Chapter 10
Revelation
RATED PG
How does one even begin to tell a story like mine? I had no clue. But, the four people before me were family. Okay, Cayleigh was family, and the other three were as close as I had to it besides her.
Jack sat closest to me. My savior, really he was. I can only imagine where I would be had he not brought me to the LH. Probably dead, knowing the way things were going.
I smiled sheepishly, wishing that they could some how not need to know what I was about to tell them. The rooftop breeze tickled at my neck and sent a sharp chill down my back. Enough of one that Jack slid himself a little closer and draped an arm around my shoulders protectively. I could feel his warmth spread through me like hot cocoa on a frigid January day in the Highlands. I let myself settle into his embrace, just a bit, grateful for the support it gave.
I let out a heavy sigh.
I guess you could say I lived a charmed life. At least until we moved to America. I had loving parents -that, unlike so many others, believed that their children, even the girls, had a right to education and to be anything they wished to be in life, as long as we worked for it- brothers and sisters that I loved dearly, and enough money to live comfortably. I wanted, more than anything, to be a doctor. So when my father was offered a teaching position at Children's Memorial, and partnership with a lucerative private practice in Chicago, he accepted. It was s'posed to be the perfect opportunity, not just for him, we children would have a better chance of attending a good university, and with my grades and my father's influence, I was guaranteed a student's position once my other schooling was finished. So we packed up, sold most of our belongings, and set sail for the "promised land".
Glasgow harbor, was dark and foreboding the morning we set off, setting the tone for the voyage, and the next few years of my life.
Alistair, my youngest brother, died while we were at sea. Pneumonia developed from influenza and claimed him, three days shy of his ninth birthday. Even Papa couldn't save him. We couldn't even give him a proper Christian burial. The ship's Captain said a few words and Duncan's body, along with six others, was deposited into its watery grave. Mamma cried every day after that.
We finally made it to America. Nearly everyone on the ship was ill by this time, and we spent the first two weeks in quarantine on Elis Island.
Six months later, we had settled into a lovely home near Lake Michigan. It was large and clean, with more than enough room a nursery, and for each of the children to have our own room. We were all in school, except Hannah, she had another year to wait. Father was one of the most popular instructors at Children's Memorial and his practice was thriving. Mother was expecting again. I was working at Father's practice after school and was excelling in my studies. Life was good, little did we know, it was just the calm before the storm.
Christmas Eve, 1898. I accompanied Papa to do some last minute gift buying. He'd decided to replace the small diamond in Mama's wedding ring, with a larger clearer stone, so we stopped by Saul's, a popular jewelers, to pick up Mama's finished ring. It was stunning. The small round stone had been replaced with a two carat emerald cut diamond that had a slight bluish coloring. Saul presented the ring to Papa in a hand carved wooden box that looked like the head of a thistle. While we were admiring the ring, two men, with hoods covering their faces, armed with guns, burst through the door guns blazing. I still don't know why they did what they did. There were a lot of theories floating around, but frankly none of them made much sense to me. All I know is that when the smoke cleared Papa, and three others, were dead, Mama's ring was gone, and nothing in my life would ever be the same. I still carry a scar through my left eyebrow, from hitting the counter when Papa tackled me to the floor. They never caught the bastids.
Three months later Mama and my baby sister died in childbirth.
I tried to keep us all together. I was only 14, but managed to keep us in our home for a few months. But soon, things began to fall apart. I left Cayleigh in charge while I went to see Papa's business partner. We needed money, and he had promised to pay us for the half of the business we owned. I arrived to find the office empty, he had fled with our money.
The walk home was the longest of my life. It seemed like one of those dreams where you walk and walk but the place you are going just seems further away with each step. I had used the very last of our money that morning to buy milk for Hanna, and had expected to have enough to pay for a carriage home after seeing Dr. Campbell. It was drizzling and the slush entered each stitch in my boots and the hole in my stockings, taking hold of my bones like an icy claw. I shivered and pulled my cloak tighter around me. By the time I got home, my fingers had turned blue and my feet were numbed from the cold.
I reached the front door, but rather than being greeted by my sisters and brother, with tea or soup to warm me, the house was dark and empty. A note was tacked to the locked door that said my siblings had been taken into custody by the State of Illinois. But there was no signature or address. I have been looking for them ever since.
