Jack and the Beanstalk (Faerie Tale Collection) (7 page)

“’Tis nothing to worry over. I am quite happy where I am.” He winked at Rachel again and she blushed in response. Oh, goodness, what a relief it was to be this close to her, to see her so cheerful as well.

“Gleeflak,” she called up to him. “Please shut the cage so the baby does not get out.”

It was then that Jack noticed the pretty little girl staring up at them from next to a music box.

Rachel turned her head toward the little girl. “I will back in just a little bit. You play with your toys and I will come for you.” The baby began to pout, looking as though she were ready to cry. “Uh-uh,” Rachel said. “No. You will be a happy girl and play nice. I have to go, but I will be back very, very soon, I promise.” She then looked up at the giant again. “Gleeflak, could you perhaps bring the cage with us so I can see that she is all right? Truly, she is too young to leave alone all the time. It is much better for her to come with us—then she can be involved and content.”

He sighed and nodded. “Fine. I help baby.” With his other hand he locked the cage and picked it up. Jack could tell he was careful to remember not to drop his arms this time, holding them out as steady as possible. He was most likely on special alert because Rachel was such a novelty for him.

As the giant walked, holding the birdcage with his left hand and Rachel in his right with Jack straddling that wrist, Jack leaned over and caught Rachel’s hand, lacing his fingers through hers.

“I have missed you,” she whispered.

“Have you now?” He chuckled softly.

“Yes.”

“I have missed you too.”

She sighed and bit her lip, looking up at him with the most glorious sparkling hazel eyes. “Thank you for coming for me.”

He squeezed her hand, his thumb drawing a lazy circle on her palm as they bounced to the rhythm of the giant’s steps. “I would always have come for you. Always.”

She nodded, and he could tell she was blinking back tears. “I know—just thank you. I cannot imagine how you made it here, but I am so glad you did.”

“Hush. I shall tell you all shortly.” He glanced up at the oblivious giant and then back her way. “But for now, it is my pleasure to hear you sing again.”

“I will sing it all for you. Every song. Every breath. Every—”

The giant jostled them as he set Rachel down on the table in the grand dining room. Then he walked over to a seat not too far from her and placed Jack, and then the cage, on the table next to him. “There you go. Sing. Make it good. I want my friend to see what a pretty singer you are.”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

RACHEL SMILED AT JACK and took a deep breath before beginning the song she sang particularly for him whenever he asked for it. It was a dear love song about a village maiden and a young king who loved her. A man who was hailed as the wisest in the land had chosen her over all else. He told his secrets to her—she was the one he loved. He had seen her great worth long before any of the other village lads had. It was such a beautiful song, with lilting lyrics and a sweet melody.

Today was no different than before. She sang it for him as she always had. It was their song. She was thrilled to see that Jack did not disguise the warm glow about him or the enduring grin he gave just for her as she allowed the song to weave its magic around his heart. How she loved him. She truly could not wait until they were together always.

Once she was done, she waited until Jack had finished clapping before beginning another love song.

“No!” Gleeflak shouted unexpectedly. “Stop! Why you sing these boring songs? No. Sing the songs I like and leave off these ones. I don’t like ‘em. And you sound bad. Just so very bad.”

“You do not like my singing?”

“No! Not that singing. Sing something else.”

Rachel shared a look with Jack before searching for a song she felt was suitable. Was there a particular song the giant requested more often than not? Nay, there was none. It was always she who picked the songs. What did he want?

“Hurry! I want my friend see you sing something good.”

“Actually, I found that last song very nice,” Jack commented.

“No, you did not!” Gleefak slammed his fist on the table, causing it to tremble beneath them both and rattle the poor cage. Rachel nearly toppled over. “You can’t like that song. No! She is my singer. Mine! You do not like her silly, dumb songs. Only the songs I like do you like.”

Jack’s eyebrows shot to his forehead, and Rachel noticed the jagged red scar on the side of it. What had he done?

“Well, then, perhaps we should let her choose something more uplifting and fun. Something you would like.” She heard the chuckle in Jack’s voice. She could tell he thought the giant was acting like a little child.

