Chapter 56: Called it the next.
Austin Cunningham marched into the Gallagher home, a bloody mess, a scowl on his face, anger radiated all around him. Dust as if to show that he had came far. When the servants informed Lady Martha of an intruder, she had gone off to see whom it was. She was stunned when she saw Austin, all beaten up.
"Austin dear, goodness!! Do not tell me you got yourself into another fight?" She said quickly coming to his aid. Panashe had been standing behind her. She immediately went off to get a cloth and warm water with salt. It did not seem that bad but the blood running from his nose was concerning and his left eye, swollen almost closing.
"I came to see William, do not worry about me. I'm alright!"
"You're not alright Austin! Did you come all the way from your ranch then?"
He nodded.
Panashe unhesitatingly came to his aid. A little shy and intimidated she replied. "William is off to a house call. The birth of Mrs. Jenkins fourth."
Lady Martha nodded. "He should be back by now but not to worry. We can be of help just as he is."
Austin sighed, letting Panashe clean his face. She was very gently, he was glad because his face hurt. He was afraid that his jaw may have even dislocated from it's prevalent position.
"What is the matter Austin? You're aware that I take you as a son. I have known you since you were a little boy is it not?"
"You have, Mrs. Gallagher." He replied wearily. He looked at Panashe, an idea then crossed his mind maybe... she could help. She was still a negro after all.
"If it's privacy you need—" Panashe was interrupted by Austin putting his hand on hers as assurance.
"Not at all. You would be very helpful in this instance."
"Me?" Panashe asked, a little perplexed.
"Concerning this matter..."
"Oh dear God, I assume I already know what this is about... what is it with you boys constantly causing havoc in these poor girls lives. You're grown men. Please do not tell me that I have to go through this again!"
"Mrs. Gallagher it is quite complicated, it's not the same as William. This is not some love story. I do not at all feel anything for her. She makes me miserable and I can not dare stand the sight of her..." He huffed, the thought of her made him have a headache.
"You did not at all deny my accusation, it is about another girl then?"
Panashe kept to herself as she cleaned his bruises. She listened carefully as they conversed. "Yes, ma'am."
Lady Martha gasped. "Did she clobber you this crudely?"
"She has in the past but this time..." he chuckled. "It was her brother."
"Oh dear..." Lady Martha said with sympathy.
"I suppose you deserved it? No one would ever attack unprovoked without a reason."
Austin kept quiet.
"What did you do Austin?"
"On my part, nothing. I did not do anything wrong and I will not apologize for it. Infact when I'm all better, I will go teach her and her coward brother a lesson that they will never forget."
"That is very barbarous. Your parents would be very disappointed to know that this is what you have turned into. Accept fault Austin, that's the first step to dealing with guilt."
"I really appreciate your concern Mrs. Gallagher—" Panashe found herself smiling inwardly thinking about when William had called her the very same name. It was only special when William said it and no one else. "But I'd rather speak to William as soon as he returns."
"Alright, I will respect your decision."
Austin then turned to Panashe. "I haven't seen you in years. Time has certainly been kind to you. You have always been stunning." Austin said to Panashe who only smiled.
"Thank you."
"How is it being a liberated woman?"
"Takes a little getting used to." She replied, Austin found himself admiring her. He thought of all the great things William had to say about Panashe. She was soft and kind indeed, even within her smile and touch but he just had to get an animal, he thought bitterly. He hated her with all his might. The thought of her made him want to puke his guts out. She was animal, an untamed wild Neanderthal. William had Panashe, it seemed there no flaw what so ever. The way she carried herself... perhaps Panashe would be able to help tame the scavenger that was back at the Cunningham ranch.
"Saw your son the other day, such a beauty. Never in my life, had I ever seen a a stunning lad. He will definitely steal all the girls like his father." Austin joked lightly. Panashe smiled widely taking in the compliment.
"When will you marry then Austin? You're already old and—"
"Please Mrs. Gallagher! My parents have given me that talk and it takes you no where. I have better things to focus on than marriage. See how it worked out for William, he married a she-devil and raised kids that weren't even a tiny bit his."
"I was simply asking dear, no need to be defensive." She paused. "Are you alright then?"
"Very alright." Austin added knowing exactly what she meant. Panashe listened as they went on to talk about homosexuals and how immoral and disgusting it was. It saddened her how they spoke of them, she had once been that way. It was upsetting but she did not let herself get too self indulged. If she did, she would be forced to defend them and reveal her Hector's secret which she did not want to do. He had done so much for her, she did not think she could have made it these past years without him. Her mother was nothing close to supportive and Hector had been that. Always there.
