Penderella-Ch 1

Penelope once lived with her mother and father but sadly her mom passed away when she was 7 years old leaving her father to raise her alone, Penelope was left with the servants a lot because her father traveled because of his job. One day he returned home with a few surprises for his daughter, he climbs out of the coach and hugs his now 13 year old daughter and kisses her on the cheek.

She giggles and says, "I've missed you papa", he taps the end of her nose and says, "I've missed you to princess", he dropped to one knee and said, "I have brought you several surprises". She clapped her hands and said, "really, what did you bring me"?, he handed her a doll and said, "I brought you this beautiful doll".

She hugged the doll tight and said, "I love it papa, I love it", he smiled and said, "I have you another surprise that you will get later after dinner buttt I do have three more surprises". She watched as her father David held out his hand and said, "this way my dear", she then watched as he helped a woman out of the coach.

Penelope then watched as two girls her age stepped down and stood beside the woman, Dave said, "Penelope this is your new step mother Erin and these are your sisters Emelia and Jeniffer". Penelope curtsied and said, "nice to meet you", Dave smiled and said, "well let's go inside and show the girls to their rooms before dinner.

Dave motioned for the servants to get the trios luggage and take it all inside while he rubbed the top of Penelopes head as they headed inside, about an hour later Penelope was in the kitchen helping the cook with dinner and she said, "what do you think of your new step mother"?, she said, "I'm not really sure what to think of her but I don't think she likes me".

The cook wiped the girls eyes and said, "nonscense, what's not to like"?, she shrugged her shoulders and said, "I love my father though and he wants me to like her and the girls so I will give them a chance". The older woman tapped the end of her nose and said, "that's my girl", she then looked at Penelope and said, "why don't you get washed up because dinner will be ready in a few minutes".

Penelope laughed and said, "yes mam", as she turned and ran from the kitchen, after a quite dinner with her father and new family Penelope headed toward her room so that she could get ready for bed. After she was laying down her father walked into the room and finished tucking her in before sitting down on the bed with her.

She sighed happily and said, "I'm still waiting on my other surprise", he laughed and said, "you remember that did you"?, she nodded her head and said, "yes sir". He reached into his pocket and pulled out a beautiful necklace and handed it to her and said, "what do you think"?, she said, "ohhhhh I love it, I love it".

Dave sat and talked with his daughter until she started getting sleepy, he kissed her gently on the top of the head and said, "I will be gone when you wake up in the morning child". She said, "but you just got home father", he said, "I know princess, I know but I have to work", she said, "how long will you be gone this time"?, he said, "at least 2 weeks".

She stuck out her bottom lip and said, "but father"?, he said, "alright alright 1 week, you do have a way of getting me under your spell don't you my sweet daughter"?, she nodded her head yes as she wrapped her arms around his neck. When they pulled apart she said, "be careful father and I love you", he kissed her cheek and said, "I will be careful sweetie and I love you to".

After she laid down Dave said, "be good and listen to your step mother and try to show your step sisters the lay of the land while I'm gone alright"?, she yawned and said, "yes father". Dave stood in the door and watched her until she fell asleep before turning around and heading back toward the room he was to share with his new bride.

Sure enough when Penelope woke up the next morning her father was gone leaving her to try to do what he asked of her, she walked into the kitchen and smiled at the three women and said, "good morning mam, Emelia, Jeniffer". Erin said, "good morning Penelope, I take it you slept well"?, she said, "yes mam", she said, "good good".

A few hours later Penelope was outside playing in the yard when a rider rode up with her fathers horse, she ran over and said, "Seth, that's my fathers horse,
where did you find it"?, he climbed down and said, "Penelope I", Erin and the girls ran outside and Erin said, "that's my husbands horse, where ever did you find it"?, Seth said, "mam I was on my way back home when I found the horse down by the river".

Penelope said, "where'e my father, where's my father"?, Seth wrapped his arms around the little girl and said, "there was no sign of him Penelope, there was blood all over the place but we weren't able to find your father". Erin said, "he can't leave me, he just brought me here and left me here with another child to raise".

Seth walked over and said, "mam I am sorry", Erin said, "no he can't leave me, he can't, he promised, he promised", the cook ran outside and over to the distraught child. Penelope wrapped her arms around her neck and said, "he's gone, my father is gone", the butler helped Erin and her two girls back inside the house as the cook held the crying girl tighter telling her that everything was going to be alright.

Penelope said, "things will never be alright, never again" as the cook rocked her in her arms for a few minutes before carrying her inside the house to try to help the grieving child.