Jack glanced at her and they shared a smile.

Gleeflak slammed his hand down on the table again, and this time the action startled the baby so much that she began to cry. “Enough! I do not like this game! We are done. Rachel, you go back to your cage now!”

“Are you sure?” She had never seen him this angry before.

“Yes! And you go in there with her!” He stood Jack up and pushed him toward her. “You need locked up too! You both bad. And you are not my friend!”

Jack turned and asked, “Me? Why?”

The giant pointed to him. “Because you like her! And you not allowed to like my singer. Only I like her!”

“I am sorry,” Jack said. “She is very pretty. And she sings wonderfully. It is hard not to like her.”

“Get in there!”

Gleeflak’s face turned so red, Rachel ran over to the cage as quickly as possible. The poor baby was really crying now. Rachel fumbled with the lock, but could not grasp such a large thing on her own.

Jack stepped up behind her and together they pushed the release until it clicked and opened. “Does he act like this often?” he asked.

“No. I have never seen him lose his temper the whole time I have been here.” She stepped into the cage and waited for him to enter as well.

“How has Verity been holding up?”

“Who?”

“The baby. Her name is Verity.”

The little girl ran to Rachel and wrapped her arms around her legs. She stopped crying immediately. “How do you know that?” she asked.

“The witch who helped me get to you claims the baby is hers and wants her back.”

“Oh, dear. You bargained with a witch?”

“I had no choice.” He knelt down and held out his arms. “Can I hold her? Will she come to me?”

“You could try.” Rachel gently pushed against the baby’s shoulder. “Do you want to see Jack?”

“Verity,” he called. “Come here.”

She clung to Rachel’s dress, but peeked over at him when she heard her name.

“Call her again.”

“Verity, come here. I will not hurt you. May I hold you, please?”

She turned around more fully and giggled before tucking her head back into Rachel’s dress. “Is that your name?” Rachel grinned down at the little darling below her. “Did Jack say your name?”

Verity giggled again and nodded.

“Would you like to go see him?”

Verity turned around and this time got a bit braver and let go of the dress to walk up to Jack.

“Come on,” he said. “Let me give you a hug.”

Slowly, while glancing back at Rachel for support, she walked into Jack’s arms. Her little frame being folded into his chest as he stood up with her nearly caused Rachel’s heart to burst. “You are a sweetheart,” she whispered.

“She certainly is.” He rubbed his chin upon her bouncy curls.

Rachel chuckled softly, a warm glow spreading all through her. “I meant you, Jack. You are a sweetheart to care about such a little one. It makes me happy to see you this way.”

“Enough!” Gleeflak cried into the cage from where he had been watching them.

Verity snuggled in closer to Jack, who whispered to her.

Rachel watched as the giant locked them in and then lifted the whole thing up. It tilted wildly to the right.

“Sit down!” Jack called out as he did so himself. “And hold on to the golden bars. I believe this is not going to be a pleasant ride.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

ONCE GLEEFLAK HAD GONE, carrying Jack and Rachel and the baby in the cage, Jill came in from outside and snuck into the great living area, hiding herself within a tall bookshelf. She assumed the giant would be back with them all eventually, and she did not want to be too far away—or on the other side of a closed door—when it was time to rescue them. Having overheard most of the conversation from behind the pillar in the courtyard, she was amazed at Jack’s quick thinking and his interactions with the large man.

Gleeflak even believed they were friends!

She grinned as she climbed up and sat atop a grouping of books that were nearly as tall as she was within the shadows of the shelf. Pulling off her pack, she rummaged for some food and began to eat dried meat and a bit of an apple. Her eyes roamed around the elegant room as she marveled at its sumptuous décor. Honestly, the giant was quite a simpleton—how could anyone of such a small mind even think of such luxuries? It did not make sense that he would be so picky or refined in his tastes.

Huh. She wondered a bit more, trying to piece together the oddity of it all, when commotion from a room down the hall made her pause. Gleeflak was shouting at someone. He was angry. Goodness. She glanced around the room, realizing he might be coming back any moment now. Was there something, anything she could use to defend herself or Jack and Rachel if need be?

