CHAPTER TWO.

Something walked into me, or maybe I walked into it, my head had been held down to conceal my swollen face for anyone who bothered to look, gossips who always had something to say and whores who would jump with glee to mock the virgin.

“Would you watch where you are going?, are you blind or what?”I roared, taking a few steps backward from the force.

I looked up at his face, having to tilt my head higher than I normally would, maybe because it was night or maybe because he was really tall. It didn’t matter, whoever this bullhead was, he was standing in my way to the chemist shop and worse of all , had bumped into me, and maybe he had no sense because he was still standing there in my way.

“Little woman, show some manners now, you should apologize, you bumped into me,” he retorted, his voice more manly than my dad’s.

“I’ll stand where I am, let’s see what you can do about it,”he dared.

I looked up even more now, this man was asking for it , maybe even begging for it.

The cigarette in his mouth and black hat he had on made it difficult for me to see his face, maybe get close enough to punch his fucking nose.

“Get the fuck out of my way!” I yelled and hauled myself at him, while aiming for his eye with my long fingernails, he ducked away from me before I could get his eyes, but I did scratch it a little.

“The push gave way enough for me to go through, not before I saw two huge men beside the tall stranger who seemed to be coming at me with force being asked to back down by the stranger.

I waltzed past them into the pharmacy and was welcomed by the warmth of the pharmacy. The smell of medicine was not inviting but I could appreciate the warmth.

“Ohh gabby gabby, what has happened this time? You look all beaten up.” Mrs Bruno, the local quack pharmacist, a woman I’ve grown to like and find welcoming greeted me with the usual usual pity .

“I’ve got a headache Mrs Bruno, if you don’t mind, please give me the strongest medicine for headache please,” I said in a low tired tone.

“Oh my child, old Bindo better just take the breath out of you, at this rate, why don’t you run away?” Mrs Bruno asked and approached me with her walking stick. She inspects my face and pale body, her eyes moving to my neck.

“ He strangled you again?” “Hmm, I know I am the only friend you have , but don’t come running to me when you decide to run away, no body wants your father’s troubles but you would be better without both ya parents, I am sure of that.” “Here drink this, it’s ginger tea, should help with something”

Like what? I asked out of curiosity.

“Anything child.” “ Here is medicine for headache and pain relieve, you sure need it. Mrs Bruno said and handed the medicine carefully wrapped in paper.

I drank the weird smelling concoction, dropped the cup on the counter and turned to leave, instantly wishing I could stay longer, then I remembered the tall rude man I met outside and wondered if he was still there, I didn’t want to have to deal with whatever could happen if he was still out there.

“Mrs Bruno? Any tall man come in here?”

“Why do you ask?” She replied, sitting on an iron stool.

“It’s just I bumped into a man at the entrance of your store, am just curious” if he was as in here before I came in” I explained myself.

She motioned for me to come closer with her walking stick, as though she was about to tell me a forbidden secret.

“That man is lord Mills Jason Shepherd,” she began in a whisper, pointing in the direction of the door as though he was standing right there. “ He is a very feared man in the country, make sure to stay away from him whenever and wherever you see him,” she cautioned.

“Who would that be?” I asked while looking in the direction of her walking stick which was still pointed in the direction of the door.

You really don’t know? She asked seemingly shocked that I didn’t know who this man was. “Well his the grandson of Oliver McCain shepherd”, she said in a whisper, her eyes burrowing into mine to give her a reaction.

Still no clue, I waved my head from side to side, indicating a negative response.

“Seriously !” Are you leaving in a hole or something?

“The son of Michael junior shepherd?” She said in atone that was more than a whisper.

At the mention of that name, my eye lit up like a golden bulb.

Oh my Gosh, oh my littlest life!!! I think I bumped into him,” I said in a panic.

YOU WHAT!

“Bumped into him… Gabby repeated”.

“How are you here then? Mrs Bindo asked, if you did bump into him, that would be like a federal law offense!”

“I also hauled myself at him and maybe scratched his eyes”. Gabby continued.

“You are one lucky bitch, people get killed for looking at that man the wrong way”, and you in all your wretchedness hauled your self at him? And even scratched his eyes? You must be on some lucky charm child.”

“Do you think he might still be out there?” Gabby asked, without a hint of worry in her tone. “I just don’t want to have to deal with him again,” she explained.

“I think not, but hurry back home now child, don’t bring me trouble, you seem to reek of it all the time.

I exited the drug store and took the short but dangerous way back home, which meant I had to snare at some old drunk men and ignore the whores ready to fuck even a tree for some penny”.

The light to the leaving room was turned on, I could see from the distance as I walked closer, the bedroom light was off which meant my mother was not in it.

As I walked closer while hugging my self tightly from the chilly night, I made out three cars packed at front yard, I halted,my heart beat began peaking pace and heat crashed into me all of a sudden, i began to feel fear.

Was my mum dead? Did my dad succeed atlas while I was away? I could see movement through the thin curtains, something was definitely going on.

I ran toward and crashed into the door, it came flying in pieces, the medicine splattering all over the floor and then silence .

“Ahh, there she is! Gabby my beautiful daughter,” my father said with a smile that was more of a laugh.

Still standing on the door way, I scanned the room, there were five men, and they were all standing, all but one man, his back was to me, but my gut feeling knew exactly who he was, so I scuffed.

my mother was standing at the corner right behind my father.

“If an apology is what you came for Mr Mills, then you came to the wrong house.” I walked to my fathers side, as much as I hate the man, he always played defense for me against other men, this would be no different.

“You made me waste good medicine too, I continued, so if am not over my self, I believe it is you who needs to apologize to….

The slap came, not louder than the others I received before, just different because it came as a surprise, I fell to the ground at the deafening slap,and my mother ran to me.

“That is no way to talk you little brat! my father shouted.

“Get away from her,” I heard him say to my mother as I felt him leading me up on my feet.

I stood with my hands clutched at my cheeks, my head was spinning and my headache had worsened a million times over in a matter of seconds.

“Look at me gabby.. apologize to Mr Mills this instant,”he said pointing in the direction of this total stranger.

I turned to look at Mr Mills with my hands leaving my cheeks to rest at my sides.

“I won’t,” I replied spiting on the floor.

“It will be the death of you child,” My father growled.

I looked at Mr Mills with tears in my eyes.

“I don’t care,”i replied, “I will not apologize.

“I almost feel pity for you,” Mr Mills voice reverberated in the almost empty room.

He motioned to one of the guards with his hand and he who droped a large briefcase on to the wooden table.

He opened it to reveal piles of dollar.

“Here Mr Bruno, I believe this is more than enough given that she must be a lot for one old man to handle.”

“I am being generous, besides you lost the bet.” “ She’s all mine now, We agreed.”