Wolf In Sheep's Clothing

Chapter 123

Erika stirred awake around noon. She yawned as she made her way down the hallway towards the kitchen. Amelia was sitting at the dining room table reading a book when she walked in.

She looked up and smiled. "Well, good afternoon, Erika."

"Hi, Momma." She sat down across from her. "Where's Pa?"

"Hell if I know," she laughed, "he might be in the barn with the horses."

Erika smiled. "Is Nick asleep?"

"That boy was up all night."

"How come?"

"Worried out of his mind about you." Amelia chuckled. "He's a very protective brother. But I heard he has some plans with you."

Erika raised her eyebrow. "What are they?"

"Well," Amelia closes her book, "your father wouldn't tell me, so it's either a big surprise or something I ain't gonna like."

Erika laughed. "Probably something you ain't gonna like." She stood. "I'm gonna go pester Pa about it."

"Good luck," Amelia said with a chuckle and shake of her head.

——————————————————————————

Erika walked out into the barn and found Arthur tending to Cowboy. He looked over and smiled before beckoning her over.

"Hi, Pa." Erika hopped up on to the stall, sitting on it.

"Hey," he brushed through Cowboys mane, "sleep good?"

"Mhm." She nodded. "Momma said that Nick had plans with me?"

Arthur shook his head. "Nope," he looked up at her, "nuh uh, I ain't telling you."

"But daddy-"

"No," Arthur laughed, "you can ask your brother when he wakes up."

Erika groaned and leaned her head back. "Why can't you tell me now?" She whined.

"Because it is something that Nick wants to do with you, and I ain't gonna spoil it. Understood?"

"But-"

"I said understood?" He repeated, a bit more stern.

"Yes, Pa." Erika replied with a roll of her eyes.

"You're gonna have to learn to be patient, Erika." Arthur returned his attention back to Cowboy. "It's something you gotta learn in this world. Otherwise, you'll be getting your hopes up for nothing."

Erika hopped down off the stall and leaned against the gate. "Were you patient when you met Momma?"

Arthur paused. "Are you talking about when I first met her, or when I ran into her again?"

Erika thought for a moment. "Can you tell me about both?"

Arthur smiled. "Well, I first met your mother when she was seventeen. I was twenty two. I found her out in the woods alone on the brink of starvation. So I gave her some food, and taught her a lot of things."

"Like what?" Erika pressed.

"I taught her how to use guns, how to use a bow, how to ride a horse, take care of them, bought a horse for her, and how to properly take care of it as well."

"Was it a Gypsy Cob?"

He shook his head. "It was a Marble Sabino Criollo horse. His name was Trigger." Arthur smiled again. "He was a good horse."

"How long did you stay with Momma after you found her?"

"For a week."

"Were you still in the gang?"