LADY C HERE
AFTER MUCH EDITS,
CHAPTER 3 IS UP AND RDY!
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Two months later…
Things were slow as I healed from the wound on my stomach. The days were filled with small form of physical exercise, so I took up stretching and some yoga in the morning on the porch that faced the horse stables. After a few weeks I began working around the farm, grateful for a safe place; so far no one went psycho on me…
I was enjoying this life, getting up early doing chores and having structure. I needed it, like air and water. I was slowly coming out of my protective shell, like a butterfly leaving its cocoon and taking flight. I became fast friends with Maggie and Beth. I convinced Hershel to teach me simple medical procedures like cleaning wounds, stitching and watching for infections.
We'd spend hours in the evening everyone would gather around the dining room table playing cards, laughing and talking. They neverpushed me about my family, which was nice; we were slowly becoming like a family.
Sometimes I'd help Patricia tend the gardens, Maggie and Beth were helping me to be more open. While I in turn was teaching them how to defend themselves against lamebrains. I even went out hunting with Otis, who started calling me little sister and Jimmy, he was a cute guy for nineteen but I couldn't think of him like that; though I had a feeling Jimmy wanted something more. I finally felt like I belonged somewhere, after being on my own for so long.
As Beth and I were setting the table for dinner one night, she started singing, softly at first, so I joined. I smiled at her as we went about the kitchen preparing dinner, our voices blending in perfect harmony.
And with a broken wing she still sing
he keeps an eye on the sky...
I caught sight of Maggie, Hershel and Otis standing in the door way with large smiles on all their faces which caused me to jump and let out a small squeal. "Not funny guys! You scared the fu– crap outta me!" I stammered trying to calm my breathing.
A few days ago I learned that Hershel was a spiritual man, so out of respect for him and his home, I tried to watch my language which was difficult, I had a mouth that made sailors blush. He noticed the change, so one day he thanked me and asked if I wanted to join them in the evenings when we weren't playing card, to hear him read from the bible. I was a bit uncomfortable religion never being something I really wanted to be a part of mainly because of how I was raised with my dad and uncle, I always said that I'd prefer going to hell then heaven at least I'd know people there. He didn't force me but eventually I joined them, the next morning I found a silver cross hanging from my Dad's dog tags.
Beth snorted as she put the last of the food on the table as I turned to her, "Hush Beth!" before I put my pie on the table, "Paybacks a bitch" I whispered narrowing my eyes at my young friend, which only caused her to laugh harder. Shaking my head, I turned to the metal lunch pail on the counter.
"Here ya go Otis. I know you're going hunting for a few days, don't need you starving." I said with a smile. "I made all your favorites. Don't ask me how I did it, but I also put a slice of chocolate pie in there for ya."
Otis grinned and rubbed his big belly causing me to laugh, "You're too good to me little sister." he said taking the lunch box and heading out the door. I grinned at his back as he kicked Patricia on the cheek and headed out the door. I turned and looked at my new family as they gathered around the table, I smiled as I joined them.
Later that night...
I'm standing in the bathroom after my shower looking at myself in the mirror. All of the marks on my face were gone, but a feeling of needing change crept over me. Looking for the scissors that usually sat in the top drawer of the bathroom counter, I called for Maggie.
"Ya?" she asked sticking her head in door.
"Will you help me?" I asked waving the scissors.
"Are you sure?" she asked taking the scissors, a look of uncertainty on her face.
"Ya I am. It's time for a change." I said sitting on the toilet. "I've been wanting to do this for some time, better now than never."
Maggie shook her head and began cutting my hip length auburn hair. We talked as she worked, having me bend my head every which way. "I noticed your hair is getting lighter." she stated.
"Ya, the hair dye is finally starting to fade." I grin, "I'm actually a strawberry blonde. I died it because I was angry with my Dad and so to piss him off I dyed it to look more like my Uncle. Should have seen the fight. Between my temper and his, the house was destroyed. Took me a week to clean it."
Finally, she said she was done and took a step back so I could look in the mirror. The young women looking back at me, had big blue eyes, dark skin from working outside and a new hairdo that ended at her shoulders. Turning around I grinned at my best friend and hugged her.
