Shay

Hannah laughed again.

Shay looked from her and at Edmond Witherspoon but couldn't understand the joke. All he'd done was give Hannah a goofy look and wink at her.

Hannah's face had turned bright red. She hung her head, and then looked back up at him. "You are so funny, Mr. Witherspoon."

"Why thank you, Miss Lytton." He bowed his head and winked at her again from across the room.

Hannah covered her mouth with her hand and giggled again.

Shay often laughed at Jack, but Hannah's behaviour was bizarre. She wanted to put a stop to it because for some reason she felt embarrassed for Hannah. Mr. Witherspoon must think she was twisted in the head. "Uncle Thomas, can Hannah and I take Barclay outside for a walk?" Their young pup wagged his tail at the mention of his name.

"Yes, Shay. Of course. He'll probably be due to do his business."

Shay jumped off her seat and tugged on Hannah's arm. "Come on then."

"No thank you, Shay." Hannah turned her face from Edmond's view and crossed her eyes at Shay. She mouthed the words, "No, I'm staying."

Before Shay could say anything, young Thomas clambered off his seat. "I'll come, Shay." He lifted the puppy around the tummy and moved off.

"Tommy." Shay ran after him as he shot through the doorway. "You might hurt Barclay if you carry him like that."

Jack saw them near the hen house. The little dog was backing away with his tail between his legs. "He's not very brave." Jack laughed and crouched down to give the dog a pat. "Are you trying to toughen him up?"

Shay didn't answer. She was focused on the ground, sweeping one foot backwards and forwards thinking about Hannah.

"What's wrong with you?" Still, she didn't answer so Jack gave her a poke in the ribs. "Shay. I'm talking to you."

"Oh." She looked up at him. Jack had always been taller. Today he seemed as tall as Uncle Thomas. "Sorry. I was somewhere else. What did you say?"

"I said, are you trying to toughen Barclay up, because he's not very brave."

"Poor, Barclay." Shay grinned and scooped the dog up. She snuggled him into her neck and spoke to him like he was a baby. "Did you hear what nasty Jack has just said about you?" She kissed the pup on the head. "He says you're not a very brave doggy." Shay beamed and looked up to see Jack staring at her with the strangest look on his face. His skin had drained of colour. She almost dropped Barclay. Instead, she put him quickly on the ground, and then reached up in a panic to touch Jack's face. "What's the matter? Are you ill?"

"No." Jack shook his head, shoved her hand away and took a step back. "Don't touch me."

"What?" She couldn't understand his angry tone. "Have I upset you?"

"We're not kids anymore, Shay. You're supposed to be a lady, and ladies don't touch men like that." Jack shoved his hands into his pockets and watched Shay grin at him. He wished she wouldn't do that. It made him tense and caused movement in his trousers.

"You're not a man. You're Jack." Still beaming, Shay cocked her head. "My friend." She watched his face colour the same as Hannah's had and couldn't understand why. Had everyone but her eaten a bad batch of berries, which caused them to all have a stomach ache, and to then put them in a bad mood? Though Hannah certainly hadn't looked angry like Jack did right now.

"I am a man. You just haven't noticed," Jack scowled. He took one hand out of his pocket and ran it over his scalp. "I think you need to leave me alone in future, Miss Shay."

"Miss Shay, is it now?" His attitude made her temper flare. Shay thrust her hands on her hips and pushed her face forward. "What's the matter with you? Have you got the trots or something?"

"Yeah." Jack jammed his hands on his hips and shoved his face at her. "I do. With you. You never notice anything other than what's going on with the stupid animals. You know what. We aren't friends anymore." With that he turned on his heels and stormed off.

"Jack!" Shay called after him. When he disappeared around the corner of the barn, she threw her hands up in the air, and then let them fall heavily to her sides. She turned to Tommy. "What did I do? Everyone is in a strange mood today."

"It's because he's sweet on you." Tommy looked up at her from where he was crouched rubbing Barclay behind the ears.

"What?"

He stood up bringing the pup with him. "I heard Lily and Pavey talking. Pavey says he's digging his own grave being sweet on you, because Papa would never let you marry the likes of him. Then Lily said, if only she was still a stray, Jack would have a chance." Tommy grinned up at her. "Why did she say you were a stray?"

"Cause that's what I am, Tommy. Uncle Thomas found me in the woods." Shay kicked the dirt and looked at where Jack had disappeared around the corner. She didn't want to marry anyone and now Jack had gone and ruined everything because he'd got sweet on her.

"Did he?" Tommy gave her a puzzled look. "Did he find all of us in the woods? Polly says the stork drops babies in baskets on the doorstep. I guess the woods would probably be the same."

