Kathleen sat down in the chair next to the bed with amazement at the realization of just who she had in her bed naked, although it wasn't confirmed yet and it wouldn't be. The Cartwright's were a very wealthy and known family around here. Joe sat himself up
"So who are those other girls I remember seeing?"
"Oh! Those girls are my annoying little sisters."
"Your little sisters, where are your parents? Are they around? I would love to thank them."
Kathleen looked away sadly," My parents aren't here. They died 5 years ago in an accident. "
Joe looked away sadly realizing that this was a sore subject," Oh I'm sorry for your loss."
Suddenly voices can be heard coming up the stairs. Lila can be heard talking to Isabelle about the visitor. "Hey sis do you think he's cute? From what I could tell earlier he is one seriously handsome guy."
"I suppose Lila, he was a little bloody and dirty before, but I guess he'll look better now." Kathleen rolled her eyes at the girl's comments as Joe chuckles to himself. Lila and Isabelle knocked on the door.
"Hey sis can we come and say hey to our visitor."
"Lila what if he ain't awake yet?"
Kathleen sighed heavily as she walked over to the door and opened it up reveling the arguing girls. "Isabelle, Lila he's awake and yes you can come meet Mr. Cartwright."
Lila walks up to Joe and says "Hi" Joe again chuckles to himself and replies with, "Hi" back to her .
Lila smiles slyly, "You're cute what's your name gorgeous. " Everyone's jaw drops except for Joe. Joe grins at Lila and takes her hand in his and kisses it," I'm Joe Cartwright little Ms. Lila."
Lila smiles and leans over to whisper in Joe's ear, "I'll come back when my sister's aren't around so we can talk." Joe laughed to himself and whispered back, "Alright."
Lila then turned to her sisters who were still in shock and deviously smiled back at them and happily skipped out.
Breaking out of the shock Kathleen quickly composed herself and walked over to Joe who was grinning from ear to ear. To be in such a strange predicament he seemed completely at ease, and just as natural as can be.
"I am very sorry Mr. Cartwright for the way my sister is acting. It's so unlike her."
With a wave of his hand and a small chuckle Joe shot down all apologies," Don't worry about it Ma'am I have 2 older brothers I know how it is. Besides that little one is a cutie and a fire cracker I'm sure."
"That she is Mr. Cartwright."
"Please call me Joe ma'am."
"And call me Kathleen. The little cutie is my youngest sister Lila. She is the one who uh commented on your appearance."
"And by that you mean found me extremely handsome in her words exactly."
" Yeah sure whatever."
Joe smiled one of his cute half smiles," Well continue on."
"Continue about what?"
"About yourself, your sisters. If I'm going to be staying with ya'll for a few days I want to know about you and your sisters."
Kathleen bowed her head with a smile. "Ok then let me think."
Joe sat himself up and put on his most serious concentrating face which made Kathleen giggle like a little girl.
"Well as I've said before I'm Kathleen, Kathleen Roberts. I'm 23 years old and am solely responsible for this house and my sisters. Uhmm I consider myself to be a lady and my favorite flower is a white rose."
Joe nodded his head in approval and to have her continue.
"Isabelle is the middle child. She is 18 years old and is a bit of a ditz. She tends to be more of a follower than a leader and lets my youngest sister Lila talk her into doing all sorts of things. Lila is my youngest sister she has just turned 15 and is trouble maker. She knows exactly how to push my buttons and has no filter as you have seen. Actually I think she's smitten with you."
As they continued to sit and talk Lila and Isabelle had snuck up the stairs to sit behind the doorway to listen in on their oldest sister talk to this handsome Joe.
"Shush Isabelle I can't hear them. I want to make sure Kathleen doesn't try and steal my future husband."
Isabelle gave Lila one of those you can't be serious looks and just shook her head. She wasn't about to get in the middle of those two again but could see exactly where this was leading. " I hardly doubt big sister is interested in him. It's Kathleen we're talking about. She hasn't ever been interested in boys."
"My point exactly Izzy. Now after all these years a man has found his way into our house. Kathleen's hormones have to be going through the roof. I bet she's in there right now kissing him."
Isabelle's eyes were huge as she gasped in horror at what her 15 year old sister was saying." Lila you can't say that about big sis. She has practically raised you, and she would NEVER do that with a guy. Let alone some stranger, in OUR bed. And besides kissing is gross it's all mouth to mouth and ya know that spreads germs and Kathleen would get all that guys cooties and just eww." Isabelle make a disgusted face just thinking about her big sister kissing that guy.
