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Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Rebecca was in her room the next day, a beer stolen from the cellar in her hand. She felt stupid for how she had acted with Jingo. What had come over her? What had made her act that way? She shook her head and tried to dismiss it.
But then...
No. She told herself firmly. No, you wil not like him. Not like that- No! Better yet! To avoid the whole situation, avoid him entirely. She tried to make herself be happy with this solution but knew there was little point in it.
"Rebecca?" It was Tammy. Tammy was an 15 year old sweet heart. Her hair was dirty blond and her eyes were the most innocent shade of violet. Her skin was soft and clear and her face was sweet...so innocent.
Rebecca stood and searched for her calmly. "Where are you Tammy?" Rebecca gasped and dropped the bottle, letting it shatter to the floor. A man came around the corner, holding a knife to Tammy's throat. Rebecca's eyes quickly glanced at Jingo's sword. He went out with the boys earlier and left it here. It was under his bunk. So close... If Jingo was under the impression he was the only one who knew how to use it, he was wrong.
She looked at the man and demanded, "Who the hell are you? What do you want?"
Jingo if this is your fault...
"Rumor has it that the King of Thieve's son is around. The orphanage owner is uh...taking a nap for awhile and this girl refused to tell me anything. Be more cooperative and nothing will happen."
Jingo's a dead man walking!!
Rebecca glared at the man so darkly, he took a step back. She then said coldly, "Let her go. I've never met the King of Thieves much less his son." If she was going to wipe his memory from her, now would be a good time to start.
"Oo...well you see miss, as much as I'd like to believe that boldfaced lie-"
"How dare you accuse me of lying!" Even though she was, that wasn't the point.
He grinned. "I accuse you of lying because you are. A little boy down stairs told me the Prince of Thieves played cards with him last night."
Rebecca had an idea. She slapped her forehead. "Oh! Of course! How stupid of me to forget such a scandal! Jim tried to keep him out but he wouldn't hear it. The boy refused to stop crying and so he played cards with him and spent the night. I'm afraid that he took off this morning. He said he was heading for Tremmoton. Please, release her now, can't you see she's scared out of her mind?"
The man seemed to buy it and released Tammy, who, ran to Rebecca and cried softling into her chest as Rebecca held her, her eyes still on the man. "Alright. If you say so but I'm only believing this on one condition."
Rebecca put Tammy behind her as she said cautiously, "What...?"
He folded his arms and said, "You have to come with me while I search for him."
Tammy objected and tried to get in front of Rebecca but Rebecca, without even looking back, shoved Tammy back onto the bed. Rebecca stepped forward and said, "If I come, everyone here has to remain completely safe."
"Oh and, one more thing."
"I don't give a flying ******** what else you want, not until you agree to my condition you slime ball."
He glared at her darkly, "Fine. Everyone else will be safe."
Rebecca then challenged. "I have your word?"
"Yes yes you have it! Now," He went to her and grabbed her jaw. He smiled down at her, his foul breath blowing in her face. His eyes were dark...so was his hair and skin. His gutteral accent made her sick as he said, "If I don't find him there, you shall be hanged for treason."
Rebecca slapped his hand away and said under her breath but loud enough to hear, "Let me pack." She went to Jingo's bunk and pretended to grab what she needed. As the man turned his back to inspect the room, she stealthily pulled out the sword. He turned and saw her. He pulled his own sword and swung at her.
She ripped it from the sheath and blocked the man's blow. Rebecca managed to make the man back up and trip over a toy. She felt his sword hit her arm but not terribly hard. She ran the man through without a second thought. Tammy burst into a new wave of tears. Tammy would fear Rebecca now. Rebecca pulled out the sword just as the others came crashing through the door. Charlie and Jingo were in the lead.
"WHAT HAPPENED?" All the boys yelled.
Charlie then said, "Everyone downstairs is frightened, crying, or cursing. What's going on?"
Rebecca walked to the bed, sheathed the bloodied sword, and thrust it a Jingo. She glared at him darkly and said, "Get out. Because of you, innocent lives were at stake. Not again. Leave now."
