The Last Laugh

Chapter 13 - Unexpected

***

Little Heather's POV:

I was gloomy and quiet the next morning, Sawyer had gotten up finally and my mom looked more than

satisfied with the escape of Sheridan because she'd prayed for his death in some sort of way. My

mother now scared me a lot. I saw her in a completely different way.

We were having breakfast when all of a sudden, an employee came in.

"Ma'am?"

"Yes, what is it?"

"The horse that was stolen just came running into the ranch. We've taken it back to the stable."

Mom smiled. I knew why. She probably thought Dove had deserted Sheridan.

"Thank you."

The employee left.

I knew better. Sheridan had surely sent dove back home because he couldn't take care of her,

wherever he was. He wasn't dead. He wasn't in danger. No.

***

Little Sheridan's POV:

I'd walked for a long time in those woods without finding any cave or place where I could find refuge.

My feet hurt and my body too. I was tired. I'd walked all afternoon in my bad state.

I sat down underneath a tree and began to sob. What was going to happen to me now.

I rested for about thirty minutes and came up with the decision that giving up now was useless and so I

got up and continued my search.

At about 5pm, I was more than glad when I found a spring in the woods! Without thinking, I ran to the

spring , got on my knees and drank as much water as I could. I was glad I'd found fresh water. I'd

walked the whole day with wounded feet and a dislocated knee. I needed energy. I drank to my

satisfaction.

While I savored the taste of fresh water, I heard thunder. I stopped drinking and looked up at the sky.

Black clouds could be seen beginning to cover. Heavy rain was on it's way! I had to find a place and

fast!

I stood up and started limping as fast as possible through the woods. Places were beginning to get

darker. The last night had been a lucky one. Any wild animal could have found me and made me its

meal. I had to find a place. Worse again, it was going to rain. Heavily.

I limped and limped, ignoring the endless pain in my knee and under my feet.

Heavy raindrops began to fall. I increased my speed. I was week, tired and hungry. The rain began to

slightly increase. Soon I was soaked and shivering. It was really cold. The weather had gone from hot

to freezing. I didn't stop moving. I had hopes.

As I limped in pain, just when I was about to give up, I noticed something. A house! That house I'd

shown uncle Ken and dad.

I quickly made my way for it. I was gonna break in. I didn't care whether there were snakes in there or

whether it was dirty, old and hunted. I needed a house.

I climbed up to it's balcony where dad, uncle Ken and I had protected ourselves from rain. I went to one

of the windows. It seemed easy to open. I picked a stick and forced it open. When it did get open, I

almost screamed in joy. Without wasting time, I got into the house and closed it's window behind me.

I was in darkness In the house. It didn't smell old. I searched through the dark and accidentally stepped

on an object that hurt my feet really bad it made slid and fall back.

Luckily my back touched the wall and I heard a click. In a second, the place was lighted.

*

I was speechless. I looked around. The house wasn't old at all. Nor did it seem abandoned. I seemed

to be in the living room of the house. The chairs and furniture were clean. There was even a chimney.

"Wow."

I began to explore. There was no picture nor any signs of life. There was a shelf full of books. I went

towards it and began to touch the books. I opened one to look at the pictures in it, when I suddenly

heard some sort of click.

"Don't move!" an angry male voice startled me, causing the book to drop from my hand. I began to

tremble, not having the guts to turn around.

"P– please..." I stammered, fear in every part of me.

"Don't move." the man warned dangerously, "I have a gun. One move and I kill ya. You little thief."

I felt tears fill my eyes. I was so afraid I could pee on myself.

"Please! I'm not a thief. I– need help."

The person was silent for sometime. Then spoke.

"Turn around." he ordered.

Scared to death, I turned around and the first thing I saw was a gun pointed at me.

"Sheridan??" the man said in a shocked voice. The fact that he'd called my name caused me to pull my

eyes away from the terrifying gun and look up. I was more than surprised.

