Chapter14

"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? After changing into my dirty clothes again, I sadly went down the stairs. But then I heard aunt Christina on the phone in the kitchen. I sneaked to go listen. I heard her. "Yeah. I have the money. I'm rich! Hahahaha. Uhum, yes...oh, you are right, Hahahaha. That's not a bad idea." she said in strange manner. "You're right. Totally! Now that I have Paul's fortune, that little bastard is useless. Don't worry...yeah...by the end of this weekend I'll get rid of him. For good." A low gasp escaped my mouth. Afraid, I ran out of the house and back to the stable where I sat on the floor and sobbed. Was I going to die? What did she mean she would get rid of me? Who was she speaking to? What was I going to do now. I cried until evening. We were Friday and she'd said she would get rid of me before the weekend ended. I thought and thought of a solution while I cried. * Night reached fast. Aunt Christina had starved me the whole day, despite the fact that I'd given her all my father's money. She was cruel. From the stable, I could smell delicious fried chicken in the house. She was celebrating her newly gained wealth and had given food to all employees. Apart from me. I wasn't even an employee. I was a slave. I was a slave because I wasn't paid or given anything in return for my hard work. It was hard for me to find sleep with all that hunger. At eleven PM that night, I was too hungry to sleep. I lay silently on the hay. The light in the stable had stopped working. I would've been in total darkness if not for a candle I'd stolen earlier during the day. It was dim light for the whole stable but at least I wasn't in complete darkness. There was silence in the whole ranch. Even the horses were asleep. I lay on my side crying, my arms wrapped around my empty stomach. Suddenly I heard someone run into the stable. I got up afraid. "Don't worry. It's me." Heather whispered as she stepped into the dim light, her teddy bear in one hand and a bowl in the other. She had on her tiny little nightly dress. "Why were you running?" I asked. "Nothing. I was just afraid of the darkness outside." she admitted with a shy smile. I smiled back. She sat down by me on the floor. I hadn't spoken to her since the other night. "I brought you some chicken and fries from today's dinner." she opened the bowl and handed the delicious food to me. I was glad. I took the bowl and began to eat hungrily. She watched me with a little smile on her face. I was soon through and drank some water. She'd just saved my life. Once again. "Thank you." I whispered in the silence. "No problem. I- I'm gonna spend the night with you. Can I?" Her question took me offguard. I was surprised to hear it from a shy and obedient girl like Heather. She knew she'd be punished if she was caught but yet she didn't seem to care. "Heather, I don't think it's a good idea. I really don't want your mother yelling at you because of me." I said in a low voice. "Sheridan, I promise to wake up early and leave. I- I don't want to leave you alone this night." I smiled at her. She blushed. "Okay then." I moved aside so she could join me on the hay. She put the bowl aside and we lay down on our sides, facing each other. We stared at each other for a silent while. I decided to tell her what I'd decided. Before she'd come see me, I'd taken a decision on my own after thinking about what aunt Christina had said in that kitchen. "Heather?" I whispered "Yes?" We were closer than appropriate. Our faces inches away from each other. "I'm running away tonight." Her eyes widened. "Wh- what? Why??" "I have to. And you know why." "But where will you go to?" "I don't know. Yet." "Sheridan, I'm scared..." she said her eyes beginning to water. "Why? Don't be. Please." "Will you ever come back?" I looked at her, speechless. I hadn't thought of that possibility. "I- I-" "Promise you'll come back for me." she cut in. Her words sent some sort of sharp pain through me. Heather was shy and so innocent. Hearing her telling me this with watery eyes hurt me. I raised a hand and touched her cheek. "I will. I promise." And I was more than serious. No matter what would happen, from that night, I promised to return for Heather. If life permitted me. "Okay." she gave me a shy smile. Being only a kid, I wasn't sure of what to do or say next and so, I came closer to her and soon my lips were on hers. I closed my eyes and lived the moment. She did same. It was a plain kiss that I would remember my whole life. I heard noise and quickly broke the kiss. "Did you hear that?" I asked in a panicked voice, sitting up. "What?" Heather asked afraid. "I heard something." We looked around but nothing. "Probably the horses." I said relieved. I lay once again and that's when someone stormed in angrily into the stable. Heather and I got up, panicked. Sawyer soon appeared in front of us and pointed. "Here they are mom! I caught them!" she shouted. Oh no.