Edwards Patrimony(The Pretty She Wolf)

CHAPTER ONE "Mariane come see, he looks so handsome in person." Ella shouted. Ella, Mariane's younger sister of about twelve years old, made desperate effort to get her elder sister’s attention. She had ignored her all day while busy with a rice stem she tended to under the hazy sun that was fast losing its brilliance. The object of Ella’s delight was the passage of Edward, the first son of Sir. Charles the Barker. His father, a wealthy farmer owned expanse acres of land including the plantation the two sisters worked on. Edward had recently returned abroad from his studies fortnight ago and as the eldest son of the rich farmer, had taken control of his father’s enterprise following his untimely demise while attending to businesses in a place far away from the plantation. Edward was visiting the plantation for the very first time in years since he had abroad in the pursuit of education and the fulfilling need to build a career for himself. He had always assured himself that despite his father’s wealth that he would build a career and live to accumulate fortune he would proudly call his own. Yet, in the meantime, while his career still develops, he knew he had to protect his father’s wealth and legacy and visiting the plantation was one of the many ways he continued to prove himself a loyal son to his father and cherish his memory. His fanciful hat and a fashionable embroidered black coat that gave his handsome face a touch of royalty had just got Ella’s attention and she troubled Mariane to join him and feast on the image of the handsome young man making his way towards them. "Who might that be, Ella?” Mariane asked in total wonder of whom the handsome gentleman walking down the rice farm might be. "They say his the first son of Late Sir. Charles Barker, the oldest of the three sons; who just returned from the United States of America". Ella replied her sister. "You mean.... that’s Edward Barker?" Mariane asked rhetorically in shock. Mariane and Ella are the children of Mr. and Mrs. Jones a werewolf family, who work at the plantation owned by the Barker's, a werewolf Clan which Edward is to become the new Alpha as the first son of the family. Mariane knew Edward years back when they were kids, they used to play around the plantation when Edward's parents, Sir. Charles Barker and Lady. Brim Barker did their weekly visit routine to see how their workers were faring. At the Age of fifteen, Edward was sent to American to further his studies in business administration and management which he was naturally drawn to as a child. As a child growing up, Edward never seemed disturbed or distressed to follow his parents to the plantation even when his two younger brothers Stephen and Reign would refuse to go with them. The duo would prefer to stay back at the Barker's Mansion in the care of their housekeeper, Molia, and play around all day. Edward, always wanting to be productive, would accompany his father to the plantain to oversee how the workers and the produce at the plantation faired. It was in the cause of those visit that he met Mariane, a beautiful dame about his age. It was her oval face, her blue eyes and the dimples that scattered each time she curtsied to say “good morning” or “good afternoon” or “good evening” depending on the time of the day that first attracted Edward to her. He loved the way she smiled and the metallic sound that echoed with it like some magician reveling in his act. Edward loves to visit the plantation knowing he will get to see Mariane and play with her. They were friends and both of them loved to be around the plantation; especially at the rice farm probably listening to their parents take stock and account of the records for running the plantation smoothly during the day or playing catch game in their werewolf forms under the moon at night. And there were many nights he had seen her in his dreams. In many of those dreams, they had held hands, and Mariane, looking steadily into his eyes would smile and laugh and laugh while they tumbled over a hill that were covered in snow and white. Many times he had woken up with the sad realization that it was only a dream and he had prayed that Mariane would someday hold his hands and smile to him in reality. But all that was a very long time ago before he travelled overseas and they never saw each other. Little wonder it surprised her what he looked like in his newly acquired manly frame and the reason it appears like she was seeing him for the very first time in her life. The news of his father's demise reached him in the morning of his graduation from Hartwick College Oneonta, New York. That morning Edward was all ready for his big day, although he knew very well that because of his father's health condition, his parents would not be making it to New York to witness his graduation. He happily prepared like his college mates for the graduation and had perfected the plans for the after party when the news of his father’s demise filtered in and tore his joy and celebration to shred. Everyone knew there was no longer going to be a party, not with the bond Edward shared with his father. Two days after, Edward flew to London and boarded a train to rejoin his family in the small Ulster providence where the remains of his father awaited his return to would mark the beginning of the process to give him a befitting burial. *** At the Uslter Province in the Barker's Mansion, Lady Brim Barker a she-wolf, now the widow of the late Alpha left the head maid with orders to bring the Mansion to a state of orderliness in readiness for Edward's return. The head maid, Molia, moved around issuing out orders, correcting mistakes and making sure everything was set for the return of Sir. Edward Barker. "You there, bring the flowers to this end. Make sure it's close to the windows. Lady Barker will love the breeze to circulate their natural fragrance around the room." Molia instructed the other maid. She had lived in the Baker’s Mansion her entire life and knew how much Edward and the Bakers were in love with flowers and nature. The men who brought in the daisy flowers in a giant flower vase, placed them down close to the windows as ordered. There were flowers of different sort strategically positioned at different corners of the building. Lady Baker had ensured that ecological concerns were factored in while gathering the flowers and stacking them for display. At