An Echo From the Past: Part 3
By: Echo


Two weeks later, I was in Boston, sitting in the parlor, staring out the window. Three days after I arrived there, I had been told Jack was dead. Ever since then I had managed to keep from talking to anyone about New York, and I had acted more happy than was normal. Unfortunately, it had attracted the attention of Christopher Hodges. I couldn't stand him, but for the past two weeks, he had been bugging me constantly. Just as I started thinking of a list of excuses to get out of talking to him, he walked in. "Hello Chrissy."

"Hello, nice day. Isn't it?" I said smiling, but secretly wishing there would be a tornado... I hated small talk.

He smiled his most charming and arrogant smile. "Yes. In fact, I was wondering if you'd like to walk with me?"

Aaron walked in and winked at me. "She's already busy, sorry Christopher." Aaron smiled hopefully at me. "Want to go to the stables?"

I shrugged. "Sure."

Grandmother decided we should go in the carriage. So we got to the stables and saddled the horses. I was riding a black one, Aaron was on a morgan. We only stayed there a little while, and then I offered to put up Aaron's horse for him.

*********************************************************

I handed the reigns to Chris, so she could put the horses up. She hadn't been as easy going and sarcastic since we had left New York, and things were kind of tense between the two of us, but she tried her best to hide it. I yawned and looked around. I never actually closed my mouth though, because standing across the street, talking to the carriage driver, was the supposedly dead, Jack Kelly.

I ducked behind a tree and watched as the driver handed Jack an envelope and walked off. I watched Jack read the note, and then watched him throw it, and another note down. He stared at them both for a while, and finally shoved his hands in his pockets and walked off.

I waited a few seconds before I walked over and picked the notes up. One was a letter from Jack telling Chris how much he missed her, and asking her to meet him at midnight at the train station. The other was a letter written in handwriting strikingly similar to Chris's, telling Jack she never wanted to see him again. I shoved them in my pocket as I saw Chris walk out of the stables. She smiled, not her usual smile, but one that seemed to be forced. "Why do you look so guilty?"

I shrugged. "I've got a lot on my mind."

*********************************************************

One month later, by no fault of my own, I was engaged to the most annoying man on earth. He was even more egotistical than Spot Conlon, and just the presence of him in the same room as me, sent shivers down my spine. Christopher Brett Hodges, the last man I would ever marry, the creep that insisted on calling me Chrissy.

For three months I went to parties with him hanging all over me, making me want to puke. The guy even had the nerve to kiss me. Aaron laughed when I told him that, pointing out that we were engaged. He avoided me after I told him that Christopher wasn't Jack, and therefore had no right to kiss me.

I hadn't seen or heard from Ben all the time I was in Boston until the night before the wedding, when he came to the party. He smiled and hugged me. "I would ask how you were doing, but I know you're miserable."

I smiled. "You get right to the point, don't you?"

He sighed. "I don't want any sister of mine going through life so unhappy."

I shrugged. "Why do you think I'm so unhappy? I'm used to disapointment by now."

He nodded. "Yeah, but you can't just give up because of a few setbacks. Tell me, what do you think of Hodges?"

I rolled my eyes. "He annoys me and gives me the creeps at the same time."

Ben smiled. "That's what I thought you'd say. Don't worry, you'll make the right decision and things will turn out alright."

I watched him walk away as Christopher came up and put an arm around me. "Chrissy, lets go for a walk."

*********************************************************

I walked upstairs after the party. Something was bothering me, and that something was my fiance. I couldn't stand him even putting his arm around me, and tomorrow, we would be married.

I sighed as I started getting ready to go to sleep but paused and stared at the wedding dress... I had the sudden urge to rip it into shreds. Then I noticed the note laying on the dresser, I picked it up and started reading it.

Chris,
I feel horrible that I've kept this from you, but I didn't know what else to do. I finally decided that I can't stand to see you so miserable, so brace yourself, and you should probably sit down. A few months ago, when we were at the stables, I saw the carriage driver talking to someone. I don't know how I should say this, but he was talking to Jack. The driver handed Jack a note (I assume he was supposed to mail it originally)and after he read it, he threw it and another paper down, and then walked off. I've kept the letters from you until now, and I made a mistake by not showing them to you that day. I'm going to give you an hour to think over what you'll do, but please read both of the letters very carefully.
Aaron

I stared at the note skeptically for a while before picking up the other two. I was sure he was lying, until I saw that one note was in Jack's handwriting.

Echo,
I've lost ya to many times already an' I mis ya more den I can say, so I've came ta get ya. If ya miss me half as much as I do you, meet me at da train stacion at 12:00. I luv ya, an' I ain't gonna let ya go witout a fight.
Luv Always,
Jack

I stared at the letter, completely dumbstruck. Jack was alive, he had been here in Boston... and Aaron hadn't told me. I picked up the last letter, and was amazed to see that the handwriting looked almost exactly like mine.

