Chapter 2

I woke up the sound of horse hoofs, my head hurt so bad, I could hardly stand it. I groaned, and looked up, I was in the back of a wagon, surrounded by grain bags. "Where am I?" I groaned. "Woa," A strong voice said, I head footsteps come towards me. I tried to sit up, but it was impossible. "Feelin' Better?" The voice asked. I looked up a boy about my age, maybe older, I suddenly felt foolish, in my dirty farm-girls dress. "Ya," I answered, but as soon as I said that I felt a stab of pain run through my head, I grimaced openly, and he knew I was lying. "Tell me what your family name is and I'll take ya home. Ya need some rest for that head to get better, nasty fall you took, could've been worse though." "I am Jessie Presing," I said then laid my head back down on the wagon floor.

About 20 Minutes later I heard my Mama's friendly voice. "Hello, can I help you?" She said. "Yes Ma'am, your daughter… I found her on the path in the forest, she was lying on the ground, I don't know what happened… she was unconscious for a wile there, but on the way here she woke up and told me were she lived," The boy said. "What? Jessie is hurt!" She yelled, "David come quick!" I heard Mama's light footsteps run to the back of the wagon. "Missy, what's wrong?" I heard Pa's voice yell.

"Jesse, she's hurt!" Mama answered. I felt Pa's rough hands stroke my hair. "She has a fever!" He whispered then repeated it louder. "I'm alright Pa," I moaned.

"Sir, I also found something wrong with the leg, it was I believe broken," Said the boy. Mama lifted up the skirt of my dress to my knee. "O lord," Mama cried "David look!"

I moved my arm to my knee, trying to feel what was wrong, as soon as I touched my leg pain shot up, it hurt so bad I could barley open my eyes, but I was able to for just a quick second but it was just enough to see the red, bloody mass that was my leg. I couldn't help it… I passed out.

I woke up to the sound of mumbling voices.

"Mama, Pa," I whispered, "What happened?" I felt my parents on the side of my bed. "Good now! We con do something!" said the unmistakable voice that could only be Dr. Madison, "Does anything hurt?" He asked." Everything," I moaned "what is going to happen to me?" "The best thing for you to do is to stay in bed, get lots of rest and hope that the leg does not get infected!" the doctor answered." What will happen to the harvest?" I asked. "You know the boy who saved you; he will work in the fields until you are better." Pa said. "For what pay?" I questioned. "Not money, but food and a home, he will be sleeping in the shack outside, Missy fixed it up for him, he seemed strong, and willing to work," "Can I thank him?" I asked. "After supper you may, but right now he's tending to the cotton." Pa said. "Did you find Melody?" I asked. "Yes she was found running around in the woods, eyes rolled in the back of her head, she is safe in our stables now, don't you worry," "Well then since we have consciousness now I'll go." said Dr. Madison. And with a tip of him hat he was gone. "You should rest suga', we'll try to wake you up when supper is ready." He kissed my head gently and left. I snuggled down deep in the goose feather pillow and slept.

I dreamt of fishing. I was sitting on a bank of the most beautiful lake I had ever seen, it was clear and beautiful, and cattails lined the shore, shimmering fish swam trough the blue water. I was wearing a white dress and my cowboy hat, I was barefoot and was dancing on the shore my cane fishing pole on my shoulder. Then instantly it became night, trees surrounded me; I stood on a bolder and looked into the forest, I saw people holding lanterns run around me, they screamed and begged me to help them. I looked at them confused; they ran around me so fast I was dizzy.