*Mary P.O.V.*
Mrs. Henwood: "Mary, you better come down right now! Pa and I will leave without you, now hurry up!"
Me: "Pa's gon' leave without me?"
Mrs. Henwood: "He will if you do not hurry!"
Pa would never, but I was wasting time. I hurried up before running outside to the porch to see Tolbert.
Tolbert: "Mary, is you mad at me?"
I spared him the briefest of glances as we came off of the porch.
Me: "You know I ain't, brother,"
Pa caught sight of us from his spot holstering our old mare, Trixie, to the wagon.
Mr.Henwood: "Well, get a wiggle on you two! We're runnin' late as it is!"
Me: "Sorry Pa."
I waited patiently to be lifted in the wagon. I was sat in the back with my Ma and my 3 brothers and 2 sisters. Like always, Tolbert got to sit upfront next to Pa. I did not mind it. Tolbert had always been Pa's favorite because he was the boy. The oldest boy.
With a light 'yah', my Pa spurred the horse and the wagon jerked into motion. We bumped along to the road, straightening out to head towards the bridge that would carry us over into Kentucky territory.
I settled down in my seat, glancing shyly at Ma who had her sour face turned to the side. She did not much care for Tolbert and myself. Most likely because we were the children that came from Pa's affair. At seven and a half years old, I did not know what an affair was, but I knew that Ma was not our Mama. Our Mama had passed on into heaven with the angels after giving birth to me.
Turning around, I caught Ma's nasty sneer before she looked away again. She hated me. Even more than she hated Tolbert. I'd heard her telling Pa one night when we were already meant to be in bed that I was 'an embarrassment on her'. She had made breakfast the following morning with a powerful dark bruise upon her cheek. I pretended I did not notice her glare now and took to my knees in my seat so that I could see over the front of the carriage.
I asked, wind whipping through my hair: "Papa, are we near?"
Pa said, sparing me a smile: "Nearly to the bridge now, Mary. Sit tight and we won't be long, I promise."
With a sigh I settled down again, leaning in and unladylike fashion against the carriage side. Kicking my foot out.
While on the bridge, the uneven logs caused the cart to tilt slightly and I clutched the back of my Pa's coat with a tiny yelp. He laughed, reaching back to pat my hand comfortingly as we cleared the short bridge. Now on this side of the river, it was easy to see there was an event going on as many other people in carriages were passing by, all head in the same direction. Some girls passed on foot, waving up at Tolbert as we merged into the crowd.
Tolbert: "Mary, you excited? Jake, Jeremy, and Andrew will be there."
At the mention of the Biersack boy's, my nose scrunched. I never much cared for The Biersack boys. Jeremy was the oldest at twenty-three, Jake was near around twenty-one, and Andrew had just turned nineteen in the spring. They were loud and rambunctious and always wanting to rough house with Tolbert even though he was far stronger than Jake and Jeremy.
Pa: "That's right, but no child of mine is to be friendly with the Biersacks. Charity will be there tho. Remember this is church not a playground."
I perked up at this. Charity was my uncle Wall's daughter of eighteen.
Pa cursed as he jerked Trixie to a stop, the sudden lurch of the carriage sending me tumbling off the side to land on the leafy ground.
Me: "Pa!"
My Pa climbed out of the carriage to pluck me up from the ground.
Pa: "Y'all right there, lil' angel?"
I nodded
I walked over to where Charity was.
Me: "Hello,"
I was rocking back on my heels. ehen someone bumped into me, knocking me to the ground.
Someone helped me politely to my feet. Turning, I brushed myself off and glared as heatedly as I could at Andrew Dennis Biersack. He was skinny boy, but with great muscles. He had short black hair just like his older brother's. We'd never gotten on too well.
Andrew said, far too sweetly for it to be genuine: "Sorry, Mary,"
He took his riding hat from his head, bowing low at the waist like a proper gentleman. Lord, but I wanted to spit on his boots.
I said lowly: "It's alright, Andrew, it was an accident."
Jake laughed, thumping his rifle butt against the ground: "Truly."
Voice: "Mary!"
We all turned as my father approached.
Charity: "Mary, come play with me,"
With a huff, I realized I had no reason not to go 'play' with her. All we ever do is go around town and look at all the guys, well thats what she does.
Me: "Alright,"
I regretted it immediately as Charity grabbed my hand and yanked me. We ran to were the carriages were settled and Charity immediately stopped.
Voice: "Well, well, well. What do we have here?"
He had short black hair and was tall for probably only being a two years younger than Tolbert. His voice was deep too.
Andrew Biersack.
Another boy came to stand beside him. He was between hay and grass, shorter and stockier than his brother but obviously still of the blood.
Ashley Purdy.
Ashley sneered: "Looks like a couple a Henwood's,"
I glaring at them all in turn. Ashley grabbed a hold of Charity hand. Which made a small whimpering sound come from her. Charity then got out of his grip and ran.
There was no time to dwell on the fact however as Ashley moved to aim a swing at me and I ran.
Ashley yelled: "Get back here, Henwood's!"

---

Voice: "Mary! We's leavin'!"
I turned to see Pa waving from the driver's seat of our wagon.
As soon as I got into the carriage and it pulled off, Pa turned to me.
Pa: "Yer gonna get it for missin church."

Notes

Sorry if this chapter didn't make any since. I haven't slept at all yet and I'm tired.
Love You Guys!
-xoxo Frank