Loving Madison

Forty-Two

Madison struggled to push him away. In his inebriated state, he smelled something fierce, and the closer he was to her, the more she wanted to regurgitate. But right now, she wanted him off her. He pressed against her, pinning her legs. She couldn't kick at his sore hand as she'd wanted.

Did he really want her dead, or was this just something he muttered without thinking? Nevertheless, she must fight with all of her might. "Get off me," she screamed. "You don't want me dead, I assure you."

He moved his face closer to hers, staring into her eyes. "I could've had that ransom, you know. If only I'd found that woman. You're just like her," he growled. "You take away things that aren't yours."

He shoved her, and her head hit the wall in back of her. Pain exploded inside of her skull. Closing her eyes, she fought against the throbbing. She wouldn't let him win! She was tougher than that...and he was foxed, for heaven's sake.

But for some reason, she couldn't stop thinking about the vision she'd had with the girl reaching out to touch the woman who wore the tattered dress. Suddenly, her mind opened up, and she saw it again, but this time there was more.

Crying out, the girl grasped the woman's dress and fell against her. Startled, the woman whipped around.

"Please help me," the little girl sobbed. "I'm lost."

"Oh, my goodness!" The woman helped Madeline to her feet before pushing back the girl's hair.

The woman's eyes were red and puffy, and her cheeks were moist. "You're lost?" The woman glanced up the street and then turned and looked the other way. "Where are your parents?"

"I-I don't know."

Madison could feel the fear still inside the girl. And, for some strange reason, she could read the girl's mind, too. Madeline didn't want to tell the woman about her father being Lord Hanover for fear she would want a ransom, just like the boy had.

"Well, come with me, dearie. I'll help locate your parents." She held her gloved hand out for Madeline to take. Bare fingers poked through the holes in the gloves, showing the woman's dirty fingernails.

Hesitantly, Madeline slipped her hand into the woman's. Fright beyond anything Madeline had ever experienced rushed through her. She felt as though her mother must be looking for her. She couldn't be that far...could she? But nothing around her seemed familiar at all.

"M-my mother is buying a bonnet."

"All right, dearie."

The woman's footsteps hurried faster than Madeline could keep up. She was nearly out of breath, but she couldn't stop now. She must keep believing she'd see her mother any minute now.

The woman turned down a side street and hurried faster. Then she moved down another street. The buildings didn't look as nice as the one where her mother was buying a bonnet. Tears gathered in Madeline's eyes and she cried silently. Where was this woman taking her?

Soon, they entered a building. Immediately, a strong scent of alcohol choked her, reminding her of her grandpop when he had his daily glass of ale and smoked his pipe. Chairs and tables crowded the room. Men sat at the tables drinking.

The woman still holding Madeline's hand rushed past them and toward a set of stairs. They headed up the rickety steps which led into a long hall. The woman quickly entered the second door on the right.

A man sat on the bed, reading a newspaper. His attention snapped to them. His eyes widened and he jumped to his feet.

"Who is this?" He pointed to Madeline.