Not Going Back
1171 Words
Chapter 3
“What’s the matter, Sam? You don’t like the competition?” Sally said with a smile as she jumped onto Sam’s back. Sally was sparring with Sam every morning before breakfast. She would run errands for Robert in the afternoon and at night she would dress like one of Robert’s girls and keep an eye open for people cheating at card games, picking pockets, and other theft.
“I already told ya why I don’t like you working in the club,” he said, trying to shake the girl off. She had her arm wrapped around his neck as she pulled tighter. “You look too much like my sister.”
Sam told Sally about his older sister Mary. She had raised him after his mother had died. Mary had passed away as well and Sally’s uncanny resemblance to her made Sam very uncomfortable nightly. Sam backed into a wall and knocked Sally onto the floor. Sally kicked his right ankle, making him fall to the ground as well.
“I ain’t your sister, so get that out of your head.” She said as she got up. She bent over and held out her hand to help Sam up.
“You’re getting better,” he said, taking her hand.
“I know.” She smiled. Sam smiled back as he flipped Sally back onto the ground.
“Don’t let it go to your head. There is always someone bigger and better than you.”
Sally gasped. Sam had knocked the wind out of her. “I know,” She said, trying to get up again. Sam got up and picked Sally off the floor.
“Here,” he said as he reached into an inside vest pocket. He handed Sally a small knife. “I want you to have this. It should fit in one of your boots.”
“What do I need a knife for in here?” She asked him.
“It’s not for here,” he said. “I know you run errands all over town for him. One of these days Jack is going to find you and pay you back for leaving. He ain’t going to fight fair and neither should you.”
Sally nodded, she knew Sam was right. She hadn’t seen Jack in a long time, but the man never forgot anyone who double-crossed him. Sally was sure she was on his list.
“What are you doing today?” Sam asked.
“Running down to his warehouse on the docks. Mister Decon wants me to take some paperwork to his warehouse manager,” Sally said.
“Oh, Tom. He’s a nice man.” Sam replied. “You better get going. I’m sure Tom will have something for you to return to Robert.
“Do you want to tag along?” Sally asked. She liked spending time with Sam. He treated her like family.
“Nah, I got things to do,” he said. Sally smiled. When she and Sam spent time together, he talked about a girl named Holly. She was the daughter of an innkeeper that Sam would frequent. Sam would spend his afternoons at the inn making small talk with Holly.
“Alright Sam, tell Holly I said hi.”
Sally left Sam to get dressed and run her errand. She had tucked Sam’s blade into her boot. She made it down to the docks, spent a few minutes with Tom, and was given paperwork to take back to Robert. She left the warehouse empty-handed and stepped into the busy street. It didn’t take Sally long to realize someone was following her. She ducked through back allies, attempting to lose the person following her. Someone large and dirty jumped out in front of her.
“Ello Sally, long time no see.” He said. Jack stood in front of her smiling his rotten tooth smile. Someone grabbed her from behind and picked her up.
“See Jackie, I told you she was working as a w***e in that club.” The man behind her said.
Her arms were pinned to her sides. Big mistake, Sally thought. She lifted her foot and grabbed the blade that Sam had given her and jammed it into the man’s thigh. He screamed and dropped her, ripping part of her dress in the process. Sally looked up and recognized the man as the cheater from the club; he was one of Jack’s men.
“I knew I recognized you.” She said.
“You little b***h!” He howled. “Jackie, I’m going to tear her apart.”
“Not today, gents,” Sally said. “I have places to be.”
“Sally, Sally, my love. If you wanted to walk the streets, I could have arranged that.” Jack said.
“I work for Mr. Deacon now. I am not one of his whores.”
“Give her to me, Jack. Let me break her in for you.” The other man said.
Sally was still on the ground. She kicked the man’s leg out from underneath him. When he hit the ground, Sally jumped on his chest. Picking up his head by the hair, Sally slammed his head into the ground.
Slowly Sally stood up. She stared at Jack. “That just leaves you, Jack.” She said. “You can leave me alone or I’ll knock the rotten teeth right out of your mouth.”
“Boys,” Jack shouted. “We found our missing Spade.” Jack smiled, showing his teeth.
Two large men came out of hiding. They were the same size as Sam. Sally smiled. She was looking for a fight. She knew she was good, but Sam held back with her. This was her chance to see how good she was. She placed her hands on her hips.
“Don’t disappoint me, boys.” She said as she made a come-hither gesture.
She recognized the men from Jack’s place. Anytime Jack had a problem with someone, he sent those two out to break bones. Neither man hesitated to go towards her. Sally used their size against them. Her slight build allowed her to maneuver in the alley. Throughout the fight, they moved further into the alley. She knew they were trying to corner her. When one of the men lunged for her, Sally slashed him in the face with her blade catching him in the eye. He screamed and backed away. Sally hunched down and crawled between the other man’s legs. She reached with her knife, stabbing the man in the upper part of his thigh.
“Damn it!” she howled. “I missed.” He understood what Sally had been aiming for and he got out of her way, taking his injured friend with him. Sally was left in the alley with Jack. Her back faced the wall and Jack blocked her escape. “I ain’t going back with you Jackie. And I don’t think your boys will be helping you.”
- Writer