Jingo stared her in the eye as Kai ran to a crying Tammy. "I can't."
Rebecca's glared deepened. "I don't particuarly care. Get out of this place at once. I will not have my friends endangered for a cutthroat thief!"
Jingo then said, "You have no idea why I'm here anyway! If you would just listen-" He noticed her sleeve, which was now crimson.
"He got you..." He said staring at the wound.
Rebecca ignored it, no matter how much it seered. "I'm fine. It's just a scratch."
Jingo held her arm so he could examine the wound but she pulled from him. "Rebecca, let me help."
"You've helped enough! Tammy could have died! You stupid insensitive b*****d!" She was surprisingly calm for one so furious.
Jingo then said, "Look, I'm only here on orders-"
"NO! One day! One day and look what you've done! No! I won't give you that chance Jingo! I want you out of here! Now if you'll exuse me, I have to go make sure Jim is okay." She ran past them.
Jingo sighed heavily and ran a hand through his hair. This was his fault but he needed a little more time. He had to fufill his duty! He had to find the woman Eric had sent him in search of.
Rebecca came back upstairs flustered, "Jim..."
"Is he okay?" Charlie said softly.
Rebecca looked seriously worried. "He's dead."
Jingo, Charlie, Rebecca, and Kai all sat in Jim's room the day after the informal funeral in the back yard. Rebecca wouldn't look at Jingo. Charlie said calmly, "I realize we have little time to greive and that we have little time to waste but we have to settle this now." Rebecca knew his next words were directed at her. "I also realize that Jingo has brought hell on this house but...we have to let him stay."
Rebecca instantly objected, "No. Not after what happened. If Jim had kicked him out yesterday, HE WOULD STILL BE HERE!"
Charlie looked at her sympathetically. Jim was the closest thing to a father she had ever known. "I know but nonetheless we have to let him stay. Now, there are ways we can fortify the house."
Rebecca sat but said nothing, her expression furious. Jingo then said, "I'm sorry for the loss I've caused but I really must stay here."
"Why?" Rebecca demanded of him.
Jingo wanted to tell him, honest to God he did, but he only said, "I can't."
"Can't what?" Kai asked kindly.
He looked at her and said apologetically, "I can't tell you. It's bad enough you know who I am. My father was furious when I told him you knew. No one was supposed to know but Rebecca caught me, God knows how."
Rebecca then grumbled, "Intellgence...something you obviously lack."
Jingo ignored that as Charlie said, "Rebecca, please. Be reasonable. He has a duty to his father. Wouldn't you want to be able to serve your father honorably?"
This was a hit below the belt. Rebecca had wanted nothing more in her life than to be with her father, to serve him as best he could. Rebecca then said very soft, "Fine. But he has to help."
"Happily." Jingo offered.
Charlie nodded his head. "It's settled then. He stays."
"Now, what about food? We're the oldest and the only ones who can leave the house."
Rebecca said, "We'll take turns. Charlie and Kai, you two can go out shopping the first time, Charlie and Jingo can go the next time."
"Hold on." Charlie interjected. "I'm not going every time. I'm especially not leaving Kai and you alone to protect the kids! I agreed with you until you made it so you never have to go. You and Jingo go every other time."
Rebecca glared at the coffee table. Today was not her day. "Fine."
Charlie then said, "Alight. That's settled."
"What about fortifying the house properly?" Jingo chimed in.
Charlie and the group thought hard for a long time. Rebecca didn't seem to have any more ideas then they did until-
"I think it would be more important to stock up before we worry about the house. If we get food, then fortify the place, and get some ground rules set for the little ones we may have a better chance at getting through this."
"For once I agree with her." Jingo said softly.
Kai then said, "One final matter to attend to. We can't run the boarding house and me and Rebecca checked, there's no will. The major won't let us run this place alone."
"He doesn't have to know." Rebecca said smiling maliciously.
Charlie was afraid of that smile but agreed, "It's all settled then. Jingo stays, no one says a word about Jim's death, we get food and then..." He paused. "And then we make this place a death trap to unwanted visitors.
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