A warm sunny day it was. Most kids outside playing with friends, or having a family outing. Sitting alone, watching the happy familys, sat a 5 year old girl named Carter Marie Hale. Having the look of envy on her face from watching all the familys showed. Never really having a good family got to her sometimes. She would cry herself to sleep at night.
Like a normal child, Carter had an angel face and soft, sweet voice. Her hair was to her sholders and cruly. With the sun hitting just right it was golden blonde. Her eyes were beautiful, dark green. When she laughed it was the cutest giggle, but no one ever heard her laugh or talk...
Carter's childhood was not like most children. Her father beat her and her mother. She was treated like a slave and not a little girl. Life was hard, Carter was not allowed to talk, let alone have friends around. Her mother was her only friend and they stayed close. Well things were about to change for the worse.
On the same warm, sunny day, Carter was walking home from her little fort in the forest. Her big green eyes sparkled as the sun shinned on her. Walking threw her backyard and up the little walk way, Carter took her time. As she got to the back door, there it was, the scream she heard a lot when her father was beating her mother. Afraid to go inside of the house, Carter stood there scared out of her mind.
Finally getting the courage to open the door, there she saw it. The dead body of her mother. Her father stood over it with a knife in his hand. Breathing hard as he looked down at the lifeless body of his dead wife. He looked up at Carter.
"Carter..." He breathed her name slowly. Carter backed up slowly. "No baby girl, stay. Daddy won't hurt you." Walking near her, Carter kept moving back. Soon he launched himself at her, but she ran. Carter's heart was pouding as she ran as fast as she could.
Finally her little legs couldn't go any farther. She fell on the ground at one of the local neighbor's house. Carter layed on the ground crying and holding her little knees to her chest. Her crys were heard from the inside of the house. A man, tall and muscular, looked to be about 29 or 30, ran out to her. He pulled her into his arms and held her, rocking slowly back and forth.
"Shh...come on, calm down sweetie." He whispered to her in a soft voice. Carter looked at the man, with fear in her eyes. "Alright sweetie what happened?" He asked her looking at her closely.
Carter began to sob again. "I...I went home and...and I walked in..." She cried more. "I saw...I saw my daddy over my mommy with a knife...she was dead." Carter cried more and more thinking about what she had just saw. The man's face became sad and angry.
"Come on. Lets go inside." He said to her and carried her inside. Sitting her down on the couch to lay back on a pilliow. "I'm Jackson Miller." He told her softly as he petted her hair down and grabbed the phone. "Don't worry sweetie that man will never hurt you again." He whispered and dailed the number.
As he held the phone to his ear, Carter could hear the ringing. It rang once and someone picked up. "Dallas Police Department. Whats your emergency?" The man asked. Carter sighed softly finally being able to calm down. Jackson got up and walked away from Carter slowly. He didn't want her to hear this again.
"Yes, this is Jackson Miller, I live on 34'th street. I found a little girl, around the age of 5 outside in my yard crying about her dad killing her mom." Jackson said into the phone. The man went silent for a moment.
"Do you know the little girl's name?" The man on the phone asked Jackson. With a sigh, Jackson covered the recever and walked over to Carter.
"Sweetie, whats your name?" Jackson asked in a soft voice. Looking up at him, Carter took a deep breath.
"Carter Marie Hale." Carter said with a soft yawn. She was tired but afraid to sleep. Her body felt like it couldn't stay awake any longer. After saying her name, her eyes slowly closed leaving her to sleep.
After Jackson got done on the phone, the next thing Carter knew it was morning. Opening her eyes slowly, as the sun shinned in her eyes. She hid her face in the pilliow and sighed. She let her eyes ajust to the sun, looking around she realized this wasn't her house. A slight panic started, as she remember last night. Carter looked around once more with fear in her eyes.