"I love it thank you." Grabbing a black hair piece, I pulled my hair away from my face. "Come on let's go outside and look at the stars." I bent down and quickly picked up my hair. We made our way down stairs and outside. Stepping off the porch, I threw my hair gently into the breeze for the birds to make their nests. Going back to my friend who was sitting in one of the oversized rocking chairs.
"Are you happy here?" Maggie asked pulling her legs up underneath her and look at me.
"You know... I actually am." I said bringing my knees up and resting my cheek on top looking at my best friend. "I love it here. I adore your Dad and Otis; I love everyone here; including Jimmy." I stated earning a laugh from Maggie. "I just wish he'd stop creeping on me. I'm more into older men, not little boys."
Maggie shook her head and laughed before she looked out into the night, "Bella what happened to your family?"
I was taken off guard by her question but I knew deep down it was time to talk. My voice was raw with emotion which caused my almost now extinct accent to reappear. "My parents met when my mama was sixteen and my da was twenty-one. She was an inspiring ballet dancer and he was a captain in the united states army, stationed in Dublin. Mama always said it was love at first sight for her. They married when she turned seventeen and she gave up dancing professionally when she got pregnant with me. When I was two my da turned our basement into a dance studio for my mama's twentieth birthday present. She started teaching classes to other kids, myself included. By the time I was five, they were fighting all the time, he had started drinking. So he left and it was just us. He'd occasionally call or send me gifts but from what I learned when I got older is that he was in and out of jail as well as on drugs."
"Mama met Mike through a mutual friend when I was eight, he was a widower with a nine-year-old little girl. From that moment on Anna and I became inseparable. We shared everything from our room to clothes. Mike was a very successful business man and owned a ranch on the outskirts of Dublin. After they were married, we all moved out there. Mama became pregnant a short time later. She had a little boy, my brother Evan Wesley was such a cutie and a love bug. Anna and I use to play dress up with him." I took a deep breath, "When he was four months old, he died of SIDS and I lost everything."
"Mama committed suicide a month later. In the note she had written, mama begged us to forgive her and that she loved us but the pain was just too much for her too bare. Mike who stepped in to raise me and Anna was heartbroken but he was a terrific father. Tried to get me back into dancing again but I couldn't do it, so he turned me on to music. Anna unfortunately was becoming distance and getting into the rougher crowds. She would sneak out, steal, started smoking and doing drugs. I felt so lonely. I lost my dad, my mom and my brother; now I felt I was losing my best friend."
I took a deep breath before going on, "On my eleventh birthday, on his way home from getting my birthday present and dinner, Mike was struck by a drunk driver who was eluding police. He died three days later." I just kept talking; my eyes staring out into the night. "Anna's grandparents could only take her and my Mama's parents didn't want me; so I was sent to an orphanage. It was horrible there. I was beaten, starved and locked away in a closet like an animal. That's why I was so hesitant to join you guys in the evening."
"It was the worst three years of my life. I applied to be emancipated when I turned thirteen but I was denied, so I wrote to the U.S Embassy, I was part American and I felt they could help me. It took 2 years but … I walked out of that orphanage with my held high."
"I became a US citizen on my fifteenth birthday. Anna and I met up and I informed her I was leaving for the US. I was going to find my dad and I wanted her to come with me. We both had some money left to us from mike and my mama so we left but like usual Anna let the wrong kind of man into her life. Anna and I got into this huge fight after landing in New York, we were there two months, we got jobs waiting tables to save money to take the bus to Georgia. She just handed me all of her money, kissed my cheek and went off to be with this twenty-seven-year-old man who promised to make her famous. Alone and heartbroken I went searching for my Da. Found my Uncle instead, should have seen the look on his face when I walked through door of his bar. He took me in, helped me get my GED. Gave me a job cleaning floors in the bar, then he had someone teach me to bartend. When Da was released, things got awkward. He wouldn't look at me and when he got drunk or high he'd start calling me my mama... he would scream so much. So to pay him back I dyed my hair, pissed him off even more. Then one night, he came across me singing in a bar. He sat and waited for me to get done with my set; we ended talking for hours, mainly about my Mama and everything that went wrong in both our lives.
