Shay

The sow let out a soft snort, lifted her head, and then flopped back onto the ground.

"That's thirteen, Jack. She doesn't have enough teats. We'll have to hand raise one of them." Shay hitched up her skirt, crouched down beside the sow and scratched behind its ear. "Don't worry we'll look after it for you."

"That's five males and eight females." Jack beamed at Shay. "She's a gooden ain't she, Miss Shay?"

"What on earth will we name them all?" Shay grinned back at him. "And Jack. I'm Shay to you, so stop calling me miss."

"But the master..."

"I know what he said but you and me is friends." Before Shay could continue someone cleared their throat. Shay jerked around in surprise; afraid it was Master Thomas. "Oh, Lily, it's only you. Look thirteen piglets."

"Miss Shay. If the master was to hear you telling Jack not to call you miss and you not using your proper ladies talk." Lily shook her head in disapproval. "Sometimes I think you don't appreciate the opportunities he and the mistress have given you."

"I do, Lily." Shay shot to her feet. "It's just I forget myself sometimes and Jack and I are friends. You and Pavey are friends. She doesn't call you Miss Lily and you don't call her Miss Pavey."

Lily sighed and shook her head. "Always an answer you have, don't you. Come on. The master wants to see you in his drawing room."

"Oh... but the piglets." Shay looked from Lily and back to where the baby pigs were clambering over the top of each other to claim a teat.

"Never mind them. Jack's here to see to 'em." Lily held out her hand. "You don't want to keep the master waiting."

*

Thomas looked up at the young woman in front of him and shook his head. "Shay. Look at you." Her now thick wavy shoulder length fair hair had partly come out of its ribbon. She had mud and blood streaks on her cheek, and her dress was stained with the same.

"It was Mrs. Picks, Uncle Thomas." Shay swept a loose strand of hair away from her face with the back of her hand. "She's had her babies."

"Mrs. Picks?" Thomas furrowed his brow.

"Yes. Mrs. Picks the pig. She's had thirteen piglets. That's too many because she's only got twelve teats, and so we're going to have to hand raise one of them. Jack will do the night feeds and I'll do..."

"Shay. Stop." Thomas shook his head and wondered if she was ever going to start acting like a lady. All the lesson's she'd had and still every chance she got she was outside with the animals.

"Sorry, Uncle Thomas." Shay hung her head. She knew he wanted her to be like Hannah and Julia but she just couldn't. To sit inside all day and do needle work was so... boring. Even they hated it.

Thomas got up, walked around his desk and leaned against it. He folded his arms and sighed as he looked down on her. She had grown and put on weight. Her face had filled out so was no longer gaunt and thin. Her green eyes sparkled and her porcelain skin had a nice healthy glow. Thomas suspected being outside often, contributed to this. She still had the thin shapeless body of a boy, but one day she would fill out. Thomas chuckled at this thought.

When she came out every man who set eyes on her, would come for miles to try and win her favour, he was sure. How would they take to her once they knew she had been a stray, or that she would never be a sedate obedient wife? Perhaps Rebecca's influence was partly to blame, because she herself loved the outdoors. Loved sitting in the sun watching her children play, and loved debating with her husband. All the girls had this streak. Thomas was glad of it. Shay had it more. She could never sit still.

"Young lady. You are fourteen and one half now. Almost a grown woman. Mrs. Freeman said you weren't at your deportment lesson today."

"Yes. I'm sorry. But Mrs. Picks..."

"Uh, uh." Thomas held up his hand. "We have staff who take care of such things, as you well know, Shay." She went to speak again. Thomas held up his hand again. "No. No excuses. One day you will be a gentleman's wife, so you will learn to speak like a lady. You will learn to act like a lady, or no man will have you. Is this what you want, Shay? To be a spinster. No man wants a wife who interrupts and does not carry herself as a polite, well-groomed, well-spoken educated lady."

"But, Uncle. I don't want to be a wife. I want..."

"Shay." The tone in Thomas' voice was enough to make her press her lips firmly together and hang her head. She hated making him angry.

"There will be no more of it. If you wish to be allowed to go outside and spend time in the gardens or with..." Thomas suppressed a smile. "Mrs. Picks and the animals, you will attend every lesson, and you will do well to learn everything that is taught to you. If I have any more reports from Mrs. Freeman that you are not taking these lessons seriously, then I shall forbid you from ever going outside again." He put his fingers under her chin and lifted her face. "Look at me when I speak to you." It wasn't very often that she didn't look him in the eye. Thomas was aware that when she hung her head it was because she knew she had done the wrong thing. "Do we understand each other, Shay?"

"Yes, Uncle Thomas." A tear trickled down her face. "I'm so sorry." She threw herself at him and wrapped her arms around his waist. "I love you very much. I don't mean to disappoint you. I am so grateful for everything you have done for me."

"I know, Shay." Thomas gave her a squeeze. No matter what she did he would always forgive her. "We love you too, and only want the best for you." He lifted her face once more. "You do understand that, don't you?"

Shay nodded. "I promise to do better. I really do."

"Then you must go at once and apologise to Mrs. Freeman." As she wiped her face and stepped away from him Thomas laughed and shook his head. "First go and change. And wash your face or she will have a seizure." He watched Shay scurry out the door as he shook with humour. For goodness' sake, the pig has a name, and he'd had plans to turn her into ham. Now he thought, Mrs. Picks would live for years to come. 

Oh, Shay.  I don't think you'll ever be a lady, but Mrs. Picks will be forever grateful that you are in her life. ♥♥♥

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