Red Rider RIsing: Book 2 of the Red Rider Saga by D.A. Randall (best books to read for beginners .TXT) 📗

movements. As I stepped to one side to free up my movements, a taller boy seized my wrist. His fingers locked on me like a vise and jerked me toward Denue.

Denue’s breath smelled of chewing

tobacco. I tried to yank myself free but my dress remained twisted, keeping me off-balance. “I dunno how you did that, freak, but you’ll be sorry you did. I’m gonna beat you so bad you’ll never show your face outside again!”

He raised his fist. Then something knocked his friend into him, forcing a grunt from Jacque as they both sailed to the ground. I tugged myself free of Muscles and stepped aside.

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Crimson snorted down at the freckle-faced boy who lay sprawled on top of Denue, grimacing as he massaged his ribs. I felt a wave of relief as Crimson tried to kick at the rest of them. But they backed away from the post where I had tied him. I couldn’t get past them to set him loose.

Then Slob picked up a rock and hurled it past my head.

“Grab her!” Denue growled.

Muscles lunged for me. I dodged, still struggling in my long dress. The others bent to pick up rocks, standing between me and Pierre’s door. I could call for help, but then they would throw rocks at Pierre.

I hiked up my skirt and sprinted away. I could outrun them, but I had no place to escape between the closely-packed shops and houses. I hurried down an alley, their feet pounding after me. I crossed the next street and nearly fell beneath the wheels of an approaching carriage. The driver spotted me and jerked on the reins. Behind me, Denue and the others were closing in. I stood and ran to knock on the carriage door, seeing a young family inside. The woman saw my scarred face and screamed.

“Please! Help me!” I cried.

The man blinked and gaped as the woman pulled a small boy close. Over my shoulder, I glimpsed Jacque Denue and his friends charging toward me. I hurried past the coach and down the next alley. A rock sailed past me, missing my head and striking a wine barrel.

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“Hey, now, stop that, you boys!” the driver called from behind. But he remained in his high seat as the boys’ feet skittered across the cobbled path.

I rushed down the next busy street. “Help!”

I called, to anyone who would listen. “Help me!”

They all backed away, startled by my manner and my appearance. Men, women, children, all dressed well, all strong and healthy, stepped clear of me. Clearing a path for the boys to chase after me, shouting their threats.

“We’re coming for you, Scars!” Jacque sang.

“We’re gonna kill you!” one of his friends shouted.

I ducked into another alley and glanced over my shoulder. The boys grinned like demons, sprinting after me with rocks in their fists.

Ahead of me, the alley was bricked in.

I gasped and turned, searching for a way out. I grabbed onto an upper ledge and tried to scale the wall. But my skirt made it impossible.

“Trapped like a rat,” Denue said.

His gang filled the mouth of the alley.

“More like a scar-faced pig, I’d say,” Slob chimed in.

Denue tossed a rock up and down in his palm. “This’ll help you remember to keep your ugly face out of our village, Scars.”

He hurled it at me. I ducked and it struck the brick wall. Muscles threw another one. I dodged and jumped behind a wine barrel. I sat with my back to it, like a child hiding in a cellar.

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“Come on out, Scars,” Denue demanded.

“Come get your punishment.”

Their footsteps strolled closer, taking their time. They threw another rock at the wall to frighten me. Which meant they had gathered enough of them to waste a few.

My breath came in rapid gasps. I suddenly remembered the black wolf looming over me, mocking me. Knowing I could do nothing to stop it.

Until Francois charged in with his ax and struck it dead.

Shove your fear aside, Papa’s voice reminded me, the day I made my first kill. Shove it aside and shoot. I tried