The sounds of punches could be heard from a block away causing Anne to become queasy. Sensing her stomach knot, Spot placed an arm around her shoulders, "You're gunna do fine. I taught ya well." She turned to give him a reassuring nod.
As they neared the Manhattan/Bronx border three figures quickly jumped out from a distant alleyway. "What da Hell are ya doin' here Anne?" Pyeboy asked, waving his arms in the air with disbelief.
Spot quickly clamped a strong hand over Anne's twisted mouth before she could make a word of explanation.
"She disobeyed an' came ta Brooklyn, which she coulda been killed in da process. But we ain't gunna argue about it no more. The only matta' is dat she's safe now," Spot said.
"I had a feelin' ya might leave da lodgin' house. More den an hour wid Sarah can drive anybody nuts," Pye replied, receiving a glare from Jack. All of the guys chuckled at that remark, easing their nerves a bit.
"Now lets go kick some Bronx butt!" Anne laugh. Yells mixed with agreement and excitement echoed from the guys as they charged into the crowd of fighting newsies.
Anne rushed over to try her luck with a tall guy, sporting sandy brown hair. He didn't seem to be too muscular, so she thought she could probably take him, though his eyes seemed to say otherwise.
He did a graceful bow, "Me name is Calico. You know dat I don't want to fight you, despite the fact dat youse a Manahattaner."
Those words caught her attention, causing her to think intently, "That's were you're wrong! I am The Manhattaner."
He just laughed and continued, " Ya know doll-" he paused throwing the first punch at her chin. "-youse real purty and all. How 'bout we stop dis fight and go have a little fun?" he continued, mischievously.
"In your dreams," Anne hesitated, caught off guard.
"No! In yours!" Calico replied, giving her a hard, painful blow to the stomached. She sank down slowly as pain rushed through her right ribs.
Just as she was slipping into unconsciousness she heard a yell of pain and a loud "thump" as a body fell to the ground at her side.
She slowly cocked an eye to see Calico lying beside her in pain as Spot kicked him repeatedly. "Stop Spot," she moaned as loud as she possibly could.
He stopped suddenly and looked down her. Giving Calico one last kick in the stomach, Spot bent down and gently patted her on the back. "I guess you rolled with the punches," he said with mock humor.
She chuckled causing the pain in her ribs to increase, making her ball up with pain. "Let's get you back ta da lodgin' house," Spot whispered, his arms encircling her waist and carefully lifting her into his arms.