Jack,
I'm sorry, but I can't ever talk to you again. There was one time when I swore I loved you, but I didn't, and nothing has changed. I belong in Boston, with my family. I'm going to be married by the end of the year, and I don't want you to find out too late. Please, don't try to contact me in any way, we can't ever see each other again. Goodbye forever.
Sincerely,
Christina Collin

I threw down the letter and sat on the bed, trying to put all of the pieces together. Jack was alive, but someone had convinced him I never wanted to see him again. In the 20 minutes it took me to recover from the shock, I decided I had two choices, and one of them wasn't for me. I searched the room for a while until I found the sharpest pair of scissors I could, and cut my hair off just below the ears, then gathered up some of my newsie stuff I had managed to hold onto.

Aaron walked in the door just when he said he would. "I know I should have told you before, but I didn't know how you'd react."

I nodded. "I know."

He stared at me. "So... you've made up your mind? It'll be pretty lonely here without you."

I smiled. "To hell with all of you, I'm going to New York."

"I'm glad... I don't think you'd last too long with Hodges."

I hugged him. "Thanks for everything. You meant a lot to me."

He pushed me back. "You'll wrinkle my shirt."

I laughed. "Is that a tear I see?"

He shook his head. "No, men don't cry. I just got something in my eye... it's so dusty in here."

I smiled. "Well, I guess this is goodbye, huh?"

He wrinkled his nose in disgust. "Don't be ridiculous... you'll never get through those bars." I laughed but he just shook his head. "Good bye? No... I'm not going to let a cousin like you go that easily. Keep in touch, through Ben maybe, and don't be a stranger. Maybe when they finally give up, you can come see me... Oh! Don't forget to invite me to the wedding!"

I hugged him and started to crawl out the window, but paused and looked up. "Wedding? Oh shut up."

He laughed. "Get out of here."

I waved and finally left. I hopped onto the first train to New York,and what seemed like ten eternities later, I was in New York.

I walked to the circulation center to by my papes. Blink stared at me for a few seconds when I got in line behind him. "Ya new?" He finally asked.

I nodded in reply. He spit shook with me. "Kid Blink, ya can call me Blink."

I ran through a couple of names before picking one. "Jon... ya got a leada'?" I asked, hoping to surprise Jack.

He shook his head. "No, he went out west. Haven't picked a new one yet."

I tried to hide my disappointment as Racetrack walked up. "Hey Blink. Gotta new guy?"

I smiled and spit shook with him. "Jon." I met all of the guys... again, and then sold with Blink. I never told them who I was, for the same reason I had cut my hair. New York was the first place they'd look for me, but they wouldn't be looking for a guy named Jon. I trusted the newsies, but it would be easier for people to find me if they knew who I really was.

Taht night I talked to the guys in the lobby for a while. When they all started to go upstairs, Kloppman stopped my. "You gonna tell them?"

I stared at him for a while. "Tell 'em what?"

He smiled. "I'm surprised none of the guys have recognized you yet... Echo."

I froze. "You know?"

He nodded. "I do read the paper." He said as he picked up a newspaper and pointed to an article on page five: Boston Heiress Missing on Wedding Day.

I sighed. "I want to tell them, but it would only make it easier to find me."

He put the paper down. "Jack was goin' crazy when you disapeared again. He finally decided to go to Boston, but when he came back he was worse than before. He never talked about what happened, he just sold papes for a while an' left for Santa Fe."

I leaned up against the wall and shook my head regretfully. "I didn't even know. They lied to me Kloppman. They told me he was dead. Not even Aaron told me the truth. Not until the night before the wedding anyway. They wrote a note to Jack telling him I never wanted to see him again. I never had a chance.

He put an arm around me. "He'll come back... but you should get some sleep."

*********************************************************

Two days later Spot came to Manhattan. I acted like I was scared of him so he wouldn't recognize me. It did nothing for my pride, but I decided it was necassary. On the way back to the Lodging House he pulled me away from the others. "What do ya think yer doin'?"

"I don't know what yer talkin' bout." I said curtly as I started walking back towards the others.

He grabbed my arm. "Jon? Ya ain't foolin' no one. Ya may 'ave cut yer hair, an' started talkin' wit a accent, an' ya ain't makin' no smart ass remarks... but I know who ya are. Don't ya think yer a little late, Echo? Jack left weeks ago."

I looked away. "How was I supposed to know?"

He shrugged. "Da guys don't know?"

I shook my head. "I decided the fewer people that knew, the harder it would be for them to find me."

He nodded and started walking again. "I won't tell da guys... if ya tell me what happened to Jack."

I told him what I had told Kloppman. When I finished he put an arm around me. "Don't worry... everything will work out."

I sighed. "I hope so."

When we got back to the Lodging House, Spot joined in on a poker game and then helped the guys think of a nickname for me since I didn't have one yet. Eventually, Spot suggested Pony, and they all agreed. It didn't see like such a bad name, but I had a feeling Spot had picked it to get back at me for teasing him. I walked over to him before going to sleep. "Spot?"

He turned around. "Yeah?"

I stared at him suspiciously. "Why Pony?"

He tried to hide a smile. "Well... yer kind a timid like a pony."

"And?"

"And cowboys ride ponies!" He said and burst out laughing.

