Chapter Two.
Annabel hummed quietly to herself as Pa guided their carriage up the path toward the Hatfield house. Today was the first day Annabel or her brothers had came to see the Hatfields since their son Will had the accident with his eye. Annabel was anxious to make sure he was okay. She had always held a soft spot for the second eldest Hatfield boy, not that she'd ever in a million years admit it to the boy. Will was just barely a year older than her, him having just turned 15. Growing up she and Will had always had a constant of bickering and teasing between them. Will had always been the one to stand in between her and anyone else who gave her trouble, whether it be some snotty nosed girl or some drunkard on the street calling at her. Every time Will would just go on like he hadn't of done a thing. Annabel wasn't too naive, she knew that Hatfield boy held a soft spot for her to. Not that he'd ever admit it either.
She couldn't but smile as her Pa stopped the wagon in front of the Hatfield house. She could already see Johnse, Will, and Robert coming out. Her brothers cried with glee as they hauled themselves off the cart and onto the boys. It was hard for her to believe sometimes that Elliot was near the age of twenty, and Matt eighteen. Johnse was the same age as Matthew, and Robert just a year younger than her.
"Need a hand?" Annabel jumped a little bit. She had been so busy smiling and looking at the boys she hadn't even noticed that Will had came over to her. He was holding out a hand to her with his eyebrows raised. "Or you still in dreamland there West?"
"Oh hush it William," she puffed as she took his hand and climbed out of the cart. So far she had done a pretty good job of keeping her eyes trained off of the white bandage covering his other eye. She didn't want him to think she pitied him, she knew how Will was. He'd hate it. But still her heart tugged every time he caught a glimpse. She wished he hadn't of had to go through that. But never the less he was still her same old annoying Will.
"How ya doing, William?" Her Pa asked getting himself off the cart.
"I'm doing just fine sir."
"Good, good. Yer a strong one, I knew you'd be just fine." Her Pa gave Will a smile, and started towards the door. "I reckon ol' Anse has missed me enough, shouldn't keep him waitin' any longer." They all laughed as Pa made his way into the house.
The rest of the day had been spent with the boys taking turns to see who had the best shot. It turned out even with only one eye Will still had the best shot. Or Cap she should say. That's what everyone's been calling him now. Cap Hatfield. She supposed it did have an awful nice ring to it. Suited him just right.
They ended up staying for dinner, with Levicy's persuading of course. Not that Annabel was complaining, she wouldn't pass up Levicy's cooking for anything. Levicy filled the gap her mother had left behind for the most part. She was always there when Annabel needed new recipes because Elliot wouldn't stop nagging at her. Or when living with a household of boys became too much for her, she always seemed to be right there. She still missed her Ma, but Levicy made it easier.
She could still remember the day her Ma passed away, just like it was yesterday. Pa had went to town with Elliot and Matthew to do some business. Pa had made her stay home that day, told her she needed to work more on being a lady. Not roaming with the boys all the time. She had gotten so mad at her Pa, it was the only thing they ever fought about. Pa thought she needed to be a little more prepared to be a wife, she didn't agree. Her Ma just always shook her head, telling Pa that Annabel would learn someday. In the end that day came a lot sooner than she could have ever of imagined.
Annabel had been upstairs making Matthews bed when she heard it. It was a crash, followed by a god awful scream. She ran out of the room as fast as she could, throwing herself pretty much down the stairs. In the kitchen her Ma was flat on her back on the floor, shaking uncontrollably. Ma had little streams of blood pouring out the side of her mouth. Her eyes were unfocused, like they were staring straight through Annabel it seemed like. Annabel still felt in a daze when she looked back on everything that had happened. All the sudden Ma stopped her twitching, her eyes glazing over even more. She kept screaming for her Ma, but she never answered.
A seizure. That's what the doctor ruled it. He said there was no way of knowing it had been coming, nothing to prevent it. Things like that just happen, or so he said. Apparently Ma had hit her head on the counter when she started to fall, ultimately sealing her death.
Annabel knew she would never forget that day. The way it felt to hold her Ma and feel her body go from warm to cold. To see her laughing one minute to lifeless in the next. That day made her grow up a lot sooner that she ever thought she would have to. She was just shy of being nine years old. Her birthday falling in the next coming month. But all of the sudden she had taken over managing the household, and she could never repay her thanks to Levicy for helping her through that role change.
I hope you liked it! Sorry, still getting back in the hang of writing! Please excuse that!
