The Party Invitation (Hiatus)

Chapter 3

Jamie looked into the distance as the strong wind blew her hair and ragged dress behind her. The basket she held in her hands was filled to the brim with wild mushrooms and other plants she had collected on the way home from the plains on the other side. She stared beyond her small town and looked in the direction of the main city of Oklahoma. Her bright green eyes sparkled with strength and will as she made her way down the hillside.

Suddenly, the booming toll of a bell rang through the air and she quickened her step. It was noon, lunch time, and mother was waiting.

As she ran through the town square, she flinched as some city folk who had stayed even after the party that was held last night, cat-called at her with drunken blush on their cheeks and cans in their palms.

"Hey girlie, why don' ya come on over and ha' a lill' fun wi' us?!"

She ignored the comments and continued on her way until she came to a small dome-like building with an old run down shingled roof.

"Mama? I'm home! Look at all the plants I found!" She called as she entered the room.

The inside was slightly crowded, a small, square table took up the middle of the room and small child size chairs stood around it.
On the other side of the table a small entry showed a small fireplace where red flames crackled and popped, filling the entire house with warmth. A small rug sat underneath a small, red tattered comfy chair that has definitely seen better days.

A slender face popped up from the tattered comfy chair in the room ahead.

"That's lovely baby girl! Lemme see 'em!" She began to stand from the chair when a harsh cough erupted from her throat. She sat back down in a huff.

"Curse this fever..." She mumbled under her breath.

Jamie knelt beside her mother with the basket in her hands.

"If you move around too much it'll just get worse. Just rest and I'll take care of everything."

Her mother looked at her in defeat.

"It's a shame you're stuck here taking care of old me. You should be out in the real world, learning and even finding a spouse!"

Jamie smiled.

"You'll never stop bothering me about that will you?"

"Nope!"

They laughed as Jamie readied the fire for cooking. Her mother coughed again. Jamie looked at her mother. Her heart stung with the memory of how her mother had been before she got sick. She was so full of life and always jumping  about. Now she could hardly move without coughing.

She thought back to what her mother had said.

"Find yourself a spouse!"

She sighed as she threw the mushrooms into the hot water in the pot. She remembered the first and last dance she had gone to. The one that was to be 3 years ago next month. Although she hardly remembered his face, she still remembered the feel of his lips upon hers, the heat from his breath and the grip on her shoulders.

"Huh?"

She placed her hands on her face, and felt a burn she hadn't felt in a long time.

"Oh gosh, I'm blushing?!"

She immediately began to work on the rest of the household chores as she waited for the vegetables to soften inside the pot (And to get her mind off of that night). She hummed to herself as she fed her horse Lady.

Her mane and tail were a beautiful cream color with a pure black body. Her coat rippled in the sunlight when her muscles twitched within her skin.

"Here you go Lady." She said as she threw a bale of hay into the feeder hanging from the door.

Suddenly, a chill ran down her spine, along with an uncomfortable feeling in her gut.

"Wha-?!" She whipped around but saw nothing.

She sighed heavily as she dusted some stray strands of hay from her dress.

"I'm overwhelmed... I need a break."

After finishing off her last few chores, she popped her head through the door to hear gentle snoring. She walked in front of the chair to see her mother, sound asleep and looking just a little better than before. She huffed a laugh. Suddenly, she remembered.

"Crap! The vegetables!"

As she hurried to the pot, her mother opened her eyes and stared at Jamie as she worked on the food.

"You poor thing..."