The kids didn't come back until two days later and when they did they were dirty and tired, with nothing but something great that they only knew to makeup for it. No one asked about what happened because they knew that the three children would never tell them. But Becky was excited to see that Tom was alright. Huck and Scarlet stood off to the side awkwardly as Tom got all the attention as everyone fussed over him then they remembered that Scarlet had been in that adventure too and then they saw Huck. Most of the villagers were still not used to seeing him as Widow Douglass's adopted son. It just seemed... Wrong. Without a word the two older kids walked through the crowd of people and started to Widow Douglass's house, even though they knew that they were going to be in trouble. Huck more than Scarlet thought.

After Huck received a beating from Widow Douglas he was curled up in bed, facing the all. Scarlet had been sitting at the top of the stairs, her hands over her ears and her eyes closed while it all happened. But Huck couldn't help but feel resentful at the moment. He had the worst beating he had ever been given and she got nothing. But she also wasn't Widow Douglass's child, or any of the other villagers kids. Huck was snapped out of his thoughts when he heard a creak on one of the floor boards. He spun around, his hand goi to his throwing knife that he had hidden in his bed from Widow Douglas. He relaxed once he saw it was Scarlet. His hand releases the knife and he looked at her, an eyebrow raised. The girl took that as a good sing, that he didn't still hate her and crawled into bed with him.

"What are you doing?!" Huck asked looking at her.
"I had a nightmare," Scarlet admitted though she hated herself for it.
"But you can't stay in here," the boy pointed out.
"For a little while I can," the girl replied and the boy beside her sighed in defeat.

It was silent for a while the only sound was their breathing, the room was lit dimply b the lantern on the nightstand. It took a moment for Huck to realize that Scarlet had fallen back asleep. The only reason he really figured it out was because he turned over and saw her with her eyes closed, her breathing even. She looks so pretty when she sleeps, he thought to himself. He cursed himself for thinking that before carefully shaking her. She just groaned and pushed his hand away.

"You have to go back to your room," Huck told her quietly so they wouldn't wake the widow.
"But-" she stopped because she knew that the boy was right. She sighed and got out of the bed then walked to her own room without so much as another word.

The next morning was school. Widow Douglas slicked back Huck's hair and made him wear the dress clothes that he had, while Scarlet wore her hair down and wore another one of the blue dresses she had been wearing for a while. And, as usual, she looked stunning in it. Huck and Scarlet went to Tom's house and waited for him to come out and when he did they all ran to school together, not minding how dirty they got. Of course the three of them, being the way they are, barley paid attention during the lesson in school. Tom tricked the teacher into thinking he didn't want to sit by the girls as a punishment for being late. He sat by Becky after that. Scarlet couldn't believe that the teacher didn't pick up on that. It was obvious.

Tom went with Becky after school instead of going with Scarlet and Huck, so they walked by themselves through town. A few of the girls from school whispered to each other behind their hands as the two passed by. But once Scarlet and Huck turned to look at them they squealed and ran away, going to another spot to spy on the two. After a while the pair just ignored the girls and continued to walk home. Widow Douglas was out, doing whatever she did, the two weren't sure at the moment. Huck got changed into some of his old clothes and gave Scarlet something to change into, since she couldn't be wearing anything nice for what they were about to do. Scarlet also took Huck's old coat, which had become her new favorite item out of any piece of clothing. If she could she would wear it every day but she couldn't so she just let it go.

"Tom knows that where to meet us, doesn't he Huck-y?" Scarlet asked looking over at him. Huck nodded and continued with his pacing, it was getting late so why was Tom taking so long? After another few more minutes Scarlet and Huck made the decision to go without him when suddenly the younger boy came running up.
"You guys were going to leave me," he said looking at them accusingly.
"You shouldn't have taken so long," Scarlet replied and they started walking.

A few villagers saw them walk into the forest but didn't ask the children about it. They knew that those three children would be fine in the woods alone, or, at least, they thought they would be. Tom and Huck had gotten out of a murders grasp while finding a treasure in the process. And Scarlet, well no one even knew why they thought shed could keep herself alive out in the wilderness for so long. It was because of how she seemed to be raised.

"If your not home in the morning what will your aunt do?" Scarlet asked suddenly as the three of them made their way through the trees.
"I don't know," Tom said honestly. "What do you think Widow Douglas would-"

"DAMMIT LONG HAIR!"

The three jumped and quickly hid behind a tree. Scarlet behind the one next to the one where the boys were. They peered around the side to see four men, two just standing there looking scared, the biggest one of them all was yelling at another man who looked strong but sort of scrawny. Scarlet recognized him. She gasped then covered her mouth and the three children quickly hid back behind the trees. The man looked over in the direction, a suspicious look on his face. He slowly began to approach the trees, pulling out his pistol as he did so. Suddenly one of the horses let out a startled neigh. The man spun around and shot at where he thought the intruder was. It was just a rattlesnake trying to slither it's way towards their extra horse. He spun back around when he heard a twig snap. He turned just in time to see three retreating backs disappear into the trees. Kids! He was caught out her by kids!

"Hey!" He yelled trying to get them to stop but they didn't. The man glared in the direction the three had disappeared into and ran over to his horse, jumping onto it. He quickly rode in the direction that Huck, Scarlet, and Tom went in.