I ran off before he could ask me anymore, taking cover in the protection of the trees. I don't know what happened to me, but I suddenly felt like I was somehow giving away my secret, so I bolted. I was glad that I remembered to wear a dress today. Usually I wouldn't, since I could move around better in either pants and a jerkin or leggings and a jerkin, but I usually got weird looks when I went into town wearing...Well...boys clothing. Okay, it technically wasn't boys clothing, since I made it myself and I was a girl...But it was what the boys wore. I just thought it was more comfortable and mobile. But that was the least of my worries. I was hoping beyond hope that he didn't recognize me, since I had the mask on and all, but I guess he had. Well, he didn't actually mention it, but why else would he run up to me like that...? Oh well. I'll be out of here in a few hours anyway, and then I won't have to worry anymore.

It was kinda funny the way he acted around me. He seemed sort of...nervous. I had no idea why. He seemed like a nice guy to me and I wouldn't think he'd be hiding anything, but why else would he be acting like that?

Maddie would know what to do, I thought. Then tears started to prick my eyes again, but I forced them back.

...............................................................................................................

"Hey Mandy." Curt smiled mischievously.

"Alright. Spill it." I ordered.

He faked innocence for a minute, then gave up. It was no use.

"Well, since you're leaving, we thought you could give us a little tune for us to remember you by." He said, making a sweeping motion around the rest of the room where my whole family was gathered.

"Um, I'd love to...But I lost my guitar."

"Not a problem." Olivia chirped in, reaching behind the long bench and pulling out my trusty instrument.

"So you were the culprit." I accused her.

"What can I say? It was just so tempting."

I smiled then sat down and started to pluck a few notes of my favorite song, 'Softly blows the breeze of morning'. We all sang together, the familiar tune floating around the room. Now, I wasn't usually one to get emotional, but this would be the last time in years that we'd do this, and I couldn't help but choke up a little.

"I don't want you to weave, sissy." Laura said in her quiet little voice.

I lifted her onto my lap and hugged her close.

"I don't want to either."

...................................................................................................

A tear started to slide down my face and I quickly wiped it away. Not time for that now, I thought. I knew I was forgetting something....Of course! I was forgetting Jet and Lucy at the stables.

"Uh oh!" I thought out loud.

"I hope he's not still in town."

By him, I meant Cameron. The last thing I needed was somebody asking a lot of questions. No matter if he was there or not, I needed my horse and the only way to get him was to go back to town. I turned on my heel and walked swiftly back to the inn, trying my hardest to stay in the shadows. I made it back to the stables in five minutes tops and was tightening Jet's saddle girth when I over heard voices from the lean-to on the side of an old barn. I walked slowly over to it, peaking between the cracks between the boards. Two men were standing there, discussing something.

"Finch, we can't do it tonight." The shorter of the two said.

"Why not?"

"Chief won't be in till tomorrow night. Then he has to make sure we haven't everything perfect. So we probably won't do it till the night after tomorrow."

Do what? I thought.

"Remember, we're making big dough for this. We do whatever chief says." The shorter one said.

"Alright. Meet you back here tomorrow night." Then they both rushed out of the barn.

I ran as fast as I could back to Jet and tried to look casual while they walked passed.

I sighed.

"Looks like I'll have to stay longer then I thought...MAC?"

"Yeah?"

"Could you set Jet up for he night?"

"You planning on staying?"

"Only for a few nights. I don't like the idea of traveling in the rain." I smiled.

"Haha, can't say I blame you...What about Lucy?"

"Oh, I'll take here with me...Here Lucy."

Lucy jumped out of her bed and ran over to my heel. We walked back into the Inn unobtrusively and made it to the counter, looking around to see if Cameron was still here. He wasn't.

"Well hello Tim. Something else you'd like?" Boss man asked me.

"Um, I've decided to stay a couple more nights. Do you have a room that's out of the way and has a window that opens?"

"Sure." He said and reached under the counter to pull out a key.

"Here you go. Room 247."

"Thanks."

I walked up the creaky wooden steps, Lucy still at my heel, and eventually came to a big oak door labeled '247'.

"Welp, looks like I'll get a bed for once...I just hope that boy doesn't come back. That last thing I need is him remembering who I am."