Santa's Daughter (1st bk of Santa Series) (Completed)

Chapter 9 (Edited)

"Man, what a doof,"  Mika said, after we left the office and the barn. "Did you see his behavior?"

The wind has picked up by and snow was coming down fast.Everything was starting to turn white, and I was glad about the extra coat in the office. It was getting colder by the minute, but I just felt a small bit of the cold weather.

"Mika!"

"What? He is a doof. You saw his attitude."

"He isn't a doof. He j-just... needs to remember that not all humans are bad. We've been through lots like him. Remember?"

"I know, but he is acting far worse than them. And it's just been the first day."

"He is different. All horses are different. He might've suffered from a little bit more than any others." I opened the door to the inside and stepped in, shedding of the winter coat.

"We're gonna continue this conversation, later?"

I nodded my head and looked around to see Mom making hot chocolate. The smell of the cocoa was delicious and I couldn't wait until I had some to warm up my insides. My mouth was watering, and I knew that there might be a small bit of drool, coming out of my mouth.

"Get a shower, and then you can have some hot chocolate," she said not looking up.

I nodded and took off my coat. I hung the coat up on a coat rack, before I started to make my way up the stairs, followed by Mika.

***

Ten minutes had passed by, and I was downstairs, fully warm and clean. I was in the livingroom, where a fire was roaring in the fireplace. Frankie, Tyan, John, and Madison were all ready there, talking to each other.

"Well, I best be going," Frankie said, standing up. "It is getting late, and I need to get home."

"Oh, Frankie. Can't you stay here, please?" I asked, quickly, while I was still standing.

"What, why?" Frankie asked surprised. "Is something wrong?"

"I don't know," I said, shrugging my shoulders. I knew that I had asked him, but I didn't know why. I guess I felt a little more comfortable, having him around. "And no, nothing is wrong. It was just a thought."

"Because, it is snowing hard outside," Tyan said, answering the question with a smile on her face.

I rolled my eyes at her, but it was part of the truth.

"Because, her father wants you to look out for her. He wants you to make sure that she doesn't get into trouble," John said, teasing.

I  stuck my tongue out at him, not knowing why he had to bring my father into it. However, that was the truth also.

"Because, you can help her with her homework," Madison said. "She doesn't have to text me and ask for the answer."

I took a pillow off a couch and threw it at her. That was a complete and total lie. I didn't ask her for answers to questions on my homework. She asked me, even if it was a common sense question.

"Hey, hey, hey. No throwing pillows around Hot Chocolate. It is hot as it is, and it doesn't need to be spilt," Mom said, coming out of the kitchen, scowling me teasingly. "You are almost 16. You don't need to act like a two year old."

I gave her an innocent grin, while I sat down besides John. "Madison was teasing me. So, I had to teach her a lesson and throw a pillow at her. She called me not smart, and I do have smarticles."

Madison stuck her tongue out at me and rolled her eyes. "She's guilty of charge," she said, pointing at me, making me roll my eyes at her.

Mom came in and gave each of us a cup Hot Chocolate. Her hand was shaking a small bit, and  I could tell that she wanted to laugh.

"I am not guilty until proven," I said, folding my arms across my chest, after I placed down my cup. I huffed. "And, I plead the fifth."

"Yes, you are a sweet, little angel," John said, teasingly.

"No, I am a sweet, stubborn, little angel. Don't forget the stubborn part."

"Drink your Hot Chocolate, Mary," Mom said, trying not to laugh at us. Her lips curled into a smile, and there was this inaudible snort.

I did a sarcastic sigh but drank my Hot Chocolate. I closed my eyes, letting the sweet hot chocolate go down my throat. My mouth watered some more, and I knew that I was going to need another cup after this.

Nothing.

Tasted.

So.

Good.

On.

A.

Cold.

DAY!

"So, what were you all talking about, when I was in the kitchen?" she asked, looking at me.

We looked at each other and frowned. We didn't know if we should tell her about our idea or not.

"You tell her, Mary" Madison said. "It's your idea."

I nodded my head and sighed. I didn't know what she was going to say, but it was kind of a good idea.

"Tell me what?"

"We... err... I was thinking that maybe Frankie should live with us, since we have more rooms in our house." I looked down, not wanting to see what she had to say

"You should live with us, Frankie. You are like family," she said, smiling.

I looked up at her, surprised that she had actually agreed with me. A quick image of her being beaten, appeared in my mind, but I quickly shot off that idea. Frankie wasn't him. He wouldn't do it... would he? "What?!" I exclaimed, surprised, causing everyone to look at me in shock. My face turned beet red, because I didn't mean it like that.

"Mary," Mom said, warningly.

"I'm- I'm sorry... I didn't mean it to sound like that," I said, looking down, my face getting redder by the minute.

"Then what do you mean, Mary?" she asked.

"I- I mean we do have food for more than two, people because I eat a lot, but don't you think it might be a little... weird?"

She knew what I meant. A frown was on her face as she thought about what I had said. She knew that it was going to be tough, since we hadn't had a man living with us for about twelve years, even though we did have someone come almost every day and make my life a living hell, for about two months.

"So, are you saying that you don't want me to live here?" Frankie asked, confused.

"Can you explain to him what I mean, Mom? Please?" I got up, wanting to go to the kitchen. My Hot Chocolate was in my hand, and I just wanted to be alone. When I saw her nod, I left and went into the kitchen.

It has been a long time for a man to live in our house, with us. The last one had almost made me an orphan.