Eleven Orphan Daughters

"Find out what's up," John said as he sent Ruby out to talk to her. Later that evening Ruby visited John's room. "Mum is worried. She says she is embarrassed when you introduce her to visitors. She does not feel right. She wants you to stop."

Ruby sat beside him on his bed. "I have talked to my sisters. You have changed our lives. People in the Village look up to us. We are no longer looked upon as a group of poor orphans. Everyone except Rose has been given a job that makes her feel good. Nothing has really changed for her except this house. She is excluded from the day to day running of the feedlot."

John knew she was right. The more he thought of it the more he realized that he had treated Rose badly. Without Rose, there would have been no feedlot. He had used her name to purchase land for the feedlot and get permission to build. Then he had ignored her while giving her better-educated daughters jobs and respect.

"I'm terribly sorry," he groaned. "I didn't set out to hurt her feelings. I have been so busy I did not realize what I have done. What can I do?"

Ruby took his hand. "Don't get me wrong. Mum has not complained about her lack of a responsible job. She doesn't think she is smart enough for a job. When she talked about being embarrassed, she made it clear that she would do anything for you."

"When I sat down with my sisters, we realized that we must do more to involve her in the business. We do not want her to keep selling fruit on the street. We think she should be given a job that has some prestige."

She stood up and paced around the room. "I came up here to talk to you on my own because I need to explain what I want to do. I want to work for the Party. Mr. Treet has offered me the job of Deputy Party Secretary. He is sure the party will endorse me for the job." She looked at John. "I have been very happy working with you but I want to leave. Can you understand?"

John was devastated. He liked working with Ruby. She had become good at her job. She trusted him and he trusted her, they had become good friends. He hugged her close. "I'll miss you," he whispered. She looked up and kissed him on the cheek then changed her mind and kissed him on the lips. "Don't forget me," he groaned as he held her closer.

By the time the family gathered for the evening meal the next evening everyone knew Ruby was leaving. "Where will you live?" Pansy asked. "I haven't been appointed yet it will take three months. When they do, the party will provide me with an apartment in their compound."

She looked at her sisters. She could see that they were unhappy. "Don't be sad. I will come and visit whenever I am free. This is my home you are my family. My heart will always be here."

"This will work out fine," John told them. "Its time Rose took a more active part in the day-to-day running of the business." "Without her, there would be no family and no feedlot. Her new job will take part of both Ruby and my responsibilities. The three of us will work it out and set up the new arrangements. All of you may end up with more responsibility and an increased workload."

Rose started to protest that she was happy with the current arrangements. Kim waved her quiet." Before you become too worked up, we have air tickets to Ho Chi Minh City for you and Ruby. It is a present from us all. You have never had a real holiday. We want you both to have a holiday together before Ruby moves on to her new position."

Rose protested but her family prevailed. "Forget the farm and the family I'll look after them," John told her as he kissed her on the cheek at the airport. He kissed Ruby, "I have booked rooms in a five-star hotel. Make sure Rose lives like a millionaire, we want her to have a holiday she will never forget."

With Ruby and Rose in Ho Chi Minh City John became more dependant on Kim and Pansy. He brought the contractor back to build an office some barracks and an amenities block.

The office included a two-way radio system and radio mast to make up for the lack of mobile phone coverage. He remembered Rose saying they needed a room to meet delegations and built one beside the office.

Kim and Pansy found John very demanding as the days went by. "What's got into you?" they asked one evening as John waited for Lelani‘s hands to continue her nightly teasing session.

"I'm sorry, it's not your fault," he groaned. "I know I've been grumpy but I have never seen so many little things go wrong like they have since the Australian delegation was announced."

Pansy laughed, "we have someone here nearly every week why are they so special?" John realized that she was right. There was no need to treat them special. In fact, it would be better if they saw the feedlot operating warts and all.

John stood in the airport terminal and stared, he was stunned He had not recognized Rose as she strolled out through the passenger exit. He had turned when Ruby called still not recognizing the tall beauty standing beside her. Ruby burst out laughing, "Forgotten us already?" she asked.

He ignored Ruby and took hold of Roses hands. "My god Rose you're beautiful," he gasped. He meant it she was truly beautiful. While her long silk traditional outfit highlighted her tall slim figure, her face surprised him. He had never known Rose to look so fabulous.

