chasing the sun by me (snow like ashes txt) 📖

chapter 1

All my life I had done what I was told. I worked from dawn till dusk. Hardly ever having a moment to myself. My parents treated me like I was a slave, and I had come to believe that I was one. No matter what I did to make them happy, it never worked. Then one day they sold me to a rich stranger. I thought my life was going to be better with him. But I was totally wrong. It was even worse than before.

  “I thought I told you to get your lazy ass up!” The switch sounded with a crack against my back. I knew better than to cry out. If did that would mean an even harder hit. “Now get up and start your chores.”

  “Yes master.” I quickly got up. “What shall I start with?”

  “Scrub the floors in the ball room. Then go outside and clean up the grounds. After that do your regular chores.” With that Master left the room.

  I quickly changed into my cleaning clothes. Then got to work.

  First I went to the laundry room and got the cleaning supplies. Then I made my way to the ballroom.

  I had no idea why master wanted me to clean this room. He hardly ever used it. Only when something important was going on. So something was going to happen.

  I got down on my hands and knees and began to scrub the floor. Several hours later I was finally done. I stretched out my back, careful not to pull any muscles. I quickly put the things away and headed out to the shed.

  Today was pretty hot so I put on a hat and a little bit of sunscreen. Then I got the wheel barrel and put the gardening supplies in it.

  The first thing I decided to do was fix up the bushes around the house. Master always liked to have those the most presentable. Then I slowly started to pull the weeds, careful not to leave holes in the ground. Then I went and worked on the bushes and trees by the gate.

  “Excuse me. Can you tell me where Mr. Isles lives?” I turned and saw a man standing outside the gate. I looked down. Master never liked me looking at people.

  “He lives here. Is he expecting you?”

  “I would say so.”

  “Do you have any proof?” Master never liked anyone on his property unless they were invited, or had proof for being here.

  I heard the rustling of a coat. “Here you go.” He passed me an envelope through the gate. Our fingers touched at the tips.

  I took the paper quickly. “Sorry sir.” I looked the paper over and then handed it back to him. “Please give me a moment to let you in.” I got out the jug of water and rinsed off my hands. Then I opened the gate. “Are there any bags you wish for me to take?”

  “No thank you. I got it.”

  I looked at him strangely. “But I must.”

  “I said I got it.” I recognized the tone in his voice, and it made me cringe.

  “Sorry sir. If you would just follow me up to the house I will take you to Mr. Isles.”

  “Alright.”

  I started to walk up the drive way. Careful to move the weeds out of his way. I had to resist the urge to look back at the man.

  I opened the door widely for the man. Then I followed in right behind him.

  I went to Master’s study. I knocked three times before entering. “A visitor come to see you.”

  I opened the door for the man to come in. He sat his bag down by the door. “What is my son doing carrying his own bags?” There was a hard tone to his voice.

  Son? “I asked to take them for him, but he denied it.”

  “Come here.” I walked to his desk. He snatched me by my hair and pulled me down to him. “Do what you have been told to do, and you won’t get beaten as bad.” He pushed me down to the ground. “Now take his bag to the room three doors down from mine. Then get cleaned up for dinner, you smell like a dead pig.”

  “Yes Master.” I left without anymore words.

  I went back to my small closet of a room and scrubbed myself down. Then I got dressed in my dinner attire.

  I quickly made my way to the kitchen. The cook already had everything ready for Master. “Thank you Ms. Crane for cooking the meal. I don’t know what I would have done without you.” I balanced food on my arms.

  “You’re welcome my dear. Now get out there before he gets angry.”

  I nodded before walking quickly walking out the kitchen.

  Master was sitting at the head of the table  and his son was sitting to the right of him. I gave Master His food first, then his son. “What would you like to drink Master?”

  “What I have every other night.”

  I turned towards his son. “What would you like sir?”

  “When you talk towards my son, you will refer to him as Young Master.”

  “Yes Master. What can I get for you Young Master?”

  “Whatever my dad is having.”

  I nodded my head. “I will be back momentarily.” I scurried off to the kitchen, trying to ignore the feeling of someone watching me.

