The Last Laugh

***

Little Heather's POV:

I was gloomy and quiet the next morning, Sawyer had gotten up finally and my mom looked more than satisfied with the escape of Sheridan  because she'd prayed for his death in some sort of way. My mother now scared me a lot. I saw her in a completely different way.

We were having breakfast when all of a sudden, an employee came in.

"Ma'am?"

"Yes, what is it?"

"The horse that was stolen just came running into the ranch. We've taken it back to the stable."

Mom smiled. I knew why. She probably thought Dove had deserted Sheridan.

"Thank you."

The employee left.

I knew better. Sheridan had surely sent dove back home because he couldn't take care of her, wherever he was. He wasn't dead. He wasn't in danger. No.

***

Little Sheridan's POV:

I'd walked for a long time in those woods without finding any cave or place where I could find refuge. My feet hurt and my body too. I was tired. I'd walked all afternoon in my bad state.

I sat down underneath a tree and began to sob. What was going to happen to me now.

I rested for about thirty minutes and came up with the decision that giving up now was useless and so I got up and continued my search.

At about 5pm, I was more than glad when I found a spring in the woods! Without thinking, I ran to the spring , got on my knees and drank as much water as I could. I was glad I'd found fresh water. I'd walked the whole day with wounded feet and a dislocated knee. I needed energy. I drank to my satisfaction.

While I savored the taste of fresh water, I heard thunder. I stopped drinking and looked up at the sky. Black clouds could be seen beginning to cover. Heavy rain was on it's way! I had to find a place and fast!

I stood up and started limping as fast as possible through the woods. Places were beginning to get darker. The last night had been a lucky one. Any wild animal could have found me and made me its meal. I had to find a place. Worse again, it was going to rain. Heavily.

I limped and limped, ignoring the endless pain in my knee and under my feet.

Heavy raindrops began to fall. I increased my speed. I was week, tired and hungry. The rain began to slightly increase. Soon I was soaked and shivering. It was really cold. The weather had gone from hot to freezing. I didn't stop moving. I had hopes.

As I limped in pain, just when I was about to give up, I noticed something. A house! That house I'd shown uncle Ken and dad.

I quickly made my way for it. I was gonna break in. I didn't care whether there were snakes in there or whether it was dirty, old and hunted. I needed a house.

I climbed up to it's balcony where dad, uncle Ken and I had protected ourselves from rain. I went to one of the windows. It seemed easy to open. I picked a stick and forced it open. When it did get open, I almost screamed in joy. Without wasting time, I got into the house and closed it's window behind me.

I was in darkness In the house. It didn't smell old. I searched through the dark and accidentally stepped on an object that hurt my feet really bad it made slid and fall back.

Luckily my back touched the wall and I heard a click. In a second, the place was lighted.

*

house wasn't old at all. Nor did it seem abandoned. I seemed to be in the living room of the house. The chairs and

"Wow."

of life. There was a shelf full of books. I went towards it and began to touch the books. I opened one to look at the pictures in it, when

male voice startled me, causing the book to drop from my

I stammered, fear in every

dangerously, "I have a gun. One move and I

eyes. I was

a thief.

person was silent for sometime.

"Turn around." he ordered.

I turned around and the first thing I saw was a gun pointed at

the man said in a shocked voice. The fact that he'd called my name caused me to pull my eyes away from

"Mr– Mr Victor??"

ex assistant. He threw his gun

"What happened to you??"

at him

***

because of all my bruises. When I was done, Mr. Victor gave me a T-shirt

said, pointing at the couch. I did, he went into another room and returned with an aid box. "You're lucky I have some stuff here to treat your wounds. As for the knee, we'll see

cleaned my wounds and treated them. For the bruises, he rubbed them with some kind of pomade that according to him, would help me. I felt clean and taken care

"You hungry?" he asked.

"Y– yes, please. Very."

soup and give you some. You can eat while

him anything yet.

"Okay."

the kitchen. I waited for him patiently as I

with a hot bowl of soup. I thanked him when he handed it over to

as possible. I was so hungry. He watched

what happened to you?" he asked in a low

"How did you turn out to be

"Ah– aunt Christina."

"Ken's wife??"

"He's dead."

Victor's expression saddened a

"I know. I heard."

away. Mr Victor listened to me in total silence and shock.

you sign all your father's

"Yes."

ears, "And she's also the reason behind your wounds and

yes." I said

and sad at the same time. He looked at me with pity in his eyes and

"Sheridan?"

"Y– yes, sir?"

"Call me uncle."

made me feel

"Yes, uncle Victor?"