"How is she?" Ronald asked when he came back inside to meet Rose and the child.
He had finally gotten the new horse to stay in the stable with Red and Ginger. A feat that had
required so much sugar and apples that he was already considering never letting it out of the
stable again if it would always require that much to get it back
"She's still not awake," Rose replied to him without even glancing in his direction. Her eyes were
constantly glued to the little child on the bed.
He couldn't blame her, he had eyes for just the child too. She had beautiful long dark hair that
he was sure would reach her feet if she stood up straight and she looked so beautiful that for a
while he found himself considering if she was real. Her skin was so pale and flawless, that she
looked like a real-life painting.
"What do you think happened to her parents?" Rose asked.
"I don't know for sure, but from the way she was tied to the horse, they were probably trying to
protect her from something."
"Does that mean we could keep her with us, like since she has nowhere else to go and no one
would probably come looking for…"
"Rose," he said cutting her off. "You can't say no one would probably come looking for her." He
scolded. "It's almost as if you want something bad to befall them so you could keep her. That is not right."
Rose remained quiet for a while before she spoke again her voice so low that he barely heard
her.
"I'm sorry, it's not like I want something bad to happen to her parents. The thing is I just wished
that…" She stops talking and turns her face away from him to stare at the window.
"I know what you wish my love." The truth was that he had thought of the same thing. "But we
should not wish evil on others just because we would benefit from it."
"But if no one comes for her I promise we would look after her."
"We would?" She said turning towards him her eyes bright and hopeful. In them, he saw a joy
that he had not seen in a long time.
"Yes, we would." He said smiling down at her.
"Felicity?" A small voice spoke drawing their attention back to the child on the chair.
The child was awake and seated on the bed staring at them with wide eyes.
Ronald got on his knees and spoke as softly as he could.
"Hi, my name is Ronald, and this is my wife Rose." He paused for a while to let what he had
said sink in before he continued "So would you like to tell us your name?"
Ignoring him, the little girl scanned the environment again. Her eyes taking in everything she
could see. Ronald already knew from the way she was dressed when they found her that she
was from one of the forest clans that had refused to associate with their people.
Her clan probably had a clash with a neighbouring one and her parents had sent her away for
safety. If half of the tales of the vicious nature of the forest people were true, then it was unlikely
that anyone would be coming for her.
When she didn't respond to his question, he concluded that she didn't understand English. He
knew from the few times that the village had traded with some of the forest clans that they didn't
speak English but instead, a strange language that was taught to those who were interested in
joining the hunting group.
He had never bothered learning it since he was a farmer, and he realized how stupid of him that
was. How were they supposed to communicate with the child now?
Her eyes came back to rest on them.
"Felicity?" She spoke again staring calmly at them.
"Is that your name, Felicity?" Rose spoke from beside him. " It's a beautiful name."
The girl bent her head slightly focusing all her attention on Rose. Then suddenly in a motion that
shocked both of them, she shook her head from side to side.
"She understands." He says out loud, Releasing the breath he was holding. At least they could
communicate. Being able to speak to the child would make their work a lot easier.
"Well want is your name?" Rose continued giving the child a bright smile.
This seems to encourage her because she smiles back at her sweetly before she speaks softly.
"Beth, Li… Li… Lizabeth."
Rose stands up from the chair she is sitting in and moves towards the child. She sits in the bed
by her. Taking one of her hands she covers it with both her palms.
"That's a beautiful name too. Who is Felicity, a friend of yours?"
"No, she's my little sister."
Rose turned to glance at Ronald who was right behind her and he nodded encouraging her
silently. They both knew if she had a little sister and the sister was not with her on the horse
then whatever fate had befallen the parents probably happened to the sister too.
"I'm sorry Betha," Rose spoke gently. "Your sister Felicity is not here."
The girl seems to look at Rose like she has lost her mind before she speaks again.
"Felicity would never leave me alone." She says with an "as a matter of fact" tone.
"I'm sure she wouldn't," Rose says hoping that would pacify the child.
But surprisingly she continues.
"Felicity wouldn't be far from her, I'll show you," she says. Lifting her fingers to her mouth she
blows a sharp whistle so loud that they both had to cover their ears.
The whole place becomes unusually silent for a while, then suddenly they hear a loud crashing sound from outside the house, followed by the neighing of horses.
"See I told you Felicity was around." The girl says giving them a wide smile. Just then Ronald realized who the child was referring to.
"We need to get her outside." He says in an alarmed tone.
"Now, wait why?"
"There's no time to explain," he says picking Elizabeth off the bed and running out of the house.
He came outside just in time to see the horse charging towards the house.
The beast stops right in front of them staring at the little girl, it brings its head down to start
sniffing and checking her while she parts and rubs its head.
"I'm fine Felicity Don't worry."
Ronald Sat on the floor in relief grateful that he had thought of the animal on time. It would have
forced itself inside the house, and that would have been disastrous.
After a while it leaves them standing in the front of the house there to start grazing not far off.
Ronald watched Rose sit with the child, the both of them chatting with so much enthusiasm.
Maybe the gods do answer prayers after all.