Author's Note: Hey! Sorry for the long wait. It's been pretty busy! Anyway, if you saw the last Author's Note, I'd like it if you asked me any questions you may have or have ideas for what you want. I really look forward to hearing from you! For now, enjoy! :)
Disclaimer: The plot and OCs are mine. Thank you very much!
Chapter 2
Previously: I look down at the unclean stall and my filthy, cold feet. Letting my long dark hair form a tangled curtain between us, I ask shakily, "Who are you? Where am I and how did you find me?"
Smoothly, he answers, "My name is Jasper Whitlock. I found you while riding… you were on our land."
Half rambling and panicky, I shout, "No shit, Sherlock! I know I'm on your land! You're the one who took me. What did you do, huh? Peek in on me through the window on your bike and decide to take me away as your new queen? You perverted..."
Cutting me off with a deep voice, Jasper corrects nervously, "You misunderstood. I found you while riding Hummingbird. You were already on my land, unconscious."
"Hummingbird?"
"Yes, my horse," he responds, gesturing to his right to another stall with a huge beast of a dark brown horse eyeing me unsteadily.
How is it even possible that I didn't notice such a huge... thing right next me! I really have to work on my survival skills. Yeah, I'll start when I survive this crazy experience- if.
Unfortunately, those survival skills don't make a miraculous appearance as I blurt out, "Hummingbird is a very stupid name for a horse. It's like naming your dog 'Cat'. I'm betting you came up with that name?"
Pausing, I think about what I just said and snap a hand over my mouth. That word-vomit was completely unnecessary. Not to mention that I may have just insulted the one person that has my fate in his hands. You go, Raina!
Shifting from one foot to another he begins to look uncomfortable and surprised at the same time. Disregarding my earlier comment, he turns on his heel and and walks through the doorway, turning only to gesture me forward.
Now thoroughly shaken, I grab my black and terribly worn pack from the ground to heft it over my shoulders while thinking of anything I could possibly use as a weapon. Tugging my dark coat tighter around me, I sigh in frustration as there is nothing- in my sight, at least. Resignedly, I trudge across the muck and make sure not to look at my feet lest I throw up. Not that I haven't at least a little because of those squelching noises that come as I move.
After I was sure to follow him at a distance for the precisely seventeen minutes we walked, a large white ranch house of sorts looming ahead came into sight. It's wrap-around porch was something from a dream only because it added, impossibly enough, an almost cozy look to the brightly lit monstrosity. So it turns out that this Jasper character truly isn't my kidnapper nor does he have anything to do with it.
However, that wasn't the only thing to catch my attention. Surprisingly enough, there were many people milling about up and down the grounds and throughout the house. It was comforting to see a wide range of people there and to know that I wasn't completely alone. Maybe someone here can help me... Hold up. What in the hell is everyone wearing? My feet begin to slow down and stumble over each other as my brain refuses to slow down and make sense of it's confusion. Suddenly, my feet fall out from under me and my vision turns black before I am even able to hit the ground.
I come to in a dimly lit bedroom with a soft down mattress underneath me and a warm blanket tightly wrapped around me. Trying to avoid panicking I quickly wiggle my way out of the burrito only to pause at the sound of a high-pitched giggle. Looking up, my eyes land on a young girl of perhaps eleven in deep blue calico hoop dress with puffed sleeves and what looks like incredibly worn black Mary Jane's. Sitting up quickly, I pull up the blanket and stare questioningly.
"Are you Lady of the Night?" She inquires shamelessly, staring at me with her dark brown eyes.
Taken aback, I respond sharply. "No, I'm not a prostitute! And, that's a very rude term to use with someone you've just met. Did you even know what it meant?"
"No, but Mama says that all proper ladies hate them. I'm... sorry. I didn't know." She looks down glumly, her dirty blonde hair falling loosely to cover her face.
"I'm sorry too. It would have been better if I said that nicely. But maybe you should think about who you want to hate in the future yourself, don't you think?"
"Yes, I-"
"Emma! What did I tell you about... Oh." Another woman, presumably the mother, yells as she, somehow, gracefully rushes into the room.
Finding me awake, she gestures the girl, Emma, out of the room. Eyeing me warily, she smooths an invisible wrinkle in her pale pink muslin dress and closes the door behind her to leave both of us alone. Her piercing blue eyes don't leave mine as she tries to figure me out. Shifting uncomfortably I take a moment to look around the plain room. Seeing only a dresser, window, and desk to the other side of the room, I glance back at the woman reluctantly. Either I've gone back in time... or I've landed in an Amish society.
Blurting out the first thing that comes to mind I say, "I'm sorry, but do you have the paper?"
Completely ignoring my question, she responds with one of her own, "Who are you?"
"Raina Adams. And you?"
With a suspicious look on the woman's face, she responds, "Sophia Whitlock. Now, where did you come from?"
Leaping out of the bed and raising my voice in horror, I yell, "That's exactly what I'm trying to figure out! Perhaps you can enlighten me as to who broke into my home and brought me here!"
Raising her brows in alarm, she rushes toward me and beckons for met to sit down. When I don't move, she pushes me down and sits next to me.
"I truly hope you don't believe that it was anyone from my family because they would never do such a thing. I also hope you understand that if you had arrived at the doorstep of some other family... they would not have helped you. I trust you understand where I'm going with this?"
