It was a sunny, bright day with a clear blue sky. The landscape was bushy and the roads dusty. Next to Hannah in the carriage sat her brother Martin, busy going through some deeds. The two of them were on their way to Martin´s new farm in the middle of the bush. There was plenty of work to be done there before they could call it home, but then it would be worth it. The two of them would have a life together again.
The red gems in the necklace caught the sun, sending shades of light in different directions. The red plush seats of the carriage were also bathed in the sunlight. Looking out the window of the moving carriage, Hannah closed her hand around the necklace. The gems felt warm because she´d been sitting with the necklace in her hand for a while now. She´d lost track of the many times she´d been doing that; just holding the necklace, thinking about her adventures in Sidney.
Dodger had gone through fire and water to retrieve it for her several times. The last thing he´d asked her, was not to lose it again. And she knew she´d always keep it save. It reminded her of her mother. And now it also reminded her of Dodger. Of Jack Dawkins. The boy she´d had a hard time getting along with at first, but had turned out to be the one person saving herself and her brother.
She missed Oliver, Sidney and their adventures there. If someone had told her one year ago that she would end up in the street amongst thieves and crooks, she would have laughed at them. Now that was an experience she wouldn't have missed in the world. The Dodger had learnt her so much about the real life. In the beginning she really had been a spoiled princess. Now she knew her way around a town, knew how to pick a pocket. In short, she knew how to take care of herself.
But most of all she missed Dodger. Irritating and provocative as he was, he´d somehow ended up being her close friend. They had experienced so much together, but now it was over.
Letting out a little sigh, Hannah let her mind drift away again. Somehow her trail of thoughts would always find a way back to The Dodger these days. It had been three weeks since The Dodger had left Sidney. She remembered that day clearly, she probably always would.
The day he left had been odd, Hannah thought. Normally the two of them wasn't awkward around each other. But that afternoon had been different.
She´d felt she´d missed out on something. He´d looked so strangely at her, as if he tried to memorize her every move.
Her only regret was, that she´d never got to thank him properly for all he´d done for her. And that she´d never got the chance tell him how much he had meant to her. Perhaps that was for the best, it might have changed everything.
She didn't know what she´d expected. Perhaps that The Dodger would settle down to a normal life. Perhaps he would have found a family that would take him in. Perhaps he could have travelled with her and Martin. She had never asked him. Partly because she´d never gotten the opportunity and partly because she didn't had the guts.
Somehow she always knew he´d take off. That was his way of life, never being too attached to one place. And she couldn't picture Dodger being a normal, respectable boy. Everything in his nature was just against that.
She wondered how her life might turn out now. She knew a lot of hard work awaited her on the new farm, but she was looking forward to it. This was her new life with Martin.
But in the back of her mind she knew she would miss the adventures and the excitement of taking care of herself. She already did.
