Arthur Shelby has 0 to very little experience with children. Sure he entertains his nieces and nephews but it's not quite the same as being a father. He doesn't need to take responsibility for them and he can give them as much alcohol as he pleases
...
For the next few weeks, I stayed by my brother and father's side, always. Not once did I leave Birmingham as Nana Thena said had ordered. And not once did I allow myself to forget what she had said. I won't lie. The warning had frightened me. But I tried my best not to show it.
"Lyds, come on" Mason yelled. We were in the field behind our house, riding on horses. He was further infront since I had stopped in a trance
"Coming" I replied speeding up the horse. I got to his side and i saw the glint in his eyes and the smirk on his face. I know exactly what that means
"No" I said
"Please" he begged
"I'm not doing it
"We are" he said
"Are not"
"Are not" he told me
"Are" damn he tricked me
"Haha. To that tree over there. The one with the most orange leaves" it was almost autumn so some trees had orange leaves but one stood out. One which was so covered in the bright colour, that not a single green leaf touched it
"Fine" i replied. He counted to 3 and we set off, racing to the tree. Mason was infront for most of the way but I quickly caught up and ended up winning
"Haha" i laughed happily as I jumped from my horse and stood before it. Mason jumped off aswell and put me in a head lock. I managed to get out and we took a seat under the tree whilst the horses drank from the river
"I miss home" I said
"We are home" Mason told me
"I know. But I mean Texas. Being here reminds me off it. The sun and the fields. With the horses. So pretty. Do you remember, when you taught me to ride a horse" I said laughing
"Yes yes it was very funny" he said sarcastically. When he first taught me to ride a horse, he had only learnt a few months before. He was 7 and I was 6. Mason thought he was better than he was and tried to show off but horse ended up throwing him off into a river
"It really was. Do you think we will ever go back?" I asked
"I don't know. It depends on what happens with this fucking warning. Hopefully Thena will show herself again and tell us everything is alright" he said grumpily
"Langauge mase. And I'm sure we will be fine. Hey, Where's the house?" I asked realising we could no longer see it
"Just over that hill" he said pointing towards a large flowery hill
"Erm...mase, I thought we weren't allowed over the hill because-" I started
"It's not in Birmingham" he finished in realisation. Shit. The hill was where Birmingham finished which is why we aren't allowed over it. Oh crikey
"We should go home" I said nervously. I stood up but immediately ducked when I heard a gun shot go off. Mason pulled his body over mine as a shield and after a moment of silence, we let go of one another. It was then that I heard whimpering
"Mase" i said pointing to the sound
"Shit" my poor horse had blood pouring from his leg. I went over and comforted the crying thing
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"You're OK boy. We're gonna get you help. Mase ride home and get dad" I said
"I'm not leaving you alone"
"Go. I'll be fine" I ordered. I saw how reluctant he was but he climbed on the horse anyway and started going towards the house. I stayed standing with my horse, flash, rubbing his nose in comfort and stroking his mane
"Lydia-rose?" I heard a voice. My head snapped to look behind me. There stood a man in his mid twenties, cowboy hat which I recognised too well and shoulder length hair.
"Bo" I said emotionless
"How've you been?" He asked joyfully as if we were best buddies
"Fine" I replied not looking him in the eye
"What happened to you? You used to be the happiest girl in Texas" he said with his thick southern accent
"That girl died a long time ago" I told him finally looking at his dark brown eyes. It was true. Since getting ill because of that old gyspy woman, I haven't been my usual happy self. Been less trusting with people, and I've learnt that the world isn't all sunshine and rainbows. When I first to Birmingham, I thought my family loved one another...Once, my father was a rich government man, my brother was happy and everything was perfect. And my mama although dead, died happy. Now i know that my dad left us, Mason is miserable and mama died devastated with father's abandonment
"Well I miss her. How bout we pick up where we left off?" He asked
"I'd rather suck the devil's dick" I said. Last time I was with him, we had been making out, I was 12 and he was early twenties. But things got distrupted when his WIFE, yes his WIFE came in and started hitting me. Mason walked in as she was beating me and stopped it immediately. But still, it was horrible.
"Wow. Such language from your mouth" he said smirking
"Ye well, you always did bring out the worst in people" I replied. A few minutes later, Mason came over with him and Arthur on the horse. They sped up when they saw me chatting to bo. Mason and Arthur jumped off the horse and my big brother immediately ran over and tackled bo to the ground
"Stay the fuck away from her" he yelled punching him in the face
"Mason" Arthur growled pulling him off bo.
"Who are you?" He asked
"Im bo. An old friend of the kids" he introduced. He went to shake Arthur's hand but my dad didn't even look at it
"What are you doing talking to my daughter?" He asked
"Your daughter? Didn't expect that. And I actually came here to bring her home. The sheriff, he wants her back. She'll be 15 very soon. I'm sure you know what that means" bo said
"No. I don't know what that means" Arthur said through gritted teeth. Mason clenched his fists and moved infront of me
"She's not marrying that twat" he said
"Marry?" Dad yelled shocked
"Many generations before i was born, there was a deal made. Every first born girl of the cassidy family would have to marry the first born son of the marks family. In this case, bo's twin brother" I said looking in bo's eyes
"That's not happening" dad said takeing my hand and stroking the horse
"It is" I told him brushing him away and kissing my horses nose. I then walked over closer to bo
"What? You can't seriously want this?" Dad yelled
"Fucking hell" Mason grumbled kicking a stone
"She's got no choice. If the deal is broken, then the families go to war. People die. People cry. And worst of all, families fall apart." Mason said with tears in his eyes
"Well then war it is" dad growled. He grabbed my hand and pulled me towards him. He wrapped an arm around my shoulder and held me close
"Fine. I'll go back to texas. And I'll tell my family the news. The cassidys' and the marks' are going to war" he began to walk off
"No. You can tell them, the shelbys' and the marks' are going to war" Arthur yelled. Bo walked off and I turned to flash who was bleeding slightly
"Let's get him home, and tell the family what's happening" Mason said grabbing the reins
"Daddy, why would you risk everything just so I don't have to marry?" I asked with tears in my eyes. He cupped my face and kissed my forehead
"Because you and Mason are my everything. And I'll do anything to keep it that way"