"Oh, I understand perfectly. But, how dare you? If you had one empathetic bone in your body, you would realize that I have no idea where I am, who you people are, and what I am doing here. So instead of lecturing me about being careful with my accusations, maybe you should give me something to be grateful to you for. Now, I trust you understand where I'm going with this?"
Taken aback by my sudden anger and harsh tone, she stares into my eyes and catches the underlying fear that I try to push down. Understanding flashes in her eyes and she begins to to look apologetic before standing.
Smiling sheepishly, she begins rambling, "Today is Emma's birthday. After the celebration and helping you gather your strength, my husband will help you- as will my son, Jasper. For now, let's get you out of those clothes and into... something more appropriate. I shall draw you bath, Raina."
Leading me into the other room, she continues rambling as I tune her out and watch as she fusses about finding me the correct undergarments to match an old dress of hers. Sighing, I look around and find an overly fancy bath tub in the middle of the room surrounded by many unlit candles, salts, and bottles of who knows what. Right across from the door is a wide mirror and a vanity with a toilet tucked into a corner. The room is otherwise empty and cozy.
Walking to the mirror, I hold in a gasp as I finally catch sight of my face. It's a wonder Sophia didn't break out laughing after looking at me. Either that or throw me out of the house. Probably the latter. Staring intently into the mirror, I find every area of my face darkened and streaked with dirt while the state of my hair in unimaginable. My normally jet black and glossy waist-length hair is caked with dirt and probably some muck from the stalls (which would explain the smell I had been avoiding to notice), and random twigs sticking their way out like a porcupine. A bath would be much appreciated. Especially since the dried manure on my feet has probably soiled the ground in both rooms. I really hate horses right now.
Before I know it though, I'm sinking into the bath tub with practically boiling water and even though it scalds my skin, it feels heavenly to get be able to get all the dirt off of me. After sitting for a few minutes, I begin scrubbing myself thoroughly and look around at the assortment of bottles for what to use. After going through quite a few of them, I finally find some plain looking soap to apply. After almost finishing it off, I declare myself clean enough to dry off and get out just as the water begins to cool. Wrapping a fluffy towel around myself, I comb through the tangles in my hair and leave it open to dry before looking at my newest conundrum. How am I supposed to put this dress on? Surely they have jeans.. or pants at least. I must ask Sophia.
Sticking my head out the door and into the room Sophia had interrogated me in, I call out for her and hear nothing. Taking a step out, I pause as my foot touches something. Looking down, I find that there is a fresh newspaper lying my feet. Smiling at Sophia for her kindness, I reach down and set about searching through the rough paper, trying to glean as much as I can about my whereabouts.
I've only just opened the newspaper fully when I hear a gasp to my left and nearly drop everything- including my hold in the towel. Squeaking in surprise I clutch my towel to my chest and cover myself from view as much as possible with the newspaper. Looking more closely, I find no one other than Jasper Whitlock attempting (and failing) to bring up his fallen jaw completely resulting in an awkward fish out of water effect.
He just manages to glance away in embarrassment as I fling the newspaper in his general direction and yell, "Get out!"
Finally managing to take a hint, he quickly leaves and the paper hits the now closing door. Shuddering from the cold and intense mortification, I feel myself warming up from the blush gracing my flesh and run back inside before slamming the bathroom door shut. Sinking to the ground and slamming my head against the wall, I contemplate how to put on this slightly over-sized peach cotton work dress along with its many layers. After struggling through what looked like a chemise and a pair of pantaloons, I finally reached for the dress, completely disregarding the corset that came with it. Oh, hell no. My ribs are just fine where they are, thank you very much! After struggling a bit (more like a lot) with the various laces and buttons, I glance in the mirror and actually look clean enough to pass as a human.
Picking up the discarded nightdress off the floor, I head back out to find my satchel and coat lying on the ground next to the bed. Was this here the whole time? Shrugging my shoulders, I stuff the nightdress into the bag and glance at my watch. It's stuck. Great! Now I have no idea what time it is...
"Um. Sophia? Where are you?" I call out, hoping for a answer this time.
After a few moments she calls back, "Down the stairs. Did you need something?"
Deciding to wait to ask for information until I've been able to properly introduce myself, I scramble to reply, "Uh. Not right now!"
Settling down on the bed, I decide to take inventory of my bag. Dumping out everything around me, I begin checking off everything inside my head. Dirty jacket, soiled nightdress, useless phone, worn leather wallet with some money and license, gold coin, too much makeup, a notepad, and a dying pen.
"So basically... I am a seventeen year old girl that has been abducted and left behind with the Amish. Great! Exactly what I needed. Debora would love to hear just how cuckoo I've gone!" I ramble angrily.
Alright, no time for a breakdown. I don't know these people well so I have to act normal. No! Not normal- human. Otherwise I'll find myself on the way to a mental institution. Taking deep breaths to calm myself, I smile and get up to explore the house I'm in and greet Sophia but only reach the door when the same thing stops me. The newspaper! I hadn't gotten to look at it yet and reach down excitedly to grab it and investigate. Opening it up completely I scan the pages in search for a date scrawled in the corner. It seems like its been just one night to me, but what if it were more?
Spotting what I had been looking for, my blood runs cold. The date on the page:
April 12, 1860
Author's Note: So, what did you think? Like it? Hate it? Tell me! :) See you all next time! Don't forget to tell me of any ideas you may have!
