Free Microsoft Word - BETROTHED.docx by Noah

"I was looking out for you. I was protecting you. That man elbowed you.”
    "I don’t need your protection," Polly said. "I can handle myself, in case you forgot. It's not like I'm human. And I especially don't need any protection from any boys. I'm fine on my own. And besides—you weren’t protecting me: you were endangering me. And just flattering your own ego.” Sam felt angry now. He had thought she’d be grateful, and couldn’t understand why she was upset.
    "Fine,” he snapped. “I won't help you again.”
    "Fine," she snapped back.
    Sam stood there fuming, watching her back as she walked away.
    Girls , he thought. He would never understand them.

CHAPTER SEVEN
    Caitlin marveled at how quickly children rebounded. Scarlet walked beside her, practically skipping with joy, laughing aloud as she played with Ruth. Ruth practically skipped, too, glued to Scarlet’s side, turning her head left and right, on the lookout for any and all possible harm that might come within ten feet of Scarlet. Caitlin had never seen Ruth so protective, or so overjoyed. The two seemed like a match made in heaven, and they were already inseparable.
    Scarlet smiled from ear to ear, and looking at her now, it would seem as if she had never suffered any hardship at all. It lifted Caitlin's heart. It had crushed her to see Scarlet lying there, being beaten by that cruel human being. Now, she seemed alive again.
    Caitlin was thrilled to have Scarlet by her side, too. She couldn't help herself, but as she studied her, she found herself thinking of the child that she and Caleb might have had, had they remained in the 21st century. She couldn’t help but wonder if their child might have turned out somewhat like Scarlet. It was strange, but Caitlin even felt as if she could recognize some of her own facial features in the girl. Their connection felt so real, so natural, Caitlin felt, as she walked, as if she had always known her.
    After the incident in the alleyway, Ruth had started whining again, and Scarlet had rightly observed that she was famished. Before Caitlin and Caleb could decide where to go next, Scarlet had insisted on leading the way to food, and had skipped off without another word, barely even asking for their approval. She had seen that Ruth was hungry and was determined to rectify that. Caitlin and Caleb smiled as they found themselves following along, twisting and turning in and out of side streets and alleyways to Scarlet’s lead.
    Ruth couldn't be happier. It was as if she knew she were being led to a coming meal.
    "It's not too far now, Ruth," Scarlet said, stroking her head. “Just a few more blocks. Hang in there.”
    Ruth whined in delight, wagging her tail, as if she understood.
    Scarlet turned to Caitlin as she walked.
    "You see there?" asked Scarlet. "That's the river. Just at the end of this block. From there, we make a left, and that takes us along Bankside. Just past the row houses is a wharf, and there’s a man there that sells strips of meat. It’s not the best in town, but they're cheap. I'm afraid I haven’t any money, though.”
    "Don't worry," Caleb said, reaching into his pocket and extracting a fistful of gold coins. Caitlin looked at them in wonder, wondering where he got them.
    "They're not from this time and place,” he said with a smile, “but they’re gold after all. I'm sure no vendor would turn this down.”
    Scarlet's eyes opened wide. "My God,” she exclaimed, “are you rich or something?"
    Caleb smiled down. "Something like that.”
    Scarlet practically skipped as they continued down the street, reaching the river, just like she had said. Caitlin marveled at her sense of direction. She had been leading them, twisting them in and out of back streets, determined to show them her entire neighborhood. They were on her turf now, and she had insisted on giving them a grand tour, as if she had been waiting for them.
    As they reached the waterfront, Scarlet suddenly stopped, as if frozen, and