Chapter 1
(Takes place in 1896)
A 14-year-old, Rosemary Leveaux had just gotten home from her best friend Jack's house. They had ridden their horses. She loved getting to ride her horse, Dahlia. Rosemary didn't get to ride her often, since Dahlia was stabled at the Thornton's barn, which was outside the city. The area surrounding Quebec was so different from the city. Not to be mistaken, she liked living in the city, it certainly had its perks. She loved the shopping, and she really loved going to the theater to see plays. She loved how when you saw a play it took you to a whole new world, and made you forget all about your troubles.
But she would always envision herself living in the country, like Jack did. She always had been jealous of Jack, he had such a perfect life, well... it was almost perfect. He had a loving family, he got to live on a ranch, and he had so many beautiful horses. His life had so much love and joy in it, even after he had lost his dad.
Tom Thornton was a good man; he loved his wife and his kids. He had always treated Rosemary like his own daughter, she missed him sometimes. Tom was more of a father to her, than her own father had ever been. Rosemary didn't even think that her parents loved her, they seemed ashamed of her. And she didn't know why! And she definitely knew better than to ask them about it.
…. Rosemary was pulled out of her thoughts, as she walked into her quite large house, the Leveaux' were much better off than some people. She had become filthy from riding, and she couldn't let her parents catch her in her current state. She needed to make her way upstairs without getting caught by the servants, her nanny, and she especially need to avoid her parents!
She dashed up the elegant staircase, and she ducked into her bedroom as someone had started to come down the hallway. She quickly grabbed a new dress, and then started to head to the washroom. Rosemary had almost been in the clear, that's when she ran into her mother, as the older woman had been coming out of her study.
Lillian gasped as she took in her daughter's horrid appearance, "Rosemary Leveaux! Why on earth are you so filthy?!" She exclaimed as she grabbed her daughters' arms.
"I... I...," She couldn't come up with a good reason, and her mother was livid! She knew better than to lie to her mother, especially not right now. "I was at Jack Thornton's house." She hung her head in defeat, knowing what would come next.
"What were you doing with that... that wretched, destitute boy?!" Lillian was boiling mad.
Rosemary knew better than to be sharp with her mother, but she wasn't going to let her insult Jack like that, "Jack is neither wretched nor destitute, mother!"
"How dare you take that tone with me, young lady!" Lillian gripped Rosemary tighter. "Now. Why were you with that boy?!" She demanded.
"We were riding horses." She said, though it was hardly louder than a whisper.
Lillian scoffed, "You know that you are not allowed to ride, and you were also forbidden from seeing that boy!"
Rosemary knew her mother was furious with her; they didn't understand her. Jack was her Best Friend! She loved being with him and his family. It was so much better than being here, so she didn't care that her parents had forbidden her from him.
"Go get cleaned up. We'll discuss your punishment when your father gets home." Her mother directed.
"Yes mother." Rosemary hung her head, she had to do as her mother wished or she would be in even more trouble.
Lillian released her grip on Rosemary, and she pointed towards the washroom. Rosemary practically ran to the washroom. Once she was safely inside, she leaned her back against the door. Tears started rolling down her face, she stood there for a few moments; she stood there for a few moments, silently crying. She had thought that her mother was going to hit her again. Her parents scared her. She shouldn't have disobeyed them, but she didn't exactly regret her actions. She took her time to get cleaned up, she wasn't exactly in a hurry to have to face her father.
Once she washed up, Rosemary stepped out into the hallway. She smoothed out her dress; it was one of her favorites, it had a white blouse with sleeves with ruffles on the ends, and the skirt was a deep blue. This dress always gave her confidence, heaven knows she needed some! She took a deep breath before slowly making her way to the parlor, where she knew her, parents would be.
She timidly walked into the parlor; she didn't like coming in here. It was where she and her parents would "talk". More accurately: She would get punished, and they would beat her. Rosemary knew exactly how the next few minutes were going to go. She stood up straight as she walked in front of her parents, they said that slouching was a sign of weakness. She looked up at them, her father was sitting in his big, black, leather chair; her mother stood beside him.
"Rosemary. Why were you with that boy?" her father seethed.
"His name is Jack!" She chided.
"Don't take that tone with me, child!" He gritted through his teeth. Rosemary knew by his tone that he was very angry. "Now. Why were you with That Boy?" He put an emphasis on those last two words.
"We were just hanging out." She paused, debating on saying her next words, "And. He took me riding." she said that part a little quieter. And she definitely wasn't going to tell them that riding was her idea.
"You aren't allowed to be on a horse. You know that!" Peter told her. Even though he was with the R.C.M.P., he didn't ride anymore. Being a commissioner, he didn't ever have to be on the animals anyways. He thought they were dangerous. And because of that, she had been forbidden from being on a horse. Ever! Rosemary didn't even know his reason behind it, and she knew better than to ask.
