Feel My Sorrow: Taste My Pain

"Momma?" She whispered, peering over the open casket to study her mother's peaceful face. Less than a week ago, she'd told the pastor the news, and now gave Melody Rami the funeral she deserved.

"Melanie?" The young girl turned at the sound of her aunt's voice. "It's time to go, sweetheart. I understand how hard it is, too. Being taken away from home on such short notice, but Miss Katie is looking forward to being your new mom." Alyssa Rami tried to be optimistic for her niece's sake.

Levi stared out the window of her Aunt's truck, watching the gently rolling hills of Pennsylvania fade into the Appalachians. Her aunt slowed the truck as they neared Levi's childhood home, Peaceful Hopes Farm. It had taken a little over five years for Mason Rami to get the place up and running, while his lovely bride had worked on paying the bills and raising their daughter, who now stared at the farm as though it was someplace new.

Alyssa stopped the truck by the barn, allowing Levi to get out and feed the horses and cattle. She dragged her boots across the gravel, dreading the pain that would occupy her heart and mind. She pushed the barn door open, letting the low evening light shine in from the sun which barely broke the barrier of clouds surrounding it.

She stepped inside, several nickers greeting her as she approached the feed room. She allowed herself to be sucked away from the current events of life, into a world where Ma and Pa still lived. The three of them entered the feed room together, laughing and talking about church the next day. Ma would be in the nursery, teaching the little babies how to be polite, and Pa and her were going into big service, where people would greet them as usual, talk with Mason about the farm.

Footsteps scraped outside the feed room door, startling Levi. She almost dropped Charger's feed, which she set down to investigate. She stuck her head outside the door and searched both ways, frowning. Not a soul was in sight, except for Marybelle and Charger. Her two babies. Even if they were bigger and older than her.

Marybelle nickered, a throaty sound, which Charger replied fiercely to with his own nicker. The horses antics made the young girl smile, and causing her to hurry with the process of feeding five cows, and two horses. As she fed the cows, she went through and pet each one, knowing when she was gone, her father's herd would be sold. Charger was going to someone up in New York, and Miss Katie had promised that Marybelle could come live with them.

She finished her chores, sadness weighing down her every step, knowing this was the last time she'd be on the farm. She stood, brushing Marybelle's coat, when a loud screech followed by an even louder crash sounded in the West wing of the barn. Levi set her brushes down, wondering all the while what was causing so much ruckus.

"She has no idea..." A familiar voice resonated from the barn hay loft, followed by his light chuckle. She didn't have any idea, hmm? They'd see about that. She left Marybelle's stall, taking quiet steps to sneak up on Monkey Boy, as she often referred to the boy sitting in her loft.

She took the route into the hay loft, that would cause her to come up behind Clint Andrews and spook him. "Clinton Andrews! What do you think you're doing?" She hissed, knowing if her Aunt heard his name, she would have both of their hides. It confused Levi however, why her Aunt hated Clint so much, he didn't always cause trouble.

Clint jumped slightly, but resumed back into his position, leaning against the hay, holding one of the barn cats. His hazel eyes gleamed with mischief as he smiled a toothy grin at his best friend, setting the cat down.

"How'd you find me, Cowgirl Jeans?" He asked, reaching to climb in the rafters, since he hated sitting still. She shook her head, assuming the daredevil was creating his own death sentence, climbing around in the unsound rafters.