Post by Ella Vanderwood on Jun 7, 2009 18:49:57 GMT -5
Okay, so roughly ten months ago I created the character Ella Vanderwood (my character currently on here). I've used her on other sites too, but over the time I've discovered my love for writing and have decided to tell her story in a more elaborate way. Pretty much, I've decided to write a novel. So far I only have about a chapter and a half actually written out, but I have the main plot down, and I still have to go over what I've written so far and elaborate more. The first few chapters are kind of telling her past and everything so they don't get into anything much, but they are still very very important. Here is the first chapter so far, if you want to know more about the plot you can go and read her history, it is pretty similar to the plot I have for the novel, I just changed some parts.
What did ya think? (By the way, Punishment is the chapter title, not the novel title.)
Punishment
Houston Texas, October 1863
Houston Texas, October 1863
It was the last straw, I was sure my father was going to kill me this time. I’ve done some pretty disobedient things in the past, but this was the worst of it all.
“Ella, please come in here.” James Vanderwood called from inside his study. So I walked slowly through the doorway and walked forward until I stood before him.
I just waited for a second, staring at the crackling fire next to me for before a voice broke me concentration.
“Ella, you need a friend.” He explained calmly. My jaw dropped. I tried to speak, to even close my mouth. But no, I just stood there gaping at him like a fool, my eyes wide. Before I could recover, he continued, “Let me say my peace before you start asking questions. I think you’ve been getting too attached to the slaves. You need a friend who’s around your age… and not black.”
Now let me explain something. My father is the James Vanderwood, the man who owns and runs Texas’s largest and most successful plantation. He churns out more cotton than any other plantation in the state. Not only that, but my family is the wealthiest and most well known family in all of Texas, and it’s a big place.
But what got me in so much trouble in the first place is my opinion on things. I realized at a young age how sick and twisted the slave business is, why should we treat people like dirt just because their skin is a little darker than ours? It’s not fair! So, I took things into my own hands, and I’ve been helping the slaves my father owns ever since. I’ve even helped a few escape, which is why I thought I was here right now.
My attention turned back to the fire for a moment before I spoke. I hated this man before me. Not only was he a horrible father, but he was a total bigot. He had his moments of course; he would often take me shopping and buy me whatever I wanted, hoping to buy my love. It worked for a while I admit, but the excitement eventually wears off and all I’m left with is emptiness.
“What were you even thinking?!” James yelled, losing his cool for a moment. “You helped a pregnant slave to escape!” He managed to collect himself again, but his face was still red from the outburst. His hands curled around the edges of his arm rests, knuckles white.
So I was right, this wasn’t just his checking up on me like a good father. I crossed my arms and cocked me head at him. Staring at him defiantly.
The look in his eyes scared me, he was trying to hard to relax. He’s obviously up to something. But what?
“I have a friend who owns a plantation was not to far from here, and his son is seventeen, only two years older than you. So I thinking maybe you would accompany me on one of my visits, and get to know the boy. I think you two will get along very well.” James paused to gauge my reaction.
“So this is your plan. Set me up on a play date with your friend’s son and maybe it will keep me busy enough to postpone any crazy schemes I have in mind.” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Uh, well, yes.”
“Well then, my answer would have to be no way. I am not becoming friends with some… boy, just because you want me to.”
James leaned back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest. “Okay then, the other option is for you to go stay with your great-aunt Opal, and take etiquette lessons. You know, the ones your mother and I allowed you not to do, because you promised not to make trouble.”
He knew my weakness. My great-aunt Opal was an ancient looking woman who was stricter than anyone I’ve ever encountered before, she was a stickler for the rules, and believed that a woman’s place was in the kitchen. I despised everything she stood for.
“Fine,” I said, dropping my eyes for a second. “When are you going to your friends?”
A smile broke across James’s face as he stood. He walked slowly over to his coat rack in the corner of the room, and then turned to face me. “Right now, go get ready, and be quick.”
