Maddie raced to the factory, and ran up the steps, her heart pounding in her ears. She had only been working at the factory for two weeks, but that was all it took to find out that Mr. Collins wasn't very forgiving when it came to tardiness… or missing a stich… or talking… or sewing to slow, basically he wasn't very forgiving about anything. The bell clanged just as she threw open the front door, and her heart leaped into her throat. She was late. Maddie hurried up the stairs to the second floor, the floor that she worked on, and tried to smooth her skirt as she walked to her station.

"Madelyn." Mr. Collins measured voice said from behind her.

"Yes sir, Mr. Collins." Her hands were trembling, and she clasped them together to try to stop the shaking.

"You're late. You know the policy. Hold out your hand."

Maddie swallowed hard, and held out her hand, which was now trembling even harder then before. Mr. Collin's face was a stone, and he reached up to pull down the belt that was hanging on the wall. He folded it in two, and brought it down against her hand forcefully. Maddie winced at the pain, and dug the fingernails of her other hand into her palm to try to take her mind off of the fierce sting. Smack. Smack. Smack. Smack. He brought it down four more times, each time even more painful then the time before.

"Let that be your lesson." Mr. Collins turned his back, and walked to the front of the room to pace, as he did everyday. The hum of the machines filled the air, and the girls worked silently. Maddie looked down at the hand he had struck, still trying to keep the tears in her eyes from spilling over. The skin on her palm had broken, and it was oozing blood. She would have to be careful not to get any blood on her work. The girl next to her cleared her throat, and Maddie looked over at her. The girl gave a brief smile. She cast a glance to the front of the room, and when Mr. Collins turned his back to them, she reached over and took Maddie's arm; she pulled a dingy handkerchief out and tied it tightly across her palm. Maddie winced as it tightened around the wound.

"Sorry." The girl whispered, "But you really don't want to get that blood on the linen. He'd kill you."

Maddie smiled at her, and threaded her machine with a new spool. The rest of the day seemed to crawl by, she was able to push the constant throbbing of her hand to the back of her mind, and get through her whole pile of linen before bell clanged again, signaling the end of the work day.

Maddie looked at the girl next to her again. She had remained silent through the day, not wanting to give Mr. Collins anymore reason to be angry with her today. "Thanks for this…" She said, regarding the handkerchief, which now showed bloodstains. "Um, I'm sorry, I can get you another one."

"Nah, don't worry about it, it's yours. I never really used the thing anyways. The names Rose, by the way."

"Maddie."

"Nice ta meet ya. Hey, some of the girls and I are getting together tonight, you wanna join us?"

"Oh, I- I can't… I have to take care of my little brother. Thanks though. I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Yeah, sure. See ya tomorrow."

Maddie gave one last smile before turning towards the stairs, and heading outside.

"Maddie!" William stood from where he was sitting on the cobblestone walkway.

Racetrack was there as well, leaning against the wall, "Hey, Maddie." Racetrack said, pushing himself away from the wall.

"Hi." Maddie said, smiling at them both. She reached over to William, running her hand through his unruly hair. "When's the last time you used a comb, Will?"

William seemed to seriously consider the question, before grinning up at her. "Last week?"

Maddie chuckled, "Clever, little brother."

"What happened to your hand?" Racetrack asked, taking her wrist in his hand and examining the makeshift bandage.

"Oh, it was nothing…" Maddie tugged her hand back, her eyes darting down to William, who was now looking up at her concerned. "Don't worry, I'm fine. Promise."

William looked away, but Maddie knew he didn't believe her. One thing she'd learned about her brother was that he was too intuitive for his own good. Then again, Maddie caught the same look in Racetrack's eyes. She sighed in exasperation, "C'mon guys, seriously. It's just a little needle prick, honest."

Maddie hated lying, but she knew if she told William what really happened, he would want her to quit working at the factory, and they needed the money. "So, how'd the selling go?"

That warranted a bright smile from William, "great, I sold all my papers. I didn't have to take any back to the distribution office."

"That's great!"

"Hey," Racetrack cut in, "Are you two hungry? Let's get some dinner."

"Oh, I don't know, Will and I were just going to split some leftover bread. We really can't afford much."

"Well, luckily for you, you're boy William here is my lucky charm. My horse won at the tracks today, dinners on me."

Maddie raised her eyebrows at him. "The tracks?"

Racetrack grinned sheepishly at her, "Don't worry, he didn't bet anything."

Maddie couldn't help but smile back at him.

"So what about it? Dinner?"

William looked up at Maddie pleadingly. "Oh, alright," She said sighing. "Let's go."

They arrived at Tibby's and quickly found a seat in the small restaurant.

"Hey look, there's Jack." William said pointing out the window to Jack who was standing across the street with a group of boys Maddie hadn't met yet.

"Yeah, why don't you go say hello?" Racetrack said, nudging William out of the booth.

William looked at Maddie, who nodded her permission to him. Maddie watched him cross the street, and greet the boys.

Racetrack looked across the table at her. "He really looks up to you. I've never seen a kid so well behaved. Especially with his sister."

Maddie tore her gaze away from the window, and looked back at Racetrack. "He's pretty special."

"So," Racetrack cleared his throat, "What really happened to your hand?"

Maddie blushed and looked down, "What do you mean- it's nothing, I told you, just a little prick."

"Yeah, right, you're little brother might believe that, but, I saw the blood on that handkerchief. That must have been some nasty needle prick."

Maddie looked away.

Racetrack reached across the table and took pulled her hand towards him gently. "Can I see it."

Maddie looked at him, and nodded.

Racetrack pulled at the knot until it came undone, and slowly unwrapped the handkerchief. It fell away, reveling a black and blue palm, in the perfect shape of a belt. The places where the skin had broken were an angry red, and the blood was a dried brown color. "Some needle." Racetrack said in little more then a whisper.

Maddie swallowed and picked up the handkerchief, trying to tie it back around her hand. "William's coming back, I don't want him to see it."

"I'll do it." Racetrack said, wrapping her hand carefully. "Why don't you walk back to the lodging house with us after we eat, Kloppman keeps some medical supplies around, we can wrap that up better.

Maddie nodded at him, just as William reached the table, Jack not far behind.

"Heya, Race, I hear you had a win at the races… You gonna buy me some dinner?" Jack asked as he slid into the booth beside his friend.

Racetrack smirked at him, "Sure, why not, I'll just win it all back next time we play poker."

Jack looked over at Maddie, "He's got me there… You must be Maddie."

"Yeah, that's me."

"Race was right, you do have gorgeous eyes."

Now it was Racetrack's turn to blush, and Maddie wasn't far behind, her face coloring prettily. "Uh, thanks."

"Yeah, thanks, Jack." Racetrack said sarcastically.

"No problem. So, where's the food?"