"Mr– Mr Victor??"

It was my dad's ex assistant. He threw his gun aside. He looked at me in confusion, shock and wonder.

"What happened to you??"

I stared at him silently.

***

That night, I took a warm bath. I washed myself carefully and slowly because of all my bruises. When I

was done, Mr. Victor gave me a T-shirt that was big on me and sport shorts with warm socks. Then he

gave me a little blanket to wrap myself up from cold.

"Come sit here, buddy." he said, pointing at the couch. I did, he went into another room and returned

with an aid box. "You're lucky I have some stuff here to treat your wounds. As for the knee, we'll see

about that tomorrow."

He took a chair and sat in front of me. He cleaned my wounds and treated them. For the bruises, he

rubbed them with some kind of pomade that according to him, would help me. I felt clean and taken

care of.

"You hungry?" he asked.

"Y– yes, please. Very."

"Okay. Let me warm the soup and give you some. You can eat while you tell me what exactly

happened to you."

I hadn't told him anything yet.

"Okay."

He got up and went to the kitchen. I waited for him patiently as I watched the flames from the chimney's

fire.

Some minutes later, he returned with a hot bowl of soup. I thanked him when he handed it over to me.

Without wasting time, I started swallowing as much soup as possible. I was so hungry. He watched me

silently. I saw pity in his eyes. I looked at him.

"Can you tell me what happened to you?" he asked in a low voice.

I had to tell him. "How did you turn out to be in such a state? What pushed you into the woods?"

"Ah– aunt Christina."

"Ken's wife??"

"He's dead."

Mr Victor's expression saddened a little.

"I know. I heard."

I began to tell him everything that had happened after uncle Ken passed away. Mr Victor listened to me

in total silence and shock. I told him everything.

"She made you sign all your father's property in her name??"

"Yes."

"Oh my gawd." he stood up unable to believe his ears, "And she's also the reason behind your wounds

and starvation??"

"Y– yes." I said in a shaky voice.

Mr Victor was angry, shocked and sad at the same time. He looked at me with pity in his eyes and sat

down again.

"Sheridan?"

"Y– yes, sir?"

"Call me uncle."

Hearing that made me feel safe.

"Yes, uncle Victor?"

"What do you want?"

"Huh?"

"Answer me. What do you want?"

"Um, my father's property back?" I said with doubt.

"No. You're property. And?"

"And what?" I was confused.

"Revenge."

The word left his mouth in a whisper. I looked at him. I'd never thought of it. It wasn't a bad idea.

"Revenge?"

"Yes, buddy. And let me tell you, you'll do that all by yourself."

"Revenge?"

"Yes. And take your property back."

"But how? A lawyer?"

Uncle Victor shook his head no.

"Think. Think and think. The same way you signed away your property is gonna be the same way you'll

get it back. I'm just gonna do one thing for you."

I was anxious.

"And what's that?"

"I'll give you a home. I'll pay for your education. And trust me, you'll have the best. But under one

condition."

"What's that?"

"You'll have to make a second birth certificate. A fake one."

"What?" I was lost.

"Yes. You never know what the future holds. Do you want to revenge without risks?"

"Um, yeah."

"Then you will have to change your identity, as Sheridan Wesley. You will only regain it after your

father's fortune is yours again. Which you can only seize back at a certain age. Are you ready?"

"Yes."

"As you grow, you'll understand. For the moment, look for your new name. Tomorrow we go to

Tennessee."

"Tennessee?"

"Yup. From there to LA."

Was I lucky or blessed? I hadn't really understood half of the things uncle victor had said, but I didn't

bother. Like he'd said, I would understand while I grew. I'd ran into that house for refuge. And it'd turned

out to be uncle Victor's little vacation house. A place were he spent weekends or a few days to escape

the business of the cities. I was so happy.

That night I prayed and thanked God for the help. I thought and thought of a new name until sleep took

over.