"Ruin and Redemption"

Derrick's Illness

Looking forward to the home stretch; just a few more weeks and I'll be done hopefully! Hope you're enjoying the story so far! 

“Of course I am. I’m just used to earning my own way. But I guess you two men aren’t going to give me that opportunity.”

“Nothing personal, ma’am. Just something I promised my sister. You’re a very attractive woman, Rebecca. Just already made up my mind this was somethin’ I wasn’t getting into.”

“Alright, I’ll take the money, and I’ll buy myself some food, and maybe some cloth so I can make some new clothes for you both.”

“Don’t know if I’ll be back this way, or not, you just make those clothes for someone ‘round here who needs them,” Woodrow answered.

“I’ll make something small, like a scarf, to keep you warm in the Winter, Woodrow. Alright now, Josiah, tell me what I can help you with. Sorry for trying to solicit you like that, I was desperate. We’re still friends just as much as ever, I just thought in the state you were in, I thought I might be able to…What can I say for myself? I’m hungry, and I don’t act like myself when I’m hungry.”

“It’s alright, Rebecca. Let’s just try to forget about it, O.K.? I’ll see if there’s any mending that Mindy can’t get to, an’ I’ll mention you do mending and laundry when people come by… An’ I’ll let ‘em know they need to pay fair rates, too. If anyone tries to cheat you, they’ll have to answer to me.”

“Thank you, Josiah. I’d appreciate that very much…Maybe eventually I can get my daughter back.”

 “I hope so, Rebecca. I hope so. I miss having her around. It’s too quiet somehow. We’ll figure out somethin’.”

“Josiah, I want you to help me get her back. I need my daughter with me. If there’s anything you can do, I’d greatly appreciate it.”

“I’ll do what I can Rebecca. Why don’t you let Derrick help you? He, em, he is her father after all.”

“You’re standing up for him, after, after what he’s done, Josiah? I’d rather leave her where she is than take one penny of Derrick’s money!”

“He’s still her father, Rebecca. He has some good in him. He kept Izzie and Mindy safe anyways. An’ he tries to keep Lizzie up as well as he can. They’re all still here, at least, no one’s made off with them…I have to have some faith in him, Rebecca. We all know no woman is going to be able to resist Derrick, and he, I don’t know, I guess he can’t help himself around women, either. I don’t honestly know, Rebecca… But I think he’d help you with your daughter. Regardless of what quarrel I have with him, I can’t understand why you’re so hard on him, Rebecca. Seems like you could let him help some with his own child, especially since he wants to so bad.”

“Josiah, I don’t want Derrick’s money! I don’t like slavery. I don’t want to have to pretend that I’m in love with him and let him just drop in anytime he feels like it. I don’t want to become another one of Derrick’s possessions, Josiah! He wants me to be his, exclusively. I doubt he’d even want me talking to you. And I’d much rather have you in my life than Derrick, regardless if he was the one to accidentally father my child! Let Lizzie keep Derrick, and let Derrick have whatever…well, whatever unmarried, shall we say, mistresses he wants. Not me, Josiah! Not me. I can’t do it!”

“I know you can’t, and he shouldn’t try to force you. But what about the child? Couldn’t he come down to see her? When you chose, Rebecca? Couldn’t you give him some access in exchange for some help supporting her?”

“He’d want me in the bargain! I’d never be a free woman again, Josiah!”

“What he’d want and what he’d accept are two different things. Lizzie would want you and your child to have the support; I know her, Rebecca. She takes care of Scarlett and Michael’s children like they’re her own. She’d take care of yours, too, if you’d let her.”