The Colonial Kid--Chapter 2

Taylor and Brooke turned towards each other. "Blacksmith's apprentice?" asked Brooke.

"Yes," replied William. He let out a large groan.

"What's wrong?" Brooke asked.

"My side," William grunted. He turned to reveal a large gash under his ribs.

Brooke and Taylor winced in fright.

"Can we help you?" Taylor asked.

"I need...ugh...medicine, or... or... ugh."

"Ok," Taylor said, "Um, we'll bring you to my house and get some Neosporin and Band Aids."

"Neosporin and Band Aids?" Brooke asked. She pulled Taylor aside, "that cut is like, the size of a football!"

"I don't know," Taylor hissed, "it's the best we can do."

Brooke returned to William's side, "OK, we'll bring you to his house. It's right through those trees and down the road. Taylor, you grab his arms, I'll get his feet."

"Thank you," William whispered groggily.

As Taylor picked him up, he noticed that William seemed to be a lot lighter than he should have been. Brooke noticed it as well, and she shot him an expression that said, "what does this guy eat?" Clearly he wasn't bulking up on meats or protein. Where did he live anyway?

Taylor and Brooke's minds both raced with questions as they lugged William through the woods. Finally, they broke through the trees and made it to Taylor's house.

Brooke almost laughed as she saw William's expression. He was looking at the house with wonder, horror, excitement, and bewilderment. He also looked extremely panicked and confused.

"Where have you taken me?" he demanded, almost wriggling free of Brooke's grasp.

"My house?" Taylor half asked, and half said.

William did not calm down, but did not erase the fear in his eyes as Brooke and Taylor carried him through the chain link fence, up the front walk, and to the door. William's eyes darted from the street, to the house, back to the street, to the fire hydrant, then the cars, the street lights, and then back at Taylor and Brooke.

"Who are you?" William shouted. A neighbor walking their dog looked over, and continued staring as William struggled to break free, then winced again as the pain overtook him.

"Look buddy," Taylor said, as he and Brooke placed him on the grass, and he got out his house key, "I don't know what your deal is. Honestly, you're pretty beaten up and we just want to make you feel better. Then you can run along and never talk to us again. I promise."

Brooke shot Taylor a nasty glance, and he knew what it meant. Brooke was a naturally curious person, and wanted to know more about William. Taylor shrugged and stuffed the key into the lock. He pushed the door open and propped it that way, then he and Brooke took William inside.

They had barely gotten Will through the door when Taylor turned on the hall light. That was a big mistake. Will kicked Taylor hard in the stomach and Taylor dropped to the ground. Brooke shrieked and let go of Will. Will, clutching his leg, ran as fast as he could out the door and disappeared around the fence.

"Oh my god Taylor are you okay?" Brooke asked, rushing to his side.

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine," Taylor said, pushing on the wall and standing up, "where's Will?"

"He took off. I don't know what's wrong with that kid." Brooke shook her head, and helped Taylor into the kitchen.

"What should we do now?" Taylor asked, sitting on the counter.

"I don't know. I don't want to go look for him, but it's the right thing to do to help him," Brooke answered.

"I don't think we should help him. He's some strange kid we found lying in the woods, that nailed me in the stomach whan we tried to help him."

"Yeah, but Taylor, he's obviously hurt, confused, and scared."

"Fine, but it's getting dark now, so we're going tomorrow," Taylor said.