Small Ton Girl

[Reuben Slade]

Tag: Elizabeth Davenport

never make

DECISIONS OUT OF FEAR.
ONLY OUT OF SPITE.

Evelina did as expected, practically throwing herself into Elizabeth's embrace, wrapping her tiny arms around her. "Thank you for coming Miss Lizzie! I missed you!" It had only been a few days but Evelina had wanted to spend more time with the woman. When she asked about her friend, Evelina brightly smiled and enthusiastically nodded. "This is Gilberto!" She announced proudly. "But you can called him Sir Gilly! That's what our friends and family called him!" Though it was mostly only those that they were close to; her aunties and uncle did not seem . . . receptive to the name.

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"We haded him for a loooonnng time! You can pet him! He doesn't bite! He gives the best kisses!" Gilly clearly wanting to get in on the excitement, started nudging his head against Dawn's dress, emitting another bleat while leaving his tongue hanging out. Despite his silence, Rueben watched everything very carefully. He watched Elizabeth's reaction upon seeing Evelina, the way she naturally smiled at the sight. He watched her instinctive position of lowering herself to welcome Evelina into her arms, rather than keeping to any formality.

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He watched the way her smile remained when seeing Gilberto, asking about him rather than repulsed by him, or fearing that he would cause unrest or any dishevelment. Yes. Rueben was indeed taking in every sight, protective over his daughter and watching to see how they acted around her because . . . after all, he did need a mother for Evelina. "PAPA!" Her voice causing him to turn his head to look at the pair. "Sir Gilly likes Miss Dawn and Miss Lizzie!" Slade gave a small smile at his daughter's words, watching the goat work to get the same affection.

[Elizabeth Davenport]

She was thrilled when Evie ran into her arms. Elizabeth closed the little girl into her embrace and gave her a hug. "Of course," she assured her. "And I'm quite certain I missed you more!" Elizabeth's attention turned towards the goat that appeared to be the four legged friend Reuben had been referring to only moments ago. To hear his name brought a smile to Elizabeth's face. She wondered if Evie had given him the name or how old she was when Sir Gilly had been brought into her life. It certainly wasn't an expected animal for a child to have as a companion but Elizabeth saw no harm in it. If it made Evie happy, which he surely did, then what was the harm?

Elizabeth watched as Sir Gilly approached Dawn, her ladies maid quite apprehensive about the animal. Truthfully, it only made Elizabeth chuckle and she reached out for the goat to approach her. "It is lovely to meet you, Sir Gilly," Elizabeth cooed, reaching out and petting the animal and giving him a scratch under his chin. Elizabeth laughed at Evie wanting her father to see that Sir Gilly was fond of Lizzie and Dawn, noticing even the smallest of smiles on his face for his daughter. A rare sight but Elizabeth found it quite lovely. 

Standing up from kneeling on the ground, Elizabeth reached into her pocket. "Oh, I do have something for you," she said to Evie. "Perhaps keep it where Sir Gilly can not make it his afternoon snack though, yes?" She suggested. Elizabeth was not knowledgeable on goats and how they worked but she did know they tended to get into everything. Elizabeth handed the drawing to Evie, the one that Ben had done with the Monarch Butterfly and Elizabeth's handwriting on it. 

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Tag: Reuben Slade

credit to Laura of Adox