SECRET WOUNDS BOOK 1

Larouse, Choiseul, September 1961 The lone young woman limped through the thick, green underbrush as fast as her weak legs could carry her. Barefoot and bruised she trembled as she stumbled yet again, this time on a coconut branch lying in her path. She hardly noticed the debris in her way or the burning sensation under her feet. With every step, she could feel her toes sinking deeper into the rough dry gravel. Wincing, she bit her lower lip against the pain and protectively clutched the small bundle in her arms to her breasts. She was drenched, soaked to the bone from sweat and dirty water that had splashed across her body from stepping into many potholes. She could smell herself; the remnants of rotten fruit and chicken droppings still clung to her, but she could not worry about that now. Her dress was almost in tatters and she shivered against the chilly wind. Dusk had just set in, bringing with it a gray, overcast sky. Somewhere, an owl screeched eerily;

  Passing his fingers lazily on the rim of the small glass Sean, understood why Fautina sometimes acted this way. Take him for instance, most of these people saw him as a proud, tough man, bordering on mean, but he did not give a damn. Being soft had never gotten him anywhere. Look at what happened to his little brother. Sometimes a man just had to be man regardless of the repercussions. This meant taking the bull by the horns. Sean tensed as he felt a presence behind him. He wriggled his nose against the strong whiff of bay rum which accosted him. This particular odor he knew, as well as its owner. He did not bother facing him but kept his head down and waited. ‘You are wasting my time,’ his companion snarled. ‘You have one more month to deliver. That’s it. Do we understand each other?’ Sean slowly raised his head and looked up at the rugged, hard contour of the lined face. Small beady, chilly, brown eyes collided with his. Inwa

  Abigale waited at least ten minutes after she heard the front door close. Rising, she placed her right hand under the bed and pulled out the white porcelain pail that was used for night soil during the night for her small family. Wriggling her nose at the stench of stale urine, she quickly proceeded to the outhouse and disposed of it. She always made it her duty to take care of this part, no matter how unpleasant the task. She knew that Sean would not mind doing it if he had to, but she saw this as part of a woman’s duties. After dumping the waste, she walked to the closest drum, behind the house, poured some water and soap in the pail, and left it to soak. She tarried outside, lifting her face towards the clear blue sky, and took a deep breath of the clean, fresh, country air. Splashing some cold water on her face, she lifted some to her mouth and gargled. After spitting out the water, she went back to the drum to get some fresh water to prepare break

She stopped for a while and looked at her surroundings. There were several fruit trees; coconuts, mangoes, guava all just within reach, swaying lazily in the cool breeze. The trees offered shade and a cool place to run around in the green meadow beneath. There were flowers of different colours. Suzie did not know the names of the flowers, but she loved the sweet scent emanating from the petals as she smelled a few. What she really marveled at were the butterflies; they were everywhere. The flapping of their multi-colored wings were drowned- out by the chirping of the nearby birds as they moved from flower to bush, blending with the foliage. Suzie loved the outdoors. Ma always told her that she took more of her father. She could not decide if this was a good thing. Everyone knew one another in Larouse. There were hardly any secrets, and the residents looked out for one another. Suzie saw it as a big family, but she saw that most people had no ambition. They did the same

Sean realized that Abigale had barely acknowledged his presence in the room. Most afternoons when he returned from the field, she would meet him by the door or outside and ask how the day went.Opening the knapsack, he pulled some berries and plums, along with a large cantaloupe he had picked on his way home, and placed them in a large bowl. ‘Treats for everyone,’ he said.Josh timidly came forward and pushed his hands in the bowl. ‘Suz, don’t you want any?’ Sean asked.‘Not now Pa,’ she replied.‘Josh, put the plums away before it spoil your appetite. Dinner is ready,’ Abigale snapped.Walking towards her, Sean said, ‘Let me help you with that.’ He went to the sink and grabbed a few plates for her to dish out the one-pot stew. ‘It smells and looks really good, Abby.’ She ignored his comment as she rummaged in one of the basins for a few spoons. Sean realized