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Chapter 7

I saw my sister and James walk out the door. Ugh. Why couldn't I help hunt for ONCE!? Was it to much to ask? I was smart, strong, and completely capable of hunting a deer or other prey animal. But Emily was like, 'No Jake, not until you're 14, you are to young.' Well guess what!? James wont be here forever! I know this makes me sound like a rude brat but trust me, if you were in my shoes, you would do the same. Usually I am quite happy and helpful. Until James showed up. I'm not saying he is a bad person, because he isn't, in fact, he helped us fend off the bear when Emily was down.

One thing I have noticed though is his effect on Emily. She says she doesn't like him but I know better, I can tell, she is my sister!

I heard footsteps and craned my neck to see Sarah come walking down the stairs to put the medicine back in the cabinet. She looked around the dead silent room until her eyes landed on me. I was lying on the couch staring at the ceiling, questioning how my life had lead up to this moment.

"Where's Emily?" Sarah asked as she sat at the table and turned her chair to face me.

I internally sighed, "Teaching her boyfriend the ways of the forest."

"So she's teaching James to hunt", Sarah said and gave me an 'are you serious' look.

"You could also put it that way", I said with a bit of edge.

Sarah sighed and looked out the window, "You have to stop saying that James is Emily's boyfriend, he obviously isn't! They are friends! Plus, I don't think Emily would be to happy if she heard you."

"Oh don't worry, she isn't," I said through a yawn.

I saw Sarah roll her eyes and stand up. She walked over and stood before me with her arms crossed.

"How would you like it if Emily was doing this to you", Sarah said with annoyance.

I rolled my eyes, "We live in the middle of the woods! There are no people for miles!"

Sarah simply shook her head and walked to the door, "I'm going to go dig up some Burdock and Chervil root out in the forest. Stay out of trouble while i'm gone, Sophie is sick."

I nodded and sat up straight. Sarah grabbed her coat and walked out the door. I stared out the window and watched Emily teach James how to hold a bow before they went into the forest. Even I knew how to hold a hunting bow, it wasn't that hard.

When James finally got the position right a minute later, Emily smiled and laughed with him and then beckoned him into the woods.

Since I was bored out of my mind, I decided a little walk in the forest couldn't hurt. I put on my shoes and a sweatshirt and opened the door. I breathed in the fresh, cool air and exhaled slowly.

My shoes crunched the light layer of snow that dusted the ground. It had snowed a tiny bit last night, winter was finally here. I heard voices from the woods, a bit farther in. A little spying on my sister's hunting lesson could do no harm, right? I crept closer and stood behind a large pine tree.

"Thank you so much for everything," James said with appreciation.

"Oh! Of course! It's nothing, really," I heard Emily speak with a bit of embarrassment.

I put my hand to my mouth to stop myself from laughing. I shifted a foot and accidentally stepped on a branch. I held in my breath as I heard Emily quickly snap her head in my direction and raise her bow. I could barely hear the string pull back. I could hear Emily and Jame's breath as they listened.

I felt like my lungs were going to die when James finally said, "It was probably just a squirrel."

I heard Emily lower her bow and turn to James, "Probably."