About thirty seconds later, when I finally realized what he meant, my jaw dropped to the ground and my face turned dark red. "Conlon, I am going to kill you."

He shook his head. "No, ya'll blow yer cova'."

I glared at him. "I'll still get you for that one."

*********************************************************

Two weeks later the guys still hadn't figured out who I really was, and the police were having one heck of a time trying to find me. I walked into the bunkroom after a long day of selling papes and stopped dead in my tracks when I saw Jack sitting across the room. He smiled as he walked toward me. Tears of happiness started streaming down my face. "Jack, I didn't write-"

He silenced me with a kiss. I laughed as I noticed all the guys tanding around with their eyes popping our of their heads and heard Race say to Blink, "Tell me Jack did not kiss Pony."

Spot laughed and hit him on the head. "Ya moron. Dat's Echo."

"Echo?" Mush asked in disbelief.

Jack smiled. "I can't believe they didn't know... Ya look almost da same. Except for yer hair."

I sighed. "That was a mistake."

"Not telling them?"

I shook my head. "No, cutting my hair."

Blink laughed and ruffled my hair. "Don't worry, kid. It'll grow back."

I punched him playfully. "Don't call me kid."

I sat with Jack on his bunk and told the guys everything that had happened, after talking to them for a while, Jack and I went up on the roof. I smiled and he put an arm around me. "Jack?"

"What?"

"What was it like in Santa Fe?"

He smiled. "Just like I dreamed it would be, but better." He seemed to know what I was thinking, and answered my next question before I even asked it. "When I heard ya were back heya, I had to come back. Santa Fe was somethin' I dreamed about all a me life... but you weren't dere. Santa fe can will always be dere, but you won't."

I kissed his cheek. "I could wait forever... if I didn't get impatient and chase after you."

He kissed me and we talked all night up on the roof. The next morning we sold papers together. We stayed out for a while, and when we finally got back to the Lodging House, it was dark outside. We were stopped by Pie Eater when we walked in. "Echo, dere's a guy in dere lookin' for ya." He whispered.

I stared at him for a while and then heard someone say. "I know she's here."

I laughed and ran into the lobby, and hugged Ben... the guy that was looking for me. "Cass!"

He frowned. "Hey, that isn't my name."

I smiled. "B.S."

He looked confused. "No, it really isn't my... oh. You're trying to annoy me, aren't you?"

I smiled innocently. "Now why would I want to do that? Huh Ben?"

"Woah. You're Ben?" Jack asked.

Ben smiled. "Yeah, I'm Ben. You must be Jack."

Jack nodded. "Yeah. I'm glad I know who ya are now."

I gave him a funny look. "Did I miss something?"

Sketch scratched his head. "I was just thinkin' the same thing... who is he? And how do you and Jack know him?"

"He's my brother." I looked at Jack, waiting for him to say something, he looked at Ben.

"What? Why's everyone looking at me?" Ben asked.

I looked at Jack again, and he finally decided to say something. "He wrote me a letta' when I was in Santa Fe. Dat's how I knew what happened in Boston, an' dat you were heya."

I stared at Ben. "You're the one that told him?"

Ben shrugged. "Well... yeah."

I hugged him again. "You are the greatest."

He smiled and pushed me back. "As Aaron would say, 'Stop that, you'll wrinkle my shirt.'"

I laughed and introduced Ben to the rest of the guys, then he stayed a while and told the guys jokes and stories for about half an hour. After he had made friends with everyone, and threatened Jack a few times, he finally left. Jack smiled and wrapped his arms around me. "I think I like dat guy."

I rolled my eyes. "He threatened to break your neck."

"Who can blaim 'im? If I was yer older brudda', an' some guy hurt ya, I'd be more den happy ta break 'is neck."

I smiled. "I can take care of myself."

He laughed. "So, yer sayin' he don't 'ave ta break my neck... cause ya'll get dere foist?"

I laughed. "Exactly."

Spot snuck up behind us and hit Jack on the back of the head. "Hey Cowboy, Pony."

I glared at him. "Conlon... I'm warning you. Now that all of the guys know who I am, I won't hesitate to kill you for that."

"Pony?" Jack asked.

Spot laughed. "Yeah... you know, Pony. You're Cowboy, she's Pony... Cowboy's ride ponies."

Jack glared at him and then laughed and threw me over his shoulder. "Not a bad idea."

I hit him. "Jack! Put me down!"

He ignored me and carried me into the bunkroom, out the window, and up the fire escape to the roof. I glared at Jack when the guys started whistling. "That isn't funny Jack."

"I was just kiddin'."

I smiled and kissed him. "It's still not funny."

He sat on the ground and pulled me down next to him. "Ya think they'll find ya?"

I shook my head. "No... not this time."

He smiled. "Dat's good, cause it ain't da same witout ya. I really missed ya."

"I missed you too. But I'm not going to let them drag me back there Jack. I just had some ghosts from the past haunting me, and as far as I'm concerned, they're dead now."

He smiled. "I love ya, I really do. More den woids can say."

I laughed. "I love you more."

_-~*The End*~-_


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