Riding Horses

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

"Order in the court! Order in the court!" the judge commands, pounding a mallet to a pedestal on his desk. Everyone soon comes to silence.

The judge then fixes his black robe and states his name, which is Judge Wilson.

He explains why Chase's dad is here and who his layer and so on.

I sort of dozed off, that is until I realize that the first witness is called up for Chase.

"Please don't be me. Please don't be me," I chant in my head. Luckily, it isn't me, but it's not who I would want to go up there either.

It's Grandpa.

My heart skips a beat as he stands up and makes his way to the stand.

My mom must have noticed my nervous expression and held my hand, which was comforting.

A man in a gray suit held out a bible. Grandpa laid his hand flatly across the top.

"Do you swear to the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?" the man ask him.

Grandpa gulped. "Yes."

The man took the bible away and then Chase's lawyer stood and slowly walked over to the stand.

"So...tell me, Jim," the lawyer started, "Chase was working for you, is this correct?"

"Yes," said Grandpa.

"How long has he been working?"

"Since the beginning of the summer," Grandpa said,"and he was working ever since."

"Did you have any clue as to what Chase's life was like back?"

"No. Everyday he came to work with a smile on his face."

Right as Grandpa said this, I glanced over at Chase who was, just like he said, smiling.

I loved his smile. So pure and innocent. His beautiful blue eyes turn in my direction as I slowly glance away. I can't stand to look at him after what I did I to him.

The nervous feeling in the pit of my stomach starts to make its way back as Grandpa sits down beside my mom.

I must not have noticed that they were finished with the questions.

"Your honer," Chase's lawyer says,"I'd like to call the second witness to the stand."

The judge nodded.

"I'd like to call Carter Anderson to the stand," the lawyer says.

I gulp as my mom whispers to me,"Go on, it will be okay."

I take a deep breath as I slowly walk up to the stand, not looking anywhere but straight.

As I sit in the chair, the man with the bible comes up to me and hold out the bible.

I put my hand on it, just like Grandpa did, and wait for the man to say,"do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?"

I manage to say, "Yes."

He took the bible and left me all alone to answer questions that I really didn't feel like answering.

"So, how long have you known Chase, Carter?" the lawyer asks.

"I met him at the beginning of the summer, a few days after I came to visit my Grandpa," I say, thinking hard about what to say.

"Were you the first one to find out about the abusing?" he asks. I swear, this guy is full of questions.

"Yes." My answer is followed by a couple of whispers from the crowd.

The lawyer, who's name turns out to be Mr. Johnson, nods to the judge and says,"No further questions your honer."

He then goes over by Chase and sits down.

I'm still in the stand when Chase's Dad's lawyer, Mr. Brown, walks over to the stand.

I start shaking.

"Your honer, I would like to keep Carter in the stand as my first witness," says Mr. Brown.

I start shaking even more.

"What lead you to believe that Chase was being abused?" he asks.

"Well...he told me." I tried to think of a better way to put it but I couldn't.

Mr. Brown laughed a little and turned around. "No further questions your honer," he says.

I'm guessing that what I said wasn't good enough for proof, considering the laugh.

I looked over at Chase who was mouthing something. When I finally made it out, I realized that why he was saying was,"Thanks for trying."

I gave him a weak smile. I wish I could have helped instead of just tried.