With that I turned and rushed from the room, tears were forming in the corners of my eyes and I did not want to give him the satisfaction of seeing me cry.
I’d chosen one of my favorite deep blue dresses for the occasion, with a small white lace jacket over top. My long, wavy brown hair was loose so that it reached down to my elbows, and I’d pulled a few parts out of my eyes and tied them together with a ribbon in the back. It helped to show off my deep violet eyes.
James was waiting for me out in the carriage when I finished dressing. He nodded in approval at my appearance as I stepped into the carriage.
“Am I to your satisfaction?” I asked acidly, as I sat opposite him.
“Yes, but I hope you attitude changes by the time we get there. You seem to be in an especially bad mood today.” He said, smiling sweetly at me.
I wanted to yell at him, of course I’m in a bad mood! I’m being forced against my will to go see a strange boy who is now supposed to be my best friend, and keep me out of trouble! But instead I merely rolled my eyes and occupied my time by watching out the window as the world went by.
It was a little while later, but it seemed like forever, we arrived. The house was large, but not a big as our own, and on the front porch was a boy. His blond hair was casually messed up, and his eyes were deep brown. My breath caught, and my jaw dropped slightly. Beside me I could her James chuckle, he was already halfway out of the carriage, but he’d seen my reaction. I quickly gave him a fiery glare and collected myself. Then I gracefully slipped out of the carriage and quickly brushed my dress off before looking up again. But as my head lifted I met the boy’s eyes. My breath caught again.
I dropped my eyes quickly and swallowed. Maybe this wasn’t that bad of a punishment after all. I just need to get to know the boy, and maybe we will be friends after all. But with that thought I realized something, he lived on a plantation and I could never be friends with someone who supported slavery.
As we approached the stairs the boy walked over and offered a hand to help me, I didn’t actually need it, but it was polite. So I lifted my hand and rested it on his. A smile broke across his serious face, and his eyes sparkled. I could feel my own heart flutter as I smiled back. At the moment I didn’t care what he’d done in the past, I just wanted him.
James words broke through my thoughts and brought me back to present. “Ah, Charles, you look better than ever.”
I looked up to see an older version of the boy coming through the big front doors. “James, it’s been too long.” Charles said back. They shook hands, and then turned to the boy and me.
Charles came up to me and smiled. “You must be Ella. Your father has told me all about you, but he never mentioned how beautiful you are.”
I automatically blushed and smiled slightly. Then Charles turned to his son. “This is Jayden, my son. He’s been waiting all day for you to arrive.” He said, laying a hand on Jayden’s shoulder. He chuckled softly.
“Father!” Jayden hissed, blushing. I just smiled and let out a little laugh. Jayden turned towards me and smiled. “Sorry about my father, he’s kind of embarrassing.”
I was about to tell him it’s okay, but Charles spoke before I could. “Well, we’ll let you two get to know each other, James would you like to join me in my study?”
“I would be happy to.” James smiled as he turned towards the still open door. He and Charles walked together into the house and disappeared down a hall.
Slowly I turned to Jayden again, “So what shall we do?”
“Umm, how about we go for a walk, it’s pretty warm out.”
“Okay and maybe you can show me some of your property.” I said, Jayden just nodded and led me back down the steps.
Jayden and I walked at a casual pace down the packed dirt path. We chatted about the usual things; weather, our family’s land, music, and other safe subjects. Then he surprised me by asking how my father got me here.
“Well, he told me his friend has a son about my age and that he thinks we can become friends.” It was the truth, just not the whole of it. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to mention that this was a punishment.
“Really, I heard something about you being punished for something.” He said, looking me straight in the eyes.
“Oh, well, yes. I am a nuisance and my father is hoping that having a friend will keep me out of trouble. Not very likely though.”
“So you didn’t have any choice in coming?” He asked, dropping his eyes.
