Thank you for your reviews! They mean a lot to me! Bailey's story is coming close to an end... so sad! But, if you haven't already, you should really read the Sister Stories to Bailey's Story. They are Doodle's Story by asianinvasionand Angel's Story by pearblossom. There is a sequel to Angel's story in progress, too. Hope you all enjoy our stories!
Chapter 25:A Guilty Conscience Needs To Confess
When Jack and I arrived at Tibby's there were only a few newsies left eating lunch. We sat with Skittery and Bumlets. I sat next to Skitts and Jack next to Bumlets.
"Heya, guys. How's it goin'?" I asked.
"Not too bad, Bai. Ya just missed ya sista," Skittery replied.
"Yeah, Bai. Ya sista is up ta no good. She's havin' Race spy on ya faddah so dat she knows if he's a bad guy er not," Bumlets said, looking towards me and then Jack.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. She's makin' Race get involved in dis? I could kill er right now!" I said, my temper boiling. How could she do that to him? What if he got caught and they did something to him in order to get to Angel? What if-
"Bailey, relax. Race knows how ta handle hisself. He's a big boy an' he'd appreciate dat ya knew dat," Jack took my hand over the table.
"Why ah ya so worried, Bai? Race kin take care ah hisself! He's been doin' it fer years, now. Ya don't hafta worry bout a ting," Skittery put his arm around me and gave me a side hug.
"Yea, I know Race kin handle hisself. I jus worry sometimes, ya know?" I lied out loud to my friends and boyfriend. Who was I kidding? I knew that Trevor was involved with my father. I knew how powerful his people were. I knew that my friend could be in shear danger, but I did nothing... I was a coward.
We went back to the lodging house after eating. I didn't eat much because I was too full with my guilt. He was already out spying before I could get a chance to talk to him; to warn him, really. We were messing with powerful people. Everything we did to them would have a big consequence.
I barely slept at all. I didn't want to sleep until Race got home. Jack was fast asleep beside me, holding me close to him. I wanted to just shut my eyes and enjoy practically the only time alone with him. My conscience wouldn't rest. He could tell because he started to stir.
"Bailey? You up?" he whispered. I closed my eyes and tried to pretend I was sleeping. I know I can't lie to his face. He'll know that somethings wrong! "Bai, tawk ta me. I know ya ah awake. Please, baby."
I caved. I flipped around so I was facing him. I clung to him, my face in his chest. "It ain't fair, Jack! It jus ain't fair!"
He instantly went into comfort mode. He rubbed my back, kissed my head and whispered sweet nothings into my ear. "Jus calm down, Bai. Tell me whudds wrong."
"Everyting is wrong, Jack. Dey jus don't see it! Neither do youse. Me fadda is a bad man. Ang is right bout dat one. Ise known bout him since me mudda told me the truth bout 'er being me ma! Ise followed dat man 'round. Mr. Bloom helped me find 'im. He's got lots ah udda kids. He don't desoive any ah dem.
"He's got moah den he even knows bout. Me! An' if he knew bout me, he'd be chasing me like he's chasing afta Angel," I went on a rampage. I finally looked up into his eyes. "He looked at me taday like he saw a ghost. I tink he recoginzes dat I'se look jus like me mudda, but he don't wanna see it. It's like its hard fer him ta look at me, Jack."
He was silent for a while, just listening to me go on and on. When I paused, he was still silent. After a minute, he said, "well, I know how much ya wanted ta meet 'im. I know dat youse have been suspicious bout 'im fer a while, too. But I ain't gonna say dat I ain't happy dat he don't really know youse ah 'is daughta. If he knew dat, I'd be in da same situation as Spot, an' he ain't a happy man right now.
"Dis guy is tryin' ta tear Angel from 'im, he knows dat, I know dat, an' youse know dat. Scott don't wanna see it cause it's 'is dad and he jus wants ta get ta know 'im. I love youse, Bailey, and I don't want ta be in Spot's shoes.
"Don't go running off ta tell dis man dat youse ah 'is kid. Cause if ya do, I'm gonna get all da money Ise got saved up and we'se is gonna run off ta Santa Fe, New Mexico wherea he'll neva find us. I'se gonna make ya marry me and den he won't be able ta find ya wid ya name cause you'd be Bailey Kelly, not Bailey Bloom. I'll keep ya locked away in me bedroom if Ise hafta," Jack said and I smiled.
"I ain't gonna do dat, Jack, but it does sound very tempting cause ah whudd you'd do if I did," I winked. "I ain't dat stupid, Jackey boy. I jus worry bout me sista."
"Youse worry bout everyting an' everyone," Jack said. "Dere ain't nothing dats gonna happen ta Ang. I won't let it, Spot an' Scott definately won't let it, and da guys won't let it, neidda. You don't need ta protect 'er, cause we will. Don't ya be worryin' bout Race, eidda, because if he ain't already home, he's still getting doit on ya fadda. He's fine. Now, go ta bed, Bailey. Its wayyy past ya bed time, young lady!"