He had only seen her in her working clothes with never a hint of lipstick or makeup. This afternoon she was beautifully made up. Her hair had been cut to shoulder length its shiny black strands molding her face. Her smile grew wider as she relished John's attention

Back at the house, her daughters bombarded her with questions. "Where did you buy such beautiful dresses?" Kim asked as she unpacked her bag. "How did you choose such fabulous makeup? Mai whispered amongst a Babel of questions and expressions of surprise.

Ruby came to Roses rescue. "Give her a chance," she cried. "I'll tell you what we have been doing." The room became quiet as Ruby told her story.

"John gave me money and asked me to make sure Mum had a great holiday. He booked us into a first class hotel where one of his Australian friends is General Manager."

"He asked the manager to look after us. The manager brought a very beautiful French woman named Monique to our room to meet us and help us plan our holiday. John had told the manager he wanted to help Rose because of what she had done for us. So Monique knew our story."

"She suggested that we visit the most exclusive beauty salon in town. She said it would relax our tired bodies and bring out our natural beauty. Mum was not interested but Monique said she had booked us for a whole day when you said that she was to spare no expense. She said it was difficult to get a booking let alone one for the whole day and it would be silly to miss such an opportunity."

"We agreed to go because you had paid. We are glad we did it was fabulous. From the moment we arrived we were made to feel special. We were given our own personal beauty consultant. Her name was Shelia. She had been trained in France and the USA. She was rather formal at first commenting on Rose's height saying tall slim women always looked good."

"Mum told her she had always worked out in the open air and always wore a hat and long sleeved blouse. She became excited and called over some of the other consultants to study Mum's skin especially her face. They talked together and told her she had a classic Vietnamese facial structure."

"They must have asked Monique for help because she returned and explained that the beauty consultants in the salon had watched an overseas program called complete makeover. They had asked her to approach Mum and ask would she let them work on her face."

"You name it and we had it. Saunas spas massages oils perfumes facials pedicure manicure the lot. I had the most wonderful time while Shelia and the others worked on Mum's face head and shoulders."

"When they finished they had a dressmaker come in and talk to Mum about a new wardrobe. One of the young ones brought shoes and the sexiest underwear. They dressed her up and took so many photographs that she told me later she felt like a celebrity."

The family was excited and proud. John took dozens of Photographs of Rose and family members with his digital camera and downloaded them on to his computer. His printer worked overtime-printing copies for family members.

Through all this, Rose remained calm. She had a serenity about her that made you relax in her company. Years of raising orphans had taught her to accept without complaint what ever happened as part of her lot.

That same calmness made her transition to working in the business so very easy. John told her that she should handle all visitors and talk to her family and their workers about training and promotional opportunities

"Everyone even the lowest laborer should have an opportunity to talk about their future. It is your job to keep our staff happy. If they are happy they will work better and we will all benefit," he said as he sat her in her new office.

Things settled down after that until they relieved advice that the Prime Minister had scheduled a visit to the province. He had especially asked to visit the feedlot.

The provincial public security bureau and the national police visited the feedlot to check on security the day before he arrived. They spent some time questioning Rose and John before declaring the visit safe.

Dozens of media representatives accompanied the PM on his visit. Photographs of him standing with Rose and other officials amongst the young calves appeared in every newspaper across the country. Television stations ran stories about the province, focusing on the development of the cattle industry. All this meant more visitors and more support from those in authority.

The Party Secretary and peoples congress officials were overjoyed. The PM had publicly congratulated them on their courage in pursuing overseas ideas to develop their dairy project. He went so far as to tell the Party's Central Committee meeting how pleased he was with the province.

Things were easier after the PM‘s visit. Officials who had been antagonistic became supporters and opponents of the feedlot no longer criticized John and Rose in public.

With Pansy managing the dairy, Lelani‘s massages became more erotic. Her hands and fingers brushing against his prick more and more. On the night after the PM‘s visit with everyone present she hid her hands with an extra towel and squeezed his balls. She winked at him when he looked up.

John was embarrassed. He was horny. He did not want to foul his nest by inviting one of the family to his bed. For the first time since he moved to the farm he went back to visit Melissa at the massage room.

