Moonlight Vendetta

001 The Sale

Ellis

"Father, where are you taking me?" I asked as we shuffled through the crowd at night. I could feel that it was about to rain but we had no umbrella.

My father's behaviour troubled me as I felt he was hiding something.

I knew he was going through a lot. I had offered to help out when I turned 18 but he refused. He claimed that a girl of my beauty had no business doing odd jobs. Soon my mother fell ill and we had to sell everything we had to care for her. My father's sacrifice bought my mother two more years. She passed away in the middle of the night while my father slept beside her. He didn't know she was dead until morning when he brought her breakfast and she didn't wake up.

Broken and devastated he had turned to alcohol and became a miserable man.

At first, I felt sorry for him but soon I became angry. To him, he had lost his wife but I had lost both my parents.

My father's behaviour recently had been questionable. He seemed to be living in fear at all times, hiding from strangers I did not know. I knew he had been gambling a lot and I hoped that he hadn't gotten himself into trouble.

As we walked down the road, I became nervous. My father was yet to tell me where we were going. It was late and the streets were dangerous. Soon we arrived at a bus stop and sat on the bench.

" Father the bus station is closed." I pointed out just in case he had forgotten. The streets weren't safe, so businesses and transportation usually closed early.

" I know." He answered in a rash manner. I could smell the alcohol in his breath and it made me sick. " We are waiting for my friend."

" Why can't we wait for him at home. This place is dangerous." I pointed out, fearing the alcohol had impaired his thinking.

He took a deep breath and looked at me.

"Ellis remember you once told me you would like to work to help me out?" He asked and I nodded. Of course, I remembered. I had been telling him that for the past three years.

The only reason I wasn't working yet was that I couldn't find a job. Our town was very poor and most people that had businesses handled their chores by themselves. I would have left town to increase my chances but I couldn't leave my father alone for fear of what may happen to him if left him to his devices.

" Well, my friend wants to offer you a good job." He said smiling nervously. I knew something was off about the job and I hoped he would be honest with me.

" What kind of job entails us waiting at the bus stop in the middle of the night?" I asked.

" He is a very busy man and this was the only free time he had to come and get you." He explained.

"I see, but you haven't told me what I would be doing for a living," I stated and he smiled.

"ah, yes. He ahh has something like a ranch. You will be helping with the ranch work there." he explained. His explanation wasn't clear but I knew it took a lot of effort for him to explain so I didn't press any more than I had.

An hour later, my father was snoring on the bench when a black jeep parked by the bench. I was so scared I wanted to run but I couldn't leave my father so I sat, hoping we were not in any form of danger.

The glass at the passenger's seat side was brought down and I saw a man in sunglasses and a dark suit lookout.

Who wore sunglasses in the middle of the night? There was danger written all over them. I began to try to wake my father so we could run if the need came.

" Is he Samuel Ross?" The man asked.

" Who is asking? And why?" I asked in response to his question.

" We have a meeting with Samuel Ross and his daughter. If you aren't the ones then..." My father interrupted before he could finish.

" Yes yes we are, I am." He said quickly, sounding a bit confused.

"Okay, get in. Mr William is waiting." The man said.

I wasn't comfortable getting into the car but my father was eager. He got inside in a heartbeat which left me no choice but to follow.

I had a lot of questions reeling in my mind. Questions I knew my father wouldn't answer. So I kept them to myself and hoped for the best.

The drive was two hours. Why would anyone that lived this far away from civilisation set a meeting for midnight? Why would my father agree to this? We could have as well set out for this journey in daylight. I was very angry with my father. I was tired and felt like sleeping. At the same time, I knew I dared not sleep. I didn't trust the men even though my father did. My father had bad judgement and because of that, I had no confidence in him.

We finally arrived at our destination. It was a massive estate situated in the middle of nowhere. Why would someone build something like this away from civilisation? I became worried and nervous. What if he was a psychopath. We could go missing and no one would know.

A blonde girl in her teens received us at the entrance. She was too young to be working let alone stay up that late. We were ushered to a place that looked like the waiting room.

We waited there for thirty minutes. I was tired, hungry and in a very bad mood. A red-haired man attended to us eventually.

" Mr Samuel, I am sorry but he wouldn't be seeing you." He said

Great! I was so mad right now. It was three in the morning. Most people were in their beds snoring. Of course, he wouldn't be able to see us. He was probably snoring in his bed too. My father should have let us come in broad daylight. Now all our efforts were a waste.

"We can wait." I heard my father say. As if that wasn't the only option we had. No matter what, we would have to wait till daybreak before we leave. He was just stating the obvious.

" Mr Samuel," the man began "It took a lot of convincing to get this meeting. My boss no longer engages in things like this anymore. He said he is no longer interested."

What the hell was this man talking about? What 'things' was his boss no longer 'engaging' in anymore? Were we even discussing the same matter here? It was just a job for god's sake.

" Please, I need the money." I heard my father plead with desperation.

" Father, it's alright. I can go to the next town to get a job." I assured him

'" No, Ellis it has to be this one. It has to be here." He insisted. What was so special about this place and the deal they offered that made my father throw his dignity away? With the way he was acting they might not offer a good salary.

" look at her! Let him see her and then decide" my father said and placed me in front of the man. He dragged my arm with so much force that it hurt.

" Father, this is absurd, " I said and turned to look at him.

My father was already in tears. I could see the desperation in his eyes. I just hope he wasn't in serious trouble. The first time I ever saw my father cry was when my mother died. This was the second time. Whatever the situation was, it must have been dire for him to act this way. I knew I had to swallow my pride and make some effort.

" At least your boss should have the decency to tell us why he's changed his mind.' I said to the red-haired man

" My boss answers to no one.' He said boldly and I got angry.

" Your boss is a coward. Any man that hides behind his employees to do his bidding is a coward. ." I said and the man's eyes widened with shock. It was as if I had said something wrong.

" Is that so?" I heard a deep masculine voice say.

What I saw when I looked in the direction of the voice, took my breath away. He has tall, muscular with hard and dark features. He was easily the most handsome man I had ever seen in my life. I was completely captivated. I couldn't look away.

" Why would you want to work for a coward?" He asked.

"Forgive my daughter, Mr William" I heard my father say and then he nudged me with his elbow.

" I am sorry if I offended you with my words." I managed to say.

The man had an indifferent look on his face. I could not tell whether he was angry or not. I just hoped my bad mouth hadn't hurt my chances of getting the job.

Mr Williams stared at me for a while maintaining a vacant look on his face. The atmosphere was tense as we could not tell his mood or what he was thinking. Finally, he spoke.

" Pay him and show her to her room." He ordered and walked away.

My father and I were ushered to the servant quarters where I was going to be living. I wondered why we hadn't discussed my wages yet. I decided to leave it till the day of break. My father seemed nervous and was unable to sleep. He hugged me tightly as if he was saying goodbye and left at first light.