Jackson walked into the room from the kitchen. The smell of bacon and eggs flooded the room. Carter took in the scent as she was hungry. "Morning Carter." Jackson said and rubbed her head softly. "Are you hungry?" He asked like nothing had happened last night. Carter couldn't speak, all she could do was nod. With that Jackson picked Carter up and carried her to the kitchen. Sitting her down in a chair and pushing her up to the table. "Would you like some bacon and eggs?" He asked with a smile on his face.
"Yes, please." Carter said in her soft voice. She bit her lip looking around, it was an amazing kitchen. Everything was in order and clean, unlike her family's. They had everything thrown around with all the fighting. Carter frowned looking down thinking about last night again. "Mr. Miller...whats gonna happen to daddy?" Carter's sweet and shy voice spoke out. She looked at him with curious eyes.
Jackson's face got seirous. A frown crossed his lips. "Well the police said that they would take care of everything." He said with a soft sigh. "Your dad is going to be going to jail for a very long time Carter." Jackson said moving to her side and bending down to face her. "You'll be staying with your grandmother from now on." He said in a sad voice.
Her bright green eyes closed thinking about everything. Tears slipped through her eyes and down her cheeks. She felt sick about everything. Everytime she closed her eyes she saw her mother's dead body and her father standing over her. Carter started to sob. Slowly Jackson wrapped his strong arms around the five year old girl. "Shhh...its ok...everything is gonna be ok." He whispered in her ear as he rocked her back and forth.
A week had past and finally it was the day Carter's grandmother, Tabbitha was coming for her. Carter sat on the couch watching cartoons with Jackson. They have grown quiet close lately and she really didn't want to leave. Since she had been staying with Jackson her eyes were brighter, and no fear was ever in them, as her laugh was loud and playful now.
Sitting there Jackson smiled down at Carter, seeing her go would be hard, but it was time she be with her real family. As he saw Carter smile back at him, there was a knock at the door. Jackson got up and walked to it slowly. Opening the door, stood an old woman, with gray hair up in a bun. "Hello." Jackson said. The old woman gave a light smile at him and then looked at Carter.
Carter saw her and gave a small smile and wave. "Hi Grandma." Carter's shy voice spoke. She never really got to see her grandmother much when she was living with her parents. Tabby smiled at her.
"Hello dear, nice to see you again." Spoke the old woman. Her voice was soft and strong. Her smile was soft as she looked at Jackson and Carter. She seemed nice, atleast at the moment to them. "Come on dear we have to get going." Her voice sounded sweet still. "Thank you so much Mr. Miller." She thanked Jackson.
Jackson simply nodded. "No trouble at all. It was fun having her around." He said sweetly. "She is quite, but I think after a while she will grow out of it." Jackson said smiling at Tabby and then at Carter.
Carter was getting her things together as they spoke. Her little bag of clothes and no toys but her Teddy Bear Jackson gave her. Smiling up at both adults, she just watched them talk. Her eyes were back and forth on them. "Come, Carter." Tabby said to her, looking down.
Looking up at Jackson she frowned knowing they wouldn't see eachother again. Her eyes welled up with tears. Jackson got on his knees. "Hey now kid, don't be sad." He said and wipped her tears away with his thumb. "We'll see eachother again, I promise." He whispered to her and hugged her. Carter hugged him back tightly. He was the only friend she had. Soon as the hug ended, Tabby took Carter's hand and walked to her old car.
The car was a '77 blue chevy. It was old and rusted and looked like it had been in so many recks. It looked as if it could use a paint job and washing. As they got to it Tabby looked down at Carter, who still had tears in her eyes. "Stop that crying!" She hissed at her. Carter looked up at her startled. "Don't be such a baby." Tabby picked her up and opened the door. She put her (more like threw) in the seat. Carter frowned and sat there, afraid to move. Tabby got in the car and looked at her. "You got my only son thrown in jail for killing that god alwful wife of his..." She went on saying things about Carter that shouldn't be said.
Once they were home and inside, Tabby put Carter to work. From then on out, Carter was more of a slave then a granddaughter. Years went by Carter felt like she was living with her dad once again. She had scars and burises on her body. Still crying herself to sleep, she just felt unloved and unfeeling.
