BreadCrumb Trail (The Yellow Hoods, #2): Steampunk meets Fairy Tale Read Online Free Page B

of devices and mechanisms to try to stop Tee from doing such things, say, as piloting her sail-cart off the edge of the cliff near their home.
    Unfortunately, for Richy, his parents had withdrawn from the situation and more or less left him to do whatever he wanted. His parents were wrapped up in their own affairs, and Richy was kept in the dark on such matters. They’d often stop an emotionally charged conversation whenever he would walk into the room. They didn’t notice him working on improving his sail-cart, or the amazing things he could do with it. Even when he wanted to tell them about it, they just smiled and said they’d look at it later, but later never came. Richy’s parents thought they were protecting their son by keeping him far from their troubles, without realizing the effect it was having on him.

    Tee, Elly, and Richy returned to the parked sail-carts with some Mineau friends who were eager to see the much-rumored contraptions. Some of the teenagers quietly marveled at the sleigh, too, not sure if it was okay to interrupt Nikolas while he chatted with adults who came to greet him. Everyone, regardless of age, seemed to be excited to meet the group from Minette.
    “I better be off,” said Nikolas, shaking many hands and climbing back into the sleigh with Squeals and Bore. Egelina-Marie and Bakon stepped onto the sleigh’s back skids and held on for the ride.
    With a clicking noise from his mouth and a flick of the reigns, Nikolas convinced the horses to head to the town’s square. As they navigated the streets, kids poured out, drawn to the sleigh as if it were a magnet. Cheering and excitement grew until they reached the square. Some adults came out with their children, while others would come along shortly, not wanting to miss the highly anticipated festivities.
    Tee laughed as the sleigh and the friends that had come out to see their sail-carts pulled away from view. “Do we still get that excited?”
    A big-bearded, six-foot-eight man yelled, “There they are!”
    Instinctively, the trio sprang apart, ready to take on the potential danger. They’d already pulled down their hoods and had their shock-sticks in hand.
    “Oh, for crying out loud,” said Richy, realizing who it was. “I think you scared me senseless!”
    “Monsieur de Montagne!” yelled Elly to the huge man.
    “Stop!” bellowed the mountain man as they ran toward him. His booming voice seemed like it could stop the falling snow mid-sky. “What have I told you?” he said gruffly, hands on his hips. “Do I look like a noble gentleman? Just Pierre .”
    Richy frowned. “You’re wearing a nice fur coat, for starters. Where’s the usual pile of poorly stitched-together furs?”
    Elly gave Richy a quizzical look. “He’s also combed his hair,” she said, pretending to be shocked.
    Tee added, “Did he trim his beard? Where’s the bird’s nest gone? Those poor, poor birds.” 
    “Careful—” said Elly, gesturing to her friends to step back. “He might have even… washed!”
    Richy leaned in for a sniff as Pierre shook his head and looked at the sky. “Hmm. He doesn’t smell like three-day-old dead bear now. It’s weird,” said Richy.
    “I think he wants to be a nobleman,” said Tee. “It must have been a rhetorical question.”
    Pierre’s cheeks were red from embarrassment and the teasing. No one had ever treated him like this, and he wasn’t sure what to make of it.
    Richy nodded. “Yup—you’re looking too respectable for us not to call you monsieur.”
    “We blame our upbringing. But I think we’re done. You can now continue your fake-yelling at us,” said Elly, with a cheeky smile. 
    “Right, thanks,” said Pierre, pointing and nodding at Elly. “Don’t call me monsieur! I’m not some… fancy man… on the inside.”
    “Pierre!” they yelled affectionately, charging the bear-like man. He picked up the lot of them in a huge hug and danced around.
    Over the past couple of months, the Yellow