Chapter 13: Chapter 13

***

By night I was done crying. I lay silently on the hay, thinking. Praying for Heather to be okay. I was only twelve but I believed I loved her. I wasn't sure though if I could call it love. But what I was sure of was that I really liked her. She was the only one who smiled at me in a very very long time. Yet I was unable to see her.

*

It was 10pm and the ranch was silent apart from the little noise the horses in the stable with me did. Everyone had gone to sleep. I thought of going to look for left over carrots from the horses' manger but I was too weak to move. I closed my eyes. For the first time in my life, I prayed for death to come get me.

I still had my eyes shut when I felt a soft hand caress my cheek. I slowly opened my eyes and saw Heather sitting by my side.

"He– Heather?" I called weakly.

"Yes..."

I slowly sat up.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, looking straight into her shiny eyes.

"I came to see how you were doing."

"Won't you be caught?"

"Everyone's asleep. I– I sneaked out."

I looked at her speechless.

"I– I also brought you my dinner."

She picked up a little bowl that I hadn't noticed by  her side. She opened it. There was rice and tomato sauce in it. "You must be hungry." She muttered.

I nodded, speechless. I couldn't believe she was here with me. She'd sacrificed her sleep and dinner for me.

"C– can I feed you?" she asked nervously, her face reddening.

I managed a little smile.

"Yes. Please."

She picked up her spoon and mixed the food. Then slowly, she put the first spoon of rice in my mouth. I ate. It'd been long since I'd eaten good food. She fed me continuously. My eyes never leaving her beautiful face.

I was soon through with the food. It'd been enough to fill me. She then gave me water to drink in her little water bottle.

"You okay?" she asked.

"Yes. Thank you, Heather."

She smiled shyly.

"No problem."

"What happened to you today?" I asked.

"Asthma."

"Youhave it?"

"Yeah. It started today I guess. Mom took me to the clinic. I'm okay now. I have some medicine I'm taking."

"Okay. I'm happy you're alright." I held her soft hand in mine. She blushed.

"I stole this for you." she said shyly, taking out some medicine from her pocket.

"What are those?"

"Pain killers. They'll help reduce your body pain. Since mommy flogged you today." she said in a shaky voice. She was about to cry again. I hugged her.

"Don't cry. Please."

"I– I'll try."

"Please."

She looked at me.

"Promise to take the medicine."

"I promise."

She looked at me in the eyes and then got out of my grip.

"I better return to my room now." she said standing and picking up her bowl and water bottle.

"Okay. Thanks again, Heather." I looked up at her and smiled. She smiled back.

She began walking away and I watched her. But then she stopped. I wondered why.

Heather came over to me again and got on her knees, her face in front of mine. We stared into each other's eyes and then she placed her lips on mine.

I froze. I didn't know what to do. Before I could react, she stood up and ran out of the stable. I sat up for up to a minute. Unable to believe what had just happened. I smiled to myself. I'd been shocked to a point that I hadn't really reacted to her little kiss. I promised that the next time I would be the one to kiss her. And this time, I wouldn't freeze. Heather's presence had made me feel better that night. For the first time in a very long time, I slept very well.

***

I was less gloomy after the night Heather had fed me. And everyone noticed it. I seemed to have regained some energy. I worked hard and didn't complain. Aunt Christina would still scold or insult me. But I wouldn't cry or show that I was hurt. I didn't care. She too wondered why.

From that night I hadn't had the opportunity to speak to Heather again because there wasn't a way. I only saw her.

In the morning I would see her leave for school with Sawyer. She would look at me in a shy manner, and when I  smiled, she would blush and turn away. Her little visit of that night would remain our little secret.

***

One afternoon while I sat on a rock watching the horses run, aunt Christina walked up to me.

"Have you finished your chores?" she asked dryly.

"Yes." I replied coldly, not looking at her.

"When I speak to you you look at me!" she stated angrily. Not wanting trouble, I looked up at her. "I can see your puberty might begin soon. You're thirteen right?"

"Soon to be."

She scoffed.

"Yeah, right. Anyway I'm here to tell you that your dad's former lawyer is coming today."

"Why?"

"I told him you were willing to sign all your property to me so I would take care of you with your own money."

My eyes widened.

"What?? You don't take care of me!"

"I know. Who cares? Just accept to sign all your property to me."

"Never!" I said angrily and standing up.

"Excuse me? You're gonna take that back."

"No, I won't."

She was shocked I spoke back at her.

"Careful you bastard. Don't let me call Rob to beat you up worse than the last time I did."

Immediately she mentioned Rob, I had a strange flashback. I remembered her running to go call Rob. But then I remembered the kitchen scene. All of a sudden I remembered having seen her laughing with a man in the kitchen, the night my father had disappeared. Was it Rob?? I didn't still remember what I heard that night.

"Hello??" her angry voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

"Who's Rob?" I asked

"Oh, you'll know him alright. He'll beat you up if you refuse to sign."

"I won't sign. I don't care about being beaten. I've been beaten enough to a point that I don't fear anymore. Thanks to you."

I saw aunt Christina clench her jaw in angry frustration.

"I see. I'll still get you beaten. And I'll make sure Heather is around to watch from the start."

What?? I looked at her in shock. She was mad. She was ready to allow her fragile daughter assist to such again just for me to sign? I didn't want this. She was capable of anything! She'd gotten me.

"I'll– I'll sign."

She laughed

"Wow. Seems you really like Heather. Hmm. If the lawyer comes today, and you dare tell him what happens to you here, you can be sure I'll burn your dad's clothes and everything he left here."

"No! Please."

"Then promise to act like everything's alright."

"I promise."

"You ain't that stupid, you bastard."  I hated when she called me bastard. I was furious within. She had no respect.

"Now go into the house and take a bath. Change into one of your clean clothes I seized from you. Hurry."

She led me into the house. I hadn't taken a bath in a long time. She didn't even allow me to.

***

"So, you've been alright here?" Mr Jay asked.

I looked at aunt Christina. She gave me an ugly stare

"Yes..."

"And do you really wish to sign your property over to Mrs Christina?"

I hesitated.

"Sheridan?" the lawyer called.

"Yes. Yes, I do."

"Hum. Okay."

He brought out some documents and I signed. Then aunt Christina signed.

There. She had everything.

"Okay. Um Sheridan, your father's former assistant has a residence somewhere around here. He's on a short break or holiday. If you have any problems, he said you should call him." the lawyer handed over a card to me. It had a phone number on it.

"Okay, sir. Thank you."

The lawyer soon left.

Aunt Christina approached me and seized the card before tearing it into pieces.

"Hey!"

"Hey, what? You won't be needing it. Thanks for the property though. I'm rich." she laughed in an evil manner. "Now get back to that stable. And change the clothes first."

Would I ever get help?