So not a lot of reviews. I wanted to update it anyway in hopes that people were just waiting on another chapter to see if they would stick with it. Please review! If you don't, I'll be less inclined to update. Anywaaaay, I hope you guys like!
The ride to Mr. Kenworthy's house felt like it took forever. It was probably because I was just anxious to be done with our travels. I yawned and leaned my head back but my father's whistle brought my attention back.
"Well would you looky there." He shook his head and when my eye caught was he was talking about my jaw dropped.
The house we were coming close to was the biggest one I have ever seen. Long with lots of windows and probably quite wide also. A huge front porch with pillars wider than me. White, like a governor's house, but it didn't seem to go with the desert layout surrounding it. It was like the took one of those big mansions Sue used to always talk about that were up north and placed it here in the middle of nowhere. Was it Mr. Kenworthy's home? I didn't take him for a man who'd own such a big house. Why on earth would anyone want to build such a beautiful home all the way out west? Didn't make any sense to me. Looking at the beautiful home made me suddenly self-conscious of my dirty and disheveled appearance.
Mr. Kenworthy looked back at us and chuckled. "Don't you worry, that's not mine."
"Who's is it?" I asked. I didn't know if they were just plain stupid or so dirty stinkin' rich that they had houses like this where ever they pleased.
Mr. Kenworthy frowned just enough for me to catch his displeasure. "Mr. Slocum and his kids live there. He practically...well no he does own the whole town. Struck it rich out east and was made an offer to come out here and take a few families with him. Of course one of them being me and my family."
"You don't like him much do you?"
Father glared at me for my rudeness. But Mr. Kenworthy just smiled. "I suppose not...but you didn't hear it from me." He paused thinking for a minute before turning serious again. "I would avoid them if I were you folks."
'Why' formed on my lips but father's warning look told me I better not ask any more questions. I don't see what harm a bunch of rich folks could do...why would Mr. Kenworthy want us to avoid them? Didn't make sense to me. I mean, he was nice enough to build everything out here for them wasn't he? So he really can't be that bad. We turned off the path leading to the mansion and headed towards a much smaller but humble house. It was probably about the size of the one we lived in back east. It brought a little pang to my heart knowing that it wasn't. But at the same time I was glad we were going to be getting out of the heat soon.
"Mr. Slocum was generous enough to build my family this house." Mr. Kenworthy dismounted off of his horse and father pulled the carriage to a stop. I stood and felt every part of my body protest against it. "We can go ahead and put the horses and cattle in the barn...give them a minute to get some water and cool off." He smiled at me. "I'm sure you'd like to do the same thing. I'll show you and your grandmother inside."
I was about to protest that I could help with the horses and cattle; but I was too exhausted and his offer sounded too nice to pass up. His home wasn't nearly as extravagant as Mr. Slocum's. It was a cabin like home with a small front porch where two rocking chairs rested completely still, this place didn't even have a small breeze to make them move. I could just make out what I guessed was the barn behind the house and I wondered what they had inside it. My curiosity could wait till later though.
We walked inside and even though it was still a little muggy I was immediately relieved to be in the shade.
"Lila, Jen!" Mr. Kenworthy called out still standing by the door. A woman came out of a small hallway and smiled at us.
"Why hello, I see Jed brought home some friends." She stood over by Mr. Kenworthy and raised up on her tip-toes to give him a quick kiss.
"Lila, this is Samantha and her grandmother-"
"Gram is fine," Gram interjected since she was never introduced.
"Gram and Wyatt is outside. They'll be staying with us for a few days while their house is being finished. Just got here from the east."
Mrs. Kenworthy tsked and shook her head. "Oh I know you must be tired. Come with me to the kitchen I'll get you some water and make you something to eat. Jed will take care of the animals for you."
I smiled, relieved and grateful. "Thank you...to you both."
Mr. Kenworthy tipped his hat and walked back outside. I felt bad that my dad was out there still but I knew he'd be too stubborn to come inside until he's taken care of his stuff. Lila led us through the house to a decent sized kitchen. She offered a place for us to sit and even though I've been sitting all day I felt exhausted. I thanked her and sat down, as soon as I did I felt like I could fall asleep and barely noticed when she placed a glass of water in front of me.
"You know Samantha-I'm sure Jed already told you-but I have a daughter who is your-"
Before she could finish talking the front door slammed making me jump. "Maaa! There's a carriage-" a girl burst into the kitchen red-faced and out of breath "-oh."
I was stared at her even though it was rude. She wasn't wearing a dress like her mother but instead was wearing boys pants and a loose-fitting, dirt-stained white shirt. Her clothes resembled those of a small school child and I was stunned. Out of the corner of my eye I could also see Gram staring at her, probably wondering if she was a boy with beautiful long blonde hair or just a...well girl like me.
"Why are you staring at me?" Her abrupt question broke me out of my stupor and I stammered an apology.
"Jennifer!" Mrs. Kenworthy lightly scolded her and gave her a small shove on her shoulder. "Sorry, she really does have manners...just seems to have forgotten them out here."
Jennifer smirked. "Er, yeah. Sorry about that. I'm Jen," she stuck her hand out for me to shake and I shook it tentatively.
"Sam."
She looked at me, her smirk still on her lips. "Sam? Isn't that a boy's name?"
"Aren't those boys clothes?" I countered and she laughed.
"Fair enough. It's nice to meet you. Sorry for being rude," she pulled out another chair and sat next to me.
Despite a very odd first impression I had a feeling I would like this girl. She reminded me of myself a little bit when I was in my right mind. Not afraid to say what she was feeling or thinking and not easily offended. It was relieving to know that I might possibly have a friend out here in this desert wasteland.
Review! I was nice and updated during finals :P Oh and chapters will become longer later on. Just trying to get it started.
