A/N: I was reading a book about California in the 1940's for school, and then I got this brilliant idea for a story. I just had to type it up. Here's the first chapter. Let me know what you think.
Again: This story takes place in California in the 1940s.
"Ally! Wake up!" My dad shouted. I opened my eyes. Everything was still dark; it was really early. I sat up in bed and breathed in the early morning air. I had forgotten to shut my windows last night, and the curtains were flowing into the room gently. I threw the quilt onto the bed and smoothed it out.
I opened the trap door in the corner of my bedroom and called down, "Coming, Dad!" I pulled on an old pair of jeans that had definitely seen better days. I had received them for my birthday about four years ago. But of course, my dad had bought them several sizes too big so that I could wear them for a long time. Each rip and tear had a special memory to go along with it, though.
Because it was the middle summer, I didn't bother with my plaid button up shirt. I just wore my favorite white tank-top. When my mom had given it to me, it was a brand new crisp white. Now the bottom was unraveling a little, and it had a few barely noticeable stains, but I loved how soft it was. I smile at the memory of Mom giving it to me. She had died of a scarlet fever about a year ago, leaving my dad heartbroken. Not a day goes by that I don't miss her.
I grabbed my cowgirl boots and climbed down the ladder to the rest of the house. In the main room, my brother, Aaron, and my sister, AJ were already sitting at the lantern lit table. AJ was the oldest, I was in the middle, and Aaron was the youngest. I sat down at my usual spot next to AJ and pulled my boots on.
"Morning!" I said cheerfully. Might as well start the day off in a good mood.
"Morning, Ally." Aaron and AJ chorus together. I grab half of my hair and tangle my fingers in it, twisting three pieces into a messy braid.
"Why did Dad wake us up so early this morning?" I ask, tying off my braid and starting on the other side.
Before either one of them can answer, Billy comes in the door connecting to the kitchen with a big stack of pancakes. My dad hired Billy shortly after my mom died. He helps with cooking and anything that my dad needs help with. I've never seen him smile. He's an old man and I don't really think he likes us. AJ and I used to play pranks on him, but now AJ insists that she's too old for such childish things. She can be so boring.
"You're father wanted to have a good breakfast with his family before he goes off to town for the day." Billy answers, setting the pancakes on the table in the middle of us.
We all stare at the stack and Aaron lifts a hand and reaches toward them. AJ slaps his hand away, "We have to wait for Dad."
Billy entered again with a pitcher of milk and several glasses. Dad followed behind with plates and silverware. "Morning, Dad!" We greeted happily. He wished each of us a good morning and gave us a giant hug.
"I'm leaving to go to town in a few minutes, but I wanted to make sure to see each of your smiling faces before I leave," Dad said as he took a seat at the table and passed out plates. We dug into the pancakes.
"Dad, can I go to town with you?" Aaron begged.
"When you get older son," Dad said for the millionth time.
"What are you going to do in town today?" AJ asked.
"I'm going to get us a new cow. Bess is getting old, and if something were to happen to her, we wouldn't have any milk." He answered in between bites. "Today you kids do your chores, you understand. Listen to Billy, he's in charge." He shoved one more pancake in his mouth and stood up. He drank a little milk then patted each of us on the head. "I've got to be going, it's a long ride to town."
"Bye, Dad!" We followed him out to the barn were David, one of our five horses was already saddled up. He got on and galloped away, waving just before the path turned and he disappeared down a hill.
"Alright, everyone start on your chores," AJ commanded.
"You're not in charge," Aaron and I protested, crossing our arms.
"I'll tell Dad when he gets home tonight. He said that we had to do our chores."
"That includes you," Aaron stated.
"I'm going, I'm going." She left, to the house. Because she was the oldest, she got to do all of the house cleaning, while Aaron and I worked in the barn and gardens.
I heard Aaron let out a sigh as he went to work. I grabbed an apple from a barrel and went into my horse's stall. I fed it to him and led him out to the pasture. I went back and cleaned his stall, then proceeded onto the others. Once I was finished, I feed the chickens and gathered the eggs. By the time I was finished, the sun was high in the sky. The bell chimed for lunch, and I ran to the house. AJ was already seated, and a minute later Aaron joined us. We ate delicious sandwiches for lunch, then went back to work. In the summer, Dad always gave us extra chores.
I went to the garden to gather any ripe vegetables or fruits. Once I had a basket full of corn, tomatoes, apples, and a few peaches, I put it in the barn and went back to pull weeds. This was my least favorite chore. The hot sun beat down on me and I sweat dripped into my eyes.
All of a sudden, I was splattered with mud. I turned to see Aaron running away, swinging an empty bucket, nearly doubled over in laughter.
"Aaron! I'm going to kill you!" I screamed, running after him. Once we got near the creek, where all the mud was, I got a handful of mud in each hand and threw it at him. We lost track of time, trying to get each other dirtier, and the sun began to set. We heard the dinner bell ringing in the distance, meaning that Dad just got home. We never ate dinner without Dad.
"It's a good thing I was finished with my chores, or else Dad would be so mad," Aaron said. I nodded in agreement.
We looked at each other and burst out laughing. We were both a terrible mess. It was a good thing that Dad never got mad at a mess. He always thought that a little bit of dirt was a good thing.
We ran to the farmhouse, shoving each other to go faster and froze when we saw about twenty cattle in the pasture.
"Woah!" Aaron said in amazement. "Dad must have bought a bunch of cattle in town! This is awesome!"
"Isn't it?" Dad's voice boomed behind us. He was standing in the doorway of the barn. Standing next to him was a boy. A very attractive boy.
Dad nodded towards him and said, "This is Austin. He's about a year older than you Ally. He needed a place to stay, so I hired him as a cowhand. He's gonna help me with these cattle."
Austin pulled his cowboy hat off, revealing gorgeous blonde hair and nodded at me, "Howdy ma'am," then he smiled a killer smile at me.
"Hi," I said, suddenly shy. He looked back and forth between me and Aaron in what seemed like amusement. I looked at Aaron. Then I remembered how muddy I looked.
I just met this extremely handsome boy, and I'm completely covered in mud. Of course, it happens to me.
A/N: Do you think I should continue?