HEY! Okay so I don't Harvest Moon. Good glad we got that out of the way. SOOOO I got an idea from the previous HM story I am writing "Build" and then was like okay I will start this one and post it after I am done with "Build" but I got so caught up in this one that I JUST HAD TO POST it for you! SOOOO I will be working much harder on build just so you get a better idea of the connection... but anyway the two spellings of Van are on purpose (Vaughn and Van) and they are the same person physically. JUST so you aren't confused! WEll I hope you have a lovely day! Thanks, please review!
Van screamed in pain as the man, covered in cloth so only his dark eyes showed, brought the whip down across his back again and again, the nails attached to it cut deep into his skin and then were ripped out. "What are they planning to use on the attack on Tibala?" One of the turban men asked in English. "Go to hell!" Van spat at him. "twenty more lashes and we will see if he speaks" The turban man commanded and left…
"VAUGHN!" Julia yelled while shaking him. He woke up gasping like he was surfacing for air after a deep dive. "Julia." He sighed. "Your dreams are getting worse. You sure you don't want to talk about it?" Julia asked with a sad look in her eyes, worry, thank goodness it was not pity. He hated seeing pity."No, but thanks fer wakin me up." He said in his deep baritone drawl. As a child he didn't drawl at all. His father had made sure he spoke properly and sat up straight. All that flew out the window a few years ago. "Alright, well its five AM so you may want to get stuff done, you're leaving tonight." Julia said softly. She stood and left the room so he could change.
Vaughn stood up and put his long sleeve black shirt, brown vest, dark jeans, and boots on. He threw on his hat and gloves on his way out the door while munching on a granola bar. He greeted his horse, rubbed him down, and saddled him up for a day's work, the only thing that took his mind off of his past, was the present and future. His animals were his escape.
3 months earlier
Annalise looked at her father sitting at his desk, back straight, shoulders back and head up like the proud military general he is. Her mother sat in the comfortable chairs by the window with a book. "Father, Mother I have something I would like to speak with you about and it is important." She stated clearly while standing at parade rest. Her father took the military seriously and she was raised in a military school. He never yelled at her mother but he expected nothing less than perfection from his children. "Yes dear?" Her mother asked marking her page and looking up with a smile. Her father nodded so she could continue. "As I am an adult and have graduated college, I wanted to inform you that I am going to start traveling the country. You both have your home here in the city; I believe it is time I look for mine and a career so I may support myself." She said clearly. Her father hated hesitancy and preferred reports to be precise and short. "I believe that is a wonderful idea dear! You will get to meet so many people and see so many things! It would be wonderful for you! You could get away from all this violence." Her mother said standing and frowning at her husband. "Where are you staying in each of these places you wish to travel to? Who are you bringing with?" Her father asked with a straight face. "I will stay at the inn in every town I go to, I have an itinerary and list of addresses and phone numbers for you. All my traveling preparations have been made and I will be traveling alone, I do not wish for an outsiders input on where I settle." She said making sure the last point stuck with her father. "You can't travel alone, you are an attractive female and some of these are far distances! It is not safe." Her father responded after looking at the list. "I came here to let you know I am traveling, not ask your permission. I will write and let you know I am safe or call if I can. Good day Father." She said bowing like they do in the militia and her father sat stunned. She turned to her mother and gave her a hug goodbye and they exchanged 'I love you' s. She turned sharply on her heel and left the room, grabbing her bags and walking to the cab. She had already said goodbye to her brother Mark. "Finally." She sighed. She was free.