Innocent

The Creek

He loaded the wagon down for their trip and looked up to see his sister's sad face, he knew that there was something troubling her but she wasn't ready to tell him just yet. In time he thought she will tell. He smiles down at her, and she returns with a weary smile.

"Take care it won't be long," Wyatt tells her

"I know, so go"

He wraps his arms around her in a bear hug then turns to his folks, he kisses his mother on the cheek that hugs his father.

Daisy already sets in the carriage a blanket across her legs as she waits on her husband. She rolls her eyes as she watches him lift his sister up off the ground.

"Come on Wyatt, we'll be late" she called out

He looks at her with a smile than turns back to Jessie.

"Be good Jessie"

"Bye son," Abigale Hunter says

"Mother, father"

They watch as he climbs on to the coach, waving at him one last time than they leave Jessie standing out on the porch by herself. She watches as they turn on to the gravel path than took a deep breath and stepped inside.

Andy watch from his window as Wyatt and Daisy rode by than gathered up his stuff heading to the Hunters house. He had promised Wyatt that he would help Jessie look after his mother and father and watch after Jessie as will. And right now he knew Jessie needed someone to comfort her. She was still young and didn't really understand what she had saw that night in the woods. When he got to the farm house he gathers up the courage he would need to face Jessie. He knew that she would be full of questions. He knocked on the old door twice.

"Andy" she smiled up at him

"Jessie, how are you the morning"

"Fine, come in mother just fixed breakfast"

She opens it letting him step in than follows her to the breakfast nook.

"Andy hi" Mrs. Hunter greeted him

"Mrs. Hunter, Mr. Hunter"

"Have a seat?" she says motioning at the chair beside Jessie's

"Thank you Ma'am"

"How's your mother" Mr. Hunter ask

"She's getting a long weather good lately"

"Good, good"

They set and ate talking about work that had to be done on the farm and family. Andy stayed with them until the sun went down than he made his way home. Over the next couple of days that how it was. Andy would go and help Mr. Hunter on his farm and watch after Jessie as he had promos.

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One night just before he gathers his stuff to take a bath there was a knock at his door. He rises to open it. Billy Withers stood at his pouch

"Andy your needed at the Hunters farm," he says a bet of panicked

Andy didn't ask any question he gathered his stuff and mounted his horse. Every candle was burning when he got there. He hurried his pace, at the door he met Jessie.

"What happen Jessie" he ask

"Its father he fall"

"Ok go on up to you room I got this"

He followed her up stirs than turned toward the Hunters room.

Aggravated that she couldn't do anything Jessie gathered up her night gown and head down to the creek. She walked the bank, thanking to herself. She knew she would never be as strong as Wyatt or Andy but she wanted to be, to be able to hold her head up high and not have so much to worry about. She set her belongs down on a tree branch and waded in the water.