Sister Soul

Chapter 9

The next day, Jane proposed that we all go out for a picnic.

“To celebrate our second day with Lori!”

Although I immediately insisted that I was not a cause for any kind of celebration, Jeff found the idea very appealing and insisted that we start preparing right away. Blair and Jane were charged with getting food ready, and Jeff asked me to come with him to find the perfect picnic spot.

“Can you ride?” He asked excitedly?

I shrugged. “I tried to when I was really little. Horses don’t come into the woods too often so I haven’t had the chance in a while.” I remembered father once letting me sit in front of him bareback on our old horse. I wasn’t tall enough to ride by myself so he held on tight to me with his one arm around my tiny waist. My excitement roared as we raced over the bright green hills. My father was my hero. I was his little girl. He promised me that he’d never leave me alone.

“Lori?” I heard Jeff ask.

I blinked. “yes?”

“I can help you out if you’d like to ride with me.”

“That would be nice. Thank-you.” I was somewhat anxious to spend some time with Jeff. He made me feel like I could be more than I was. Kind of like how Lilly was with me. Of course, I don’t think of Jeff like I do – did Lilly. I don’t know how I think of him.

***

“A picnic, Jane?” Blair asked. “Why must you torture me?”

Jane pressed her hand on her heart mockingly. “Torture you? I’m sure I don’t know what you mean! What could he mean Dalton?”

The boy sat at the table eating an apple. With his mouth full, he replied, “no idea.”

Blair’s arms crossed his chest as he sighed. Of course Jane wouldn’t remember what today was. All he wanted to do was be alone today with his book somewhere quiet outside.

Dalton sat at the table folding napkins while Jane made sandwiches. Blair sulked as he packed fruit and nuts into the basket they were to bring for the picnic. He wondered to himself why he couldn’t just refuse to go. He had no reason to spend quality time with his cousins and especially not that girl. But he couldn’t refuse. Jeff wouldn’t have it for him to sit in the house by himself today. He was so thrilled that Lori had come as if she were an angel from heaven. Blair stayed quiet the rest of the morning, dreading the rest of the day already.

I picked up on riding in no time. Jeff merely needed to help me up into the saddle and I did the rest. We rode out of town into a grassy area filled with dandelions and wild daisies. It was beautiful. I hadn’t seen daisies in so long. They were Lilly’s favourite flower. I remember her making me jewelry out of them for my birthday every year. She would tell me that I was royalty and nobody should tell me otherwise.

“I love coming here to think,” Jeff said as we rode up the hill. “The daisies are a really nice touch.”

I smiled and agreed with him. “Do you think we could walk for a while? My legs are starting to hurt.” In all honesty, I just wanted to pick some of the flowers and hold on to them in my pocket. I could never find any in the woods and this was just the type of thing to help me hold on to her.

Jeff and I walked about a half a mile more until we found a good spot for Jane’s picnic. The daisies seemed to make a ring around an especially soft patch of grass that was just perfect for the group to sit in.

“Odd don’t you think?” Jeff said, gesturing to the blank patch of grass. “There are no flowers at all in this area.” He walked in the middle of the ring and opened his arms as if to welcome the sun into a hug. “But, it’s great for spinning!”

“Spinning?” I asked as I picked up a few flowers and shoved them in the pocket of my dress.  

“Yes spinning!” He grabbed my hands and started twirling me around. “It helps relieve stress! It’s also extremely fun and exciting to watch the world go topsy!” he nearly shouted. I squealed as he practically lifted me up by my hands and spun me around on the grass. It felt so refreshing I couldn’t contain the laughter inside me. I let it all out and smiled at Jeff. He smiled back and said “I knew I could make you laugh!”

Suddenly I felt a sharp pain in my foot. “Ouch ouch stop!” I whimpered. He slowed to a halt and let go of my hands.

“What happened?” I fell to the ground massaging my ankle. “Oh no that is not supposed to be facing that way!” He knelt down and took off my shoe. “Lori I’m so sorry this is my fault!” His face started to turn red with frustration.

“No it’s not your fault. My foot got caught on that rock.” I pointed to a small rock about the size of my hand. It wasn’t large at all, but it had a sort of shape to it that made it look like a handle or a stair step. The lace had gotten caught on the edge and pulled my foot back with it.

“I’m so, so sorry Lori!” Jeff was more worried about my condition than I was. It was probably just a sprained ankle and I’d had a few of those before.

“Jeff!” I said. “Please calm down and help me back on the horse. I’ll be perfectly fine.”

“You’re in no condition to ride by yourself,” he said as he started to put his arms under my legs and around my waist. “You’ll ride back home with me and I’ll have Blair look at it.”

I held onto his neck tightly. As much as I tried to hide it, my ankle started to hurt more and more every minute. I felt pain all over my body now as Jeff lifted me onto the horse in front of him. I didn’t let go of his neck as he raced down the hill.