Upon a carved end table across the room sat a letter opener which would serve as a very nice sword, if somewhat heavy, but she was too far away from it now. On her left was a long, tasseled curtain tieback that looked like a thick rope. That might do!

The shouting grew louder as she jumped from the bookshelf and ran to the dangling lanyard. Climbing up the rope, she quickly unhooked it from its gold catch attached to the wall and allowed it to fall to the ground as she slid down the length of the blue velvet curtain.

She heard steps right outside the door. Gleeflak was here!

Jill did not have to time to collect the tieback or hide it. Instead, she left it right upon the floor and climbed up the shelf, tucking herself into the spot above the books. She made sure the pack was hidden within the shadows as well and peered out toward the door just as the giant walked in, swinging the large cage.

She heard shouting and looked in the golden cage to find Rachel and Jack holding on to the bars while it swung wildly back and forth, the furniture in the cage careening into them. As the giant came closer to her shelf, she held her breath and scrunched in tighter. The cage drew closer into view and just before it was lifted to perch somewhere above her, she saw that Jack was holding the witch’s baby with one arm and the bar with the other.

Jill heard a great slamming noise as Gleeflak shouted, “There! This is where bad people stay. You stay here and think about how bad you are all night.”

She watched his legs as they stepped back before the sound of Rachel’s voice caused him to pause. “Do we get supper?” she asked.

The giant knees began to quake before he announced, “No! No supper for anyone! And not for you either, Jack! You are bad!”

“I am sorry you feel that way,” he answered above her.

“No, you aren’t. But you will be sorry. Tomorrow I’ll drop you off the edge of this land and you can go back to your village.” He laughed. “You’ll be dead and smushed! It will teach you to come here to my castle and like my singing girl! She is mine! Mine! No one likes her but me!”

Silence followed as the giant remained there. Jill had no idea what was happening, but wished he would leave so she could help Jack and Rachel. Gleeflak stayed there for some time. It was more than likely just a few minutes, but being scrunched up and desperate not to breathe too loudly, it seemed to Jill to be an age at least. What was he doing?

Just when she thought he would never leave, the giant turned to her left and walked toward the long curtain tieback upon the ground.

No!

But he must not have seen the rope because in the next instant, he was walking through it—which was much worse! His front foot got caught in the loops of the cord while the back foot stepped directly on the thing, tightening the rope around his front ankle as he lifted it, making the large man shift and teeter and lose his balance. He crashed with a loud thump, sprawled across the ground.

“WHHHAAAATTTTT?”
roared the giant as Jill cringed and covered her ears.

The baby began to cry.

“Who did this? Who left this on the ground so I would fall and get hurt?”

Sitting up, Gleeflak rubbed his knees and removed the offending cords. When he was free, he grunted and groaned and stood back up. His loud, clomping footsteps brought him up to the bookshelf again. “Who did that? Who?”

When they did not answer, Jill saw his hand rise and then lower, carrying the cage. Inside she could see Jack frantically placing the baby within what looked to be a big music box. He stuffed blankets and the like in with her, and then clicked the lid in place. The last thing she saw was him reaching for Rachel before the giant carried them out of her vision as he turned away, giving her a view of his rather large backside.

“You are not my friends!” he suddenly shouted before swinging the cage around in a wide circle.

No! Jill wanted to scream.
No!

The giant let go and the cage flew across the room, slamming into a wall and then tumbling down to the floor behind a large settee.

“Oh, my word! Jack! Rachel!” she whispered behind her hands, covering her mouth. Shock and horror raced through her whole body. What had he done? What had he done?

Then the door slammed shut behind Gleeflak as he walked out.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

AS RAPIDLY AS POSSIBLE, Jill made her way off the shelf and over to the fallen cage. It was bent and damaged significantly on the outside. “Hello?” she whispered as she crept closer to the dented bottom. She could hear the faint sound of the baby crying. “Jack? Rachel?”

She walked around the underside of the cage, her heart beating frantically at the sight of the insides in such disarray. There looked to be a bed of some sort tossed on its side with blankets and pillows everywhere. The music box was upside down and the cries of the baby sounded muffled.