Free Jack and the Beanstalk (Faerie Tale Collection) by Jenni James

at her brother. Please do not let him be dead. Please do not let him be dead! “Jack!” Jill cried as she rushed forward and pressed her hands against his chest. “Jack! Wake up!” It was then that she noticed one of his legs was bent awkwardly.
    “What is that sound?” Rachel muttered. “And Jill! How long have you been here?”
    Jill decided now was not the time to answer useless questions. “The sound is the baby. She needs help. Right now.”
    “Verity?” Rachel sat up more fully. “Where is she?”
    Jill pointed. “In the box, but I cannot lift it. Jack! Jack!”
    “Goodness!” Rachel looked around and, seeing the music box, pulled herself all the way up, clinging to the bars. “Help me,” she called.
    Jill left her brother and hurried over. Together they heaved and pushed with all their might until they were able to lift the box on its side, with the latch at the top.
    The baby screamed in fright at the movement, her muffled cries growing in intensity.
    “Hush, Verity,” Rachel cooed as she unlocked the thing. “I am coming. It is almost over, baby.”
    The lid sprang open and a very red-faced, sweaty Verity, along with several pillows, came toppling out. Jill leaped forward and caught the baby up in her arms. For such a little thing, she could surely cry. After a few moments of the girl’s tears, Rachel held out her arms and Jill gratefully passed the child on before hastening back to her brother.
    “Jack!” she called. “Jack!” This time she yanked on his broad shoulders to try to wake him.
    “No.” Rachel fell to her knees, the baby cradled against her. She gasped. “No. Do not tell me he is gone. He cannot die while I yet live. He cannot. He saved me—he saved me and the baby.”
    Jill took a deep breath. “We do not know if he is dead. There is not time for theatrics until we know he is truly gone.” She hovered her hand over his mouth and nose to see if any air was coming out. She could feel nothing. Looking around the area, she found a thin piece of gold about the size of her palm that had come off the door. Placing that just above his mouth and nose, she watched while Rachel sniffled, calming her tears.
    Please let him live.
    Please let him live.
    Please let him live.
    Just as she was about to give up, a small cloud of steam from his breath formed itself upon the gold. Yes. He was alive. “He is just stunned!” She smiled at Rachel. “He is alive.”
    “Thank the heavens!” Rachel collapsed against the mattress that was tossed aside and leaning upright against the cage. “What do we do now?”
    “I do not know, but I imagine whatever we decide, we better make it quick before the giant comes back.”
    Rachel grimaced. “Who knows what he will do to us then!” She looked down at the child in her arms. Verity had stopped crying and was down to a few fast-paced whimpers now that she was safe again.
    “The poor baby,” Jill whispered. “What a rough time of it she has had.”
    Rachel shook her head. “You have no idea. I cannot imagine what would have become of her if I had not been captured too. It breaks my heart just thinking of the fear she has experienced already.”
    “Well, there is no need for any more suffering. We have to get out of here.” Jill glanced over at Jack, seeing again that his leg was twisted. She leaned over and positioned it better. “It would be wise for us to think of a way to get him out of this castle on our own, in case he does not wake up.”
    “He has to wake up. We cannot do it without him. He has to.”
    Jill saw the golden cage door and walked over to it. “What if we dragged him on something like this?” Tugging on it, she saw that it weighed too much to pull on her own. “Never mind. I had forgotten how heavy gold is until this moment.” She walked around the settee to see what else could be of use in the room. When her eyes alighted on the curtain tieback still lying upon the floor, she quickly snatched it up and dragged the whole