about 8:45pm that evening, Edward arrived at the Mansion driven in their Peugot 504 by his younger brother, Stephen, who was at the train station to pick him up. Edward despite his grieving mood could not help but admire the much transformation the mansion and the entire providence had witnessed in the few years he was away. It was a happy transformation and it delighted his soul especially to be back to a place he called home. "Wow! Everywhere looks different but still feels at home." Edward commented admiring a forest of hyacinth and orchids joined by a group of heliconia pendula that graced his view. Stephen had told her of her mother’s effort to ensure that nature was still at its prime and peak in their home amidst ecological menace and Edward had appreciated the realization that her mother had not lost touch at all with nature in all the years. He had other spectacular sights and objects along his path to distract him and lighten the burden of grief in his heart while his brother walked him through the main door that connects to the hallway leading to their mother’s room. The door opened and Lady Barker who was perched on the bed looking out the windows lost in thoughts, turned to see her two sons as they stepped into the room. "Edward, you're back." She said as she reached to hug her son who is now three feet taller than her. Edward bent to hug his mother passionately. "I am sorry my darling, we spoilt your big day with such a distressing news." Lady Barker said releasing Edward from her grip. Edward saw tears forming in her eyes and reached to wipe them as they made their way down her cheeks. "You don't have to be mother". Edward said wiping her tears. "He was my husband and we loved each other very much". Lady Barker said referring to her late husband the former Alpha of their clan Sir. Charles Barker. "He was my father too, our father and we loved him too". They two brothers consoled their mother. "You are now the new head of this family and you will need to take up the responsibilities that comes with it, starting from making all the necessary arrangements for your father to be laid to rest. But before then, you need to visit the plantain to inform to know how the workers are faring, to formally announce to them about the death of your father and your emergence as their new boss and employer too. They need to be fully are that a lot of organizational adjustment would have to be made. I think later we can sit down and talk about your vision for your father’s businesses and how you hope to take charge and improve things around here." Lady Barker sat back on the bed, with Edward’s hand still in hers, explained things to her son. They both knew it was going to be a long night for them. *** Within three weeks of returning to the providence and the plantation, Edward finally assumed full control of his father’s business. He was fully aware of the enormous task on his shoulders, the task of taking charge and carving at a niche for his other brothers. He needed to show courage and strength since his family clearly spelt out in his will that the future of his estate and that of his brothers are heavily dependent on the decisions he made while taking charge of the estate and on how much of a leader he becomes for the rest of them. He was determined to succeed. On one of those mornings he labored with loads of documents, files and official reports from his father’s different businesses that needed his attention and urgent response, Stephen often came around to distract him and teased him and the task of being the first son. "I guess that's why you are perfectly suited to be the first son, I can't imagine sitting down in a place all day looking at books." Stephen confessed and he meant it. He had always wanted to be a basketball player and had eyes in sports and outdoor events that would lead him to stardom away from the plantation. Several times, Stephen had turned down offers to hold forte for him while he attended to the business of his education but for the sake of the brotherly love they shared, he consented few times and stayed in the office adjacent to the main building to oversee things. Stephen was always happy to have him take over from him again to disappear to his game. "Have has much fun as you want, but don't forget that you too have duties to fulfill and responsibilities to take on". Edward said turning down to the document on the desk in front of him. Stephen would always smile, his sea blue eyes lit up in a bright golden colour while he bends slightly with his hands on the fine smooth brown desk. "But it's more of your responsibility than mine." He said with a cheeky smile on his face. "And why would you say that?" "Father always knew that I had little interest in business and properties, that's why he gave the instructions that my success depends on yours first. So brother, you have work to do". He smiled assumingly at him. "What will you have me do? I barely know anything and anyone around here. Sometimes I feel lost with the bulk of work before me. I feel like I am in the middle of nowhere, or better still, in an air-tight room gasping for air and survival." He said a lot before he left his twisted face to complete the things he could not say and surprisingly Stephen, who knew the enormity of stress involved in keeping up with their father’s business, understood him. “I suggest you visit the plantation more often, make friends with the workers there, and interact with them. I believe some of the answers you seek and the strength you need lies with many of them.” He told him and was surprised by the rapt attention he showed. "I have seen our father do that very often. Rather than sitting all there here working on lifeless documents, he chooses to interact with them, have first-class information about things and see them for himself. Remember he mentioned it in his will, the need to be closer to the workers than you would be to this office.” He told him. “The old man never says something without a good reason, so I think you should start heeding to his instructions, rather than hiding yourself away from the world, the entire clan is eager to receive you as the new Alpha". With that Stephen walks out of the office, leaving Edward in deeper thoughts than he met him. Edward haven't given his father's instructions a careful thought until that very moment. He knew his younger brother had known their father a bit more than himself, since