"Hurts... Hurts!", Karl whelped and pulled away as the cold towel stroked his face.

A few bruises and scratches were showing on his face and arms, but in general he seemed fine.

Concerned, you eyed him for a moment and then placed the towel on the dining table so that Ginny would drench it in clean water.

"Did the man do that to you?", you asked and made Karl move his head to all sides. "The one in black."

"Dutch? I think that's what the butcher called him...", Ginny mumbled. "Cunt."

You sucked in a sharp breath.

"Where did you learn all that?", you asked and grabbed some alcohol to sanitise Karl's scratches.

Pulling a face, he grabbed the edges of his chair and clawed his nails into the wood.

"He didn't do anything...", he gasped, eyes filled with a watery shimmer. "It's papa. He just disciplines me."

Your eyebrows rose.

The injuries weren't major, none of them were bleeding or big enough to be considered concerning.

But they were numerous and covered the boy all over. His bright skin and hair didn't help with hiding it either.

He looked beaten and that to an obvious degree.

It concerned you to know that Karl spoke of the beatings like every day activities. He didn't even shiver while telling you.

His head was just lowered and his eyes empty.

He had accepted his life and took it without complain.

"Does he do it that often?", you asked without sounding suspicious and kept cleaning his face.

He shrugged.

"Just when I did something bad."

"Like meeting with me.", Ginny said, gaze grim. "We should shoot your dad."

Your heart almost sunk into your pants.

"What the hell, Ginny?!", you turned to look at him. "Who taught you that?"

He shrugged.

"The old Bernd."

A groan escaped you.

"That old alcoholic... You shouldn't play down by the river anymore."

"Can I go up to the mountains then?"

Karl's face lit up.

"The mountains are my favourite place!", he gasped and leaned forward. "I can show you where the bears live. Or the wolves! Their caves are so shiny!"

Now you couldn't help but pull a face of defeat.

"Boys...", you sighed. "Why can't you do normal stuff that doesn't include trouble? Like horse riding."

Ginny curled his nose.

"I can't ride.", he reminded you.

"Why not?", you asked, confused.

He smiled in a cocky manner.

"A certain somebody never taught me."

For a moment, you had to think.

"Right... Well, it's not like I'm good at it either..."

Karl shifted in his seat.

A huge grin was on his face as he locked eyes with you.

"Can I teach him?", he asked, full of excitement. "I know where the wild horses are."

Chuckling, you wiped a thin strand of dirt off his face.
His hair was still messy.

You tired to fix it, but hesitated as a thin layer of blood shimmered through the pale strands.

"Hm?", you tilted your head to examine the top of his head. "Did the man hit you?"

Karl shrugged.

"He pulled my hair. I bleed easily.", he just said, wiggling his legs in the air. "My body bruises when people touch me roughly too. Sometimes it doesn't stop."

"Ah... But... wouldn't it be better to stay safe then? You shouldn't run around the woods by yourself. Or ride horses."

Karl nodded.

The look in his eyes gave away that he had heard this advice many, many times before. And he was sick of it. It just lowered his spirit.

"I could go with him.", Ginny suggested. "I don't play by the river anymore and Karl isn't by himself. That a win-win."

With a shimmer of hope inside his pale eyes, Karl grabbed your hands.

"Please say yes!", he begged. "I want to play with someone."

You eyed the boy for a moment.

Ginny had said that Karl's dad beat him whenever he saw him around Ginny.

The fact that he had some sort of disease didn't make it any better. That only meant it was a matter of time until he would be beaten to death, by accident or planned didn't matter.

But both boys seemed to be in desperate need of friends.

And who were you to deny Ginny a happy childhood?

A sigh made your chest shiver.

"You guys need to promise me something though.", you crossed your arms in front of your chest and looked at Ginny and then at Karl.

They nodded, smiling.

"Anything.", Ginny agreed cheerfully.

Even Karl nodded with a smile.

"You two can't be seen together. Karl's dad doesn't want you two to be friends."

"Right...", Karl's head lowered again and the bright smile was gone all of a sudden. "He gets really mad..."

Ginny shrugged.

"Then we only meet up in the mountains.", he said and gave Karl a push to encourage him to keep listening. "We will find a hideout."

You nodded.

>>But you need to stay safe.<<, you locked eyes with him. "No risks, no spying on outlaws."

"What about natives?", Karl asked and fixed his glasses.

You frowned.

"Natives? Where in the devils name did you meet natives?"

His thin lips curled.

They were cracked, showed a hint of pink, fresh flesh underneath.

"They taugt me how to fish.", he said and dangled his legs in the air again. "And ride. But they are all grown up and don't want to play with me. I want to go with Ginny. He can write well. We could make a journal about the plants."

Ginny's face lit up.

"Can I?", he begged and grabbed your arm to pull on it.

A soft breath escaped you.

"Stay away from native land.", you said. "And be back before the sun is down."

Both boys jumped from their seats.

"Will do!", Ginny rushed into his room and a few moments later returned with a bag stuffed to the brim with paper, coal and other drawing utensils. "And we won't come back together, like you said."

"Good.", you looked out the window.

A few people already started to gather in front of the saloon doors.

Soon it would be opening time.

"And Ginny?", you locked eyes with him. "I need you at the bar tonight. Just for a few hours."

He huffed.

"Today's gonna be good business.", he snarled.