November 17th, 1999 – 7:00 AM
A heavy knock came to my door and then it swung open abruptly. An ecstatic voice rang in my ear, "Karen! Karen!" she shouted shaking me awake.
"It's today!" I opened my eyes to see my bright eyed and bushy tailed best friend. Her striking red hair was messily plated in a high ponytail and she her clothing was dirty…
"The colt was born today! Come on Karen! You have to see him!" Ann insisted, jerking me upright.
I swung my legs over the side of my bed. "Calm down. Gosh! At least let me put some clothing on!" I insisted, shoving her off of me and slipping into a worn dusty colored lavender sweater dress and thick cream leggings.
No sooner was I dressed than Ann was rushing me down the stairs, out the door and straight down the lane to Green Ranch cheerfully.
Some things about animals really astonished me, the colt wasn't more than a few hours old yet it seems quite capable of trotting about the ranch. It was small and ungainly.
"Come on Karen! You've got to pet him! He's so soft." Ann said, nuzzling its snout.
Hesitantly I extended a hand to pet his main. "What are you planning to name him?" I asked.
"Oh… I don't know yet." Ann said, "But I'm sure we'll think of something, I bet he'll make a great race horse someday."
"Do you plan on racing against your brother then?" I asked, waiting expectantly for an answer, but she just giggled.
"Oh Karen, you're so silly. Oh! You should come see the rest of the animals while you're over. I bet they miss you. You hardly come over at all anymore. I bet they're lonesome." Ann said pouting cutely.
"I'm sorry; I've just had a lot of other things on my mind." I said, running a hand through my hair which I suddenly realized I hadn't brushed.
We wandered the farm and Ann reintroduced me to all the animals, we fed the chickens and pet the cows and sheep. Animals really were her sort of thing. It was dark by the time we'd finished but I was happy. Why hadn't I been over to see Ann in so long? I didn't know.
Eventually we retired back to her room, browsing old books her mother had left behind. "What's this one about?" I asked, noting a new tome that had made it her way.
"It's a new book Granny Ann gave me. It's the story of a girl who collects a thousand sea shells to make a wish to the ocean goddess to return her husband who died at sea. It's really sad." Ann said, "But also very romantic, there's supposed to be a sequel coming soon."
"What a fascinating idea…" I said with a laugh, "Who would do such a thing? Everyone knows the gods and their loyal sprites are long since dead."
"Don't be so cynical Karen, the harvest goddess is ever watchful and provides for all our needs." Ann retorted offended.
"Do you think she grants silly wishes with offerings of sea shells or other nick-nacks?" I asked, "I mean, if she's so great why do bad things happen to good people or good things to bad people?"
"Karen, we have free will. She can't make choices for everyone." Ann said sulkily and I suddenly felt bad.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings.
"It's okay... Hey, you hungry? Wanna stay for dinner?" She asked.
I smiled, "Of course I do!"
After a scrumptious dinner of mashed potatoes, corn fritters and lamb curry I bid adieu to my old friend for the day and headed home.
I slumped up the hill to the vineyard. No sooner had I made it back to our humble home than my dad started shouting at me to join him. The dark skinned man from the other day was by his side talking to him. It looked like business.
I didn't really want to talk to my dad and I had no idea what a nice fellow like Kai would want anything to do with our family, but I had been having such a nice day I wasn't going to let my father, let alone some stranger, sully it.
"Karen, come meet our new employee!" He shouted sounding rather jolly.
I put up a stiff smile "It's nice to meet you." I said extending a hand.
"And you as well miss Karen." He smiled with those laughing eyes again. I broke-away eye contact, still unsure of how to handle the new stranger. I glanced at my father's hands; they didn't look too bad now that he'd cleaned them up.
I yawned, "I'm sorry but I'm feeling a little tired. I'll let you two handle business." I said and headed inside.
The house was immaculate, mom had done a stunning job patching-up the wholes and the whole room looked much cleaner than before.
Upstairs in my room I flopped down into bed and drifted to sleep with dreams of a gentler future, sweet grapes that clumped up on every grape vine, a kind husband, a ranch filled with animals, a thousand sea shells for a wish that might bring a better life...
Author's Note: Well things are seeming a little happier for our heroine. I wonder what the future will hold for her next? I'm still up in the air about which romantic shipping I feel like doing for this story so if you'd like to have some influence on the story, I'd love to hear your ideas. :) What's your favorite Karen shipping? Jack? Kai? Rick? Ann? Popuri?