“I had another option. I could go live with my great-aunt Opal, who is very strict, and honestly I would rather die than go to live with her.”
“Oh, so did you want to come here?”
“Not at first, but now I’m glad I did.” I looked at him, grinning. “And I think this friend thing will work out just fine.”
Jayden blushed slightly and stuck his hands in his pockets. “My dad told me the same thing. Well, except the great-aunt Opal part. He said that his friend has a daughter who is younger than me, and she got in some trouble. He thinks that maybe we would straighten each other out, I’m sort of a trouble maker too.” He looked down at the ground and kicked a rock. “I was picturing an eleven year old or something, so I was dreading the meeting. My father mistook my bad mood as nerves, and thought that I was excited. But when you pulled up, boy was I ever surprised.”
I blushed and looked straight ahead. I’m not used to being around boys, I only ever see any kids my age is at school and church, but their mostly girls.
Jayden continued to talk. “When you stepped out of the carriage, I felt like you were an angel, sent to rescue me from the evil here that is my dad. He’s constantly getting mad at me for always sitting around and doing nothing. I don’t have very many friends you live near by, and their not really that close of friends anyways, so I mostly keep to myself.” He took a deep breath. “Sorry I’m rambling, you’re just so beautiful and I’m sort of nervous.”
I just smiled and looked back at him. “It’s okay, I’m nervous too. I never really am around any boys my age, and my dad usually tries to keep me away from them.” James can be very overprotective at times. “Umm, so what did you do to need to be straightened out?” I asked, wondering if it was as bad as what I’d done.
“Oh, I just helped a slave to run away. He was young, and my dad was mad because he said that the boy was young and strong and he could have used him.” Jayden stopped for a moment.
I stopped along side him. “Are you opposed to slavery?” I tried to sound nonchalant, but it didn’t really work so well.
“Yes, I think it’s horrible, the way he and everybody else treats them. It’s not their fault that their skin is darker than ours.” He paused, “So what did you do?”
“Oh, I just helped a pregnant slave to escape.” I shrugged. It was no big deal; I’d helped slaves escape before. But this time I got caught.
“Wow, really?” His eyes were sparkling like stars. It caused me to get distracted for a moment, he was just so handsome.
“Uh, yes. But that was just this time. I’ve done other things before that drove my father up the wall.”
“You know, I think this friend’s thing really is going to work out well.” And with that we started back towards his house.
“Ella, please come in here.” James Vanderwood called from inside his study. So I walked slowly through the doorway and walked forward until I stood before him.
I just waited for a second, staring at the crackling fire next to me for before a voice broke me concentration.
“Ella, you need a friend.” He explained calmly. My jaw dropped. I tried to speak, to even close my mouth. But no, I just stood there gaping at him like a fool, my eyes wide. Before I could recover, he continued, “Let me say my peace before you start asking questions. I think you’ve been getting too attached to the slaves. You need a friend who’s around your age… and not black.”
Now let me explain something. My father is the James Vanderwood, the man who owns and runs Texas’s largest and most successful plantation. He churns out more cotton than any other plantation in the state. Not only that, but my family is the wealthiest and most well known family in all of Texas, and it’s a big place.
But what got me in so much trouble in the first place is my opinion on things. I realized at a young age how sick and twisted the slave business is, why should we treat people like dirt just because their skin is a little darker than ours? It’s not fair! So, I took things into my own hands, and I’ve been helping the slaves my father owns ever since. I’ve even helped a few escape, which is why I thought I was here right now.
My attention turned back to the fire for a moment before I spoke. I hated this man before me. Not only was he a horrible father, but he was a total bigot. He had his moments of course; he would often take me shopping and buy me whatever I wanted, hoping to buy my love. It worked for a while I admit, but the excitement eventually wears off and all I’m left with is emptiness.
