Heart divided

Waking Up amd Realizing

I woke up feeling groggy and completely unstable. I gently moved my hand across the mattress reaching for a candle or anything to give me a source of light. When I moved my hand against the mattress I let out a shriek of pain quickly pulling away.

That's when everything that happened came rushing back to me.

The fire, the scorching hot flames eating my skin and my sister.

I felt tears sting my eyes and roll down my cheeks onto burns on my neck. The pain of the small liquid made me let out another screech of pain, this time a man came bursting through the door.

"Daniel?"

"My sweetheart why are you screaming so? It hurts my heart hearing your voice say those things."

I knew it was rude but I couldn't help it.

"Why are you here?"

He slid a small smile on his beautiful face and answered.

"You are at my home Mrs.Dosept."

My eyes grew big at his declaration.

"Why am here and not with my family? Where is my family?"

"My you do ask a lot of questions don't you?"

"Let's start from the beginning, I came into town the day after your house was burned. I had heard the news from Mrs. Lilly. Once I discovered what happened I came and found you in the motel. You looked very poor Miss Caroline I must say. Anyway once I found you I knew that my nurses at my estate could take much better care of you and know how to treat your burns. You've been here a couple nights Miss Dosept this is the first time you have awakened."

"How are you feeling Miss Caroline."

Boy he thought I asked a lot of questions and what's with the endearments? Um hello I am in pain not quite in the mood for the question game.

I noticed that every time he said Miss Caroline he said it with care as if the words would run away if he didn't say them quite right. It was sweet, causing me to give him a smile.

"I am much better thank you. Although my burns do still hurt me they are not quite as bad as the day it had happened."

I could see his eyes grow a little bigger and him tense. He looked rather like a baby foal trying to get up for the first time.

"Do you remember all what happened Miss Caroline?"

I felt the sting of tears burn my eyes but I quickly blinked drying my eyes for hopefully, a little while.

He reached out as if he was going to hug me then quickly pulled back as he glanced at the burns on my body and quietly cursed.

"My Miss Caroline I would want nothing more then to hold you or kiss your hand to comfort you but I am to afraid I should make you cry out again."

What he said was up and beyond a gentleman that cared. I couldn't help but smile brightly at him and blush my probably already pink face.

"Ah your smile is bright enough to set light on a devils soul Miss Dosept would you like to take a short walk with me?"

I nodded my head eagerly my legs felt stiff and I couldn't wait to explore his home and hopefully see my family and maybe even meet his family also.

I oh so slowly moved my legs up until I was in a sitting position then tested my weight on my feet. I was a little wobbly at first but once I got help from Mr. Whitmer I felt stable enough to walk.

He was very shy with his hands he seemed to want to help me but didn't want to hurt me in the process causing him to be unsure where to place them.

"Why don't you put your arm around my waist Mr. Whitmer? My balance is not the best yet as I've not walked in three days ,and you also seem as excited as a new born kitten."

He laughed at me and slowly but surly put his arm around waist letting me lean on him for support.

"Where are we going, if I may ask Mr. Whitmer?"

We are going to my garden, your family is there with mine and I am sure they would be more than delighted to see your awakened face.

I smiled a little I couldn't wait to see my family and oh gosh I was gonna meet his?!

I looked like a devil!

"Mr. Whitmer please do let me clean up I can not meet your family looking in such a disarray! "

"Miss Caroline I think you are forgetting who was in her death bed for the last couple of days I assure you that you have reserved the right."

Instead of listening to him I started combing through my snarled hair and trying to smooth down my dress as best I could as I tried to walk.

He led me through a hallway that seemed a to be a pristine white making me feel like I don't really belong. The white walls and glass tables with statues that were done by a very detailed artist. The self portraits and here I was in a borrowed pink dress and messy hair plus I bet I looked like the devils assistant.

There was one painting that caught my eye.

There was a tall man with beautiful blue eyes. He was standing next to a beautiful sorrel horse that had one star on his forehead. The horses head was turned towards the man and the man was looking at the horse seeming to pet him.

"That's me."

I jumped at the sound of Daniel's voice making me almost loose my balance, luckily he had his arm around me or I would of fell face first. I had completely forgotten he was there I was so wrapped up in the painting.

"It's a beautiful portrait."

He laughed silently at me, "why thank you. Do you know how hard it was for me to keep him in that position? It took more than enough oats, I was genuinely surprised he did not get himself sick."

I smiled at that. "My horse Bruno would've done the same thing he will do anything for oats. "

"Ah you have your own horse?"

"Yes he is a white arabian."

"That's the horse your father came hauling in yesterday. He isn't very tame is he?"

"What?"

I was completely confused Bruno was a very tame horse.

"You must be confused he is very tame."

He laughed loudly which made me want to slap him. It is rude to laugh at a women's horse!

"If he is so tame Miss Dosept why was he giving your father such a hard time?"

He is afraid of new places all you needed to do was be gentle to him and put him in a outside pasture. He hates it inside.

"Well that explains a lot! Now shall we go meet my parents?"

"Yes let us do it."

"Oh and your horse is not the slimmest is he?"