"No, Tommy. Aunt Rebecca gave birth to you like she did with little Simon. I'm not sure how it happens. You weren't found in the woods or on a doorstep. Polly's stupid. Don't listen to her."

"But you're my sister. Did Mama give birth to you, and then put you in the woods for Papa to find?"

"Tommy I'm not your sister. I'm like a sister. I was just thirteen when Uncle Thomas found me. That's why I'm a stray and that's why I call them Uncle and Aunt, not Mama and Papa like you." She sighed. "I don't know who my mother and father are."

He continued to look at her with a puzzled expression on his face. "Well, I love you like I love Hannah and Julia and Izzy so that makes you, my sister."

"Good." Shay beamed at him. "I love you too, so that makes you, my brother." She tweaked her head. "Come on. We better get back before they come looking for us with the cane."

"They wouldn't?" Tommy stared up at her in shock.

"No. Not you at least. Mrs. Freeman will me, if I miss the, how to hold a cup and drink tea properly, lesson." Shay held her nose in the air and her hand in front of her with her little finger sticking out. She put on a pompous voice and looked down her nose at Tommy. "Shay, when will you ever learn? Little finger out at a right angle to the cup please. No gentleman will ever want to marry you if you can't hold a teacup properly." She pretended to trip and spill the imaginary tea down her dress.

Tommy roared with laughter. "Don't worry. I'll marry you."

Shay gave him a mock horror look and continued with her posh voice. "Thomas. You will never be enough of a gentleman for me. Besides, you're my brother and a brother must never marry a sister." She laughed and reverted back to her normal voice, "Anyways, I don't fancy ever getting married. Race you inside!" Shay lifted her skirts and ran toward the house with Tommy and Barclay following.

After dinner Shay helped Hannah with her hair. It was so beautiful, long, chestnut brown with soft gentle waves. "Hannah. Can I ask you something?"

"Yes." Hannah looked up at Shay's reflection in the mirror and grinned. Her bright blue eyes sparkled from the light of the candle. "What? What do you want to ask me?"

"You're not to get angry."

"Shay." Hannah spun to face the girl she considered a sister and best friend.

"Promise?" Shay tilted her head. "You've got to cross your heart and promise."

Hannah rolled her eyes and swiped her forefinger over her heart. "I promise."

"Are you sweet on Mr. Witherspoon?"

"Oh!" Hannah jumped up and laughed. She dove on her bed landing on her stomach, and then rolled onto her back. She lifted her head to look at Shay. "Of course, I am." She supported herself on her elbows and beamed. "He is the most charming of men. I am going to marry him."

Shay's mouth dropped opened. She sat on the bed beside Hannah, one foot tucked under her bottom. "Has he asked you?"

"No." Hannah grinned and shook her head. "Of course not. I'm not yet fifteen but he will. When I come out, I know he will, because I am going to flirt with him so much, that he won't be able to resist me."

"What's flirting?" Shay was curious because she had no idea. "Do you even know how it's done?"

"It's what you do to attract a man." Hannah sat up and faced Shay then took hold of both of her hands. "I think you do this." She tilted her head slightly down toward her shoulder, looked up at Shay, and then dramatically fluttered her eyelashes. "There. Did it make me look beautiful?"

Shay slipped one of her hands from Hannah's hold and slammed it over her mouth. She had to bite on her tongue to stop from laughing. She felt her face turning red from the effort.

"Stop it, Shay." Hannah gave her a light slap and burst into laughter.

Giggling, Shay said, "You looked like a heron with his eye on a fish. I think you need to practice more or ask Aunt Rebecca." Shay paused. "Or Lily might know how it's done properly."

"I won't be asking anyone and nor should you." Hannah lifted her head high, and then announced, "I think it comes naturally when you turn eighteen and are attracted to the man you are destined to marry."

"Then it will never happen to me." Shay sighed with relief.

"Yes, it will."

"No." Shay shook her head with confidence, her eyes wide. "I don't want to get married so I don't have to worry about flirting." She laughed and pinched Hannah's cheek. "I think you will marry Mr. Witherspoon. I think he's sweet on you too. Why else would he have made you giggle and blush like he did today?"

Hannah flopped back on the bed and stared dreamily up at the ceiling. "I sure hope so, Shay. I really do."

Oh Hannah, I think you should stop practicing how to flirt. Hahahaha

Trots - Shay says this to Jack. "Have you got the trots or something?" It means diarrhea or runs or more broadly in Australia, shits. Have you got the shits or something. Do you use this term where you come from?

Photo taken from Ranker Flirting.