FORBIDDEN

CHAPTER 11 VALERIE

Winter had come and gone, the Smith's came back just in time, I actually kind of felt better when they did, everything went back to normal.

It was spring and the birds were back singing from day till night, the flowers had bloomed, but best of all no sleeping with five sweaters on and five sheets on.

I sat outside placing clothes on the washing line with the Miller sisters. They were triplets that had just been bought by Mr Smith. They were both so funny and loveable and very pretty. They had dark ebony skin with dark eyes and long curly hair streaming down their backs, they had the most wonderful voice and the slave quarter's was now filled with it.

"So Valerie, what do you have for that Smith's boy?" Asked Trisha, the eldest.

I felt my face heat up and I hid it from them, "I don't know what your talking about", I told them trying to use a serious voice.

"Sure you do!" remarked Tracey -the youngest- popping out in front of me and making me jump.

"Well of course, she's got the hots for him obviously" added Trina -the middle and most serious of the sisters.

"No I don't we just talk a bit nothing big" I replied to their chastising.

"Mmmhh, just talking" they both spoke in unison.

"Yes just talking".

They didn't seem to be satisfied by my answer but continued to work anyway.

Tom had to choose the worst time to appear and the worst way. He popped up from behind the long sheet I had just placed like Tracey had. I jumped again and slapped his arm but not really hard that it would hurt, but being the drama queen that he is, he started howling with pain even crumpling to the ground, causing the sisters to start chuckling.

"Oh do stand up, your as delicate as a paper doll", I told him.

He grinned up at me, "only if milady grants my wish".

"Do tell what it is" I replied with a not really interested voice.

"Well the Mrs, as in my mother wished that I have a maid escort since we're going to a distant friends home and I want thee to be my escort".

I couldn't help but roll my eye's.
"I can't for I have far to much to do" I told him, pulling out a beautiful bodice from the bucket full of wet clothes, only for it to be snatched away by Trisha.

"Nonsense, we can finish off here by ourselves, you should go with him" ordered Trisha.

"Yeah! We dont mind" said Tracey with a large grin on her face.

"Now go!"added Trina.

It looks like they all had a say in it except me. "Fine then. I guess you have a maid escort then Tom"

"Perfect" he said grinning then offering me his arm to hold, "now shall we milady"

I rolled my eyes before i reluctantly took it, causing a shrill of giggling between two of the sisters, Trina just smirked.

*~*~

A few minutes later i was dressed and riding in one of the Smiths carriges towards who knows where, i was pretty surprised they didn't keep me seated with the coachman on the box seat, or that Tom had his own closed carriage.

"So hows the view?"asked Tom grinning. I had been gaping out the window for some time now. But could you blame me, I've never seen Maryland like this, i was born in a farm and moved to the next one when i was just six years of age, I've never seen the state i live in, whenever i was transported from one farm tonthe other it was always at night or in a box wagon were the only breathable air came from small holes on the bottom, most of the children died before they arrived and they never took out the bodies until we officially arrived so transportations aren't my favourite thing.