Zac's POV

The sun shown in my eyes, waking me from my dreamless sleep. I rubbed my eyes and looked out of the train car to see where we were. We were surrounded by beautiful mountains with streams running through them.

"Those are the Smokey Mountains alright" Jonny's voice said.

I looked over at him, once again eating an apple. He tossed me one. I sat up and began eating. I stared out at the scenery. America seemed very nice so far. Nothing would ever replace Italy in my heart though.

"Are we close?" I asked Jonny.

He nodded "should be there by nightfall." He reached in his bag and pulled a deck of cards, "wanna play?"

I nodded my head softly. We passed the time by playing cards and talking. He told me about his life. He grew up in New York with his parents and brother, but he lost his job at the steel mill he worked at, so he was heading down south. He said his brother worked on this same plantation we were heading too, and was able to get him a job as a picker. Of course the closer we got to the plantation the more frequently Jonny reminded me that he couldn't guarantee me a job. Even then, I was grateful for his company and his help thus far.

The began sun set on us all too fast, and we felt the train stop at the station, it was 8pm. Jonny helped me jump off the train and the two of us ran quickly before we could be noticed. Jonny and I walked through town. It amazed me looking at all the tall buildings and the automobiles and the people walking on the streets.

"I know where I'm spending my first paycheck" Jonny smiled and elbowed me as we passed what I assumed was one of the "whore houses" he mentioned. Town was nice, but we didn't get to stay long. We had to walk a ways on to the largest plantation I'd ever seen in my life. A young man stood just outside the gate. Jonny smiled and hugged him.

"Zac, this is my brother Joe" he smiled.

I nodded to Joe "hello."

Joe nodded "hello, Jonny you didn't tell me you were bringing a pal along?"

Jonny shrugged "I met him in a bar, he just got to America, he's a nice kid."

Joe looked at me "I suppose I could find him something, c'mon I'll show you both to the quarters."

I picked up my bag and followed him eagerly. Jonny walked ahead with his brother and they caught up on each other's life. Seeing them laugh together made me miss Joshua. I sincerely hoped him and Isabelle were somewhere safe, hopefully on the way back to Florence to be with our family.

We came to a large barn like structure, there were two of them. Joe showed us in, there were several beds in line, and few other men were there in their beds. Joe showed us to his bed.

"This one is for you Jon" Joe said and pointed to the bed to his left. He looked at me apologetically "sorry...I wasn't expecting you."

I nodded "thank you for the work anyways."

Jonny frowned "I'm sure there's somewhere for you to sleep, Zac, even it's the floor here" he pointed between his and Joe's beds. I nodded and sat my things down.

Joe looked at us both, "well I'm glad you're comfortable, your first day starts tomorrow at 6am sharp."

Jonny and I both nodded and settled in to sleep. The ground was cold and covered in hay, and made me itch. I was here though, in America, with a job and a couple friends, I was doing pretty good so far.

I woke up the next morning to a crowing rooster. The sun was barely coming up through the mountains yet. The sound of the other men's feet hitting the floor assured me that I had to get up. I stood quickly. Looking at Jonny who was getting dressed quickly.

"C'mon Zac, we gotta head in!" He urged.

I nodded and quickly pulled on clothes from my bag. I followed Joe who was showing me and Jonny where we would be working. Now that we were walking around I was a little intimidated at the sheer size of the place. It stretched, fields and fields of tobacco, all the way back to the mountains Jonny mentioned. Dozens of men were hurrying to their posts. I got a good look at the master's quarters, it was the largest house I'd ever seen in my life. Whoever owned this place was surely very very rich.

"Here's a good place for the three of us" Joe said "start here and get as far as you can by the end of the day."

Jonny and I nodded and began picking the tobacco and throwing the best leaves into the carts near us.

Taylor's POV

I rolled over in my bed and stretched. It felt good to wake up on your own time. I smiled and sat up. One of the maids already laid out my suit to wear today. I rang my bell and two of them came to help me get dressed. Once I was dressed I went downstairs to the kitchen where the cooks were preparing my breakfast. I smiled and sat, waiting to be served, and I read the paper. After I finished my breakfast, my father came in.

"C'mon son I wanna take a walk." He said. I knew better than to question him.

I followed him and we began to walk through the fields of all places. We passed the workers as they picked and sorted and loaded. Part of me felt bad for them, being poor and having to work like that seemed like a nightmare.

"Why did you want to walk with me?" I asked my father.

"I can't check in with my son?" He chuckled. Well he never did before. When I was silent he caught on. He sighed "I wanna talk about your future, son."

"My future?"

He nodded "someday this will all be yours, but you know you won't be able to properly inherit everything unless you-"

I cut him off "married, yes father I know." I rolled my eyes "I just wish you and mother would stop rushing me. I'm not concerned with women at this moment, maybe in the future."

"Taylor." He said sternly "son, I'm counting on you to be responsible, and be a man."

"All in good time father." I said "soon." I assured.

He nodded and suddenly stopped. He stared at two men who were working fairly fast. One of them had short black hair and resembled the younger man standing next to them, perhaps siblings? The man next to him, who was making very good time of the work he was doing, had hair a little longer and tanned skin, he looked up briefly as he worked allowing me to see his dark brown eyes. His gaze fell once again to his work.

"Joseph." My father said, making a boy perk his head up. "I don't recognize these two, where is Rudy?"

"You mean Rupert sir?" Joseph asked, causing him to immediately be slapped by ,y father.

"Don't ever correct me, boy."

Joseph nodded. "Sorry sir, it won't happen again. Rupert, he died last week sir, an accident in the processing mill."

"So you took it upon yourself to bring in these men?" My father asked, Joseph nodded.

"They work very hard sir."

My father looked at the two men, who had kept working during this whole exchange, then looked back to Joseph. "Don't EVER do this again, you understand me?"

Joseph nodded "never again Sir, I promise."

"Back to work" my father said, and Joseph went. "And I'm watching you two" he said to the two new men. The men nodded and continued working.

I made eye contact with the tan boy one more time before walking away with my father.

Zac's POV

His eyes were a shining, and bright caramel color. They burned and radiated, showing the passionate soul he had inside. His jawline was something sculpted by Zeus, and it was lined with a fine stubble.

"Who were they?" I asked Joe after the confrontation.

"Master York, and his son Taylor." Joe answered and kept working.

Taylor. That was his name.