“What were you even thinking?!” James yelled, losing his cool for a moment. “You helped a pregnant slave to escape!” He managed to collect himself again, but his face was still red from the outburst. His hands curled around the edges of his arm rests, knuckles white.
So I was right, this wasn’t just his checking up on me like a good father. I crossed my arms and cocked me head at him. Staring at him defiantly.
The look in his eyes scared me, he was trying to hard to relax. He’s obviously up to something. But what?
“I have a friend who owns a plantation was not to far from here, and his son is seventeen, only two years older than you. So I thinking maybe you would accompany me on one of my visits, and get to know the boy. I think you two will get along very well.” James paused to gauge my reaction.
“So this is your plan. Set me up on a play date with your friend’s son and maybe it will keep me busy enough to postpone any crazy schemes I have in mind.” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Uh, well, yes.”
“Well then, my answer would have to be no way. I am not becoming friends with some… boy, just because you want me to.”
James leaned back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest. “Okay then, the other option is for you to go stay with your great-aunt Opal, and take etiquette lessons. You know, the ones your mother and I allowed you not to do, because you promised not to make trouble.”
He knew my weakness. My great-aunt Opal was an ancient looking woman who was stricter than anyone I’ve ever encountered before, she was a stickler for the rules, and believed that a woman’s place was in the kitchen. I despised everything she stood for.
“Fine,” I said, dropping my eyes for a second. “When are you going to your friends?”
A smile broke across James’s face as he stood. He walked slowly over to his coat rack in the corner of the room, and then turned to face me. “Right now, go get ready, and be quick.”
With that I turned and rushed from the room, tears were forming in the corners of my eyes and I did not want to give him the satisfaction of seeing me cry.
I’d chosen one of my favorite deep blue dresses for the occasion, with a small white lace jacket over top. My long, wavy brown hair was loose so that it reached down to my elbows, and I’d pulled a few parts out of my eyes and tied them together with a ribbon in the back. It helped to show off my deep violet eyes.
James was waiting for me out in the carriage when I finished dressing. He nodded in approval at my appearance as I stepped into the carriage.
“Am I to your satisfaction?” I asked acidly, as I sat opposite him.
“Yes, but I hope you attitude changes by the time we get there. You seem to be in an especially bad mood today.” He said, smiling sweetly at me.
I wanted to yell at him, of course I’m in a bad mood! I’m being forced against my will to go see a strange boy who is now supposed to be my best friend, and keep me out of trouble! But instead I merely rolled my eyes and occupied my time by watching out the window as the world went by.
It was a little while later, but it seemed like forever, we arrived. The house was large, but not a big as our own, and on the front porch was a boy. His blond hair was casually messed up, and his eyes were deep brown. My breath caught, and my jaw dropped slightly. Beside me I could her James chuckle, he was already halfway out of the carriage, but he’d seen my reaction. I quickly gave him a fiery glare and collected myself. Then I gracefully slipped out of the carriage and quickly brushed my dress off before looking up again. But as my head lifted I met the boy’s eyes. My breath caught again.
I dropped my eyes quickly and swallowed. Maybe this wasn’t that bad of a punishment after all. I just need to get to know the boy, and maybe we will be friends after all. But with that thought I realized something, he lived on a plantation and I could never be friends with someone who supported slavery.
As we approached the stairs the boy walked over and offered a hand to help me, I didn’t actually need it, but it was polite. So I lifted my hand and rested it on his. A smile broke across his serious face, and his eyes sparkled. I could feel my own heart flutter as I smiled back. At the moment I didn’t care what he’d done in the past, I just wanted him.
James words broke through my thoughts and brought me back to present. “Ah, Charles, you look better than ever.”
I looked up to see an older version of the boy coming through the big front doors. “James, it’s been too long.” Charles said back. They shook hands, and then turned to the boy and me.
Charles came up to me and smiled. “You must be Ella. Your father has told me all about you, but he never mentioned how beautiful you are.”