End Chapter 10
A/N : Ok, tried something a little new. Hope it isn't too distracting. Let me know what you think.
SOs:
Hopeyyyy: Ya nuttah! Thanks for all the reviews even if you were just takin the mick! Luv ya sissy! More RP! Hee hee! luv ya!
Stretchy: Twinnnny! You are such a doll! Thanks for the shoulder and lettin me vent! luv ya!
Ersheykins: I will give ya more ta do in it soon! Really I will!
Ravey: I'm so glad you luffle my story! Enough twists in it yet? Nah, didn't think so!
Ry: Heya Dahlin! I'm so glad you like it! We need to work on EQ soon! xxx
Angelstar: Hey miss ya hope you will be back soon! I wanna RP!
Tree, Moon and Zip! My faithful reviewers! Thanks goils!
Gin: Thanks for all your great feedback! Your story sooo rocks! More please!
Coin: Heya goily! That is so kewl! I wish my folks spoke Gaelic! You should feel smaht! Gaelic isn't easy to understand. I hope ya like the story.
Thistle: my fellow Utahn! I luv yer stories girlie! Let me know more about that concert with AFI!
Puck: Thanks for givin my story a second home! Glad ya likey
Sling: GET TO WORK! I wanna read more from you soon!
Evenstar: Thanks for the encouragement! I hope ya like it.
Bookie: Heya! You are coming up soon! I have so much to do.
Beauti: Heya icklest sis! WOW I have a big family now! WHOOT
My new buddies from chat! I'm terrible with names. Sorry, but know I am thinking bout ya! LOL we HAVE to do that again!
KAT: Heya hun! I am listing you last only cos you are new to reading my story. BUT you know where you are in me heart! I can't wait for you to get here to visit! xxx
I know I am forgetting others....I don't mean too! Just remind me! Or better yet, post feedback and I will remember to give ya a SO.
Ok, you know the drill. Read Review = Happy Sagey (hee hee)
I think you guys know the disclaimer by now....DONT own newises, wanna have Jack under my christmas tree in nuttin but a big red bandana...lol
Revelation
RATED PG
How does one even begin to tell a story like mine? I had no clue. But, the four people before me were family. Okay, Cayleigh was family, and the other three were as close as I had to it besides her.
Jack sat closest to me. My savior, really he was. I can only imagine where I would be had he not brought me to the LH. Probably dead, knowing the way things were going.
I smiled sheepishly, wishing that they could some how not need to know what I was about to tell them. The rooftop breeze tickled at my neck and sent a sharp chill down my back. Enough of one that Jack slid himself a little closer and draped an arm around my shoulders protectively. I could feel his warmth spread through me like hot cocoa on a frigid January day in the Highlands. I let myself settle into his embrace, just a bit, grateful for the support it gave.
I let out a heavy sigh.
I guess you could say I lived a charmed life. At least until we moved to America. I had loving parents -that, unlike so many others, believed that their children, even the girls, had a right to education and to be anything they wished to be in life, as long as we worked for it- brothers and sisters that I loved dearly, and enough money to live comfortably. I wanted, more than anything, to be a doctor. So when my father was offered a teaching position at Children's Memorial, and partnership with a lucerative private practice in Chicago, he accepted. It was s'posed to be the perfect opportunity, not just for him, we children would have a better chance of attending a good university, and with my grades and my father's influence, I was guaranteed a student's position once my other schooling was finished. So we packed up, sold most of our belongings, and set sail for the "promised land".
Glasgow harbor, was dark and foreboding the morning we set off, setting the tone for the voyage, and the next few years of my life.
Alistair, my youngest brother, died while we were at sea. Pneumonia developed from influenza and claimed him, three days shy of his ninth birthday. Even Papa couldn't save him. We couldn't even give him a proper Christian burial. The ship's Captain said a few words and Duncan's body, along with six others, was deposited into its watery grave. Mamma cried every day after that.
We finally made it to America. Nearly everyone on the ship was ill by this time, and we spent the first two weeks in quarantine on Elis Island.
