Dance with Death

3

"NO STOP IT!!"
"PLEASE YOU'LL KILL HER!"
Screams could be heard throughout a small country home. Blood stained the floor boards. Empty bottles littered the grounds.
"HELPP!"

Arabella jerked awake in a cold sweat. She breathed heavy and hugged herself trying to ease the pain.

She walked downstairs fully clothed for the day, sneaking past her sleeping father, in his usual chair. Once Arabella stepped outside she finally took a breath of the cold Birmingham air. She then began on her walk to the stables.

Arabellas been working for the Shelby company for about 3 months now. She had met all the Shelbys and all seemed to take a liking to her, especially Thomas, Polly and Finn. Tommy liked Arabella's quietness and smarts. She reminded him of himself in that way. Polly of course couldn't help but feel motherly over her. She has finally gotten her son back, but found out that her daughter had passed. It was bitter sweet but Polly was glad to have Arabella around.

Finn and Arabella have gotten close in the last couple of weeks. He found he spent most days helping her out in the stables or keeping her company. She had finally started to feel like she was fitting in.

Once Arabella had arrived she took her coat off and hung it. She rolled her sleeves up preparing for the day ahead.
"Good morning" Finn said as he walked into the barn.
"Morning." The shorter girl said struggling to pick up large bucket of water.
"Let me get that." Finn said rushing to help the curly haired girl. Finn took the bucket, lifting it with ease and pouring the fresh water into the horse's bowls.

"Tommy's getting a horse today. Said he'd want you to come along." Finn said glancing up at the girl.
"Why'd he want me to come?" She asked more to herself. Finn shrugged and finally stood up straight.
"Said something about you being like a good luck charm." Finn grinned at her. Arabella couldn't help but return the smile.
"Will you be going too?" She asked with the slightest head tilt.
"Of course" Finn said filling up another bucket of water.

"You know Polly had a fit at the family meeting when Michael decided he wanted to go, and then Tommy said you were coming along too. It was a shit show." Finn laughed to himself. Arabella smiled softly while sweeping hay into a pile. Finn looked up from his task to see the young girl in thought.

"You know, I recon Tommy will have ya going to the family meetings, in not too long." Finn said shoveling some hay.
"But I'm not family. I don't want to intrude." Arabella quietly said. Finn stopped what he was doing to look at her.
"Yea maybe so, but the others have really taken you under their wing." Finn half teased with a grin. Arabella just smiled knowing she was finally finding a place in the world.

Arabella sat squished in between Finn and Michael, sitting practically on top of each other, in the back of a car. Being the smallest, they forced her to go in the middle.

Across from them sat Charlie, Curly and Arthur. Arabella found her eyes wondering as the car wobbled side to side down the dirt road. Her eyes accidentally met Arthur's. They held the glance for a moment before Arthur winked.

Arabella quickly glanced away with a small smile on her face and Arthur watched her with a chuckle. 'What a sweet kid' was around the lines of what Arthur thought.

The car came to a stop as white smoke came from the front of the car. Tommy and John hopped out the front and walked towards the lot.

"She's heating up Curly. Go take a look." Tommy said with a cigarette in his mouth.

"Yeah" curly said and quickly left.

"Let me out for a piss."Charlie said hopping out the back.

"She made loafs. You want one?" Michael said offering the lot some sandwiches.