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He breathed in deeply. “You’re not joking, are you?”
I shook my head.
Luke stepped closer. “You’ve been through a lot lately. Just give yourself a break, okay?”
I nodded quickly, forcing back tears. His hand slid over my back and began moving in small circular motions.
I inhaled sharply as shivers rolled through my body. “I’ll see you around, okay?”
“Okay,” he replied, smiling tightly, as I retreated into the house.
I watched Luke amble across the road from my bedroom window. He must have sensed my eyes on him, because he turned his gaze up to meet mine. Instead of diving out of sight as I had done a million times before, I offered him a sad smile before lowering my blind for the night.
* * *
Through my boredom, I began to half-heartedly help out around the farm. Although I was still recovering from my operation, I detested not being able to contribute when everyone else was working so hard to run the place. Sure, I could pay for extra farm hands to help them, but they always refused to accept my money.
Due to my somewhat fragile condition, my parents only agreed to let me do a few light duties. So, I spent my mornings collecting eggs from the chicken coop, and my afternoons brushing down the horses. It wasn’t much, but it left me exhausted by the end of the day.
Funnily enough, they were the exact same jobs I was given as a child. I was never allowed to herd cattle or do any of the dirty work; those jobs were all given to Nate. I was simply expected to find a husband and have a thousand babies.
I spent my evenings in my childhood bedroom, lying on my single bed, pen in hand, and staring down at a blank page in my notebook. Not one word materialised before me. I was entirely dried up.
My guitar leant against my bedroom wall, taunting me, until I decided to hide it away inside the wardrobe. I ran my thumb over the bluebird etching before slipping it deep within my clothes that had been hanging untouched for years. My hand brushed against an old woollen jumper that didn’t belong to me, and I sighed. Sadness ran deep as I thought about everything I had lost since that night.
* * *
A magnificent summer storm was brewing and woke me from my afternoon nap. Realising I slept much later than usual, I leapt out of bed, threw on my well-worn gumboots and marched downstairs and straight out the back door. I wasn’t going to let anyone think a little thunder and lightning would scare me away from my responsibilities. I jogged down the back stairs, hoping to tend to the horses before the storm descended.
The cumulous clouds were rolling in like a tidal wave, consuming the daylight as they approached. Lightning flashed in the distance and thunder soon followed. It was getting close.
I spotted Nate, Dad, and Luke, frantically fixing a broken fence out in one of the paddocks. Obviously trying to mend it before the rain hit. And by the look of the sky, they would have to work quicker.
I considered heading over to help them, but I knew my dad would throw a fit if he saw me out there and would send me straight back to the house like a child. Annoyingly enough, I’m pretty sure Luke would have supported him. So, I went about my business, knowing it was easier to stay out of their way.
The rain finally hit and I ran the rest of the way to the barn. The horses were already on edge by the time I made my way into their stables. I tried to settle their nerves by stroking them with one hand, and running the brush down their bodies with my other. In the past I found singing would calm them almost immediately, but these days I could barely reach a hum.
I hadn’t seen a storm like that in years. They scared me to death as a child. Luke would often find me hiding under my bed, or in my wardrobe, every time one hit. He would pull me out and hug me until the worst was over. Nate used to find it absolutely hilarious.
The storm appeared to be getting worse, but I only had one horse left to groom and I was determined to complete the tasks set out for me. The sound of the rain pounding down on the tin roof was deafening. Even if I decided to sing, I doubt the horses would’ve heard me.
All of a sudden, a crack of thunder exploded throughout the barn and my horse leapt in fright, throwing me onto my backside. My head collided with the stable door and pain shot through the back of my scalp.
As Midnight galloped out, my hand reached up to assess the damage. A warm trickle ran through my fingers and down the back of my neck. I winced. Gazing down at my hand, I expected to see water dripping from the deteriorating ceiling above, but instead I saw red. Lots of red.
“Natalie!” Luke hollered, but I could barely hear him over the rain tearing down.
I didn’t answer at first. I was still trying to figure out why the rain was red, and why I had ten fingers on each hand.
I heard him curse as he tried to calm my horse. “How did Midnight get out?”
Using the stable door to prop myself up, I smiled tightly and pretended everything was fine.
Luke pulled Midnight back into her stable, and eyed me curiously. “Are you okay? The barn just took a good hit!”
A hysteric giggle escaped my mouth. So did I.
Luke’s eyes narrowed. “You shouldn’t even be out here in a sto—” he paused, spotting my blood-soaked fingers. “What is that?”
