Read Online Golden by Cameron Dokey - Free Book Online Page A

basket for as short a time as possible.”
    â€œI’m glad you had better luck convincing him than I did,” I said. I moved to her side and shouldered my own bundle. She handed over the basket containing Mr. Jones, then went back inside for the one in which we’d packed our food supplies. Then she came all the way out and shut the door behind her.
    â€œHarry,” she said, precisely as if she had expected to see him there on this afternoon and no other. “There you are.”
    â€œThe tinker is at the next farm over,” Harry said. “He said that you would know the one. And he said you should go quickly to join him. There isn’t much time.”
    â€œI know.” said Melisande.
    â€œWhat are you going to do?” I asked him. For there had been a note in his voice, one I wasn’t certain that I liked.
    â€œI’ve been thinking about that,” Harry said. “I’m taking the horse.”
    â€œOh, no, you’re not,” I said. “He’s coming with us.”
    â€œNo,” Harry said at once, and his eyes went to Melisande’s as if seeking support. “Surely you can see that isn’t wise. It’s well enough known that the tinker stops at your door. If he’s seen on the road with your horse...”
    â€œBut...,” I said.
    â€œHarry is right,” Melisande spoke up. “If we are to ride with the tinker, we cannot afford to give anyone cause to search the wagon.”
    â€œIf anyone asks, I can always say that I stole it,” Harry went on. “I can travel fast and light, and meet up with you later.”
    â€œIn that case,” I said tartly, “I sincerely hope one of us knows where we’re going.”
    â€œAcross the mountains,” Melisande said. “Three days’ journey through the passes, two days across the plains beyond. On the morning of the sixth day, look for a tower rising straight up out of the plain. That is where we are going.”
    â€œWhy?” I asked.
    But the sorceress shook her head. “Not now. There will be time enough for that when we are safely away from this place.” She turned to go, thenpaused, her eyes on Harry. “Say your good-byes quickly. I’ll wait for you at the top of the hill, Rapunzel.”
    With that, she turned on one heel and disappeared around the side of the house, leaving Harry and me standing in the yard.
    â€œSix days,” Harry said. “That’s not so bad. Surely even you can stay out of trouble for that long, Parsley.”
    â€œI am never any trouble,” I retorted. “That falls to horse-stealing tinker’s boys.”
    But I moved to him and reached for his hand before I quite knew what I had done.
    â€œBe careful,” I said. “I want you to promise.”
    â€œYou’re the one they’re hunting, not me,” he said.”
    â€œHarry.”
    â€œOh, all right. I promise, Parsley.”
    â€œWhy must you always do that?” I asked, horrified that I could once more feel the prick of tears at the back of my eyes, and I knew that anger hadn’t brought them on this time. I stamped my foot, to drive them away. “I have a proper name. You might learn to say it.”
    â€œRapunzel,” Harry said. And again, “Rapunzel.”
    And then he did the very last thing I expected. He caught my face between his hands and pressed his lips to mine. I forgot the heat of the day, forgot my own danger. All I could feel was the touch of his mouth. All I could hear was the sound my own heart made.
    Home,
it said.
Home.
    Then, quickly as it had arrived, the moment was over. He let me go, stepped back, and spun me around.
    â€œNow, run, Parsley. If I find out you’ve let them catch you, I’ll hunt you down and tar and feather you myself.”
    I did run then, all the way to the crest of the hill, where the sorceress was waiting beneath my favorite apple tree. Then, just once and