Katie

“Great work today Katie,” Annie says.

“Thanks Grandma,” Katie replies as she is hopping off her horse.

Katie has been practicing some higher hurdles and cross country obstacles with her horse, Blaze. She has been attending Pony Club since she was six years old. It was her grandmother’s way of helping Katie deal with her mother’s death. Blaze has been her therapy and companion for ten years. The two have become inseparable, knowing when each other is feeling down and in need of comfort.

“Good boy, Blaze,” Katie says patting him before taking off his saddle and saddle rug.

“Remember that you are going to your Dad’s this coming week, darling,” her grandmother says to her.

“Do I have to Grandma? I can just stay home, I’m old enough to look after myself,” Katie whines.

“I know that,” her grandmother, Annie, sighs. “But you don’t get to see your Dad or Gavin very often so it’s important. Plus your Dad is looking forward to seeing you.”

Katie brushes Blaze down as Annie goes off to chat with some of the parents. “Oh Blaze, if only she knew how horrible he is to me. It would break her heart,” Katie says quietly to her horse. Blaze just neighs and rubs his head against her arm.

Katie has been keeping a secret from her beloved grandmother for a long time. A secret that she fears would not just break her grandmother's heart but has the potential to alter the lives of everyone in her family. A secret not even her best friends know about.

On the way home Katie and her Grandma sing along to the songs on the radio. Annie loves her granddaughter and has tried not to spoil her after taking her in when her daughter in-law, Maree, died. Her son, Rodney, had care of their son Gavin whilst Katie lived with Maree. It had been a mutual decision after their marriage breakdown and although Rodney tried to be there for his young daughter after his ex-wife's passing it wasn't easy so the decision was made for Katie to live with Annie.

“How are those driving lessons coming along, darling?” Annie asks Katie.

“Umm, they’re great. Thanks Grandma. I’m learning heaps.”

“Good. They weren’t cheap but I’m sure it’s better then listening to me try to teach you,” Annie says.

Katie laughs “You’re not that bad Grandma.”

“Thanks darling, but I’m glad that you’re learning to drive a manual car. I’ve only ever driven an auto and when your Grandpa was alive, he did most of the driving.”

“Well I think you do a pretty well considering you’ve got a horse float on the back,” Katie says knowing that her grandmother is going 10 kilometres below the speed limit.

“Yeah well, I think you’ve mastered the art of reversing this bloody thing,” Annie says and Katie laughs. “Your birthday is coming up soon, darling. What would you like this year?” Annie adds.

“Umm probably just some new riding boots,” Katie replies.

“Anything else? A party perhaps? You know you haven’t brought the girls over in a while.”

“No party. Amy moved to Tasmania remember? I told you four months ago, for her Dad’s job,” Katie replies with a inquisitive look. She had noticed her grandmother forget little things a fair bit of late.

“Oh, yes. Sorry, I can’t keep up with everything. What about the other girls?” Annie asks.

“Stacey has decided that since Amy left, Em and I aren’t cool enough to hang out with anymore,” Katie says sadly.

“Oh darling, I’m so sorry. Well, Emma can come for a sleep over then. I’m sure she’d appreciate some girl time,” Annie says.

“Yeah,” Katie sighs as she looks out the window and thinks about her best friend. Emma’s Mum died when she was twelve so she lives with her father and younger brother. “But my birthday isn’t for another three months,” Katie adds.

“I know, but I like to be prepared,” Annie replies.

After unloading Blaze and all of Katie's riding gear, Katie spends the night talking with her friends on the phone as any ordinary sixteen year old girl would while her grandmother potters about making dinner and doing a load of washing.

A few days later Katie is driving with her Grandma to her Dad’s. Katie is driving the four hour drive as she needs to build up the last of her hours before she can get her P plates. It also gives her time to mentally prepare for what awaits her at the house she has come to loathe.

“How long are you staying for Grandma?” Katie's older brother Gavin asks Annie when they arrive.

“Oh, just the night dear, but I’ll stay for a few days when I come back to collect your sister,” Annie answers him.

“Cool. I’m not working Saturday, so I’m gonna steal ya and take ya out for the day.”

“Oh, that sounds lovely dear,” Annie replies with a smile, as Gavin puts his arms around her shoulders.

“Mum. You’re early,” says Katie’s father, Rodney, as he walks out of the house a little shocked. He had not long been home himself after catching up with friends.

“Katie drove so we made good time. She’s not afraid of the trucks like I am,” Annie replies to her son with a chuckle.

“I hope you weren’t speeding Katie,” Rodney directs to his daughter.

“No Dad. I set the cruise control on Grandma’s car just to make sure,” Katie answers trying to be confident.

“Good. Well you know where things are and where your room is,” he says firmly to her.

“Yes Dad. I’ll take your bag Grandma,” Katie replies meekly and picks up her grandmother's overnight bag.

