The Hidden Princess

The warm sun's rays rose over the lush green pastures below and dispelled the fog that had taken its chilling hold overnight. It spilled over the small stone cottage, warming it into a comforting glow. Beth trudged in through the side door and into the small bare kitchen. It was minimal and basic to say the least, but it was filled with love and laughter and was comforting to Beth. Beth had lived here her whole nineteen years of life. Her Papa worked as a timber framer for the mines that were nearby. He worked hard and was rarely home, but he always ensured that Beth and her four siblings were never hungry and always warm during the harsh winters. Beth pushed her fiery red wavy locks over her shoulder and tied her worn blue apron around her. She stroked the fire coals in the old wood stove. Once she had it blazing again she stood in front of it to dry the bottom of her skirts that the early morning dew had clung to in her trek to the chicken hutch. She cracked three brown eggs into a bowl of flour and mixed it until it formed a dough. She then poured eight small dough mounds into the sizzling cast iron skillet on the small wood stove. She loved these quiet moments in the morning before the house awoke into its full bustling noise. Beth always had to work nonstop throughout the day to keep the house running smoothly. Her mind was always a buzz thinking of the next thing that must be done, but for a few blissful moments in the early morning she could let her mind drift and just enjoy the quiet and solitude. She picked up the old porcelain teacup with its worn floral pattern barely visible on the side from years of use. She poured the bitter amber tea into it and sat down at the small wooden table. She took a sip and the hot liquid quickly warmed her insides and helped wake up her sleepy mind. She traced her finger delicately over the faded rose pattern on the side of the teacup. Her Mama had sipped her tea out of this cup many mornings while sitting at this same table. Her Mama had cherished this delicate teacup. It was something fancy and stuck out among the other basic and rudimentary things in the cottage. Her Papa had gifted her Mama this one snowy Christmas morning. Beth would never forget the love that shone in Mama's eyes as Papa exclaimed "A lady as pretty as you should sip her tea out of something as beautiful and lovely as she is and not from some dented ugly metal cup." There is no telling how many exhausting days Papa had to work in the dark mines to be able to afford such a luxury for Mama. But he always said she was worth it and so much more. He would bend over backwards just to bring a smile to Mama's face. Tragically, Mama died five short years later, soon after Beth's youngest sibling, Isabelle, was born. Mama was really weak and couldn't regain her strength after the birth and was bed ridden. Then the terrible Cholera epidemic of Glasgow ripped its savage claws through their Scotland town. Everyone in their home, besides Isabelle, soon became ill. They had all recovered from it. Everyone except Mama. Her body was too weak to fight off the deadly virus. She died only 10 hours after contracting the deadly virus. That was eight long hard years ago. And at the young age of eleven, Beth had to take over the responsibilities of running the house. "Beth, when is breakfast ready? I am starved!" asked Levi, who was coming in from feeding the cows and stirred Beth from her thoughts. Levi was two years younger than Beth and had to shoulder most of the farming and cattle chores now. He is 6'2" and has tousled dark brown hair with striking blue eyes. He is good-natured and always has a smile on his face. He will make some girl very happy someday if he ever gets a break from all the endless things to do around the farm to actually date a girl. "Almost ready! Take those nasty muddy boots off before you walk in here! And then go wash your hands!" Beth replied tersely as she swatted him with a kitchen towel. She pierced him with her deep emerald eyes. "Yes ma'am," Levi smirked as he flung his muddy boots off on to the porch, then entered the kitchen and walked to the basin and ceramic water pitcher. Levi admire Beth. At a young age, she had been thrown into Mama's role in the house while still grieving herself and without skipping a beat, she cared and fussed for all of them like a mother hen would. Sure she could go overboard sometimes, but there was no question about it, she loved them all. So Levi went along with her antics. Beth placed the hot biscuits in the middle of the worn wooden table, then a jar of sweet orange marmalade, lastly a big cold jug of fresh cow's milk. It wasn't much but it was hot and would fill their bellies until the midday meal. Next, Sam and Anna came through the side porch door. They are what you call Irish twins. Sam was born two years after Levi, then ten short months later, Anna was born. Sam and Anna both have sandy golden hair that appears almost white when the sun shines on it and warm chocolate eyes. They are inseparable, and a lot of people think that they are twins when they first meet them. At the same time, Isabelle comes bounding down the loft stairs with her adorable blonde ringlets bouncing up and down. She is the baby of the family and treated like a little princess. None of them ever wants her to feel like Mama's death was her fault, so they just naturally cater to her and diligently watch over her. When Papa came in and sat down at the table, everyone else sat down and started eating breakfast. "Four more cows were found mercilessly slaughtered this morning in Mr. Fletcher's pasture." Papa's baritone voice said. " That's the third time this week!" Levi exclaimed. "Did they find them..." Levi trailed off then coughed. " Did they find them in the same shape as the others?" Levi asked while nervously glancing in Isabelle's direction. He didn't want to upset Isabelle. It was gruesome how the cows were attacked. They had deep gashes and claw marks all over their bodies. Everyone thought it must be a pack of wild wolves or maybe one hungry bear attacking them one by one. Until they cut the cows open, that is. The frightening thing was the cows had no blood in their bodies. Even their organs were dry and hard. Not a drop of blood anywhere. It was like all their blood had been sucked from their bodies. Also, it was a different farm each time and they were spread out throughout their town. There was no rhyme or reason to the vicious attacks. It was disturbing and everyone in town has been frightened and worried. The attacks started a year ago but were minor in the beginning, a chicken was attacked here or there. Then a dog was found in the woods with the same claw marks and no blood. Then, slowly whatever was attacking the animals started picking off the cows one by one. They were usually weak or sick cows that were attacked. But now, just in the last week, ten heads of healthy, strong cattle were massacred. They had to figure out what was doing this and kill it or no one would have any cattle come springtime. "Yes" Papa solemnly replied. "They were killed in the same manner as the cows earlier in the week." Papa was barely audible as he looked off in the distance and rubbed his graying beard with concern laced in his brown eyes.