he only spent time with his father on his few visits home during holidays. After a careful thought, he decided to be more practical in the way he handled the affairs of the plantation. He was ready to find the answers his brother claimed were in the domain of the workers in the plantation. On the Tuesday on the next week, Stephen was not surprised to spot his brother among the workers in the rice farm. They were laughing and making jokes and he had never seen the happiness he saw in his brother’s eyes in all the weeks he had locked up himself in their father’s office trying to prove himself a worthy son capable of sustaining their father’s heritage ad legacy. *** It was one of such visits that brought Edward towards the direction of the rice farm where Ella and Mariane diligently discharged their duties in the farm. Now at the entrance of the rice farm, Mariane battled with mixed feeling of surprise, anxiety and excitement of meeting Edward again after the years that have gone by. “Isn’t he handsome, sister?” Ella asked for the repeatedly as if she knew the answer her sister was bent on concealing. “Isn’t it a good thing to have such a handsome young man oversee a farm you work in?” She smiled. She was still young to talk about men but she knew her sister would not mind. “I think he is coming our way.” Ella announced as Edward took the path that would terminate at the part of the rice farm they tended. Mariane stood lost admiring the handsome young man in his white shirt tucked into his finely sewn black suit. His biceps bulged inside the sleeves of his shirt with broad shoulders and a gold coloured hair fallen backwards in a majestic manner from his apple shaped head. He was simply like a fine work of an artist meant to fetch a handsome price. Smiling he headed towards them, his movement like that of a trained soldier on a mission. “Mariane! Mariane! Can you hear me"? Ella asked as she has been trying to get her sisters attention. Right after the moment she announced Edward's presence, Mariane has been lost daydreaming without hearing a thing of the information about Edward her little sister has been filling her up on. She turns to look at Ella with a smile to conceal the obvious fact that she hasn't been listening all this while. Ella who knows her sister more than anyone else, turned to leave in anger but Mariane grabbed her hand promising to get her favorite candy if she would please repeat herself and all she knew about the young man still at a distance. "They said he came back for two reasons and one is more important than the other." Ella told her. "And what are those?" Mariane asked. “My candy if you wish to hear the rest.” Ella insisted. “You know I am out of candy at the moment. I will buy one at Mickey shop as soon as one shift is done, please.” Ella not trusting her sister demanded for money for the candy. Mariana fished some cents and handed over to her. With the coin now safe in her pocket, she let her tongue tell her sister all the grave vine information she obtained about Edward’s return. "Edward came back to take over the plantation and rule the entire province as the new Alpha after his father's demise." Ella explained. "That's the obvious first reason, but what's the second one"? Mariane asked. "Now that's the real deal. I heard that according to their father's will, each of them has to accomplish a certain task before he can inherit his own property from their father". Ella said making Mariane's gaze to widen as her interest grew. It never ceased to amaze her how her sister, like a petulant rat, obtains all the information on things happening in the province even when they spent their entire days on the plantation. Mariane had to tickle her sister as if to tickle all the secrets from her since the suspense was killing her. Ella giggled and held back like a clever she-wolf with the special abilities to sense people's feelings and read minds would when aware that she possessed information the other she-wolf is eager to know. The little She-wolf now laughing mischievously. Just that moment, Edward seemed to have been struck by a sudden realization, he turned back and headed to the direction he came from to Mariane’s heartbreak. His movement was jerky like he was in a haste to get to somewhere else. “There goes our prince charming.” Ella announced a bit disappointed as much as her sister was. She too wanted to know what would have happened between the two young beauties– her sister, Mariane and her new master, Edward. "Why are you only interested in Edward's task alone, you didn't bother asking of his brothers, Stephen and Reign's task too"? Ella queried her sister with a piercing look like that of a detective. "Well if you must know, Edward and I were once friends. In fact, we were so close that we exchanged our lunch with each other as kids". Mariane told her. "Hmm, interesting. I see. And how come you never talked about him?” Ella asked as they turned to leave the rice farm, heading back to their home which was just few kilometers away from the plantation. “I guess we grew up and adulthood happened to us. Besides, he is the son of our employer. We are class apart and it is useless nursing any dream of having him as a friend.” Mariane spoke solemnly as if suddenly realizing once more that it is useless dreaming for the love of a rich farmer and educated handsome young man like Edward. "It's been years since we last saw each other. Besides, I didn't expect to see him all of a sudden, even though I heard of his return to the province and his plans of visiting the plantation, I didn't expect it will be too soon." Mariane replied. "If he was truly your frend, you could have waved, said hello or something. You just sat here languidly and watched him change his direction. He was this close.” "I... I don't know, I thought he might not remember me as I too barely recognized him. Besides am covered in mud. Can’t you see?” Mariane said, trying to cut out her little sister's trick, who obvious was trying to read her mind. "Oh! I see. Anyway, he is so damn cute you know, no wonder his father gave him such a task" Ella chipped in. "You still haven't told me what his task is Ella". Mariane said. Ella giggled and ran off and did not stop until she approached the entrance of their homestead. It was almost sunset and soon night would descend and the both she-wolfs knew what awaits them at nightfall. The talk of Edward would certainly had to wait.