Six months later, we had settled into a lovely home near Lake Michigan. It was large and clean, with more than enough room a nursery, and for each of the children to have our own room. We were all in school, except Hannah, she had another year to wait. Father was one of the most popular instructors at Children's Memorial and his practice was thriving. Mother was expecting again. I was working at Father's practice after school and was excelling in my studies. Life was good, little did we know, it was just the calm before the storm.
Christmas Eve, 1898. I accompanied Papa to do some last minute gift buying. He'd decided to replace the small diamond in Mama's wedding ring, with a larger clearer stone, so we stopped by Saul's, a popular jewelers, to pick up Mama's finished ring. It was stunning. The small round stone had been replaced with a two carat emerald cut diamond that had a slight bluish coloring. Saul presented the ring to Papa in a hand carved wooden box that looked like the head of a thistle. While we were admiring the ring, two men, with hoods covering their faces, armed with guns, burst through the door guns blazing. I still don't know why they did what they did. There were a lot of theories floating around, but frankly none of them made much sense to me. All I know is that when the smoke cleared Papa, and three others, were dead, Mama's ring was gone, and nothing in my life would ever be the same. I still carry a scar through my left eyebrow, from hitting the counter when Papa tackled me to the floor. They never caught the bastids.
Three months later Mama and my baby sister died in childbirth.
I tried to keep us all together. I was only 14, but managed to keep us in our home for a few months. But soon, things began to fall apart. I left Cayleigh in charge while I went to see Papa's business partner. We needed money, and he had promised to pay us for the half of the business we owned. I arrived to find the office empty, he had fled with our money.
The walk home was the longest of my life. It seemed like one of those dreams where you walk and walk but the place you are going just seems further away with each step. I had used the very last of our money that morning to buy milk for Hanna, and had expected to have enough to pay for a carriage home after seeing Dr. Campbell. It was drizzling and the slush entered each stitch in my boots and the hole in my stockings, taking hold of my bones like an icy claw. I shivered and pulled my cloak tighter around me. By the time I got home, my fingers had turned blue and my feet were numbed from the cold.
I reached the front door, but rather than being greeted by my sisters and brother, with tea or soup to warm me, the house was dark and empty. A note was tacked to the locked door that said my siblings had been taken into custody by the State of Illinois. But there was no signature or address. I have been looking for them ever since.
End Chapter 10
A/N : Ok, tried something a little new. Hope it isn't too distracting. Let me know what you think.
SOs:
Hopeyyyy: Ya nuttah! Thanks for all the reviews even if you were just takin the mick! Luv ya sissy! More RP! Hee hee! luv ya!
Stretchy: Twinnnny! You are such a doll! Thanks for the shoulder and lettin me vent! luv ya!
Ersheykins: I will give ya more ta do in it soon! Really I will!
Ravey: I'm so glad you luffle my story! Enough twists in it yet? Nah, didn't think so!
Ry: Heya Dahlin! I'm so glad you like it! We need to work on EQ soon! xxx
Angelstar: Hey miss ya hope you will be back soon! I wanna RP!
Tree, Moon and Zip! My faithful reviewers! Thanks goils!
Gin: Thanks for all your great feedback! Your story sooo rocks! More please!
Coin: Heya goily! That is so kewl! I wish my folks spoke Gaelic! You should feel smaht! Gaelic isn't easy to understand. I hope ya like the story.
Thistle: my fellow Utahn! I luv yer stories girlie! Let me know more about that concert with AFI!
Puck: Thanks for givin my story a second home! Glad ya likey
Sling: GET TO WORK! I wanna read more from you soon!
Evenstar: Thanks for the encouragement! I hope ya like it.
Bookie: Heya! You are coming up soon! I have so much to do.
Beauti: Heya icklest sis! WOW I have a big family now! WHOOT
My new buddies from chat! I'm terrible with names. Sorry, but know I am thinking bout ya! LOL we HAVE to do that again!
KAT: Heya hun! I am listing you last only cos you are new to reading my story. BUT you know where you are in me heart! I can't wait for you to get here to visit! xxx
I know I am forgetting others....I don't mean too! Just remind me! Or better yet, post feedback and I will remember to give ya a SO.
Ok, you know the drill. Read Review = Happy Sagey (hee hee)
I think you guys know the disclaimer by now....DONT own newises, wanna have Jack under my christmas tree in nuttin but a big red bandana...lol