Remember Me

Chapter 4 - Moving on

I liked Bessie. I would be happy when she bounced me on her knee, or when she fed me. I had no way of knowing that the day she returned was the anniversary of my death, of Annabelle's death. But Bessie stayed, and Hosea seemed happier, although I still didn't take to him, nor him to me.

Bessie spent a lot of time with Hosea, except when I cried for attention, and if daddy wasn't there, Bessie would come and take care of me. This irked Hosea somewhat.

I had now become mobile. I could sit up by myself, and soon learnt to crawl around. Grabbing anything I could lay my hands on.

Daddy would go out more often with Hosea and Arthur. I would be left with Bessie and Susan.

On this particular day, I sat on the front porch on a blanket, playing with my horsey. Bessie sat on a seat next to me.

A noise made me look up, it was daddy, and he rode back towards the house, really fast.

He jumped of his horse, and ran onto the porch. I held my arms up, and called out to him, daddy.

"Dada"

it shocked me, no words had come out before, not proper words.

I looked at my daddy, he was smiling. He picked me up and swung me in the air, before hugging me to his chest. I giggled.

"Say it again, baby girl" he cooed.

I looked at him, "Dada"

Bessie laughed, "her first word Dutch, that's so sweet."

Then daddy frowned.

"We have to pack up, and leave. We ran into a spot of bother," he announced.

"Where are Hosea and Arthur?" Bessie asked, slightly panicked.

"They're both fine, Bessie. They'll be along in a minute."

Bessie stood up, and walked into the house, daddy followed her.

"Susan, we need to get packed up," Bessie stated.

Susan nodded, "I'll hitch up the wagon," she rushed through the door.

Bessie looked at my daddy. "What happened?" she asked.

He sighed, "her mama's people. They're looking for her. I can't lose her Bessie, not now!"

Daddy kissed my forehead. "C'mon pumpkin, we're going on an adventure!"

I got passed around, as everything was packed up and loaded into the wagon. I spent most of the time giggling and laughing, despite all the frowns and worried looks on every ones faces.

Daddy carried me to the wagon, I suddenly started to cry, trying to reach for something, towards the house.

"We have to go, pumpkin," daddy said to me.

Then I saw Arthur running towards me.

"It's ok Ana, here he is," Arthur soothed, as he handed me my horsey.

Daddy laughed, and passed me to Bessie, who was sitting in the back of the wagon.

"We'd be in trouble if we left her horse behind!" he exclaimed.

Susan and Hosea, were already up front, and I watched as daddy and Arthur mounted their horses, and followed the wagon.

I soon started to get restless, I was tired. Bessie laid me back in her arms. The motion of the wagon, and her quietly humming a tune, gently rocked me to sleep, with my horsey gripped in my hand.