Finding the Fourth Hill

The tragic family past of Josephine Smith

"Sit." My father spat

Obediently I do as he says, one wrong move could be crucial.

To my surprise he takes a seat across the water stained table opposite me.

The pain in his eyes almost weakens me, but it'll take more then sorrow to earn my forgiveness.

"What do you see in that boy? He is nothing, your too young. No. No. No." He shakes his head as if concocting up some painful memory.

My voice is steady and I lock eyes with the mess that is my father, making sure he can read my lips and understands every word.

"He listens, he cares, he does not abuse me and I am older then your were, when you fell in love."

He winces at the last word

Moving from my seat would signal defeat, so I hold my ground.

Percy Smith, was his name. From the sound of Ethel's many stories, my father had once been a gentleman. Before Dianna's Death.

Dianna DeCaprothorn was my mother, kind faced. People use to say I looked a lot like her when I use to go down to the town markets. Long blonde hair, petite features and not so tall...

Percy and my sister looked more alike. Black hair and eyes, long noses, tall and a thin line for lips.

Francis Smith is my younger sister, by two years, so she's fifteen. She keeps to herself, so I rarely see her. There may of been a time when we might of been close, but any affection has been left on the tracks.

The pictures Ethel saved from Percy's part of destruction told a different story, a story to match Ethel's tellings, one of a happier time.

It is proof that there was a time when my father did know how to smile and how much my mother and I really looked alike.

***

Dianna had been rich, her father was a seaman. He captioned many fishing trips and became a successful man at his trade. Any man with money was a friend of the king, which at the time would of been Joshua's grand father. King Edward III.

Percy was an orphan, always on the run from the orphanage and police. But he was ambitious, always did an honest days work.

Eventually Mr Thompson, the village carpenter, took him in as an apprentice.

Mr DeCaprothorn was a very loyal customer, with all his money and a soft spot for fine whiskey it was easy to get 'special' information out of him, all you need is a little patience.

But Mr DeCaprothorn was not a very stupid man, he started sending his daughter to fetch his goods. And every time she came she became more and more friendly with Percy.

Mr Thompson, however saw it unfolding. It was bad for business, for he got rich off Mr DeCaprothorn's secrets by blackmailing the king with his information.

So Mr Thompson started lying to Percy about Dianna, but no matter how many bad tales he had to tell, Percy fell deeper in love with Mr DeCaprothorn's daughter with the facts that neither were perfect.

They ran off together to the only place Percy ever knew of, Trill Ridge. The only thing he remembered about his parents was the story of his heir loom.

They married under there own terms and created a new life for themselves, away from the demands of Dianna's father and the disapproval of Mr Thompson.

Why is my father being so hypocritical then? I do not know.

***

"It's different for you, times change-"

"IT'S BEEN SEVENTEEN YEARS!" I scream, "nothing has changed!"

"The King has changed."

"What's that got to do with anything?"

"He's the kings son!"

"And... He hates the King and anything to do with anything like that! He's a bit like you!" The words are out before I can stop them.

"No," all the colour has drained from my fathers face. "I was an orphan, I did not have luxuries, I-"

"Joshua doesn't have any such 'luxuries' he is living in a cave. How dare you jump to assumptions like that."

It is true, I noticed before I left. There were signs of leftover foods and attempts for human comfort. I am not stupid.

"Now if you excuse me," I rise.

"I should never of loved your mother!"

Those words were the only thing in the world that can leave my rooted to the ground like I am currently.

I turn to face him. It's like some one has set fire to my cosy hut that was protecting me from the winter chills.

"You don't mean that,"

"Oh but I do," a smirk of pure evil has settled quite comfortably on his lips.

I mute myself, the last card of defense has been played. I abandon the villa for the last time. I run non stop. Away from everything.

***

I trip over logs and bush lawyer. I fall down hills and cut myself on rock but still I keep running. Away from town, away from Trill Ridge. Over hills, past the cliff were Josh is. I just run.

A windmill stands on the near horizon. Four hills from humanity.

***

This is just what I've been looking for.

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That's was dark.

Anyways this story use to be called FORBIDDEN LOVE ON TRILL RIDGE. Well I changed that. But it's still the same story.

So yeah Feedback please! :)