COURTNEY THINKS ABOUT HER MOM

Rufus knew he had to get away, responding to his mom question, "Mom, Dad had asked me yesterday to give Courtney something extra for the work she did.

Mom I was going their first, before I attend to the work in the mill and the orchard."

"Rufus, from what I hear yesterday, I believe we should set a date for your marriage with Valarie?"

"Mom, I am not interested."

"Rufus, there was talk of Valarie being in your room yesterday?"

"Mom, if there were talks of Valarie, then it should also be talk of Courtney in my room?"

"It was, but I cleared that up."

"Then, I will clear up any misconception anyone may have of Valarie being in my room, it is very simple she imposed herself on me while I was asleep.

When I woke up, I get dress, that's all, nothing happens then and nothing is going to happen now?

But if you continue with the constant nagging of I getting married, and you feeling I will get married think again?

I am not ready to make that commitment, and no one is going to push me into something I don't want to do, or I will leave the plantation."

Turning to Valarie, "I already asked you to return to your family, I will not be joining an alliance with your family, now or neither in the future, so just return home and let me live my life, please, and stop wasting yours and my time."

"Rufus, the alliance has already been joined."

"Sorry Mom, but I was not there, and I am not a part of that, if you don't want me in the house? You can pursue this foolish plan of yours, but I won't be there when you get eggs on your face."

Rawlins sees how angry he was when he storms out of the house, "Cheryl, you are pushing him out of the house?"

"Where will he run Rawlins, it is only the plantation and the house?"

"Dad, Mom is right, he cannot run from this wedding?"

"You two might be surprised but if you continue nagging him Cheryl, and if something happens, I hope you are ready to take whatever blame.

Because he keeps telling you he is not ready, so don't say you were not warned."

Leaving them sitting at the breakfast table then walk away. "Valarie honey, don't worry about both of them?

Now we have to do some shopping, and I must meet Martha and see if there's any hindrance ahead. Carlos gets the car, let us take a ride to the market?"

****

Swimming not too far inside, recalling Mom's saying many times the current is very strong, but the water is lovely.

Allowing the salt to soak into her skin, but the feeling from last night was real. 'There's something very evil across the road living between those timbers. I could sense it, this is the second time I felt its presence so strongly."

When Courtney notices a big wave heading towards the shore, swimming out a bit, whispering to herself, "It seems that during the day, its presence is dormant, but during the night it roams.

I must be very careful, last night its presence was more forceful than my first encounter."

Relaxing now in the sand, "I must make a plan, now that Pappie and Mom's is not home, by five I must lock the doors.

When I am outside after the place becomes dark, it seems to sense my presence. Lord I know whatever this thing is, it's evil and if I tell someone they won't believe me, but I need to do more praying and read your word."

Recalling there was a bible in Mom's room, but let me enjoy the water, returning into the water not too deep, 'And I have the beach all to myself.

Pappie said I could use the van, but where can I go from here to where. That first day I was walking towards the eastern side when the place becomes dark, then the rain but the man came from that direction."

Swimming out after about thirty minutes, as curiosity piques her interest, "I can't sit down in the house the entire day, I don't have to cook and if I had known Mom's was not going to be home for the week, I would have never baked so much bread?"

Climbing the steps, 'It is so steep but it is good, the tide seems to raise at times' watching the impression it leaves on the steps. 'I must use the spade and scrape out the moss.'

Rinsing in the bathroom then dry herself, Courtney change into a beautiful lilac cotton dress. 'All the clothes in the case fit perfectly, even the baby blue I wore last night.

I got so many compliments and the chain seems to be a real diamond set. Tamara would have loved it, this is the type of lifestyle she indulges herself in.'

"Lord, I miss Mom so much, if only I could get word to her for her to know that I am alright, so she won't be worrying, oh Lord, I just hope she is doing okay?

I know Tamara goes and lime and returns home all sort of ungodly hours, and there's isn't anyone to take care of her. Tamara is selfish and lazy wanting everything ready done.

So please help her whenever a need arise, I know prayer has no distance so please touch mom and help her, heal her body and help Tamara to change her life around, I ask this in Your holy name Jesus, amen."