The sun dipped into the Tennessee horizon. Trying to spread its last rays of warmth over the farms that lied sprawled all over the land.
Daniel Walker ran up to the nearest big oak tree he could find. He stood behind it breathing heavily. He waited for his best friend, Rafe McCawley to find him.
This was a tense game of hide and seek. Hearing Rafe's footsteps rustle in the long grass, Danny stiffened. When he thought Rafe saw him, he turned, but instead he heard giggling.
Danny carefully peaked out of the tree. He saw Rafe chasing his little sister. Danny ran after the two of them. Once he gained enough speed he caught Rafe.
Danny practically jumped on Rafe, knocking him down. They wrestled in the tall green grass. Rolling around in dirt. They didn't see it coming but they fell in a huge pile of mud.
Mud splashed all over the boys' faces and clothes. Rafe leaned over Danny's face and spit some of the dirt in his friend's face.
"That's better," he said satisfied.
Danny sat there disgusted. His hand grabbed a huge pile of mud and threw it right at Rafe's face.
"That's way better,"
Danny's little sister stood over the two of them. Her long brown hair was tangled and knotted. Her faded yellow dress had patches all over it.
"Can you pull me up Izzy?" Danny asked holding out his hand.
Being a gullible little nine year old Isabel grabbed her big brother's hand. He pulled her in the mud puddle. She screamed.
"Welcome to the 'let's get dirty, and have our parents kill us club'," Rafe teased.
"That's right. We better get home Izzy." Danny said standing up.
"See ya tomorrow at school." Rafe yelled.
Danny pulled Isabel to their small old farm. They slipped into their pajamas and patiently waited on the couch. Until the roar of a truck pulled up the driveway. Isabel pulled closer to Danny.
"Don't worry Izzy, you did the dishes. We'll be fine." Danny whispered.
Isabel looked down some what ashamed. Danny glared at her.
"You did do the dishes, didn't you?" he asked hearing a car door slam.
Isabel shook her head. Footsteps creaked up the old wooden porch. The front door flung wide open. Les Walker came stumbling in, drunk as usual. He wobbled to the kitchen. Seeing the sink full dishes, he swung around angry.
"Who didn't do the dishes?" Les asked.
"I did," Danny said.
"Come here boy," Les spat.
Danny stood up bravely and walked up to his father. The angry drunk grabbed his son's hand with his one arm, the other turned on the stove. The red orange flames roared mildly.
Les dragged Danny's hand in the fire. Danny bit his lip, as his hand burned. He felt the bitter tears fill his eyes. The burning of his hand was unbearable. Having enough Isabel ran up to them.
"Leave him alone Daddy!" she cried.
Les used his free hand and smacked Isabel hard on the cheek. Tears filled her little green eyes.
"I can do what I want to your brother!" Les yelled.
He finally turned off the stove. He glared at Isabel as if he was going to hurt her. Isabel looked at Danny with fear running in her eyes.
Run, Danny mouthed. Isabel ran away very fast. Les chased after her into his bedroom. He angrily threw her on the bed. And raped her.
Danny tried to help her, but the door was locked. He couldn't do anything else. He walked into the bathroom. He took his burned hand and wrapped it with a bandage. He crawled into bed, trying to avoid the noises he heard from downstairs.
An hour later, the noises stopped. Danny did hear steps come up the old wooden stairs. He feared his father came for more. The door creaked opened, Danny braced himself. He pulled the covers over his head.
Les wasn't the one who walked in. Poor, shaken Isabel was. She wobbled by Danny's bed.
"Danny?" she cried.
Danny lowered the covers down to his eyes. He saw Isabel's broken body in the darkness. She came by his head.
"Can...I sleep with you, Danny?" she asked.
Danny moved over. Right away she crawled next to him. He wrapped his arm around her tiny shoulder. Isabel felt the bandage touch her skin. She dug her head into his chest and cried.
From that point Danny vowed to Isabel that no one could and would not ever touch her again. And that he would protect her from any harm.