Beauty and the Beast

Chapter 3

You would think that an invention that was designed to help chop wood would have been made of something other than that very product. As I helped Charlie pack up the Chopper, though, I couldn't help but glance down and shake my head in amusement at the splinter that was now in my hand. Picking at it, I managed to get it out before looking up at Charlie who was beaming at me in etched excitement. His smile was contagious and soon I found a beaming smile of my own as I looked at him with pride.

He had only been working on his invention for a month and still he managed to put the whole thing together without another explosion. Now, he was off to show his invention to a bunch of judges at a fair two towns from here. He would have to take the carriage, to carry his work, and our one horse, Benny. Most people had cars, our small family didn't have such luxury, not that we minded much. As we finished getting everything set, Charlie broke out into a coughing fit.

Rushing over to him, I held him as I patted him on the back. "Charlie, this is the third time this week you've had to strive for breath. Maybe you should make this journey some other time. Preferably when you're better." I looked at him concerned.

He waved a hand at me. "Ella, if I choose to wait it will never get done." He tried to reason with me, but I was too worried.

"At least let me come with you. I can ask for time off at the library and we can take turns riding Benny. Please, don't go alone." I pleaded with him, but he was already shaking his head at me before I finished my first sentence.

"I can't risk you losing the only job you've ever cared about, just to take care of me. I'm plenty old enough to look after myself." He smiled at me before caressing my cheek. "You look just like mother when you worry." I leaned into his hand as I stared up into his big brown eyes that matched my own.

"Please, be careful." I whispered.

"What kind of man would I possibly be if I was careful?" He winked at me before jumping onto Benny. "Take care while I'm gone, Ella. I love you." He called out to me as Benny started trotting away.

I waved to his back as I called out to him. "I love you too! Come back as soon as possible." I stayed outside and watched as him and Benny shortly fell out of my view. Sighing, I turned around to get ready to go to the library.

Three days had passed and I had made myself busy in the lonely, quiet house by bringing home a stack of books to read while Charlie was away. So far I had read Pride and Prejudice yet again and William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Both stories had always held a close place to my heart since they were the books my mother had chosen to keep in her book shelf.

Charlie had told me many stories about my mother and all lead me to believe that he had mixed her up with myself. We sounded so alike that I had to wonder if he was just trying to make me feel better by making it sound like we would have gotten along. My mother had passed of sickness during my birth and though there was guilt, Charlie had always made it seem like it would have happened no matter what. I never knew if that was supposed to make me feel better or worse; worse had always won that battle.

The urge to meet her at least once was strong enough to bring tears to my eyes. There was only one picture of her and I had kept it close to my bed for as long as I could remember. In the picture, my mother was holding Pride and Prejudice as she smiled at my father, who was taking the picture. We had the same auburn hair and all four of us had brown eyes, though Charlie swears he remembers that hers were brighter. He tells me all the time that my smile is just like hers, right down to the small dimple on my cheek. I smiled at the thought as I brought my hand up and felt that very dimple.

The sound of a horse snapped me out of my thoughts. Confused, I got up and walked towards the door. Charlie wasn't supposed to be home for another few days or so, he couldn't have possibly made it there and back this fast. Right? Opening the door, I saw a frightened Benny running straight towards me, the wagon only partially intact. Charlie wasn't on the back of him, though.

"Benny? Benny, where's Charlie?" I asked frightened as if he could actually answer.

He made a few noises and pranced around, but that didn't answer my question. My breathing came out in pants as I thought of all the possibilities that could have happened. He was sick! I knew I never should have let him go out like that. Now he could be lying in a ditch somewhere in the woods, breathing his last while I'm here trying to talk to a horse. Trying to calm myself down, I unhooked the wagon from Benny before jumping on him.

"Show me where he is." I yelled before tapping my heels against him, urging him to go.

Benny ran at lightning speed back towards the woods. Don't worry Charlie, we're coming!