If Jenna hadn't met the little girl earlier, bawling her eyes out, she would have sworn she was in on this with Kali and even Rhane, to tease and mess with her head.
Either a pure coincidence, or the number was beginning to haunt her somehow. Clearing her throat, Jenna tried to ascertain dominance and remind the girl who the older one was among both of them.
"Ehm... little girl," Jenna began, touching her hair gently, "A lady can be a master too. She can handle things right."
The girl narrowed her eyes and hummed. "But my papa says a woman is only meant to be under a man, and never above."
Jenna pressed her lips together. She wasn't a bit surprised by the girl's words. Before now, she also believed the same, as they had all been groomed to believe right from when they were wet behind the ears. Never speak ill of a man, always kneel before him.
That same fear kept her tied to Gerald for years, years of choking on silence and calling it duty. She thought playing the good wife would save her, just like her mother taught. She'd endured enough bruised nights and fake smiles trying to be the ideal daughter, the perfect wife. And for what? Approval from a society that cheered when she bled quietly?
Thinking about it now, Jenna realized it wasn't just her or the little girl, but so many other women too. And she wished she could tell them it was all a lie.
Jenna held the girl's gaze, a faint smile tugging at her lips. Maybe she couldn't save the world, but she could start here, one stubborn, curious girl at a time.
"It's no longer true, you see," Jenna began, taking the little one's tiny hands and dusting them of sand. "I have my trade, and I have men that serve me. I am really a master to many..."
The little girl still had doubt in her eyes. "That means ladies don't always have to listen to boys?"
Jenna hummed, "If the boy is rough and disrespectful. Well yes, you don't have to listen."
You mean my mother lied to me?" The little girl murmured, betrayal laced in her voice.
Jenna knew she had to tread cautiously. Mothers weren't to be joked with, and she knew that much. Jenna let out a small cough, giving herself a little time to think. "Your mother didn't. She, in fact, repeated what her mother said to her."
"Wait, so even Nana didn't know?" the little girl fired back. This time, Jenna coughed out loudly, raising her hand to apologize to the girl.
"No! Never! Your nana would never know," Jenna replied. "She only says what a man or another woman told her... people who are afraid of women."
Jenna's response seemed to have gotten to the girl a little. She didn't fire back immediately. Instead, she paused and just stared blankly.
Jenna prayed and wished that the girl's curiosity was cleared and she wouldn't have to deal with any more questions, as she could no longer think of answers.
"Why is the man afraid of women?" the little girl finally asked in a tiny voice that was softer than the wind. "Aren't they stronger? Like my brother Pete... he goes into the forest and lifts heavy things for me because he is a boy and I'm a girl. He is strong and I'm weak."
Jenna exhaled softly, shifting her weight on one leg. She held the girl's shoulder. "You're not weak, no. But Pete does that because he wants to keep you safe. And some men... they are afraid because they see that women are not really weak."
The little girl nodded slowly like she fully understood. Jenna's smile spread across her face, grateful that the moment was over, but it was short-lived when the girl opened her mouth again.
"We are back!" Rhane's voice echoed, interrupting the duo. In one arm, he carried a lean boy with a very small face who looked like he was ten or less.
Jenna had never been so glad to hear Rhane's deep voice. She jumped up quickly and ran to his side.
"I didn't know absence really makes the heart grow fonder," Rhane beamed, gently letting the boy stand on his own.
Jenna found herself at Rhane's side before thinking. A nervous throat-clear followed, her eyes darting elsewhere like they hadn't just betrayed her.
"Pete!"
"Penny!"
The children crashed into each other's arms like they'd been separated for such a long time.
Jenna and Rhane watched them in silence, both of their lips curved with satisfaction and warmth.
"Thank you for keeping my sister safe," Pete muttered after breaking from the hug.
Rhane nodded. "You better not leave her running off anymore. You weren't safe yourself in those woods," he advised, his eyes dropping on the little ones.
Jenna watched Rhane speak to the children with so much softness, and it tickled a part of her brain for some reason. She'd never seen a man so soft, not even to talk of speaking to children. He was really a safe place for everyone!
"Any wild boar would have made an easy feast of your skinny bones."
Jenna's growing smile fell, and she ran to the children, covering their ears with her hand. "Hush now! Don't scare them."
Rhane narrowed his eyes. "The truth is scary now?" he asked curiously.
Jenna rolled her eyes and turned to the children. "You have to always stick close to each other and not run into dangerous places... or something bad might happen to you."
Rhane tilted his head and sighed. "I see no difference," he remarked tiredly.
The little girl glanced at Rhane and Jenna, then whispered something to her brother.
The little boy's eyes widened, surprising even Jenna.
"What is it?" Jenna asked impatiently, wondering what the girl had told her brother.
The little boy was the one who asked, "Is the lady your master or your betrothed?"
Jenna gasped, holding her hand over her mouth. She wished she could tie up the little girl's mouth with a ribbon. Feeling ashamed of herself, Jenna tightened her eyes shut. To her surprise, she heard Rhane's hearty laugh that shook even her own chest, making her want to laugh along with him.
"Master?" Rhane repeated with a smile. "She is my master, very well," he replied, a glint still in his mischievous eyes.
The children gasped, staring in wonder. "So, the lady didn't lie," the girl replied with a smile. "Women can be a master of men too."
Turning to her brother, the little girl said, "Pete, I am not weak, you see. The lady is a master, means I can follow you anywhere and not get hurt. I don't want you to get hurt either."
"That's true," Pete replied, holding his sister closely. "We can go together and protect each other now."
Jenna chuckled softly. She might not have told thousands of women, but her words had started to yield fruit in the little girl, and that was enough.
"We shall now return home, else our parents will be worried," the boy said politely with a bow. "Thank you once again for helping my sister and I." He bowed and his sister followed.
Jenna waved at the little children. They were two steps away when the little girl halted and turned, running back toward them. Thinking she wanted a hug, Jenna spread her arms and waited but the girl ran straight to Rhane, tugged his shirt, and when Rhane crouched to her height, she whispered softly while giggling, then ran back to her brother and off they went on their way.
Confused by the exchange, Jenna narrowed her eyes at the girl and then at Rhane, who had a knowing look on his face. "What?!" Jenna was forced to ask.
"She said if I help a lady, I can ask for a kiss in return," Rhane replied with a sharp, sneaky grin, his brows moving up slightly.