I automatically blushed and smiled slightly. Then Charles turned to his son. “This is Jayden, my son. He’s been waiting all day for you to arrive.” He said, laying a hand on Jayden’s shoulder. He chuckled softly.
“Father!” Jayden hissed, blushing. I just smiled and let out a little laugh. Jayden turned towards me and smiled. “Sorry about my father, he’s kind of embarrassing.”
I was about to tell him it’s okay, but Charles spoke before I could. “Well, we’ll let you two get to know each other, James would you like to join me in my study?”
“I would be happy to.” James smiled as he turned towards the still open door. He and Charles walked together into the house and disappeared down a hall.
Slowly I turned to Jayden again, “So what shall we do?”
“Umm, how about we go for a walk, it’s pretty warm out.”
“Okay and maybe you can show me some of your property.” I said, Jayden just nodded and led me back down the steps.
Jayden and I walked at a casual pace down the packed dirt path. We chatted about the usual things; weather, our family’s land, music, and other safe subjects. Then he surprised me by asking how my father got me here.
“Well, he told me his friend has a son about my age and that he thinks we can become friends.” It was the truth, just not the whole of it. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to mention that this was a punishment.
“Really, I heard something about you being punished for something.” He said, looking me straight in the eyes.
“Oh, well, yes. I am a nuisance and my father is hoping that having a friend will keep me out of trouble. Not very likely though.”
“So you didn’t have any choice in coming?” He asked, dropping his eyes.
“I had another option. I could go live with my great-aunt Opal, who is very strict, and honestly I would rather die than go to live with her.”
“Oh, so did you want to come here?”
“Not at first, but now I’m glad I did.” I looked at him, grinning. “And I think this friend thing will work out just fine.”
Jayden blushed slightly and stuck his hands in his pockets. “My dad told me the same thing. Well, except the great-aunt Opal part. He said that his friend has a daughter who is younger than me, and she got in some trouble. He thinks that maybe we would straighten each other out, I’m sort of a trouble maker too.” He looked down at the ground and kicked a rock. “I was picturing an eleven year old or something, so I was dreading the meeting. My father mistook my bad mood as nerves, and thought that I was excited. But when you pulled up, boy was I ever surprised.”
I blushed and looked straight ahead. I’m not used to being around boys, I only ever see any kids my age is at school and church, but their mostly girls.
Jayden continued to talk. “When you stepped out of the carriage, I felt like you were an angel, sent to rescue me from the evil here that is my dad. He’s constantly getting mad at me for always sitting around and doing nothing. I don’t have very many friends you live near by, and their not really that close of friends anyways, so I mostly keep to myself.” He took a deep breath. “Sorry I’m rambling, you’re just so beautiful and I’m sort of nervous.”
I just smiled and looked back at him. “It’s okay, I’m nervous too. I never really am around any boys my age, and my dad usually tries to keep me away from them.” James can be very overprotective at times. “Umm, so what did you do to need to be straightened out?” I asked, wondering if it was as bad as what I’d done.
“Oh, I just helped a slave to run away. He was young, and my dad was mad because he said that the boy was young and strong and he could have used him.” Jayden stopped for a moment.
I stopped along side him. “Are you opposed to slavery?” I tried to sound nonchalant, but it didn’t really work so well.
“Yes, I think it’s horrible, the way he and everybody else treats them. It’s not their fault that their skin is darker than ours.” He paused, “So what did you do?”
“Oh, I just helped a pregnant slave to escape.” I shrugged. It was no big deal; I’d helped slaves escape before. But this time I got caught.
“Wow, really?” His eyes were sparkling like stars. It caused me to get distracted for a moment, he was just so handsome.
“Uh, yes. But that was just this time. I’ve done other things before that drove my father up the wall.”
“You know, I think this friend’s thing really is going to work out well.” And with that we started back towards his house.
What did ya think? (By the way, Punishment is the chapter title, not the novel title.)