  I quickly poured two glasses of wine and brought them back to the dining room. “I am so happy to finally have you back home. I hope that you will stay this time.”

  “I was hesitant at first. But I decided to come just to see how you’ve been doing. And it looks like you’ve been doing well.” I felt his eyes on mine. “I will have to think about staying.”

  “Just tell me if there’s anything that will keep you here.”

  “I think there just might be.” Again I felt his eyes on me.

  “Did I give you permission to stand there?”

  “Sorry Master.”

  “For listening to our conversation you will go without dinner. Now go to your room for the rest of the night.”

  I did as I was told. I heard his son say something as I left. “Who is that?”

chapter 2

The morning came too soon. I rushed to get Master his morning coffee. I got there just before he did. “Good you’re here.” He sat down in his chair. “For the remainder of the time my son is here, you will be his personal maid. You will do anything he tells you. If I hear that you don’t, you will be punished severely. Am I understood?”

  “Yes Master. What do you wish for me to do now?”

  “Go to his room and wait for him to awake.”

  I nodded then left.

  The house was quiet as I walked up the stairs. The only sound was the wind brushing against the house.

  I opened the door quietly to Young Master’s. Careful not to let any of the light from the hallway come in.

  I stood in the corner of the room. Waiting for the moment when he would wake up.

  Slowly the sun rose up. As it came in the room, I got a better look at Young Master. He had black shaggy hair, nice, lips, and lean body.

  I wondered if he was anything like his father. For some reason I don’t think he is. He had already been so nice to me. But that didn’t mean anything.

  The rustle of sheets brought me back to the world. “If you keep staring at me like that, you’re going to burn a hole through me.”

  “Sorry Young Master.”

  “That’s alright. Can you hand me my shirt?”

  “Yes Young Master.” I went to the couch and grabbed his shirt. “Here is your shirt.”

  I set it by him and went back to my position. “Thank you. Do you mind coming here for a moment.”

  I stood before him. “Yes Young Master?”

  “I’m going to be staying here for a while, and I didn’t nearly bring enough clothes with me. Do you know any good places around here to get some clothes?”

  “Sorry, but no. I am not allowed off the grounds.”

  “That’s alright. I’ll just ask my dad. Would you come with me?”

  “If it is what you desire. Then I shall go.”

  He smiled at me. “When my dad isn’t around, you don’t have to act like that.”

  “Like what?”

  “All proper and what not. It doesn’t suit you.”

  “Sorry Young Master, but I know no other way to speak.”

  “Huh. I’ll just have to change that then.” He stood up and stretched. “I’m going to get changed, and then we’re going to go and do some shopping.”

  “I’ll be right outside if you need me.” Young Master just nodded his head.

  I was standing outside thinking of how much trouble I would get in if Master found out what I was about to do. He would be beyond furious. I would get the worse beating I ever have.

  “You ready to go?”

  “Yes Young Master.”

  “You don’t have to call me Young Master. You can call me Kiva.”

  “Master will not allow it. I am not a high enough ranking to call you by your first name.”

  He just looked at me. “If what I’m thinking is true, he gave you to me until I leave. And you would have to do whatever I told you. Am I correct?”

  “Yes Young Master.”

  “Then I order you to call me Kiva.”

  “Yes Kiva.”

  “Good. Now let’s go find my dad.”

chapter 3

Soon we were driving through town.

  All the sights and sounds were beginning to give me a headache. But I couldn’t concern Young Master with that.

  “My dad said that there was a clothing store right down the road from his house. But I can’t seem to find it. I guess we’ll just have to get out and walk.” He pulled the car to a stop. “I mean if that’s alright with you?”

  “It is all up to you Kiva.” He smiled at the use of his name.

  “Good.” He got out of the car. I excited right after him.

  “If it wouldn’t be to forward of me asking, but why did you decide to come back home?”

  For a minute he didn’t answer. “Honestly I don’t know. There was just this feeling I had, something like I had to be here.”

  I nodded my head. “Well I hope that your stay will be a good one.”

  Just then we came up to a men’s clothing store. He opened the door for me. I just looked at him strange. “Aren’t you going to