking

that could have been better expressed. .

Suga, sighed, not too sure about this new

notion of his, educating her, making her his nurse. At

times he said things like, "No more butchering the

English language." He was relentless, making her

feel that he was paying her too much attention with

his instructions. He had assigned her to writing the

first sentence she spoke each morning; and the last

sentence each night, both would start with, ‘Suga

said’. He taught her to form a picture in her mind

when she saw and read a word, so that as she read

it, she could see it as clearly as what her eyes

beheld each day.

Frightening as wel as true to his word, she

attended each cal and he would introduce her,

"My assistant, Suga – she nurses those I

attend." Because the cal s were urgent, those who

were surprised by her showing up with him, kept al

thoughts to themselves as their first concern was to

their sick loved one.

No matter how bloody the job, how horrific

some injuries, how sick some patients, she stood

firm, never balked, felt il , queasy, dizzy or faint - she

cleaned them and dressed their wounds. Not

escaping Quinton’s notice – Suga had a calming

effect on many, she lul ed and soothed them with her

gentle manner and persuasive direction. To help

some patients in extreme pain, Laudanum or the

pipe was used to relax them. Depending on their

malady - while sitting in attendance, Suga would mix

them tinctures to fortify their blood, to fight infection

and pain in their absence.

Word got around about the doctor.

Word got around about his assistant, Suga.

Tongues started wagging with the question of

where did his Negro assistant live? She did not

reside with any of the local families, nor had she a

room for boarding in town.

They were being checked upon without their

knowledge – in conclusion, they surmised that there

was only one place for the girl to be, and that was

living with the doctor.

The first motion against them took place as

they were deep in the woods, going from one spot to

another, col ecting fungi for food and medicines. It

was Suga’s turn to teach him, show him, and help

him identify the various things her mother had taught

her to use in any given situation. Using the mule and

cart, Moose running about their heels, they returned

with a bumper crop, only to stop and see, walking

about their townhouse garden, looking for them, was

Henry Bancmen. Moose ran halfway between them,

barking at him, turning back to Quinton and Suga,

and then running so far once more, barking.

Suga clicked her tongue, tapped her thigh and