Wolf In Sheep's Clothing

Chapter 140

"Momma," Erika smiled, "that was an amazing birthday." She hugged her tightly. "Thank you." 

"Oh, of course," Amelia hugged her back, "anything for my baby girl." She kissed the top of her head. 

She looked over at Arthur and Nick. "And thank you guys for setting up." She walked over and hugged Nick tightly around his torso. 

"My baby sister deserves the best." 

She pulled away and hugged Arthur. He hugged her back. "You need to stop growing so quickly." 

She pulled away with a sigh. "But I want to talk to you guys about something." 

Amelia furrowed her eyebrows. "And what would that something be?" 

"Grandpa." 

Arthur widened his eyes, and his head shot over to Amelia. Amelia sucked in a big breath and looked up at Arthur. Nick was confused, as was Rose and Luke, who stayed after everyone else left. Amelia looked back down at Erika with sympathetic eyes. 

"What about him?" 

"He's getting worse. And I know Uncle John and Aunt Abigail are worried about him and I am too. I want him to move in with us." 

"Sweetheart -" Arthur tried to interject but Erika held up her hand. 

"We can look after him better than they can, daddy. Jack is always working, so is Uncle John, and Aunt Abigail is running in and out of town. Uncle Charles has better experience with the medicine, but the plants that grow in that area aren't strong enough for Grandpa." 

Amelia shrugged. "She has a point, Arthur." 

"But what can we do for him that they can't?" 

"The kids are always home, and so is one of us. We work from home, Arthur. We can keep a better eye on him." Amelia sucked in a breath. "I was talking about it with Abigail this morning. The other day, he confused John with Davey. I think it would be better for him if he did move in with us." 

Arthur scratched his beard as he thought. He knew Hosea's time was coming. He was getting weaker and weaker by the minute. But his memory was becoming worse. Especially now in his old age. He was worried, but he didn't want to move Hosea in due to the fact that if the kids ended up being with him when he passes, it would take a huge toll on them. And himself. He didn't want to see his kids hurt like that. 

"Alright," he finally agreed, "we'll go get him tomorrow morning." 

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The Morgan's arrived at Beecher's Hope early the next morning. Arthur drove the wagon while Amelia, Nick, and Erika followed behind on their steeds. Abigail was out on the porch drinking a cup of coffee with Hosea. Abigail stood when she saw the family riding in. Arthur got down from the wagon and beckoned her over. 

"Amelia told me what you guys talked about yesterday morning," he began, "did you talk to John?" 

She nodded sadly. "He wants you to take Hosea in." Her eyes began to well up with tears. "I want him here, I really do. But you guys can look after him better than we could." 

"I know." Arthur hugged her closely. "I know." 

Amelia walked up the steps of the porch and smiled as she sat down next to Hosea. "Hey, old man." 

He smiled. "How are you, Annabelle?" 

Amelia's smile quickly faded. "Hosea, it's Amelia. Not Annabelle." 

Hosea's eyes squinted at her before chuckling. "I'm sorry, dear. My mind is somewhere else today." 

"It's alright." Amelia patted his knee. "Listen, Arthur and I are going to take you home with us, okay?" 

"What the devil for?" 

Amelia took in a deep breath. "Hosea," she started, but he nodded. 

"I understand." He said softly. "My time with Bessie is coming, isn't it?" 

Amelia nodded. "John and Abigail feels like it would be better for you to come and stay with us. We could keep a better eye on you and give you stronger herbs to make it easier on you." 

He nodded again. "I'm ready." 

"Alright. You sit here and relax. We'll pack your things up." 

He nodded a final time, this time much less noticeable. He knew his time was coming soon. And he wasn't scared. 

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Hosea settled in the extra room next to Nick's room. Amelia and Arthur set it up to be nice and cozy for him. Erika came in that night after he was settled and saw him struggling to pull pictures out of a crate. She quickly walked over to him and bent down. 

"Here, let me grab them for you." She looked up at him. "Please." 

Hosea sighed and took a step back, letting his granddaughter take the lead on grabbing the picture frames from the small crate that stood at the desk that was set up in the back of the room. He sat down heavily on the bed, laying his hands on the cane Charles had crafted for him. 

"Where do you want these?" She asked, holding up a few pictures from the gang. 

"You just set them on the desk. I'll set them up later after my nap." 

"I can set them up, Grandpa." Erika smiled. "I don't mind." 

"I'll do it, dear." 

"Let me help -" 

"Erika." Hosea said sternly. "I will do it. I just need to rest, please." 

She took in a deep breath and set the picture frames down on the desk. She walked over and took a seat next to him on the bed. She looked up at him and smiled weakly. 

"I'm sorry," she began, "I'm not trying to be a nuisance." 

"You could never be a nuisance, sweetheart. But I can still do things by myself. I just need help with certain things. But setting up my pictures is something I can do on my own." 

"I know," she looked down, "I just want to help and make sure -" 

"The way that you can help me is letting me do it on my own. If I need help, I'll ask." He paused. "Okay?" 

She nodded. "Okay." 

"Now, do me a favor and let me get some rest. I will call you in here to help me when I wake up." 

Erika smiled and stood. She placed a small kiss on his cheek and walked out of the room. She shut the door quietly and leaned her forehead against it for a moment before walking across the hallway to her room. She plopped down on her bed and grabbed the small box Hosea had gifted her yesterday as her birthday present. She hasn't opened it yet and figured she would. 

She carefully unpulled the blue ribbon wrapped around the small black box. She gasped at the small necklace that laid inside. A white diamond with a silver chain and gold lining around it. She noticed a note underneath and pulled it out. 

"To my beautiful granddaughter, Erika Gabrielle. Seventeen years came too fast, and it pains me to go so soon afterwards. I've loved you from the moment I first laid these old eyes on you. Always keep me in your heart, for I will be there." 

Erika's eyes dripped tears onto the paper and she quickly looked away as more tears flooded down her cheeks. She folded the small letter and set it on her nightstand. She held up the necklace and smiled at it. It was the most amazing gift she had received from her grandfather. It must've cost him a fortune. But then she thought of his skills and laughed at how he might've gotten it.