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"Not bondage Beth, just living. But yes…they sold you out…to me. I'm sorry. I know, from your point of view it really does seem like they sold you out, but in time, I hope you change your mind about that. I'll never be mean or cruel to you. I can provide well, and…truth be known there is something between us, already. I mean…if you are honest about it. You been looking at me ever since I came here." His slight smile flirted with her.
She started pacing the dusty road. "Sure I looked. Any girl would. But…I don't believe this. They sold their daughter. I'm a person. You don't sell what you love…"
"They offered me their horses and cows, I wouldn't take them."
"Why not?" She charged.
"They need them."
"But they don't need me?" She asked swallowing hard.
He struggled with an answer. "Beth despite what you are thinking, I'm not a wolf in sheep's clothing. I don't think they need you as much as…I do."
"You?" You need me?" She asked stunned.
"In a way, yes."
"But I'm not something to be sold." Her temper flared.
"I agree." He said softly, moving a strand of her hair behind her ear. The action caused a stir in her. He noticed and smiled again. "You're a human being with lovely eyes and hair. But you are way too thin, and I can help you, too." He offered. "We can help each other."
"Who ask you to?"
"Beth try to understand. You are of age. And they got too many kids they can't feed. Getting rid of one would help some." He explained. "I realize that isn't romantic, but it is the truth."
When she grew quiet, he went on.
"I won't hurt you Beth. And I won't impose myself upon you until you are ready or want to." He promised.
"Want to what?" Beth shouted at him.
He looked at her stunned…"Want to…to…make love." He realized too late that Beth knew nothing of the subject.
When she blushed, he couldn't stop the smile that spread across his face. She wished he wouldn't smile so much, because it did strange things to her innerts.
"Oh my God. This is not a conversation I should be having with you." She said her eyes widening in fear. "This is indecent." She staggered about, not knowing which way to turn.
"It started out as sort of a joke…" He began.
"Well, I'm sorry…It isn't funny…." Her voice sounded weak or choked, she only knew she held the tears back. She was of age, that was true. She was a fully grown woman, that was true. But she wasn't ready for this!
When silence prevailed she looked at him and snarled her nose and mouth. "Who are you?"
"I'm Wade Cahill…I'm a gambler." He admitted.
"A gambler?" Her eyes got bigger. "A man of sin and they sold me to you? I can't believe this."
Wade stared at her with a slight frown.
"My Pa…he was in a card game…with you?"
"That's about the size of it. Yes." He looked a tad guilty.
"Oh my God…I can't believe he'd do such a thing." She almost lost her breath. "Well I can, but I can't. Pa loves to play poker, taught all of us kids…"
One minute she was teasing her sister with the idea, the next her father had gambled her away. She never believed for a moment it would happen. But the reality was, it had.
"How much does my father owe you?" She asked. "Maybe I could arrange to pay it back, somehow. I could get a job."