When Anna showed up beaten up and dressed in skimpy clothing almost a year later; he let her stay. When the guy who beat her up came calling apologizing and what not my Da went out and beat the crap outta the him, he went back to jail. Then it was Anna, my Uncle and I, we three had so much fun. We turned her into a backwoods bad ass." I laughed as the memories came flooding back. Maggie just sat there allowing me to talk and get everything off my chest. "She loved everything about Georgia and the south. She started dating my ex but we had parted on good terms and I was happy for them.
"When Anna was kidnapped by her ex-pimp/boyfriend and was taken to Atlanta, just after Da was released from jail. We went after her, Da packed the truck and we were gone. I never felt so proud of my family. That's why we were in Atlanta, when we got separated. I found Anna but not my Da and Uncle. So we moved on, broke into a department store, got clean clothes, proper shoes, supplies and camping stuff. We ran, stayed with a bunch of old people and Mexicans in an old nursing home and eventually made our way here. We raided the cars on the highway and then found a little house for us.
"We felt safe so we let our guard down, biggest mistake EVER, three guys broke in and attacked us. Anna was raped and killed. They tied to me to a metal chair as they took turns with her, made me watch. When one of them came for me, I gutted him. Then his brother beat me after tying me to the chair again. Finally, I attacked back and killed both of them. I left Anna in the house, that's when Hershel and Otis found me."
Maggie stared at me her hand covering her mouth. "Oh Bella." she whispered standing up and drawing me to her in a hug.
"I'm a horrid sister. I left my best friend to rot on the floor of some crummy house." I cried into her shoulder.
"Shhh, it's ok." Maggie whispered rubbing my back.
"I'm tired, Mags. I'm gonna crash." I step away, "You can tell Hershel if you want. It's time I forget my past." I said moving into the house and up to my room. I collapsed on to my bed, baring my face into my pillow to silence my sobs. I drifted off to sleep thinking of my missing family.
Two days later...
I came out of the house dressed in cutoff shorts, a white tank top and a pair of hiking boots; I grabbed a white bandana to tied my hair up and outta my face. I had decided to keep myself busy by sweeping the large front porch waiting for Otis to get back who was due back sometime today and I enjoy helping him clean whatever he gets. I had started sweeping the steps when I heard a distant gunshot. I paused a moment before continuing on with my goal.
I had just finished sweeping when I noticed a man running up the field with a child in his arms; Otis and another man close on his heels. "HERSHEL!" I screamed dropping the broom and running down the stairs to the three men. I grasped the boy's head and helped carry him to the porch, he was deathly pale and barely breathing. The screen door slammed as Hershel, Maggie, Beth and Patricia came on to the front porch. They helped the man carrying the boy and the other guy into the house, while I turned to Otis.
"It was an accident!" Otis cried as he threw his arms around me. "I didn't mean to shoot him."
"It's ok!" I whispered trying to calm him down. "Come on, let's get you something to drink." I took his arm and led him to the kitchen, and got him something to drink.
Maggie ran by the door stopping only to grab a baseball bat. "I'm going for the boy's Mother. Daddy needs your help." she explained going out the door. I shook my head.
"Beth stay with Otis, I'm gonna see what your Dad needs." I said running up the stairs taking two at a time. Stepping into the room, Hershel looked up.
"Bells, we need towels and warm water. NOW!"
I was out the door and at the hall closet in seconds. Grabbing as many towels as I could carry and the large bowl that Hershel used to clean my own wound. Filling it full of warm water, I was back in the room in a matter of moments, wetting a towel and handing towards Hershel.
"We need supplies or he won't make the night." Hershel stated taking the towel. We made eye contact for a moment before he started cleaning the boy's wound.
"Where do you think we could go?" the other man asked.
I instantly felt uncomfortable as I caught him checking out my backside as I bent over to drape a cloth over the boy's head. I was gonna call him out on it but now wasn't the time.
"There's the high school." a voice said from the doorway, "They set up a type of hospital." Otis stepped in, his hat in his hands. "I'll go and be back before you know it."
I stepped back from the bed, "No Otis, you can't. It's over ran with lamebrains." I shook my head crossing my arms over my chest.
"I gotta do it little sister." he said tears in his eyes. "It's the least I could do after what I did." He wouldn't look me in the eye.
"Then I'm..."
"I'll go with him..." the other man stated interrupting me.
