Chapter 7: Sealed fate

Trymore stared at the door in shock for a few seconds before he went after Tendo. He stumbled outside, his eyes blinded by the darkness that seemed to envelope the night.

"Rutendo!" He called for her, but was only answered by silence.... defeaning silence.

He ran further into the night, calling for his daughter's name, hoping to find her before she went far. She couldn't have gone far, he thought to himself. Where would she even sleep? She wasn't close to anyone in the village because of his wife. He couldn't risk anything happening to her. She was his golden goose right now and losing her was not an option.

Trymore stopped under a tree to catch his breath. Why would she run away in the middle of the night? He shook his head, then clicked his tongue annoyed.

Why did Rutendo have to be selfish? Why couldn't she understand that it wasn't about her, but the future of their family? She just had to make the whole thing about herself. 15 cows and $3k was a lot. He had already found a spot where he was going to build his kraal.

There was nothing wrong with marrying Frank. He was an old man who was going to die soon, and he would leave all his wealth to his wives. When God was giving other people smart daughters, why did He choose to give him the dumb one? One that couldn't even think ahead! Trymore shook his head again before proceeding to look for her.

**

Rutendo ran as fast as she could without looking back. Hearing her father calling her name just made her run even faster. She was not going to marry that man. Tears filled her eyes as her father's words rang in her ears. Why would her own father do that to her? Was it money?

Mike's face flashed in her mind, and she slowed down. What was going to become of him if she ran away? Who was going to take of him? He would be all alone with no one to care for him, but if she went back there, they were going to sell her like some kind of an animal. At the same time, she didn't want to leave her brother alone.

Tendo found herself in front of the village chief's house. Maybe he could help her. She hoped he would. She slowly went and knocked on the door. Moments later, she heard footsteps approaching.

"Who is it?" A man's voice asked from inside.

"It's Rutendo. Can i please talk to you?"

"Did you see the time? For a moment, i thought it was those small boys that steal from people. Is everything okay?" The chief asked while unlocking the door.

Tendo swallowed, looking down. Nothing was okay. Everything was a mess. She couldn't believe that after everything she did for her family, her father would just discard her like she was nothing. She was the reason they had food in their stomach and the reason they wore clean clothes every day, but they didn't even think twice before discarding her like a used tissue at the mention of money. She had already accepted that her parents were never going to love her like their daughter, but she didn't expect her father to do this to her.

She was only a child. Her father was supposed to protect her, but instead, he was the one throwing her to the wolves. He didn't even think twice before selling her off the highest bidder, and her mother just sat there and said nothing. If Brenda was not the village whore that she was, maybe Tendo would have never met Frank. He came looking for her mother, but he met her instead. Her life would have been fine the way it was.

She had never hated her parents before, but she didn't know if she was going to move past this. This was the biggest betrayal she never saw coming.

"Rutendo, i am talking to you." The chief's voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

She sniffed, and quickly wiped away her tears, wincing at the pain of her now swollen cheeks. "I.... i am sorry."

"Is everything okay? Why are you here this late? Its not safe for a girl child to be out this late."

A hot lump stuck on her throat. If only her father was as concerned as the chief was. Trymore had never asked her how she was doing, not even on the days when she was sick. His priority had always been getting drunk.

"I am sorry for waking you up this late, but i need your help. My father arranged a marriage for me with an old man. I told him i was too young for marriage and that i was not going to marry an old man, but he wouldn't listen to me. Instead, he beat me and i ran away from home. My concern now is my little brother. If i do not go back, he is going to suffer, and if i go back, my father is going to forcefully marry me off to that old man. Maybe if you could talk to them and make them understand that child marriage is illegal, they would listen to you. You are the village chief and everyone respects you."

She went down on her knees, her hands clasped together. "You have to help me please. You know my situation back at home, everyone does. I can't leave my brother alone in that toxic environment. Please help me." Tears trickled down her face and this time she didn't bother wiping them off.

The chief exhaled deeply and stared at Tendo with pity. The poor girl was going through a lot at her age. It was a shame that her parents didn't see how special this girl was. She had a heart of gold. If it was anyone else they would have ran for their lives, but she didn't because she was worried about her brother.

"I am sorry for what your father is doing to you." The old man said after a while.

Tendo nodded her head. It was not his fault that she had dead beat parents.

"Who is this old man your father wants you to marry?"

"His name is Frank."

"Frank, Frank? The Frank?"

Tendo nodded her head.

The old man sighed. "I am sorry my child, but i cannot help you."

"What? No.... please. You have to... you are my only hope." She begged holding his legs.

The old man tearfully stared at her. He wanted to help her, but his hands were tied. Frank had connections he didn't have.

"You don't understand. This man.... he has connections and... i can not help you with him. The only thing i can do is give your a place to sleep for tonight. I don't want to get involved in Frank's issues."

"Please... " she whispered, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I am sorry."

**

The next morning, Trymore woke up early and helped Brenda to clean around. The lobola negotiations were happening whether Rutendo was around or not. He was excited, thinking of all the things he could buy with the 3k Frank had offered, not to mention the cows. He could finally build a better house, and maybe even take a trip to the city.

Brenda on the other side kept on glancing around the house as if seaching for something or someone. She hardly slept the previous night wondering if her daughter was safe wherever she was.

"Where is Rutendo?" She asked Trymore, breaking the silence.

He just shrugged. "I don't know. She is probably out there, being stubborn as usual."

Brenda sighed and shook her head. "I don't think we should be doing this Trymore. Rutendo is just a child. We are supposed to be protecting her, not this."

Trymore glared at her, his expression turning dark. "Rutendo is my child. I know whats best for her. Don't start with that again, Brenda. Rutendo is old enough to get married and Frank is a good man. He will take care of her amd our family. Don't you want a better life for us?"

Just then, they heard the sound of a car pulling up outside the yard. Trymore's face lit up with a smile. He sat down and waited for them to call out his clan names. This was happening! It was truly happening. He smiled even more before walking to the gate where he let Frank and his people in after paying a huge sum of money.

**

Frank and Trymore stood behind the house after the negotiations.

"Where is she? I didn't see her around." Frank asked, his eyes scanning around the yard.

Trymore scratched the back of his head. "She ran away last night when i told her she was getting married to you."

"So let me pay a lot of money when you knew that your daughter was not here?" Frank's nose flarred with anger as he grabbed Trymore by his throat. "Do you know who i am?"

Trymore gagged as he gently slapped Frank's hands. "I... have... a... p..plan."

Frank let go of Trymore and he gasped for air while coughing. "She loves her little brother. She would do anything for him. You can take him with and she will come to you herself."

Frank glared at him, then clicked his tongue and walked back to his car.

Trymore went to where Mike was sitting.

"Mike lets go. Rutendo wants to see you."

His face lit up and he quickly stood up. "Really? Where is she?"

"He is at uncle Frank's house. She is waiting for you there. Lets go to his car."

Trymore led Mike to Frank's car and open the door for him then put him in the back seat.

Frank turned on the ignition and reversed the car, then drove off while Mike excitedly looked outside the window.

*

Tendo wiped her tears as she watched Frank's car disappear, leaving only dust behind. How could her father do this to his children?