Jack and the Beanstalk (Faerie Tale Collection) by James Jenni

Author:James, Jenni [James, Jenni]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: YA, clean fiction, fairy tale, Young Adult
Publisher: StoneHouse Ink
Published: 2013-03-31T07:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

JACK HEAVED HIS WEIGHT up the next twisted vine and then leaned down to clutch Jill’s hand and bring her up. “How are you doing?” he asked as she gained her footing and panted against the stalk. They had been climbing continuously, with several short breaks, for over five hours now. “Do you need to rest again?”

She looked down at the distance they had come. “It is so very far away.”

“Aye,” he said as he glanced at the tiny homes dotting the land below them in the moonlight. They were too high up to see their cottage or Grandfather’s, but they could make out their village and several others tucked within the shadows of the rolling hills.

“How much farther do we have to go?”

Her breathing was more labored the higher they traveled. His felt off too, but it seemed to affect her much more. “I assume another hour or so.”

She nodded as she continued to pant.

Even though he felt energized and willing to go on, her actions gave him pause. She needed rest—nay, she needed sleep. He glanced around the large collection of intertwined vines and found a nice outcropping that could support them both a little ways above them.

“There,” he said as he pointed upwards. “Do you see that grouping of vines?”

“Yes.”

“That is where I think we will take a break and sleep for the rest of the night. I am exhausted.” He looked down at her weary features. “What say you?”

She heaved several more breaths before nodding.

He grinned. “Very well. Let us get you up there, and perhaps have some food as well.”

“No.” She shook her head. “No food, just sleep.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Grasping the strong vine next to him, he grunted as he hauled himself up. When they had begun this trek, Jill had been so quick, he was hard-pressed to keep up with her. But now, he leaned down and clutched her hand again. Tugging, he brought her exhausted body up the few more feet to the outcropping. Jill was as done as she had ever been. “There you go. Take off your pack and undo the ties of your skirts so you are more comfortable and find a nice spot where you can curl up,” he commanded.

She muttered something in reply and did just as he insisted.

Chuckling, he watched her wrap herself up into a nice, cozy ball and almost instantly fall asleep, snuggled between a low-dipped thatch of vines and a large leaf blanket. He had never seen her quite so obedient before. It was good for her.

Shucking off his own pack, he brought it round and pulled out an apple and a nice-sized chunk of cheese wrapped in paper. Munching, so far above everything else, he looked out at the world and smiled. Almost. He was almost there.

Tomorrow the real journey would commence.

Hopefully all was well with Rachel. He could not envision anything but happy thoughts when it came to her predicament. Anything less than absolutely perfect imaginings would set him reeling. There was one goal and one goal only—to see that she made it home as safely and as quickly as possible.

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