Gambling Addiction

Richard could not afford to stay in the town till the next day. He wanted to apologize to Gina for what he was about to say but he could not.

'Then you must lay with Gina. I reckon it is what you truly want as it is your first option.' Richard announced and did not look at Gina even once.

Gina's heart sank. She knew that was what betrayal felt like.

Before Gina could question Richard's decision, one of Ansley's workers entered the workroom.

'Tripp demands your presence sire. I have asked him to wait but he grows impatient.' The worker said.

Gina and Richard knew who Tripp was. The entire town knew him. He was the person everyone went to when they needed to borrow money.

Gina and Richard also knew he never visited people unless he wanted to collect what they owed him.

'I shall be with him in a moment. I must say my byes to my visitors.' Ansley looked at Gina and smiled.

They were not thinking the same thoughts. While Gina was thinking about how to save herself using Ansley's debt, Ansley thought about how good he was going to feel when he lay with her.

'Yes, sire.' The worker left the room.

'Do you owe Tripp a fine?' Richard asked.

'Whatever do you care? Tripp is a friend, and we pay each other visits. I must go to him now but Gina,' he turned to her and the lust in his eyes was as bright as a thousand stars, 'I shall call for you at noon tomorrow. We must bury your sin and there is only one way to do that.' He stood up.

Richard and Gina stood up too. They both could hardly wait to leave Ansley's ranch.

Richard felt sorry for Gina but he had done what any other human would do. He put his interest before hers.

'Shall you just let me bear the burden of our actions alone?' Gina asked Richard.

He had no reply to her.

'Do not worry Gina. I shall be gentle on you.' Ansley grinned.

The words Ansley said kept Gina awake that night. She kept wondering how she was going to feel after Ansley had a taste of her.

She also thought about the possibility of him betraying their agreement and tattling about the shed. She thought about many other things until her head began to ache. So, she decided to take a walk. Maybe if she wore herself out, slumber would meet her where she was.

She walked the length of the halls in her uncle's house and everywhere was quiet, save for the ballroom.

Benedict had built his house small, but he did not forget to add all the rooms that qualified one as rich.

Gina had no knowledge of a ball happening and curiosity had the best of her, so she went toward the room. When she got closer to the room, she could tell it was not noisy enough to be a ball.

'You must listen to me. You must not place a wager at all times. Shall you not learn when to stop?'

The voice she heard was strange. She had not heard it before, but she knew it belonged to a boy. A young boy.

She wondered what a young boy was doing in her uncle's ballroom in the dead of the night.

She went closer and found the door ajar. She looked in and saw her cousin Marlow standing with another boy.

'I know that this wager shall be my best yet. You must let me place it this once and I shall not speak of it again.' Marlow pleaded.

'Do you not know how to control yourself? You have lost enough, and you are in too much debt. I shall ask my father to find yours if you do not pay me all you owe me.' The other boy said.

Gina looked at him. He was slightly taller than Marlow but bent to his right as though his left leg was too weak to support his weight.

The lamps did not shine much light on his face, but she could tell he was a fine boy.

'How much do I owe you? I shall pay it in ten folds when I win this wager!' Marlow's voice was high.

Gina did not know if walking in and asking what they spoke about was better than standing at the door and listening.

'Whatever are you doing, leaning against the ballroom door?'

When Gina turned around, her eyes met with the glassy blue eyes of Freya, the housekeeper.

'I heard voices from here. Marlow is with someone.' She stood upright.

'This boy vexes me. I have warned him to quit having his meeting here.' Freya opened the door and walked in.

Gina followed her because there was nothing better for her to do. After all, she was searching for slumber.

'Evening Freya.' The boy with Marlow said.

Gina knew if he knew who Freya was, then he came around often.

'Evening Baxter. I have warned you boys to have your meeting elsewhere. Marlow, you know how much your father hates the ballroom open when there is no ball.' Freya said.

'We sought privacy. I shall walk Baxter out now. Our meeting is over anyway.' Marlow began walking away.

Gina wanted to call him back and ask about the debt Baxter had mentioned but there was too much on her plate and she could not afford to meddle in her cousin's business.

'Freya, you must talk to Marlow.' Baxter said.

His words made Marlow stop in his tracks.

'Baxter, I shall walk you out now. Do not bring my housekeeper into our matter.'

'As you wish.' Baxter walked away with Marlow.

'Those boys vex me.' Freya walked back to the ballroom door and Gina followed her.

'I must go to my room then. Good night, Freya.' Gina said.

As much as Freya liked pretending like she did not care about the happenings within the house, she did care.

The one person she cared about the most was Marlow for she watched him grow and wound up loving him as her own.

When Marlow was born, Donna needed help and so she asked Freya to work for her.

Freya and Donna were from Pilleth. They had not known each other while in Pilleth but they bonded quickly when marriage brought them to Garld.

Donna was one who did not hold much trust for people and so when she needed help, she did not know a better person to call on than Freya.

'Gina, whatever did Baxter need me to talk to Marlow about?' She asked as she closed the door.

Gina did not know exactly what the boys had been talking about and so she did not know how to respond to Freya's question.