"I know." She sighed.
"Then why on Earth, did you think that you could disobey me?!" He stood up from his chair very abruptly. Rosemary jumped at the motion, she didn't want to answer him, but she knew that things would be even worse if she didn't.
"Because I wanted to!" Rosemary spat out, before she had a chance to think through what she had said. Peter grabbed her arms, and Rosemary gasped quietly.
"How dare you disobey me! You are a child and should act as such!" He shook her violently.
"You were also forbidden from being around that boy." Her mother interjected, "We have a certain social status to maintain. You can't be seen with those... those atrocious people." She seethed. "What would people say if a Leveaux was seen with someone of the lower class." Her mother continued to rant.
"Why does it matter?" Rosemary asked a little bit louder than she should have.
"Why! I never! You had best not take that tone with..."
"Why does it matter how much money people have?!" Rosemary cut her off, "Jack is my best friend!" She debated on whether or not to continue, "You can't stop me from spending time with him!" She said firmly. When she finished, both of her parents had scowls on their faces. Her father reached and hit Rosemary across the face! She gasped when he did so.
"You will never see that boy again! And you will not even think about leaving this house for a very long time!" Peter yelled.
"What?! No! That's not fair!" She yelled loudly.
"You are being very disobedient and very disrespectful! He shook her hard, and he lifted her off the ground a little. "Go to your room!" He tightened his grip on her before he finally let go of her.
"NO!" She stood firm.
Peter hit her across the face again, before he started to beat her. She screamed and struggled to get away from him, with no avail. The more she resisted him, the harder he hit her. She continued to scream as she started crying because of the pain that came with every strike that her father inflicted upon her. Once he finally stopped inflicting his wrath upon her, "Go to your room now!" He demanded.
Tears had already started streaming down her face as she turned and ran out of the room. She ran down the hallway towards the parlor and found herself at the bottom of the staircase. She didn't want to go up there, and she didn't even want to stay in this house. So instead of heading upstairs like she was told; She turned and bolted out the front door, she quietly closed the door behind her, careful to not let anyone hear her leave.
It started thundering the moment she stepped outside; she knew it was going to rain and she wished she had grabbed her jacket before leaving. She debated on whether or not to go back and get it, but she couldn't. She couldn't go back. Not now, now ever! She turned and took off running as fast as she could go. Rosemary knew there was only one place she could go. The rain started out as a drizzle by the time she got to the edge of the city, and it was pouring rain by the time she got to the edge of the Thornton's property. So, she was completely soaked through by the time she reached their door. She pounded on the door, desperately. She hoped they were still awake. Rosemary was scared, wet, hurt, and tired. Her legs felt like they were about to give out as she was standing waiting for the door, all that happened in the past hour went back through her mind and hit her like a freight train. She had actually run away from her parents, and the only person she wanted to see right now was Jack.
Inside the Thornton house, Charlotte Thornton was standing at the washbasin, doing what little dishes they had used at dinner. When she was startled by a pounding knock on the door. "Well. I wonder who that could be this late at night. Especially in a storm like this!" She dried her hands, and she stopped at the drawer in her kitchen, and carefully grabbed her late husband's pistol that stayed there. She didn't know who was at the door, and she wanted to make sure that she and the two sleeping boys in the other room, were safe. She loaded the gun and carefully made her way to the door. She slowly opened the door, as she tried to see who was on the other side. She had to open the door all the way, before she was finally able to see who was on the other side. "Rosie?!" Charlotte was definitely surprised, but at least it wasn't an unwanted visitor. She carefully laid the gun down on the table in the hallway. "What in the world are you doing out here?" She asked, as Rosemary stood timidly in front of her. But before Rosemary had the chance to answer her, "You are soaked through! Get in here." she said as she pulled the girl inside. Charlotte grabbed a blanket off a nearby chair and put it over the girl's shoulders. Charlotte stepped back and took in the child's appearance; She was wet, cold, and she seemed distressed. No, she seemed scared.
Rosemary couldn't stop the tears from falling down her face. Charlotte didn't hesitate to bring the child into her arms. She felt the overwhelming urge to comfort the young girl standing in front of her. But she still needed to know what was wrong. She was about to say something and then Rosemary beat her to it, "I'm so sorry Mrs. Thornton. It's just... I didn't have anywhere else to go. And I didn't know what to do!"
"Oh sweetie. It's alright. It's gonna be okay." She assured Rosemary, she pulled her into another hug, and she stroked the back of the girl's head. After a few moments, Charlotte stepped back, and held the girl at arm's length.
She was holding Rosemary the same way her father did earlier. But this time it was different, Charlotte's touch was gentle, and full of love and care; completely different from when her parents tried to grind her into submission.
Charlotte gently spoke, "Now, what happened sweetheart?"
At the end of Charlotte's question, Rosemary jerked awake...