"Shane…" the man said as Hershel put a needle in his arm, blood seeped from his arm and into a container which in turn went to the little boy.
"I'll be fine Rick."
I walked up to Otis and wrapped my arms around him, "You come back to me big guy." I said trying not to cry. I adored this man who saved my life.
"I'll be back Little Sister, don't you worry." Otis kissed the top of my head before leading the guy named Shane out the door.
"He's seizing!" Hershel yelled drawing me back to the present. I went back to stand by the bed, refreshing the wet washcloth. I was startled by a tall skinny lady who ran through the door of the bedroom, "Carl!?"
I slowly backed away tears running down my cheeks, Annmarie flashed through my mind. I looked to Hershel who gave me a nod and I bolted from the room. I ran down the stairs, out the front door and out on to the porch. I turned to my right and left before bolting for the tall grass of the field in front of the house. I dropped to my knees, wrapped my arms around myself as I broke into sobs.
After a few minutes; I got up and dried my eyes with the back of my hands and made my way back to the house. Maggie was standing at the door, a concerned look on her face. "I'm ok Mags." I whispered patting her shoulder. I went upstairs to see if Hershel needed me. I learned that the boy named Carl was stable, his parents resting on both sides of him.
Later that night...
I was sitting at the piano with Beth, trying to keep my mind off of the fact that Otis hadn't returned yet with that Shane guy, when I heard a car pull up. I was on the front porch in a matter of seconds as some Asian guy helped a black guy out of the car.
"Please help, he's been cut! We're friends of Rick and Lori." He pleaded.
I turned to Beth, "I got this, go ask Pop for supplies." turning back to the two men, I went down the steps and helped him bring the other guy up the front steps. I said 'Bring him into the kitchen and I'll get him fixed up." Just as Maggie came to the door. "Mags can you boil some water?" I asked as she opened the door for us.
"Ya." She said following us into the kitchen as Beth came in with the supplies I had asked for.
"Daddy said if you need help holler." She said laying out everything.
I took a deep breath and looked at those standing around. "I need everyone out of the room please, I can't focus while I'm being stared at." Everyone nodded and left the room while I washed my hands. "Ok, here we go." I turned from the sink and moved to the black guy who looked like he was going to pass out. I smiled at him as I picked the scissors to cut away the duct tape that help the rags in place. Gently I cut away the tape and slowly removed the blood soaked rags with fresh clean ones. "This is gonna hurt like a son of a bitch, sir." I said reaching for the kettle of boiling water and pouring it in a bowl.
"The name is T-Dog." He grunted in pain as I dipped a wash cloth into the water before ringing it out.
"I'm Bella." I said shaking the wet rag out, steam coming off of it. "Ready?" I asked and before he could say anything I swapped out the rags.
"Son of a bitch! That hurt!" he yelled starting to sweat.
"I warned ya it was going to hurt." I stated washing his wound. I worked for the next few minutes to sew up his arm. I just finished the last stitch when Hershel walked in.
"How you doing in here Bella?" He asked walking over and checking T-Dog's wound. "I'm impressed." He said with a smile.
I grinned, "I learned from the best." I start to dress it and handed him two aspirin and a battle of water. "Here take these and go lay down on the couch."
"Thank you Bella." T-Dog said downing the pills and half the bottle.
"No problem." I helped him into the living room and on to the couch, "If you have any issues yell for myself or Hershel." I stayed until he drifted off to sleep before I went back into the kitchen to clean the table up and wash the equipment I used.
I was just drying the scissors when Patricia's screaming crying drew my attention. Jimmy was leading her back into the house nearly collapsing from her grief as I stepped out from the kitchen. "What happened?!' I demanded but he just shook his head so I stepped out on to the porch to see Shane standing at the bottom of the stairs a look of sadness and a hint of guilt on his face.
"Otis?" I whispered tears forming in my eyes. "No... no no no no!" I screamed trying to launch myself at Shane but Maggie and the Rick grabbed me. "You got him killed! You killed him! You bastard!" I cried sinking to the floor with Maggie holding me tightly. Rick rubbed his hand over his face. Shane jut looked down.
Maggie and Beth took me up to my room and laid me down. Maggie laid down next to me and held me as I cried myself to sleep.
A/N
I DO NOT OWN
TWD
JUST MY LIL
BELLA