Blood Red (58 page)

Vivi Anna

it slowly. A small sapphire sat on his palm. The boy gasped. He reached out to touch it. Wolf closed his fist right before he neared the gem. “It is yours, boy, but only if you favor us first.”

The boy nodded eagerly. “I will do whatever yer ask.”

“Good, now fetch us some clothes.”

The boy opened the big barn door. He grabbed the reigns of their horses and brought them into the softly lit, warm stable. Wolf, Red and Rapunzel followed them in.

Red looked suspiciously at Wolf. “The Wolf I know would have crushed the boy’s skull with one hand and taken what he needed with the other.”

Wolf glanced briefly at her. “You do not know me, Red, just rumor and propaganda about the Big Bad Wolf. I designed it that way. As I started most of the rumors myself.”

She watched him as he unsaddled the horses. He did it gently and with care. Unwanted feelings were clouding her judgment. She knew he had warmth in him, she had felt it first hand. But she also knew he had viciousness and hate. She remembered too well that part of him. It was difficult to overlook that moment in her life. He had taken someone dear to her away forever. She was beginning to understand that the reasons were not so black and white. Somewhere in the gray middle, was the truth. She was just not sure if she wanted to believe it.

Her dreams about her Granny had been vivid.

They seemed real. But maybe Wolf’s words had somehow designed them. Designed them because she 114

Blood Red

truly wanted to believe in him, trust him, and possibly love him. She flinched at that last thought.

Love? How on earth could she ever love a man like Wolf? And how could he ever love someone like her?

The boy was good on his word. He found them all clean clothes. Stole them most likely, but that was of no concern to them. They each found a private place to change.

Red struggled with her shirt. She could not lift her arm high enough to remove it. She cried out in frustration.

Rapunzel peered around at her. “Need some help?”

Red looked up at her, eyes flashing angrily.

Rapunzel was dressed in a simple empire-waisted peasant dress; her hair was up in a roll on top of her head. She was dressed common but still looked royal.

Red thought she needed a haircut.

“Go away. I do not need your help.”

Rapunzel shrugged. “Fine. But you will never get that off without help.” She wandered away, a coy smile on her face.

Red cursed and tried to rip at her shirt. She managed to rip the shoulder seam, but that would still do her no good.

“You struggle senselessly.” Wolf neared her, ignoring her sneers. He whipped out his knife. He twirled it once in his hand. He reached for her. She pulled back.

“Give me the knife. I can do it.”

“You will cut yourself.”

“I will not. I am not clumsy like you.” She reached 115