Excerpt: Lump of Sugar for my Rum

I took away the dirty water and disposed of it out the kitchen door. I watched the water soak into the dirt forming puddles an becoming mud. I wished I had been able to help Eli. I hated not being allowed to even curtsey when he tipped his hat to me in town. My father had higher prospects and expectations for me. A nephew of the blacksmith had nothing to offer. A son of a judge or doctor however, could never posses or attempt to duplicate the same charm and kindness that Eli did.

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“Are you scared?” I asked leaning in, elbows on my knees.
“Sometimes. It’s because I know what a powerful force the Brits can be. I feel like it’s all up to me to stop them, and no one else has enough courage to help me. They are all frozen waiting for me to come by with my torch and melt them out of their ice blocks. I’m just scared sometimes that I’ll run out of oil before I can get to everyone. Yes, Trinity I am scared, and I don’t have anyone but you to comfort me.” He looked up eyes shining toward my face.
I felt a tear slid from the corner of my eye down my cheek. I was so angry with myself. I was scared too. Except my fear was the kind with out courage. Not the kind that Eli had, the kind that allowed him to give himself up to a whip and be beaten and torn apart by people he used to call friends. In that moment I wished so much to have courage to some day stand with Eli and have the same kind of fearful courage he had. Sadly today was not my day. I stood and curtsied toward Eli. His eyes were lost in his thoughts and he barely gave me a glance.
“I’m sorry.” I whispered “I’m sorry I am not brave like you.”
I let myself out of the house.