Chapter 2: Haylie (Shorty)

Haylie Martin was riding in her carriage with her parents. She was unhappy with them for taking her away from her Richie. They said she was going to go meet a noble family about her future. She didn't know what that meant, but she didn't want to like it one bit. She'd rather be in her field with her Richie.

"Please stop pouting, Haylie, darling," her Mother said soothingly.

"I don't want to be here." she said stubbornly, "I want to play with Richie."

"You can't go playing with Richard your whole life." Her father said sternly.

"I didn't say I'd do it forever." She muttered cheekily.

Soon they were at their location. Haylie's father helped her Mother out of the carriage and they he picked Haylie up out of her seat. She rolled her lip out in unhappiness and he sighed.

"Haylie," he said as they walked up to the front door of the house Haylie knew was going to be so much bigger than she'd ever been in.

She gasped when he Mother rang the bell and the door opened to a mean looking old lady.

"Good morning," she said sharply. Haylie twisted her face at her.

"Good Morning," Haylie's Mother said kindly as they stepped into the house.

They walked into the sitting room of the large house, and the woman twisted her face at Haylie.

"She'll do, I suppose." She said as they all sat on the big comfy couch.

The adults started to talk about things Haylie didn't understand. What did betrothal mean? She made a face and gave up trying to pay attention. She looked around the big room and sighed, why was her and her parents here?

There was a loud slamming of the big front doors and then a boy who looked to be the age of 11 came in the room covered from head to toe in mud and dirt.

Haylie gasped and made a face at him. He snickered because he knew why she was there with her parents.

"MIMI!" he yelled right next to the woman, who hadn't noticed him until then.

"John Winston Lennon, you stop that right now!" she scolded, "Now you go and get yourself cleaned up for our company." John groaned and rolled his eyes before running out of the room.

Haylie didn't think she was going to like this boy at all. She looked at her parents and they had the same look of doubt in their eyes.

"I apologize about my nephew," Mimi said trying to sound kind, "He is a young boy after all." Haylie's parents smiled and nodded as John came back into the room, nice and clean this time.

"What are the guests here for Mimi?" he asked as he sat down next to Haylie. Haylie scooted away from him.

"They're here to talk about the betrothal, John." Mimi said. There was that word again. Haylie twisted her face and John snickered.

"Well then what's that mean now?" John asked nudging Haylie's elbow with his own.

She didn't look at him as his ant answered.

"It means you'll be spending a lot more time together until you're much older." Mimi said simply.

"But I don't wanna spend time with him." Haylie protested, "I want to stay in my fields and play with Richie."

"You can still play with Richard my dear," he Mother said smiling, "But it won't be as much as you're used to." Haylie sighed and didn't think she liked that idea.

The Martins then thought it was best to leave before Haylie said anything more of Richard Starkey and John and Mimi got the wrong impression.

Mimi and John walked them to the door, smiling too obliviously fake.

"Say goodbye to Haylie John." Mimi said sternly. He knew what all this news of betrothal meant and he gritted his teeth.

"But Mimi-," John started to say how much younger she was than him.

"John," Mimi warned. John groaned and stepped forward. He gave Haylie's cheek a quick peck.

"Goodbye Hallie." He grumbled. Haylie crossed her arms over her chest.

"My name's Haylie." She muttered and her Mother took her hand and pulled her over to their carriage.

All the way back home, Haylie moped and complained about John, still unsure of why she had to spend so much extra time with him.

The only boy she ever wanted to be around was her Richie. He was sweet and he gave her flowers when he saw her sometimes.

When they got back to their rather large home, the first thing Haylie did was bolt for the fields. She didn't care that her Mother was calling after her of that she was in her good clothes. She ran and ran until she ran right into Richie.

"Oh, sorry Haylie." He said helping her up. He was the same age as John was, but he was some much nicer, and he never came into the sitting room when he was muddy and dirty.

"Where have you been all afternoon?" he asked frowning. Haylie sighed and followed him to sit down until the big weeping Willow in the middle of the field.

"I don't want to speak of it, Richie." She groaned, "I have just encountered one of the most horrible human beings of my 6 year old life."

Richie giggled and nodded, understanding what she'd gone through in a way.

The ended up playing tag all afternoon until Haylie's father found her. He was very cross with her for running away. He told her she wasn't aloud to go to the fields anymore to see Richie, but she told him that would never happen. And it won't.