~The only sound ,to be heard, as the mad man laughs...~
~
Josiah and Clara walked about the farm and talked about many things. How their educations had gone. How Josiah's father had been. A lot of it was reminiscing about thier past. At one point Josiah remarked, "Hows Horace and his nose?" Clara paused and went on.
"Horace's nose never got to lookin' the same. He likes to brag about it. He doesn't anymore. Horace is Horace. An a**."
"At least your pa was there to straighten him out i figure." Josiah said chuckling, remembering how bad of a lashing he had recieved for fighting Horace. "How is old Benny?"
"He's the same angry b*****d as usual." Clara murmured softly.
"Huh?"
"Nothing. Anyways tell me about this new farm owner I hear he has a problem with brothels. Stirring up trouble with his wife." Clara said moving to another topic.
"Well you see-" Josiah paused and looked at Clara. "Whats wrong?"
Clara ran a hand through her long hair.
"Nothin. Why?" She said innocently.
"Because every time we get to talkin' 'bout Benny you get all quite but with Horace, least, youse got an insult for me for bein stupid." He said. Clara shoved him lightly.
"Well I was just thinking."
"'Bout what?" Josaih said, pushing the topic.
"It ain't important." Clara said a little more harshly than she had meant. Josiah turned on her and grasped her shoulders, looking her in the eyes.
"Look here. You go an' up an' dissapear for eleven years an' not expect me to be askin' you questions? If anythin'...Youse can answer that. I was alone for those eleven years." He said. Clara looked hurt and looked away. She laid her hands on his chest and sighed.
"It was hard for me too. With Benny and Horace..." She murmured.
"Then tell me. Why did you leave?" Josiah asked again.
"You got the wrong one." She simply said. Josiah didn't understand and she saw it in his eyes. She closed her eyes and pressed her face into his chest. "Those bruises weren't from Horace. He got them too. He was only protecting me...Its just... You got the wrong one." She cried, hitting his chest. Josiah felt a sadness in his soul. "Horace tried his best to keep Benny off of me. But Benny was different ever since my Mother died. I moved out when I could to my aunts!" The pit of Josiah's stomach fell away.
"Did he?" Josiah asked. Clara could only cry. Josiah could only hold her.
TO BE CONTINUED....
((If I get up to twenty responses I will be more than happy to continue this. Writing a story is very mentally taxing. I do my best and only work when I have an audience.))~
~Is like a concave scream...~
