Burning Barn

Chapter 2

In the Dark

Joe slowly opened his eyes. The room was unfamiliar to him, and the smell was cleaner then his ranch room. He smiled slightly knowing that a woman lived there. Women were the real cleaners. To him anyways. The door opened a crack and two women walked in. One with a steaming water bucket. The second woman with a few rags, and a towel. The taller of the two pulled back Joes covers and pulled back the bandages. Joe winced in pain since the cloth piece was stuck to his wound.

"Oh I'm sorry." She said as Joe peaked at her through hazed eyes.

"Where am I?" Joe gasped sitting up in his bed and regretted it.

"My brothers...Bree..." His eyes began to grow cloudy again.

"Oh that little girl. I'm afraid shes very sick Mister. She's with madam right now." The shorter stated and looked at the second with a grave look.

"Your eldest won't leave her side either. "

"Adam?" Joe asked.

"Oh yes I do believe that was his name." The woman said blushing.

"Handsome man he was."

"What about Hoss?"

"Hes with June."

"June?"

"Well your good with names aren't you?" A dark hard woman said at the door.

"June yes our cook. Seems to be smitten with her he is." The maid said and smiled at the woman who giggled.

"Poor girl doesn't get much company." The woman slowly walked toward Joe. Her walk was more sure, steady, and proud.

"My name is Lady Gude." Her English accent spilling over the name with such pride that Joe thought he would drown in it. He couldn't for the life of him remember what she said next. Something was pricked into his arm and he was out like a light before he had a chance to see what was going on.

Adam slowly opened his eyes again as soon as he felt movement from his fingers. Bree tossed to his left and slowly opened her eyes. Her eyes were sunk in, and her lips were a pale color that would match the peach walls. She went to sigh and ended up coughing, and curled in on herself and closed her eyes again.

"No...no don't go back to sleep." Adam said taking a more firm hold on her hand.

"Please don't." Adam pleaded blindly as Bree opened her eyes again and smiled up at her big brother.

"Don't go Adam." Her voice was so small. Almost unheard. He could hear her breathing, it was so rasped. A woman walked in bringing another steaming rod full of heated coals and slid them in under her feet. Adam smiled at the girl who walked over.

"Oh your awake then. I'll bring some food then." The woman smiled and left the room. Adam smiled down at her.

"Where?" Bree managed to say.

"Safe." Adam said and felt her forehead. She was burning up and Adam for once could do nothing to save his sibling. The woman walked back in with a steaming cup of what looked like tea, and a bowl of porage.

"Its got a bit of honey in it." She said and smiled as Bree smiled at her.

"There we go. Theres a smile." The woman helped Bree to sit up and held onto her Bree couldn't believe how week she was. Her hands were still bandaged up from the cuts on her hands. Adam spooned porage into her mouth and Bree slowly swallowed it. To her it tasted wonderful. The best. Specially to the fact that she hadn't eaten in four days. She couldn't, she kept throwing it back up. Adams face broke into a smile.

"Hey there we go." He said happy that it didn't immediately come back up again.

"Lets try the tea." Adam said and pulled the mug up to her chin and Bree smelled the contents and took a drink. Suddenly her face grew pale and she emptied the spoonful and the tea out onto the floor. Adam felt broken hearted and pulled Bree to him. She felt like crying. She kept dry heaving, Adam rocked her back and forth willing her to stop. The woman sighed as she walked out to her waiting mistress.

"Still sick maim." She said and walked off toward the kitchen.

"Good...perfect. Rita will be so happy." Lady Gude said and walked off toward the cellar and opened the door. Hoss lay on the floor drinched in sweat. A woman stood near him.

"I'll have him broken by tomorrow mistress." she said with a smile.