"What was that?" Tom yelled even though he knew his friends didn't have a good reason.
"We were lucky we got away," Huck said as he sat on a tree branch, once he was done climbing up higher in the tree that he was in. Scarlet stayed silent, sitting next to atom on the rock. She drew patterns in the dirt with the toe of her boot and everything became quiet.
"We should probably get going," the youngest said quietly and the older two nodded, knowing what he said was true, unless they wanted to get cuffed in the ears.

The three started on their way home. It was completely silent too. Huck walked ahead of the group, being the oldest he felt like he was the leader of this little group. Scarlet and Tom stayed side by side, practically matching each others strides too. The boy bit the inside of his cheek as he thought to himself. They really didn't know what to do at the moment. They just saw criminals. Too close to St. Petersburg of you ask them. Tom was still thinking of ways that they could make someone believe them so that none of them would get in trouble and no one would get hurt. People believed him more often now, after what happened with Injuin Joe. But sometimes they didn't, thinking that what he said was impossible or he was pulling their leg. But why would he do that with something as serious as this?!

Upon arriving back in the village they were greeted by many relived villagers. Widow Douglas hugged Huck but then cuffed him. She didn't touch Scarlet though, believing that the girl just went along to make sure the boys didn't get I to that much trouble. Aunt Polly hugged Tom real close, he barley could breath in his aunts embrace. But he liked it anyway. It was good to know that you had people who cared about you. Scarlet actually gave Huck a hug, seeing that he looked a bit sad when everyone rushed to hug Tom first. He smiled a little at the fact that she even thought about hugging him.

"Scarlet, dear?"
"Yes Widow Douglas?"
"Why are you wearing that filthy thing?"

The little celebrations didn't last long. It wasn't because everyone wasn't happy to see them back and all in one piece. More of a wagon pulled into the village, drawn by three midnight black horses. A boy about sixteen years of age was driving it. But he seemed to be an expert at it. He stopped the wagon and climbed off, allowing the horses to rest. Everyone fell silent and a few people actually backed away. Leaving Huck, Tom, and Scarlet out in the open. Glancing around, Scarlet saw the look on the villagers faces. A man, no, a boy, shows up with a wagon that was clearly full of cooking utensils and such. Four midnight black horses that looked better than any horse anyone could ever imagine. They were probably all thinking the same thing. He works for somebody rich or he is rich himself. Maybe even richer then Huck and Tom.

"Is there a Scarlet Anderson here?" The boy asked and everyone looked over at the girl.
"That would be me," she said as she met the boys gaze. He flashed her a smile and tilted his hat in greeting to her.
"I'm Joseph," he told her. She searched her brain for any memory of meeting a boy named Joseph or even a boy that looked remotely like this one. There was none. "I work for your father."

Those five words silenced everybody. They all stared at the girl while she looked at the boy, observing him but then she shook her head. Everyone looked confused at what the girl was doing. The boy looked disappointed too.

"No, Joseph's work for my father. There was only one and-"
"That's me!"
"Rally? He died last year after being trappeled by a herd of cattle."

Silence once again came upon them and the boy, Joseph, if that was his name, looked around nervously. His eyes slowly moved back to Scarlet. Huck felt his body tense, not liking the fact that the boy was lying. What did he want with Scarlet? Tom seemed to be thinking the same thing, you could tell by the look on his face. It stayed silent for a few more minutes.

"I'm sorry," the boy said, "I must have the wrong Scarlet Anderson," he said and turned to go back to his wagon.
"Nice try Slim," Scarlet called out.

Huck and Tom became confused. Was her voice- playful? The boy turned and smiled and her, hugging her once he got close enough. How did she even know him?! Did he really work for her father?! So many questions flooded the boys mind but they watched as their friend hugged the stranger and smiled brightly at something he said. Personally it made Huck feel sick to his stomach. But he wasn't going to tell anyone that now was he? A small whisper erupted through the crowd of people that were gathered around the children. It got louder as more people joined in.

"Mr. Anderson wanted me to check up on you," the boy, was it Joseph or Slim?, said and a smile came to his features.
"I know," Scarlet told the boy as she pulled away from the long lasting hug.

Widow Douglas let Slim come to her house with her, Huck, and Scarlet. Huck sat on the stairs and watched as his new friend talked with her old friend. -her better friend- Scarlet was the first girl he liked but he knew the feeling that was coming over him. Jealousy. He didn't feel it very often, because he never focused on things that would make him jealous. But he's never felt this way before. Why was he jealous? Was he jealous at Slim? He was just a friend of Scarlet's. Like he was. A small frown came to his lips when he thought those words but he knew it was true. Biting his lip softly, he excuses himself and went outside. Even though he knew that Widow Douglas would not want him to wear it, he ended up taking his old coat.

Instead of it smelling like... Well... Whatever it smelt like. He could faintly smell Scarlet. As weird as it sounded it was true. She smelt like flowers and like the outdoors. His coat now smelt faintly of her since she wore it so much. A small smile came to his lips as he thought about the last few weeks. They had been a great time. But that Slim boy... Did his arrival mean that Mr. Anderson was done with the cattle drive and that he was coming to get his daughter? Or did he just want one of his cowboys to come and check up on his precious daughter. The blonde sat down on a rock that was nearby and continued to think. He was thinking so much that he felt like his head was going to burst, he couldn't stop thinking. He thought about everything he's ever done that's led up to him meeting Scarlet. Then all the fun that he and Scarlet had, so,e times with Tom and sometimes not.

While marveling over the memories he had of their second to last adventure, Huck was out of it. That's why he didn't notice the man come up behind him until that man grabbed him by the throat.