along the
street. Beside the fading bloom she walked, an exquisite
flower in only the first magnificent stage of full glory.
Shooting a short glance to the small woman walking
beside her, Amethyst felt the warmth of her mother's smile and sighed. It wasn't often that Mama felt well
enough to venture out for a walk, and her obvious joy in
her however temporary feeling of good health was
exhilarating in itself. The past six months had seen
Amethyst taking over more of her mother's acting
commitments while she was incapacitated, and she knew
her mother was extremely proud of her accomplishments. It was with great determination that she refused
to acknowledge the inevitable, which was written more
clearly on her mother's face each day.
With a positive effort, she directed her thoughts once
again to William Sheridan, but try as she might, she still
could not figure out what had set off his tirade a week
ago.
The Creole cane was a few months from harvest. She
had arrived at the plantation that day by wagon, along
with the new supplies which she had found on her
doorstep a few days previous in the same mysterious
manner as usual. Inexplicably, her arrival with the
provisions had seemed to spark William's irritation, and
her greeting was acknowledged with only the briefest of
nods. Despite the fact that he had made a point of riding
her home from the plantation at least twice a week during
the past year, allowing an easy and pleasant companionship to grow between them, he was suddenly acting
decidedly remote. When she left the kitchen with her
exchange of supplies, he allowed her to walk alone down
the trail to the road for a few yards before accompanying
her with obvious reluctance.
"So, you've had a visit from your smuggler friend
again, I see. He certainly goes out of his way to take care
of you, doesn't he?"
Momentarily stunned at William's peevish tone and
veiled innuendo, Amethyst stared speechlessly at his
lightly flushed face for a few moments before answering
haughtily, "Captain Straith isn't concerned about me...it's Mama. I've told you that before, William. He
took a liking to Mama when we sailed here on the Sally.
He doesn't really like me, and I certainly dislike him."
Flicking a contemptuous glance over her in an
insulting manner, William's voice was a low sneer. "Of
course..."
Aghast at his behavior, Amethyst eyed him unbelievingly. He was the same William for whom she had
developed a great fondness.. .the same thick, mahogany colored hair and boyishly handsome face, tall, the
same slender stature.. .he had not changed much in
their year of acquaintance, but the flashing, heartwarming grin that so typified his personality was not present.
Instead, his lips were pressed into a straight line, and a
small muscle ticked in his cheek with suppressed anger.
"William! What is the matter with you today?"
"It just seems to me that the infamous Captain Straith
goes to a great deal of trouble just because he took a
`liking' to your Mama..."
Suddenly feeling the blood rising in her own cheeks,
Amethyst responded heatedly, "Are you insinuating,
William Sheridan, that there is some type of...of...
illicit relationship between Captain Straith and my
mama?" Without waiting for his response, she continued
furiously, "Well, you are wrong! Neither Mama nor I
have even seen him in over a year, and he doesn't go to
`so much trouble' to see to us. It's not so difficult to send
a few of his men."
"Well, I don't like it, that's all!"
"You don't like it!" Exploding with anger, Amethyst
shouted, "And what concern is it of yours? My business
agreement is with your father, and he seems to be well
satisfied with the arrangement!"
"I don't like your associating with a man of that type."
"Oh, you would rather Mama and I go hungry, like the
majority of the people on this island. Well, I don't find that thought too appealing, and neither does Mama. We
don't choose to turn away
street. Beside the fading bloom she walked, an exquisite
flower in only the first magnificent stage of full glory.
Shooting a short glance to the small woman walking
beside her, Amethyst felt the warmth of her mother's smile and sighed. It wasn't often that Mama felt well
enough to venture out for a walk, and her obvious joy in
her however temporary feeling of good health was
exhilarating in itself. The past six months had seen
Amethyst taking over more of her mother's acting
commitments while she was incapacitated, and she knew
her mother was extremely proud of her accomplishments. It was with great determination that she refused
to acknowledge the inevitable, which was written more
clearly on her mother's face each day.
With a positive effort, she directed her thoughts once
again to William Sheridan, but try as she might, she still
could not figure out what had set off his tirade a week
ago.
The Creole cane was a few months from harvest. She
had arrived at the plantation that day by wagon, along
with the new supplies which she had found on her
doorstep a few days previous in the same mysterious
manner as usual. Inexplicably, her arrival with the
provisions had seemed to spark William's irritation, and
her greeting was acknowledged with only the briefest of
nods. Despite the fact that he had made a point of riding
her home from the plantation at least twice a week during
the past year, allowing an easy and pleasant companionship to grow between them, he was suddenly acting
decidedly remote. When she left the kitchen with her
exchange of supplies, he allowed her to walk alone down
the trail to the road for a few yards before accompanying
her with obvious reluctance.
"So, you've had a visit from your smuggler friend
again, I see. He certainly goes out of his way to take care
of you, doesn't he?"
Momentarily stunned at William's peevish tone and
veiled innuendo, Amethyst stared speechlessly at his
lightly flushed face for a few moments before answering
haughtily, "Captain Straith isn't concerned about me...it's Mama. I've told you that before, William. He
took a liking to Mama when we sailed here on the Sally.
He doesn't really like me, and I certainly dislike him."
Flicking a contemptuous glance over her in an
insulting manner, William's voice was a low sneer. "Of
course..."
Aghast at his behavior, Amethyst eyed him unbelievingly. He was the same William for whom she had
developed a great fondness.. .the same thick, mahogany colored hair and boyishly handsome face, tall, the
same slender stature.. .he had not changed much in
their year of acquaintance, but the flashing, heartwarming grin that so typified his personality was not present.
Instead, his lips were pressed into a straight line, and a
small muscle ticked in his cheek with suppressed anger.
"William! What is the matter with you today?"
"It just seems to me that the infamous Captain Straith
goes to a great deal of trouble just because he took a
`liking' to your Mama..."
Suddenly feeling the blood rising in her own cheeks,
Amethyst responded heatedly, "Are you insinuating,
William Sheridan, that there is some type of...of...
illicit relationship between Captain Straith and my
mama?" Without waiting for his response, she continued
furiously, "Well, you are wrong! Neither Mama nor I
have even seen him in over a year, and he doesn't go to
`so much trouble' to see to us. It's not so difficult to send
a few of his men."
"Well, I don't like it, that's all!"
"You don't like it!" Exploding with anger, Amethyst
shouted, "And what concern is it of yours? My business
agreement is with your father, and he seems to be well
satisfied with the arrangement!"
"I don't like your associating with a man of that type."
"Oh, you would rather Mama and I go hungry, like the
majority of the people on this island. Well, I don't find that thought too appealing, and neither does Mama. We
don't choose to turn away
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