Clover Hill

Chapter 1

    "Jemmmmmm!" "JEMMA!" Was all her siblings were screaming from the kitchen. Jemma cocked her head to the side and set down her pencil "Yes?" She got up, her red-orange and glowing hair falling to her waist. Gracefully, she stepped from her bedroom to the kitchen. "Go milk that damned cow! Y'forgot her yesterday!" Jemma's hazel eyes widened "Oh! Sorry mamma!" So with that, she threw her straw sunhat on her head and grabbed a pail. She slipped her raggedy black converse on her petite feet and hurried out. Mamma sighed and crossed her arms "Sometimes I worry bout that girl..." She shook her head and went back to cooking the pancakes.

    Jemma rushed through the muddy puddles to the barn and threw open the doors "Sorry for makin' ya wait, Bella!" The speckled cow mooed and shuffled around uncomfortably. She set a nearby stool by the cow's bag and started milking her gently. She hummed softly as she did this task. "There we go..." Jemma smiled once she was finished and kicked the stool to the side. The cow mooed. "It's alright girlie...." Jemma set the pail of milk down and gently rested her head against Bella's back. "I betcha wish you was free like I am..." Gently, Jemma started stroking her warm, speckled hide.

    Jemma sighed again "I gotta go, Bell. Mamma's gon' go kill me and feed me to the pigs if I don't bring back the milk..." She picked the pail of milk back up and carried it to the small house, shutting the barn doors behind her. Mamma was taking care of the youngest child, three year old Arthur. He was whining and throwing his silverware and food everywhere. Jemma set the pail in the 'milk section' of the fridge and watched. "Mamma, M' gonna go take Yammie out for a ride." Yammie was Jemma's horse. "Alright, but I want you back here by nightfall!" Mamma sighed "Dangnabbit Arthur, quit your yellin'!"

    Jemma chuckled to herself lightly and shut the door quietly. She rushed to the horse stable and opened the door. "Yammie! C'mon girl, we're goin' for a walk!" She smiled and grabbed her leather saddle. Yammie's head jerked up. Jemma opened the horse's door so Yammie could climb out. When she did so, Jemma adjusted the saddle onto the horse and led her outside first. Then, she hopped onto the seat. "Walk..." The horse walked forward. "Let's go see how the house next door's coming.." Jemma muttered and pulled the reins in the direction of the construction sight. As they passed, construction workers called out directions to each other.

    "Woahhh..." Jemma gently kicked the horse's side and hopped down. "Almost done here?" She said to one of the workers. "Ah, bout another few weeks to go. How's you been, Jemma?" The worker smiled at her. "Pretty good, sir!" She smiled back. "Ah, Yammie's lookin' pretty well, now ain't she?" Jemma nodded "Yessir! We're enterin' her in a horse race next month!" The man nodded with interest. "Well tell me when because I'll gladly go to see." Jemma chuckled and nodded "Yessir!"

    So until the sun started to set, her and Yammie rode a trail that had been cleared by previous owners. "Alright girlie, we better head home... Hyaa!!" She kicked the horse's side and it started to run to the horse stable again. When arriving there, Jemma unstrapped the saddle and led the horse back to it's personal stable. "Night, Yammie..." She softly stroked the horse's mane before putting the saddle away. Quickly, she ran back to the house.

Mamma had gotten Arthur, who was playing with toy cars on the floor, to finally calm down after a while. "We got some more information bout the people movin' in next door." Mamma said when Jemma walked in. "Really? What're they like?" Mamma smiled. "A mamma, a daddy, and two kids plus a dog." Jemma's eyes widened, "Really?! I get someone to hangout with?" She smiled brightly. Mamma chuckled and nodded "Thaaaat's right, Jem." Yanelli, Jemma's four year old sister pouted and spoke, "Why don't I get someone to play with?" Mamma frowned, "Hush child...."

Jemma smiled. Someone I can take to the field with me! Finally! Someone to share my adventures with! She thought to herself. Mamma set some plates of food on the table. "By the way, yer daddy wants you at his house this weekend..." She grabbed forks and spoons for everybody. "Yes, Mamma," Jemma said as she started stuffing her face with food. "Jemma! Manners!" She hissed. Jemma swallowed her food "Sorry ma'am." Mamma rolled her eyes and sat down herself.

    When supper was over and it was about midnight, Jemma was restless. "I wonder what the new people will look like... Maybe.. One boy, one girl..?" She took out her sketchbook and started sketching two people, one boy, one girl. "Maybe.. Two girls..." She drew another girl under the other. "Or two boys.." She drew a boy under the other as well. Smiling, she grabbed her paints and sat up straight. "One with brown hair and blue eyes..." She carefully painted the top boy with brown hair, blue eyes, pink-ish lips, and peachy skin. Taking a look at her work, she frowned "Freckles..." She painted freckles onto his already perfect face. "Perfect!" She smiled brightly.

    "Now... Maybe... Black hair and... Green eyes..." She painted the other boy carefully, black hair and green eyes. "Perfect~" she tried not to squeal. "Aah! Awesome!" She smiled. She heard Yanelli yawn, "Jemma..."
"Oh! I'm sorry, did I wake you up?"
Yanelli shook her head "I can't sleep...." She climbed out of bed and outstretched her arms, wanting to be picked up. Jemma gently picked her up and cuddled her, saying "Shh... It's okay... You'll be alright, just close your eyes and go to sleep.." Yanelli nuzzled her head into Jemma's shoulder and quickly fell asleep. Jemma smiled softly and rested her head on the other's. "Goodnight, little one." She smiled softly and slowly fell asleep.