Read The Fancy for Free Online Page A

be okay?”
    “No!” He answered, waiting. She chewed on
    the corner of her mouth, “Okay, I'ah cal you what you
    say.” She turned away.
    “Suga Caine! Get back here! I wish to hear it,
    before you go, right now - I want to hear it, cal me by
    my name.”
    She turned slowly back, looking down at the
    puppy that was licking her neck and chin, and said it
    just above a whisper, “I get yo'food ready ... Quinton.”
    “Say it once more - louder – no slow timing
    me.”
    “Qui - Quinton.” She repeated.
    “Now see, that was not so hard – no lightening
    striking! If you wish my attention, you wil address me
    as, Quinton, which is my name. Should you cal me
    masta' – I wil not hear you, I wil not respond; now
    inside with you.”
    She nodded and trotted off back into the
    house, head spinning, she couldn't believe him.
    Once more, this was a total y different kind of white
    man. Inside the door, she ran to the room off the
    kitchen where wood was stacked high and placed
    the puppy down in there, it started whimpering right
    away as she went to close the door.
    “I got's t'see 'bout masta' – uh – Quinton now,
    don't you start, I be back wit' some food fa'you, some
    water, jus' hang on.” She told him and backed out,
    closing the door. She rushed into the other room and
    shook out the clothing he’d brought for her, a
    chemise and gown. She smiled, relieved, anything
    was better than the sheet. Dropping it from her
    slender dark body, she quickly donned the clothing,
    the fit wasn't too bad, she figured at least she was
    covered from her neck to her bare feet.
    Back in the kitchen, she took a bowl, dipped it
    into the warm water she had waiting for him, and
    hurried out the back door where she cleansed her
    hands and arms from holding the chunky mongrel.
    Turning back into the house, she grabbed a plate
    and started setting a place at the table for Quinton.
    Soon she heard him coming up the back steps
    and then in through the kitchen door; his eyes on her
    and the gown she wore.
    “Ah, now – that's better, much better. It's a start.
    There wil be more; you can't very wel stay in that
    one al the time.” He spoke in his usual way, as if
    they'd known each other forever – fil ing her in on the
    way things would be. “Can you sew?”
    “Yes – I can sew.” She answered.
    What he was starting to notice about her was
    that her smile was always slight, unsure, mindful, and
    careful – wishing to do nothing that would irritate him
    or make him regret that he'd brought her home. He
    didn't want her to smile that way, he wanted her to
    smile in a way to say, that she knew him, was sure of
    him, was happy to be there, with him.
    “Water right there mas – uh – sa' – erm,
    Quinton.”
    She corrected herself just in time. Hearing
    masta' come out of her mouth, stopped him – her
    correction, caused his smile and him to resume his
    forward motion to the washing bowl where clean,
    steaming water awaited him. Hands in, he
    commented – “I expect soon that slip won't be
    happening, I am Quinton, and you – you are Suga –
    within these wal s, we wil address each other as
    such.” It was an order; she understood that now, and
    yet, not an order as most would have delivered it, no
    not at al . His orders were laced with care and
    kindness – as if to say – with him, things would be
    different, and that was the reason she never wanted
    to be given away.
    “I try mas...” She stopped and dropped her
    face, berating herself. He was drying his hands,
    watching her with a lifted brow, and waiting. “Yes,
    Quinton, I'm gone try.”
    “Very wel , that is where al things begin, with
    the effort.” He smiled at her; she glanced at the
    setting for him at the table.
    His eyes fol owed hers to the setting and then
    back to her asking, “Wil you join me?”
    “Got's to see to this puppy.” She answered
    softly, stunned that he would ask such a thing.
    Clearly she was right, the puppy was barking
    and