Lila just rolled her eyes. Isabelle might be 3 years older than her but she had the mind of a 6 year old. Suddenly she couldn't hear her sisters voice anymore. She placed her head as flat as she could against the door and listened for any sound at all. "Damnit I knew she had the hots for Joe , but really sis He is my boyfriend." she barely whispered that last sentence when the door flung open and Lila fell flat on her face.
"Well what do we have here? Spies?" Looking down on her was her big sister Kathleen. Kathleen's face was dead serious as her lips were pursed in a line. But Lila could see a spark of amusement flicker in her bright green eyes. Lila just smiled up at her and shrugged. "Well Kath, you got awful quiet in here. I was just making sure you and mister handsome over there were behaving. Although I could have sworn I heard some lip smacking in here." Lila gave her sister a playful wink.
Lila was sure she had never seen her sister turn that red before or get so pissed so quick, because before she knew it Kathleen had swung a fist at her face that connected with a pow right on her chin. Lila was flung back at the wall and before Kathleen could land another hit Isabelle had grabbed Kathleen by the feet and was hanging on for dear life begging her to calm down and not kill Lila. Kathleen tried to shake Isabelle off, but Isabelle wouldn't budge. Joe thoroughly enjoying the cat fight just laid back and watched the girls. Joe thought to himself," Is this seriously real? I'm in a house full of beautiful young ladies who are fighting over me at the moment. Ha Adam and Hoss will never believe me when I tell them this."
"Fine I will not get you at the moment Lila. But you remember this girl," as Kathleen bent down and grabbed Lila by the collar, "Don't ever underestimate me, I might be a lady but I'm no pushover. We have a wounded guest in our home and we need to be RESPECTFUL and NOT act like a pack of wild animals. Now you know and I know I can take you at any moment of any day, so just try me again little one I dare you." Kathleen shoved Lila back against the wall and kicked Isabelle off of her legs where she had been staring at her sisters fight with wild terrified eyes. She had seen her sisters fight before but rarely had it got this bad. She admitted Kathleen had a temper and so did Lila but while Lila rarely had the guts to back up her threats Kathleen meant hers. As Kathleen stormed off downstairs Isabelle helped her little sister up and checked out her wound.
"Only a bruise and busted lip, you'll live this time Lila, but I caution you to watch out for a while. You know that Kathleen will not back down next time."
"I know I know Isabelle, but jeeze I was only joking around with her, she didn't need to take it to heart."
"Yeah well still don't push her ,you know how sensitive she can be. I don't want to see her kill you, I actually like having a little sister."
Joe had been sitting back chuckling to himself at the scene unfolding. This was just like him and his brothers back at home. "Gosh," he mumbled to himself he missed his family. From amongst his memories a small voice pulled him back to reality. Isabelle and Lila had walked over to his bedside. Isabelle was standing right next to him and Lila had sat down in the chair close to the bed. She was poking at her newly found bruise and busted lip that Kathleen had given her.
"I'm sorry Joe for that. My sisters fight a lot but not usually that bad."
Joe gently took her hand in his. "Don't worry about it Isabelle, I'm use to it from my brothers. Besides Lila is quite cute when she's angry."
Lila made frustrated grunt at that remark she hated to be called cute especially when it came to her temper.
"I am not cute and you better watch it mister, because I may be small but I can hold my own it a fight."
"Ok Lila lets get you out of here, I don't want to break up another fight tonight. Besides I'm sure that Joe wants to get some rest. He was just recently shot."
Joe looked down at his side having totally forgotten about his wound.
Isabelle dragged a frustrated Lila out of the bedroom by her hair. But before exiting she called back to Joe. "I'll have Lila bring up some supper here soon ok."
"Ok thanks girls." After the door closed Joe rolled over to his side to stare outside the window it was still early spring so there was a slight chill in the air so he pulled to quilt up further and closed his eyes. He knew he was going to need his rest for this group of girls and couldn't wait till morning to see what surprises they would bring.
Ok Chapter 3 is done. Tell me what you liked and didn't like about the story so far. I can see quite a sibling rivalry coming about for Kathleen and Lila. Thank you for the views and I hope you are enjoying the sisters so far. Next chapter will be a few days later and Joe's first day up and about on the girls farm and he's going to have some trouble fitting in. Oh and there may be some visitors at the end of chapter 4. :)