The Boneshaker (37 page)

"Yes, that's true," Natalie said thoughtfully. "But it's a funny thing about those stories, Jack. It's always you against someone mean or arrogant or just plain stupid." She smiled back at him. It was a real smile. One with confidence. "I'm not any of those things."

Jack considered her for a moment, very seriously. "I think that's the truth, all right." He raised his knuckles to his hat brim again. "See you around, kid. Maybe."

Natalie watched him until he was just a tiny fleck of motion disappearing over the horizon. Then she skipped down the steps, grabbed the handlebars of the red bicycle, and took a running start down the street.

One foot on the pedal, then the other, and the world rolled away beneath her tires. Natalie turned her face up to the sun and flew.

KATE MILFORD lives in Brooklyn, New York. She has written for stage and screen, and is a regular travel columnist at
www.nagspeake.com
.

This is her first book. To find out more about Kate and her work, visit
www.clockworkfoundry.com
.