—
The very next day, when William had heard of his best friend looking for him. He made it a point to immediately head over to the Cunningham plantation. It was at a distance but they would consider themselves neighbors despite all the distance inbetween because of the land the two families both owned.
"Boy, am I glad you're here!" Austin said when the butler had informed him of a visitor. He knew William would never let him down. William was the only person who could help, he did not trust no other. It helped that he also happened to be a Doctor well at-least in this occasion. Ever since his parents had moved to Birmingham to live their old age steady away from the plantations. Austin had been in charge of the plantation, he did not have a wife neither did he have a kid. Women stroke him as possessions nothing more. Be it they're black or white or blue. Kids, he hated kids. Never was fond of them. His parents had enough grandkids from his siblings and there was no need for him to have one. Ofcourse he was happy for William but he did not want that for himself. He had a goal and he was dead set on his goal. Sex? He never needed to go far to get it. He could also admit that he was fairly good looking.
"What was so important? Your face looks better than my wife described." William said.
"Your wife? The lunatic was released?"
"No, Panashe."
Austin chuckled then mockingly nodded. "You still want to marry after that ruckus? Oh you never learn. Besides what am I saying? You can not marry even if you wanted to."
Used to his awfully cynical comments, William ignored him. Austin was miserable and did not want to admit it, that was it. Miserably lonely.
"What's the matter?"
"She tried to bloody hang herself, that stupid thick-headed hussy!"
"That's awful, what would have made her aim for that over anything..."
Austin only sidled and looked aside. "I did not do anything, I reckon." He defended himself.
"Bloody hell, Austin!"
"She dared me, she pushed. She dared me and I gave it to her. William, I swear one of these days... Jesus, I have had it up to my neck. She is so stubborn and—" he huffed. "Do you see all these scratches on my face? That bloody animal did it. She is a loony, I swear!"
"It must not have been the reason for her to want to end her life you moron."
"She probably knew, I would come save her before she could."
William seemingly annoyed. "Why did you save her if you hate her so much?"
"I want her to suffer!" Austin yelled, the servants almost jumped at the sound of his voice.
"Can I see her?"
"Ofcourse, that's why I called you... to check on her. She is still a tad bit out of it. The rope was halfway through her neck before I saved her."
"Alright."
"Do not be too nice to her and do not let her innocent face trick you. She is the devil! Jesus Christ, I hate her!!"
"Calm down!"
"You do not understand what I have to deal with..." he paused. "I have someone watching her in there otherwise, I would have chained her to the bed."
William nodded as Austin led him to the room. He swiftly opened the door and found the girl in one corner of the bed, holding the pillow close to her chest. The servant that had been put in to watch her greeted William and he seemingly returned the gesture.
Austin waited and waited, he was becoming nervous. What could possibly be taking this long? He did not want to budge in because he knew that she would cry and act relentless in his presence besides that she had told him that she did not want to even see his face. It stung but he did not want to see her face either.
When William came out of the room, he had a somber look on his face. Not knowing what to tell his bestfriend.
"She is alright? Alright enough to work right? Because I do not care about her at all. I want her out there working as soon as possibl—"
"She's pregnant."
"Excuse me?"
"Austin? Bloody hell, what were you expecting form everything you did to the poor girl?
Austin could only sit down.
"She has that negro lover of hers from the commune. I told her to stay away from him but she is always with him. This isn't mine."
"Yes, Austin you bloody block. Reason being why she would want to take her life because she is pregnant with her lover's child because that isn't great news." William sighed. "You act a fool at times, she looks about four, five months or so."
Austin was stunned, without thinking he barged into the room. Pulling her to look at him. She started yelling for him not to touch her. Pleading, he held both her hands and pinned against her the bed, relentlessly crying.
"You know what Merri? You really tried it. You really did, now guess what? You're going to carry my child full term, that's your punishment. As for that lover of yours, I can not wait to announce that you're having my child. He will be so delighted to know that, his little innocent Merri has been around. Tramp!"
"Austin, what's the matter with you!!!" William pulled him back.
"I will never love anything that comes from you. I hate it already and I want it out of me..." She screamed with so much anger that the veins in her eyes scared William and Austin.
"Aha! You flimsy harlot you will love that child , just you watch..." Austin chuckled, Merri then spat in his face. William could only think, he was glad he was past this. He was glad that, what he had with Panashe was very different.. entirely different.