Storm Child Read Online Free Page B

make you look like a girl.’
    With a lurch, the cart broke free,
the momentum throwing Isaac to the floor.  Brushing mud encrusted hay from
his coat, he glared at Polly.  ‘I know it ain’t much but I ain’t got another one and look at this,
it’s covered in dirt now!’
    ‘Ah, stop your whining. 
‘I’ll wash it for you later.’  She threw him a sideways glance and twirled
an ebony curl around her finger. ‘Maybe I’ll even let you give me a quick
cuddle too.’
    The vexation dropped from Isaac’s
expression and he grinned. ‘You always say that an’ you never do.  You
know I’m mad for you, Poll.’
    ‘Yeah, I know.  But come see
me when you’re a man.’
    Isaac puffed out his chest. ‘I’m
nearly seventeen.’
    ‘Too young,’ Polly teased and
flicked her head towards Annie. ‘Come on, sweet.  We can’t stand chopsin ’ here all day, we got money to earn.’
    Isaac’s
face set into a scowl as he grabbed for the handle of the cart again. 
Polly slid her arm through Annie’s.  ‘Got your basket there?’ Annie held
it up. ‘Good girl.’
    Once they had crossed the boundaries of Uxmouth ,
they headed for the towering stone cross of the market place.  The day was
bright, the air heavy with the aromas of freshly baked bread, exotic spices,
and the sourer tang of horse sweat.  The town was vibrant, buzzing with
market goers, the clopping of hooves ringing out over the rabble of a myriad
conversations and the regular holler of vendors advertising their wares. 
Polly’s dark eyes were alive with expectation, her head darting constantly as
she took in some new sight.  Annie clung to her, more subdued, nervously scanning
every face that approached. 
    ‘What’s up with you, Annie?’
Isaac called as he watched her carefully.  ‘You look like you’re scared of seein ’ someone you oughtn’t.’
    ‘She ain’t been on market day before, has she?’  Polly called back.
    ‘Can’t she speak?’ Isaac grinned.
Polly looked behind and threw him a flirtatious look. ‘Ah, Poll, would you stop doin ’ that to me.’
    She shook out her curls and
laughed as she faced forwards again. Annie pulled closer, wrapping her arm
tightly around Polly’s. ‘Someone in Uxmouth helped
you with that baby?’ Polly whispered as she put her head close to Annie’s.
    ‘What you whispering about now?’
Isaac shouted.
    ‘Keep your nose out,’ Polly fired
back.
    He put a hand through his long, dark
fringe and laughed. ‘I love it when you’re mean, Poll.’
    ‘You should be faintin ’ with joy when I come and punch you on the
nose.’  Polly turned her attention back to her conversation with Annie.
‘Is that why you’re so scared?’
    Annie turned her wide blue eyes
on her. ‘I ain’t scared.  Like you said, I ain’t done market day before.  So many people, it’s
making me nervous, that’s all.’
    ‘It’s just tricks.  Ain’t no one goin ’ to mind us doin ’ a few tricks.’
    ‘Depends who’s watching,’ Annie
said as she drew closer.
    Polly narrowed her eyes. ‘What
does that mean? You’ve lived her before, ain’t you?’
    Annie hesitated before giving a
short nod.  ‘I ran away from the Uxmouth workhouse with my sister. There were people there...’
    ‘What? You were scared of ‘ em ? That’s the workhouse for you, ain’t it? There’s not a one of ‘ em with a charitable bone
in their body.’
    ‘It weren’t like that… They
weren’t just cruel like all the other workhouses…’ Annie sighed. ‘You wouldn’t
understand.’
    ‘Well,’ Polly laughed, ‘they ain’t gonna want you back, if
that’s what you’re thinking.’
    ‘You think so? I wouldn’t be so
sure about that.’
    ‘They ain’t gonna want to feed you if someone else is doin ’ it. Anyway, you don’t need to be in the workhouse
now, do you? You got Ernesto’s roof over your head.’ 
    Annie seemed to relax and
loosened her grip on Polly’s arm. ‘I suppose so.’ But her gaze still