An Unwarranted Beating

My day was interrupted by a scream and many yells. It came from the slave quarters area. I grabbed the loaded pistol Murtagh had packed me and bolted towards that direction. Many of the slaves had gathered into a semi circle around a slave who laid curled into a ball on the ground and a white man with a whip and pistol. "Get up, you disgusting slave." The man with the whip yelled. The slave let out a small whimper. As I got closer, I saw it was a young girl, about the age of 15."What's going on here?" I demanded as I neared. Another slave stepped between the girl on the ground and the white man. "None of your business, girl." The white man barked as he glanced at me. "Move, or you'll get a beating too." He growled at the man who stood between him and his prize. "You, tell me what happened." I looked at one of the women in the semi circle who was weeping. "Master Charles came into our quarters screaming for Evangeline. When he found her, he tried to strip her clothes and take her there." She motioned towards one of the girl behind her who was balling her eyes out. Her body wrapped only in a blanket. "Hannah hit Master Charles with a pan in the head to get him off of her." The woman then motioned to the girl on the ground. I gave a stoney look to the white man. By now, many other people had arrived. They started demanding blood from the girl. I worked my way around the man who stood between the girl and the whip. The girl laid on the ground bloodied and bruised. "You've done enough against her to satisfy the law. Be on your way." I barked, scooping her up gently. "And Charles...." I looked up towards him as his gaze met mine. "Next time you attempt to rape a woman, I will kill you." He scurried away with the other white men who'd come. "Let's get her to Momma Lucy." I whispered, pulling the little girl up. The man who had stood between the whip and the girl bent down in front of me, picking up the girl. "Our mother will take care of her. Hannah is my sister, I will take care of her." His voice echoed. It was deep and grunty. His eyes felt like a hundred daggers into my soul. His arms were scarred and his neck looked like it'd been sliced before. I released the young girl to him, she only let out a moan of anguish. I let them pass towards one of the small shacks in the slave quarter area. One of the slaves smiled at me before disappearing away. Another slave woman walked up to me. It was Ivy. She was one of the slaves I'd come to know here. We began to walk together back to the stables. "That's Isaac." She stated plainly, looking at the fields before us, admiring the beauty of the land. "He's a new one. He is actually a free man." I gave her a small side glance. Id only heard of a few freed slaves. "The scar on his neck. He saved his former master and that master freed him. Isaac now works with Kaeden." Kaeden Campbell was a Scot who worked for the Iverson's. He mostly hunted and provided meat for the house and slaves. He was a kind man who teased me as often as he could when he saw me. Ivy and I continued to walk towards the stables. "Thank you for what you did." She broke another silent stretch. "Of course. What he did wasn't right, no matter how he sees the slaves. Slaves are still human beings who deserve rights." I smiled at her. "You're one strange white woman, Faith. No white woman has ever said that." She giggled, breaking away from our walk and heading towards the big house. "I will see you later." I nodded and watched her leave. Ivy had been with the Iverson's since before I'd ever come by. She was a sweet woman, about my age. She worked in the house as a maid to Mistress Iverson.I continued with my work until the night came. I had fixed two of the wagons but the third was troublesome. I would have to fix it in the morning. I brushed my face with my hands before beginning to walk towards the house. Tate was already waiting for me at the steps. "Mistress Iverson has requested your presence at dinner." Tate smiled. "My daughter is waiting for you in the guest bedroom to help you dress." He extended his arm for me once again before escorting me into the big house. He whisked me up the stairs and into the guest bedroom. There stood Ivy. I had forgotten her father was Tate. Tate looked younger than I would've guessed. Ivy held a blue and white dress for me."Oh, I will not." I gasped at the sight of a dress. "You will" Ivy laughed as she began making me undress and helped dab away the sweat on my chest and shoulders."Don't bother yourself. I'm clean enough." I laughed, pulling the white shift from the bed and putting it on. My body was marked by scars from my various adventures over the years. It made me uncomfortable for others to see them. My back was ridden with tiny cuts from lashings I'd taken on the boat. My arms cut up from the boats as well. My hands were rough from blacksmithing. My nails were also nasty from working with fire and metal. Ivy helped me with my skirts and the corset. My boobs, though typically discreet, suddenly popped in the corset. My waist was pulled tight. Ivy quickly cleaned my nails and pinned my fiery red hair into a nice updo. "Ah, so there is a woman behind all the metal and muck!" Ivy squealed in joy at her masterpiece. "Oh hush!" I laughed. "I was raised by men. I know nothing of the women's world." "Stick with me, and I'll teach you everything!" She laughed, opening the door. She guided me down to the dinning area. Tate opened the doors, allowing me entry. Mistress and Master Iverson, as well as their son and Kaeden sat at the table, awaiting me.

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Here's a character list so you all understand better who's who (only the important people):

- Faith Tanner (Fraser)- age of 22, daughter to Claire and Jamie Fraser, adopted daughter of Jacelyn Tanner- Jacelyn Tanner - adoptive mother of Faith, former nun, deceased - Master Hugh Iverson - Irish land owner of Greenbriar Estate or the "Big House"- Mistress Lucy Iverson - Irish wife of Hugh, also known as Mama Lucy- Patrick Iverson - son to the Iverson's and a red coat- Tate - House slave for the Iverson's- Ivy - Maid for the Iverson's, Tate's daughter- Jon - Stable slave- Isaac - Freed slave who works for the Iverson's- Kaeden Campbell- Scottish man who hunts for the Iverson's, age of 28