The Ghost of the Writer is back! Nah, I'm kidding, I'm on my Christmas break and I haven't thought of doing Chapter 5. I'm so sorry! I had not forgotten you! If I can have 20 reviews then I will, WILL write Chapter 6! I'll go back to college in January 25th so I got plenty of time to write Chapter 6. Here's Chapter 5!

Chapter Five: Questions and the Fight

"Do you have any parents, siblings?" George asked as I looked up, I still pet my dog, Rocky. George had been asking me questions almost all day, what is up with him? I wondered with an arch of my eyebrow. George seems to caught regret asking me the questions, "I'm sorry, it's not my place to ask—" "Hey," I spoke as I put my hand on his arm temporarily, "It's okay, I don't mind." I said while I smiled at him. I lean back to my bed and said, "Well, my parents—they died, no that's not the right word," I looked up after I thought of the right word, "They were murdered by someone I hated the most," I said with pride and also guilt. "Siblings, I don't have any brothers and sisters, I'm the only child in the family."

George looked at me with sympathy, I do not want any sympathy from anyone in the Ranch. It's not who I am. I cannot be weak in front of anyone, I cannot. "Gee," George said quietly as he rubbed his neck tenderly, "I'm sorry—" I cut him off, "Do not say it, George." I spoke harshly and glaring at him a bit. George looked at me shocked to even speak. Guilt overrides my anger. "I'm sorry, it just I don't take pity very well," I said truthfully. George nodded as if he understood where I came from, which is hard to believe because no one understands where I came from.

No one, not even my stupid ex-boyfriend.

Then there was an awkward silence until I broke it, "So, what about you? What brings you here with Lennie?" I asked as I looked at Rocky and petted him for a short while then he went to sleep. "We're here for a job," George said. But there's something in his voice that sounded strained as if he's lying. I looked at George skeptically, confused, he asked, "What?" "Oh, nothing," I lied.

"No, tell me." George said gently as he leaned forward to hear what I'm going to say. I opened my mouth and was about to say something until I heard a loud argument. George and I looked at Curly simultaneously, to see Slim and Curly arguing. They're arguing about Curly's Wife, Curly thought she's with Slim but knowing Slim he would never be with her.

"You couldn't keep track of her wife, I would never be with her!" Slim shouted, I sat up and walked briskly to both of the men, I put my hands on their chest and I got in the middle so they wouldn't fight. "Guys," I said warningly. Slim looked down at me and he glared at Curly right back. Curly backed away a bit but still close to me. Slim was about to shout but I gave him a look that would silenced him. "Slim," I spoke warningly with my hands crossed over my chest and stand in front of Curly.

Slim sighed and he walked away as I heard him muttered, "Crazy bastard…" I turned around and asked Curly, "What's going on?" he said, "My wife isn't in the house so I thought Slim was with her in the barn," I shakes my head, "Cousin, you know Slim better than anyone, he would never do that. Even I know him, he wouldn't," I explained the logical side. Curly said angrily, "You don't know that because you don't have a goddamn man in your life!" "Curly!" some of the men shouted at him. I glared at him angrily, refusing to break contact with him whatsoever.

I heard George gasped a bit because that it not right for Curly to say that. Lennie went to my side and spoke, "Do not hurt her!" Lennie bravely stood up against my cousin. I looked up at him, surprised that he even spoke to Curly. I looked back to George and raise my eyebrows to ask him if he's any part of this and George shakes his head a bit.

That's when I turned my head and saw Curly punched Lennie. I gasped because I cannot believe my cousin would punch someone just because they stood up for me. "Curly!" I shouted, in shock.

"Shut up! Let's see if he can handle!" Curly pointed at me as he shouted, then he looked down at Lennie where he fell. Lennie stands up but poor guy is getting beaten by Curly and the men shouted, "Let him alone, he didn't do anything!"

I shouted back too, to try to get Curly back to his senses because Lennie is trying to protect me, that's all. George is beside me, I look at George to see if he's shocked or not. His expression is blank. I sighed and looked back to Curly and Lennie—Lennie had it pretty hard. He's bleeding from his face. I ran to Curly because I felt Lennie doesn't deserve to be punished. My hands wrapped around Curly's hands and shouted, "Leave him be!" Lennie cried in pain. Curly saw me and he did the unexpected thing I never thought in a million years.

Curly punched me in the face and all I see is darkness…