I smiled and leaned forward to kiss him. "I love you, Jack Kelly."
"I love ya too, Bailey Bloom," he replied and snuggled in closer to me.
I woke the next morning feeling extremely relaxed. I wasn't as worried as I was yesterday before my talk with Cowboy. Then again, he always has a way of relaxing my conscience. He wasn't there when I woke. I bet he just wanted to make me sleep more.
I got up and wandered out into the bunkroom where all the guys were. There I found Crutchy sitting on his bunk. I smiled and walked over to him. "Heya, Crutchy! How's it rollin'?"
"Heya, Bailey! How ah ya? I haven't tawked wit you in a while," he replied and motioned for me to sit with him. "How was Brooklyn?"
"Brooklyn's Brooklyn, Crutchy. It ain't home. Manhattan's home. Wherea you guys ah."
"You mean wherea Jack is, cowgoil," he joked and I playfully swatted at him.
"Yea, wherea Jack is, too! But you guys have become me family, Crutchy. Each ah youse is me bruddas, jus like Scott an' Kev," I said in all seriousness.
He smiled at me and pulled me in for a hug. "Youse is like a sista ta me, too, Bai, but ya ain't a sista ta all ah dese guys. Some ah dem ah waitin' fer Jackey ta mess up so dey can call you DERE goil."
"Yea, but dat'll neva happen, Crutchy." We both turned to see Jack standing next to Crutchy's bunk. "She's me goil an' she's gonna be me goil fer a longgg time. I hope all ah yas heard dat!" Jack yelled for everyone to hear.
Their replies were 'yea, shoah' and 'whuddeva ya say, Jackey-boy'. I looked up at him and glared. "Way ta go, Jack! Youse just ruined me chances wid all des boys!"
He got an evil look in his eyes and made a move to grab me. I jumped up and ran. Everyone was helping me as Jack chased me around the bunkroom. I was almost to the stairs when I tripped on someones foot and almost fell on my face. I grabbed a bunk to stop myself from falling. As soon as I got my balance back, Jack had grabbed me. He threw me over his shoulder. "Ise gotcha now, Bailey! An' youse ah mine fer good!"
I laughed as he carried me back over to Crutchy. He set me down, kissed me quickly, and then went to join a poker game. As I watched them start to play it reminded me of Race.
"Hey! Why ah ya all playin' wid out me? Scared Ise gonna take ya money away?" Race said as he entered the bunkroom. I was relieved to say the least. He didn't stay long. He went straight into Angel's room. I quirked my head, but realised that he was probably going to tell her what he found out.
Spot had enter right behind Racetrack. He made his presence clear to everyone, but mostly wanted my attention. He motioned to my room and I nodded, getting up and following him. As I was about to enter, I heard Kid Blink say, "wow, Jack. Spot just took ya goil away from ya in bout 2 seconds! Dats purdy sad!" and everyone laughed.
"Whudds up, Spot?" I asked, sitting down on my bed.
"Well, Ang asked Race ta get some doit on ya fadda. See whudd kinda man-"
I cut him off. "I know all bout it, Spot. Some ah da boys ovah hoird da conversation at Tibby's yestahday. I jus wanna know whudd he found out."
"Yea, I figured ya knew someting. Ya don't usually just follow me into a room wid out questioning me in front ah everyone," he grinned and I laughed.
"Dats true. Well, why don't we go see what he said?" I suggest and he nodded.
We walked out of my room and headed for Angel's room where Race was just leaving.
"Hey whudd he say?" I asked as soon as I walked in.
"How did ye find out…ho wait yer wid Spot….obvioiusly he told!" she said and glared at Spot.
"Don't worry we ain't gonna tell Scott," I said, knowing that she would tell me then.
"Good. Well Mr. Rabideau has mora'n one wife, he's got three." I knew about this already. It wasn't a suprising thing anyways.
"Well dats not surprisiin," Spot said, sitting down.
"I know." Angel replied. "An', he's got seven kids besides us. He's sold some ah 'is kids, Bai! Pulitzer's son is really 'is son and he sold 'im to 'im! An' he want 'im ta marry 'is sista!"
"Lemme guess," Spot said, "Youse ah da sista."
Angel could only cringe as he said this. I spoke up. "Well, whudd ah wese gonna do?"
"Look, Ise promised Race dat I wouldn't let 'im find out dat yer oua sista. Besides, dere ain't nothin' we can do."
We all walked out of the room to see Scott yelling at Race. Someone obviously ratted him out or Scott found out himself somehow.
"Can ye please stop!" Angel yelled at the top of her lungs. Everyone turned to look at her. "Please! I don't wanna hear anymoah!" She had tears streaming down her cheeks. She ran out of the lodging house, embarassed most likely.
Spot made a move to go to her, but I stopped him. "She needs time alone, Spot. Let her go." He nodded and we all stood there in silence at what had just happened.
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