Rose started to dominate his thoughts. Her body had filled out and developed with better food. After her visit to Ho Chi Minh City, she had turned into a beautiful woman.

She not only had a beautiful body she had a beautiful personality. The kindness she had shown the orphans who had become members of her family was shown to everyone she met. The feedlot and farm workers productivity had risen since the day she took over responsibility for their welfare. They loved her and it showed in their work.

She stood by his side as the large bus bringing the Australian delegation and the embassy officials drove into the feedlot parking area. "Don't worry," she whispered as she pointed to his goose standing guard. "Everything will go well."

Glen and Charlie were first off the bus. They were the only two from the first group who had not turned on him. They made it clear to him as they hugged and shook hands that they would always be his friends.

John introduced Rose telling them a little of her history and the short history of the feedlot. He walked with the Trade Commissioner as Rose and Kim led the delegation on an inspection tour.

Glen dropped back to join them. "I'm sorry to interrupt," he whispered "but I just have to ask you a question," "Fire way," John replied. Glen stuttered, "Mate, is that woman you introduced as Rose the old lady that used to meet you in the street when we first came to Hanoi?"

"Yes mate that`s her."

My God," Glen gasped. "What have you done to her? or shouldn't I ask." The Australian Trade Commissioner smiled as he listened to their exchange. "There is nothing more beautiful than a tall slim Vietnamese woman. They have a graceful way of carrying themselves with a very straight back that makes you turn your head when they pass."

John agreed. "Glen remembers Rose when she sold fruit outside our hotel in Hanoi. She wore those typical Vietnamese black work clothes. Like most Vietnamese women she covered her arms and face from the sun. In addition she wore one of those round farmer's hats,"

"No one could have guessed what was under that outfit. I know I didn't. She is a most wonderful person. I should have told the delegation more about Rose and her family. But she would have objected."

"Eleven orphans live here with us. There were seven until a few weeks ago when she accepted four more from a local orphanage. She takes in homeless strays and slaves her guts out to give them a home full of love and affection. She really is a beautiful woman."

One after another, delegates dropped back to ask John questions and to congratulate him on what he had achieved in such a short period.

The tour ended in the air-conditioned computer room. Pansy supplied cold drinks while Rose and Kim answered their questions. When they finished an embassy official announced that the delegation wanted to make a presentation. The delegation leader John Macdonald was well known to John as a grazier with a string of successful properties and investments in meat works.

"We know John and had heard of what you were doing here before we left Australia," he said as he presented Rose with a framed boomerang and an Aboriginal painting.

"My apologies but I must swear," he said as excused himself to Rose and the women present. "Unfortunately some of John's former colleagues have fed people back home a lot of bullshit."

"I don't understand their motives but they will hear from me when I get home. This has been an eye-opener to me and my delegation." He turned to Rose, "you have built the finest little feedlot that I have seen in Asia and I have seen a lot."

"I own feedlots back home so I think I know what I'm talking about. If I have any criticism it may be a little too small." John started to speak but he waved him quiet and continued. "I understand you are using this project to convince authorities to develop their dairy industry using feedlots."

"Good luck, you have my support." He turned to John. "If they give you any more trouble at home give me a ring. If the province decides to open a joint venture feedlot along these lines, ring me." He lifted his glass of water to Rose. Congratulations, well done."

John promised to join them the next afternoon when they were scheduled to meet the provincial Government officials and the Party Secretary. "It's a pity we have to return to Hanoi," Glen said. "I would have loved to have more time here." Patsy took the hint. "There is a small hotel in the province where you can stay, we could drive you over tonight and bring you back to the meetings tomorrow."
When John added they could drop into the market and pick up some clean underclothes and a shirt for a song. Glen and Charlie decided to stay over to have a few beers with their mate.

Rose squeezed John's hand as the bus pulled away. "That was wonderful," she whispered. "My heart swelled with pride when he said those nice things about you." He stood holding her hand as it struck him how much she meant to him. "Thank you sweetheart," he whispered as he spied Glen nudging Charlie to draw his attention to them holding hands.

"Did you see them holding hands like young lovers?" Glen asked Charlie with a laugh as John drove them over to the hotel. "If I had someone like her to cuddle up too I'd stay here too."

To be continued