A Friendships Love - Settler series book 1 (Wattpad version, first draft)

A Broken Boy

A Broken Boy

"Stay still Charlie. If you move around your cuts will reopen." I quietly scolded, even though I was sure Charlie couldn't hear me. It wasn't quite the fever that had Charlie moving around it was more like sleep talk or an awful dream. He had been mumbling all night, tossing his head from side to side. This wasn't the first time our family has nursed Charlie. His Pa took out his anger on him once or twice a year at least. This has to have been the worst so far. Besides his head injuries he had whip marks behind his legs and on his back. Those didn't penetrate the skin so I wasn't sure exactly what was used on him. The welts were angry and raised. Charlie never tells us what happens, certainly not me anyway. The evidence left on his body was enough to tell me his story. I hated his Pa for doing this to him. Charlie would allow us to help him heal then continue on like it never happened.

My mama always said when I slept it was like a log. I woke to material being rubbed over my mouth, I must have been drooling a little. I knew I sometimes did that, especially when I was tired. I opened my eyes and blinked the morning light away that broke through the shutters in the single window of my room. I must have fallen asleep on a stool next to the bed, and my head was resting on the side of it.

"Your Pa put me in your room, I'm sorry." Charlie whispered while he returned his hand to rest by his side again, releasing the corner of the sheet that I assumed he used to wipe my mouth with. His eyes were fixed on my face, they were dark and today they seemed sad. Not that I have ever actually noticed Charlie's eyes this close before, it's just this time, today, they seemed sad.

"Yes, but that's ok you know it is. Don't move again." I got up, went to the dresser and poured some water into a cup. Returning to the side of the bed I sat back on the stool and helped raise Charlie's head to the cup. Some of the liquid ran down the sides of his chin and I wiped it with the edge of my apron. He made to smile at me but winched as his cracked lip pulled with the effort.

"Normally," he paused and accommodated his split lip. "Your mama does all this for me"

"Yes I know, but the baby makes her feel tired a lot so I said I'd take care of you."

"She's not due for a while yet, Nash told me."

"Yeah" I said, I thought the tone of his voice suggested him not wanting my help.

"You don't want me to help? I know what I'm doing you know." I said a little annoyed at the thought.

"No, I just don't want to be any trouble to you." He said quickly.

Letting out a breath I returned the cup to the dresser and made to leave for some food. He must be a little hungry I thought and I did just announce that I could take care of him. I turned at the door and asked

"Why did you go home Charlie?"

"Ma died, she's been sick for a while." I couldn't help the tears that started to pool in my eyes. I had only seen Charlie's Ma on a few occasions when I was in the village. She seemed as though, she was nice. She always smiled at either mama or me. I had often thought that was where Charlie got his quiet nature from.

"Your ma died?" I could barely get the words out. The thought of losing my own loved ones running through my mind made me ache at the loss Charlie had endured the night before.

"That's what I said" he mumbled looking up towards the roof of the cottage.

"I'm sorry Charlie, I really am." Now I was crying. A beating and losing his ma, oh! My young heart sank for him. Rolling his eyes and looking straight at me with an outstretched hand he said