Georgia's Gamble [A Historical Fiction Novel; The Pratt Chronicles Book 1]

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

August 11th 1906, Brenham, Texas

Georgia Pratt

I don't think I've ever left Brenham for as long as I did that year. It was only 6 months in Dallas, but it felt like an eternity. As much as I whined and moaned about home; the dust; the sweat, there was nothing like it; even when I enjoyed wining and dining with the Texan elite with my dear Aunt Lissy and Cousin Katelyn. What I hated most about traveling was the tedious hours on the train from Dallas to Houston, and listening to Kate complain about returning home did not make my journey pleasant. It was a constant "Katy, you must be grateful for what you have!" or "Katelyn Pratt if I hear one more word out of you, I will personally put you on muck-out duty for a month!"

Aunt Lisanne was a saint. She had to be to deal with Katy's notorious attitude which had only grown with her since she was a child. Sometimes, I wondered how we were of the same blood; I wasn't stuck up. At least not intentionally.

Aunt Lissy was married to my Pa's brother, Uncle Toby, and I do not understand how the pair of them made such an awful girl. You see, Katy was deadset on escaping our tranquil Texan lifestyle and running off into the world of silent acting and Hollywood; when we all knew that Katy had no talent for but didn't have the heart to tell her, praying each night that she realised it wasn't feasible on her own. Unfortunately, now at the sweet age of seventeen, she still had nothing in that head of hers.

As the train hissed to a stop, the familiar sight of Houston Station sprawled in front of me. My heart swelled in my chest as I knew I was so close to home, that Brenham was a mere three-quarters of an hour away in a towncar. The golden hues of the August sun bathed my face in sunlight, causing me to swiftly adjust my wide-brimmed ivory hat; my favourite of the ones purchased in Dallas! And the dress... Oh I simply couldn't ignore the dress! Made with the finest silk and satin, it's so soft and luxurious I would sleep in it. If it wasn't for the corset.

The snug body on it wasn't designed to be comfortable- or maybe that's just Aunt Lisanne making sure I looked perfect. It did make my waist feel tiny and pushed whatever little of a bosom I had right up. The neckline was high, a little suffocating, but beautiful with tiny, intricate buttons. With the long skirt trailing behind me with every step, one would say I played the part of a Southern Belle to perfection, at least it made my family proud.

By hour seven of our travels I could tell that Kate was fed up as she began to poke fun at me, and it was so difficult not to react. Until I reacted.

"Oh C'mon G, don't be a bore!" Katy drawled out, poking at my arm as we drove onto the familiar road that lead to the Lone Star Ranch.

"Do you ever stop Kate?" I hissed out in agitation, my voice sharper than I had originally intended it to be. As I turned to look at her in distaste, my dark hair swirled around into my face, making me catch a small mouthful of it. Yuck.

"Ladies, please." Aunt Lisanne let out, massaging her temples with exasperation. She was used to Kate and I having our moments, mainly Kate, but I suppose all is fair in love and family trips to Dallas.

"Can you just sit still? We are nearly at the ranch and we can get some rest." She finished off her sentence, forcing Kate to slump back in her seat with a huff. This girl was more childish than little Wyatt at times, or Dakota. My youngest siblings; Wyatt was a little charming tot at the age of 5 and  baby Kota was barely a few months old when I had last seen her, and I'm sure she was a year old now at least! I prayed that these were the last Pratt's to join our family for the foreseeable. It's like my parents didn't have a whole ranch to run and had the time to raise nine of us. Well, they didn't. That responsibility fell mostly to Quinn and I as we grew older.