“Thanks, darling,” Annie says, not noticing her granddaughter's change in demeanour or her son's intense gaze on Katie.

Katie hates staying with her Dad. As soon as her Grandma leaves she is forced to earn her keep by cleaning the house. Every day she must have breakfast on the table by 7 o’clock and by the time her brother and father return home from work she must have completed the daily cleaning list which sometimes includes ironing, washing windows, cleaning the gutters or washing walls, as well as having dinner on the table by 6pm. Rodney makes his daughter wear a shirt that looks like a cleaner’s uniform.

Katie had learnt to leave her phone at home in her room at her Grandma’s house, otherwise her father confiscates it for the entire time she is there so that she can’t talk to anyone. She had messaged her friends this morning before she left to say that she would be at her Dad’s for the week. She also had an early morning ride on Blaze knowing she won't see him for a week.

Katie always gets reprimanded if something is not quite done right. Hospital corners on the bed sheets is a must, towels must be fluffy and folded a particular way, and so on. If Gavin complains that she didn’t wash something, he has resorted to shouting at her and calling her derogatory names. Being treated like a live in maid or servant isn't how a child is supposed to treated by a parent or sibling, but Katie has come to a silent agreement with herself that she only has to hang on until her birthday in October. Hopefully then she can use the excuse of work as a reason not to visit her father and brother any more. She made up a poster offering horse riding lessons, last week, and plans to put them up in shops back home after the school holidays.

It’s been three days since her Grandma left her there and so far she’s been called every name under the sun by both her father and brother. She’s even been spat on. But the weirdest thing is that her Dad has been touching her butt or her hair as he walks past her in the kitchen and hallway. This morning he even grabbed and held onto her hand as he told her what jobs he wanted done. She flinched like she always does whenever he goes to touch or hit her, but he hasn’t comforted or held her hand in over eight years. As she went about her day of cleaning she didn't know what to think of her father's sudden affection, if that's at all what you could call it.

Katie is snuggled up into bed praying that sleep comes to her soon. She can’t put the washing machine or dryer on overnight as her Dad doesn’t like the noise. He likes silence when he plays his guitar after his shower. She’s almost asleep when she hears her bedroom door open and close. She doesn’t panic initially as her Dad normally checks on her every night to ensure that she is actually in bed and not trying to escape, not that she has anywhere to go.

It’s not until she feels a hand on her hair and her covers being pulled back that she freezes, not even breathing. She knows by the smell that it’s her Dad. Last night she thought that she had dreamt someone stroking her hair as they sat on the bed. Could he of done it for real?

“You look so much like your mother,” Rodney whispers out, stroking her hair.

Katie feels him lay next to her and panic begins to set in at lightening speed. He's never done this before. Heck, she couldn't even remember snuggling up to her Dad before her mother passed away. She never what people consider to be a 'daddy's girl'.

Rodney was shocked to see how much Katie looked like his late wife. Maree was a stunning woman and he loved her immensely even though she slept with her best friend’s husband. Over the years he could see them as two separate people, but as Katie approaches seventeen she is becoming a carbon copy of her mother. A woman that Rodney remembers vividly and still keeps photographs of in his built in wardrobe to look at every morning as he dresses for work.

Rodney lay completely naked next to his daughter, he had removed his pyjama bottoms just before climbing in the bed with his daughter. He was getting hard just breathing in her beautiful smell. He missed his wife and had never found a replacement, but now that Katie had blossomed into an almost carbon copy of her mother, he wanted her.

He had spent the last few days admiring everything about Katie as she moved about doing everything he asked while he sipped on his red wine. His thoughts not pure and innocent.

“Stunning,” he says as he runs a hand down her back.

Katie is on her side facing the window, imaging that someone would break in and save her from what is happening. Hell, even her brother barging in right now would better then nothing and he is a complete ass.

“You belong to me Katie. I know you’re awake. You will not make a sound or there will be consequences, is that understood?” Rodney breathes against her ear.

Katie nods quickly, as she squeezes her eyes shut. She can smell the wine on his breath. He had consumed an entire bottle over dinner and had opened a second whilst she was doing the dishes.

“Words, sweetheart.”

“Y-yes,” she whimpers in reply.

Rodney pulls her onto her back and uses his hands to roam over her chest, stomach and down to her sweet spot. “Has any boy ever touched this before?” he asks her as he cups her over her pyjamas.

“N-no,” Katie whimpers out quietly.

This pleases Rodney and he groans in pleasure. “Good. You will be a good girl for Daddy, won’t you?”

Katie is terrified and wants to scream out but can’t as her father cuts off her thoughts.

“He’s not going to rescue you. He’s busy playing games on his X-box with his headphones on,” Rodney says referring to his son.

Katie has tears falling but doesn’t dare make a sound. The last time he told her not to make any noise and she accidently sneezed, he hit her with his belt across her back and backside about twenty times. That time he was on the phone so she could only imagine what he would do to her if she made a noise now.