the after math

chapter 10

By the Time I got dressed and downstairs Declan was already outside holding an axe . I stepped outside and looked at him, what are you going to do with that
thing ?

Girl it's not what I'm going to do it's what you're going to do. See that woodpile over there your going to chop it and stack it. I looked over where he  was pointing and there was a pile of uncut wood  covered in snow . Ok, it wasn't my first time chopping wood one summer I'd gotten in trouble with Bran and he made me move his firewood to one side of the house to they other every day for to weeks. because I snuck out to go to a party that a few kids from school was throwing and I got caught sneaking back into the house let's just say I wasn't sober .

Declan's voice brought me out of my thoughts . Okay girl what are you just standing there for get to work. By the time the sunset in the evening my hands where  blistered my whole body was sore and I was freezing but even  though all that my anger and  emotions that was all pent-up seemed to be at ease with the last bit of strength I had left I dragged myself up the steps onto the front porch and open the front door and walked in I was welcomed with the spicy scent of stew and sweet cornbread brushed against my nose . I kicked off my boots and took off my coat just left them by the door walking through the front room to get to the kitchen I stood in the doorway. Declan was standing beside the counter  stirring a pot he turned around and said how do you feel now? how do you think I feel I feel like I just got ran over by truck. I mean emotionally how do you feel? the question took me by surprise I feel better if that's what you want to call it.  Declan nodded and then carried two bowls of stew and a basket of sweet cornbread rolls to the table and set down I walked over and joined him sitting at the chair on his right he put the chili and cornbread down and grab some for himself and offered me some . Dinner was quiet just the sound of spoon scraping against our bowls I decided to be the first to break the silence. I was wondering do you know a place that has a job openings. yes there's a opening at the diner be there in the morning and you can have the job. after he was done eating he pushed his chair and grabbed his bowl and put it in the sink and headed for the living room door. he turned around after you put his coat on and said will be doing this every day until I say otherwise until I know that you can survive up here no your own. You know  Hyde you don't have that much faith in me. I'm a coyote I learn to survive all be fine up here. You know you better be careful people might start  believe all those stories are just that stories that you might actually be a good guy. Declan laughed a booming frightening snerling laugh  the stories weren't stories there true honey and you haven't seen my bad side yet and with that he left.

After he left I stood there standing in the front room not sure what to do with myself. the cold air shivered into my bones so I decided to go outside and pick up some firewood and bring  into the house and start a fire in the fireplace. the fire crackled and sparked to life after that I went upstairs and got some comfy and warm clothes on and came back down went into the kitchen and made me some good cocoa the homemade kind. And then I curled up onto the couch and pull the blanket up around me watching the fire flicker and listened to the crickets outside