She ran as fast as her rain boots would allow up to the boys, whose backs were all facing her. She smiled and stepped around them to see what they were doing. They were standing there, holding the collars of three dogs, their eyes searching the plains for something she didn't see. She frowned as she looked around, getting on her tip toes to try and spot what they were all searching for.. All of the sudden one of them gasped and called,
"GO!"
All three of the dogs were let go of all at once. The boys all watched the dogs, paying to attention to Grace, not even giving her a second glance. Grace frowned and went to Mickey nudged him with her shoulder.
"What are you doing?" She asked. Mickey glanced down at her for a moment with furrowed brows before looking back out over the fields and saying without looking at her,
"Nothin', Grace. You go back home, you shouldn't be out here." Grace frowned as the other boys glanced at her and nodded in agreement.
"Aye, yer just a child," James agreed. Grace furrowed her eyebrows and said defensively,
"I am not a child! I'm thirteen and three quarters, I'll have you know! I'm nearly fourteen years old!" Mickey looked down at her and rolled his eyes.
"Aye and I'm three years older than you, and I say go." His voice had the annoying tone that told her this was no suggestion. Grace frowned and turned to look in the direction of the dogs. Her eyes grew wide and her lips parted as she sucked in a sharp breath.
"WHY ARE THE DOGS RUNNING AFTER THAT RABBIT!" She nearly yelled as she watched the dogs tear after the rabbit, right on its heels. Grace looked to Mickey with wide and innocent eyes and she cried, "Mickey! They're gonna catch it!" He drew in a deep breath rolled his eyes at the child's ignorance,
"They're suppose' to, you daft girl, now back home," he snapped. Grace clenched her jaw and shoved Mickey as hard as she could, surprising him and nearly knocking him off over. She then turned and ran, sprinting as fast as she could after the dogs. Mickey looked to the others in horror and they looked to him, as if she was his responsibility. He muttered a string of curses under his breath and hitched up his pants as he shook his head and ran after her. He caught up to her quickly and ran in front of her, nearly sending her crashing into him.
Grace stopped herself just inches away from Mickey. "Get outta my way, Mickey!" She said sharply as she went to go around him. Mickey's arm caught her around the waste and pulled her back around towards him.
"Grace, I'm telling you. Go back home," Mickey said, holding her still in front of him with his hands gripping her by the shoulders now. Grace glared at him and shook her head, some of her hair falling from its loose ponytail. Mickey grabbed a hold of one of her hands and began to tug her along behind him. Grace squirmed and tried to get out of his grip as she tried to plant her feet firmly on the ground, but Mickey's hold was too tight, and he was far too much bigger than her. She managed to wrench her hand out of his and made another dash towards the dogs, letting out a sharp whistle causing one of the dogs to nearly trip over its four legs as it came to a halt and looked around dumbly.
"GRACE!" Mickey yelled, now losing his temper with the girl. He grabbed a hold of her arm and turned her around to face him. "I'm taking you an' leaving you to yer aunt m'self.." He shook his head and let out another string of curses as he turned to pull her behind him yet again, his grip like iron around her wrist.
Grace pursed her lips and kneed him in his groin.. Not enough to cause a great pain.. But painful nonetheless.. Mickey let go of her in shock and gasped. Grace bolted the other way away from him. Mickey growled and chased after her, not caring about being gentle this time, and taking her to the ground.
Across the ways, the boys laughed as Mickey stood up, him and Grace now covered in mud. He picked Grace up like a rag doll and tossed her over his shoulder, Grace went of course, kicking and screaming. She hit his back as hard as she could and screamed incoherently about animal and child abuse. Mickey ground his teeth and took deep breaths, as he reminded himself that she was only a child and didn't understand any of what was going on.
As he reached the camp grounds Mickey went to her aunt's trailer and swung the door open and went in, closing it quickly behind him - the door coming frighteningly close to whacking Grace in the head.
"Ms. LaCroix?" Mickey called as he dropped Grace on the couch and looked around. "Where's yer aunt?" He asked, looking to Grace. Grace glared and shrugged.
"She was still asleep when I left.. But that don't matter - you were letting those dogs hurt that poor rabbit, you great monster!" Mickey looked at her and rolled his eyes as he let out a frustrated sigh .
"It's not the first time, Grace - if you cared so much you would have noticed before," he told her. Grace narrowed her eyes and shook her head.
"It's the first time I've seen it, and you know it! It's not fair, Mickey!" She argued, but he cut her off before she could continue her argument.
"Nothin' in life is fair, Grace. God takin' yer mother wasn' fair.. You not havin' a father isn' fair.. But that's how it is, and you'd better learn it quick. This world hasn' been fair to you, and it won't be, ever. I'm sorry, but that's how it is." Grace got to her feet and watched him for a moment, her eyes beginning to fill with tears. Mickey's eyes softened and his lips parted. "Grace," he said softly. "Grace, don't cry, darlin'.." He stepped towards her and Grace shook her head as she pushed him away from her,
"No, Mickey! Leave me alone!" She yelled as she went to the back to find her aunt. Mickey watched for a moment and sighed, shaking his head in confusion. If there was one thing he would never understand, it was that girl. He turned to leave, but as he reached the door, he heard Grace let out a blood curdling scream.