Chapter 3 - The Woods
We each mounted a horse and set off on our journey. I loved joining my dad and uncle ken in such little adventures. I was more than excited! I was actually going hunting with them.
We rode out of the ranch and headed for the woods on horseback.
After some time, we reached the woods. It was quiet and only the sound of a soft wind could be heard.
"Dad?" I called.
"Yes?"
"What will y'all use to capture the animals?" I asked curiously.
"Well son, in the case of little animals like rabbits, we have nets."
"And for the bigger ones, we'd be using arrows." Uncle ken added.
"Why arrows?"
"Because the sound of gunshots would scare our horses away."
"Ooh, okay. I'm just so happy to be here." I said joyfully. Dad and uncle ken chuckled. I smiled and closely followed them from behind.
As we explored the forest, after about an hour while we still searched for any prey, I noticed a wooden house somewhere in a corner of that part of the forest in which we were.
It didn't look old but at the same time it seemed to be deserted.
"Dad, uncle Ken, look at that house." I said pointing at it.
They looked at it.
"I wonder who lives there." my dad said.
"Nobody." uncle Ken replied, "For as long as I remember, ever since I started hunting in these woods, I've never seen any signs of life around that house."
We looked at the house again.
"What wastage. It's a beautiful little house." my dad stated.
"Yep. Anyway, let's continue with our search."
The day was tiring and the sun became very hot that afternoon. It was already Three in the afternoon, yet we hadn't caught any meat. We decided to stop and eat. We sat down on rocks.
Aunt Christina had made enough chicken salad sandwiches. They were delicious and I really enjoyed them.
After the eating break, we resumed. I was already really tired.
It was only at Five PM that we caught a gazelle. My dad had shot it straight with his bow and arrow. I felt so proud and happy. It was my first time of experiencing hunting. And though I was tired, I began to feel less bored.
"You look really tired, Sheridan." my dad said.
"I am. All I want to do is sleep."
"I guess we'll be heading for home earlier today. Instead of Nine, we'll go back at six." Uncle Ken stated.
I looked at time and it was Five thirty. I was so happy just thinking about the fact that I would be on a soft bed soon.
The gazelle was the only thing we caught that day.
At six, we set off on the long journey back home. But then, bad luck came in.
Dark clouds could be seen covering the remaining light from the six o'clock sky. Lightening flashed from different parts of the sky and thunder could be heard announcing the arrival of heavy rain.
"Oh, no." uncle ken muttered, "We still have a long way but the rain is coming. We'll not make it."
Immediately he finished speaking, heavy and fat drops of rain began to hit the ground.
"Oh, no. Let's ride to the wooden house before we get soaked!" my dad yelled.
We rode as fast as possible to the house. Places were already dark. We rode through the cold breeze and the starting drops of rain.
We reached the house and yes, it wasn't inhabited. We stood on it's veranda, waiting patiently.
I tried to peep into the house but I couldn't. The windows were covered by thick curtains. I wondered who might have stayed there.
Hours passed. Cold. Rain. Tiredness. All that for us. The rain poured and poured along with it's lightening and thunder.
I was really tired and I needed to sleep. That day hadn't gone as I'd expected. Not at all.
The rain seized at about 9pm. I was more than happy when we proceeded on our journey back home.
We reached High Meadows at Thirty minutes past nine. And that was because the horses sped.
"Oh my gawd, I was so worried about all of you!" Aunt Christina exclaimed when we entered the house. The electricity was cut because of the rain and so she had lit candles everywhere in the house.
"You should all sit down. I made hot soup."
"Thank you." uncle ken and dad said.
"Um, I'm not hungry. I just wanna sleep." I was more than tired.
"You sure?" uncle Kenneth asked.
"Yes."
"Sorry it didn't go as planned, son." my dad added
"No problem, dad."
"Okay. I'll be joining you shortly."
"Okay. Goodnight, uncle ken."
"Goodnight, Sheridan."
I took a candlestick and went up the staircase to the room I shared with my dad.
I changed into warm pyjamas and got under the warm blanket.
I was about to sleep when I heard the door open slowly. I looked up, waiting for the person to appear in the candle light.
It was Heather, in her pink pyjamas and with her teddy bear.
"Heather?" I whispered.
"Yeah?" she whispered back.
"Y'all aren't sleeping yet?"
"Sawyer is. I was worried about you, dad and uncle Paul. That rain was heavy."
"Yeah. But it's alright now. We're home. And as you can see, I'm all warm." I smiled and she smiled back.
"Good to know. G– goodnight, Sheridan."
"Goodnight."
She turned to leave but then stopped and faced me again.
"D– do you want to sleep with my teddy bear? He'll keep you warmer." she proposed softly as she handed over the teddy to me.
"Yeah, of course." I took it.
She smiled, her face reddening. I smiled too.
"Come let me tell you something in your ear." I said.
She came over. And when she leaned to listen to what I had to say, I kissed her cheek. A gasp escaped her mouth and she looked at me, surprise in her doe eyes.
I smiled. She reddened even more and ran out of the room.
I smiled to myself and adjusted for sleep, holding her teddy tight. It smelt like her. It smelt like peppermint.