"Ruin and Redemption"

Lizzie & Patsy Bring a Gift to Josiah

Patsy looked at her warily. No good would come of denying Derrick his sex. But she could tell Lizzie wasn’t going to be pushed from her position just yet.

Derrick had finally relented, and let her take CiCi away, somewhere Lizzie hoped she’d be safe. He had promised not to touch her, and then told her if she’d see her way clear, he was sure CiCi could produce some beautiful babies for her to raise. CiCi could keep the black ones, and Lizzie could have the white ones to raise in the house. “Not after what you’ve put her through, Derrick! Maybe if you’d told her what you wanted, and waited a few years, and been gentle with her, but how dare you even think about her having your babies after what you did! There’s no other word for it but rape, Derrick.” He had given her plenty of excuses, all while looking ashamed of himself, and saying that he would never rape a woman, even a slave. He wasn’t like other owners that way; He would never hurt a woman. “Well, you did, and its not going to happen again! She’s terrified, and she doesn’t belong here anymore!” Finally he had given in to her pleadings, and his guilt and allowed her to take CiCi away. He looked sad as he watched her and Patsy drive off together in the wagon. She wouldn’t let him come with her this time, but she’d promised she’d be back before sunset.

They made their way purposefully down the road with the two horses pulling. Lizzie really didn’t feel attached to these two. Not the way she had been attached to Silver. She still missed him, and mourned the loss whenever she made her way to the barn.

She had a shawl tucked around her shoulders and upper arms, and wore an old hat, so that she wouldn’t be giving Josiah any funny ideas when she showed up. As she drove, she questioned the wisdom of her choice. She was taking CiCi away from one man who wanted to have sex with her, but she might possibly be taking her to another. And there would be no other woman here to protect her! Unless--- Would Izzie still be living at home? Would she maybe like a companion?

 Lizzie had no way of knowing. She only felt that Josiah would help her, if he could. But what if he, too, took advantage of CiCi? What if he couldn’t wait for what he wanted? For as stunning as CiCi was, Lizzie could not imagine any man not wanting her. Even she had not been able to keep herself from looking at CiCi. But at least she was not a man, always feeling the temptation to stick his penis in a beautiful woman, no matter how young and vulnerable. Unfortunately, she could think of no better alternative right now. She had to hope and pray that Josiah would take good care of CiCi and protect her, rather than harm her. She had to hope that whatever temptation Joe might feel, he would act honorably. At least CiCi had more of a chance with him than with Derrick!

Soon they arrived at Josiah’s house. He had fixed it up, and added to it. It now looked much more hospitable, with a fresh coat of paint, a new front porch, and a few flowers around it. Lizzie wondered if those had been Izzie’s idea; They looked newly planted. Could Izzie still be living here, or was it too much to hope for?  Lizzie could actually imagine herself living here under different circumstances; the house that stood in front of her looked nothing like the rundown shack it had been when Josiah’s father had been alive.

Josiah was standing on the front porch of the house when she got there.

“Josiah!” She called. It was so good to see him! He looked surprised to see her. He put down the pipe he had been smoking rather solemnly and came out to the road to greet her like a happy puppy.

“Lizzie and Patsy!” He smiled happily, and rushed to the side of the wagon to help her down. Despite the impropriety of it, he gave her a quick fierce hug once she was standing on the ground. “I’ve missed you, Lizzie.” She almost felt like crying she had missed him so much herself; She couldn’t believe she had actually driven herself to Josiah Walsh’s house! It had taken a major disaster again, but at least here she was!