“Tell you what.” Sara said, a smile spreading across her face. “Why don’t you pick something you think I will look cute in, after all it’s your money.” This was perfect in so many ways. First it let him get his way, second oddly enough, even though she just met him, she wanted to look cute for him, and third if he picked it out she didn’t have to feel too guilty about the price.
“Seth looked from Sara to the rack filled with confusion and surprise. He didn’t expect her to relent so easily, and he didn’t know the first thing about girls’ clothes. Before he could think about what he was saying he replied to her offer.
“I think you would be beautiful in anything.” Seth stopped. Did I say that out loud? Seeing the blood rushing to Sara’s cheeks as she blushed, he hung his head sheepishly, blushing even redder than she.
They stood there silently for a moment blushing at each other, both embarrassed by his words when Sara was struck with another idea. She quickly rummaged through the rack, dismissing item after item. She worked her way slowly around the rack, all the while Seth watched her, happy she had changed her mind. She stopped directly across from him, on the opposite side of the rack and stood staring at one of the garments and again smiled. She looked up at Seth, the smile still on her face. She looked him over as best she could then returned her gaze to the garment she had chosen, seeming satisfied she nodded to herself and returned her gaze to Seth.
“I think I found some.” She said across the rack to Seth who smiled at her in return. “I’m afraid to look at the tag on it though. Could you look and see how much it is? If it’s too much I will find something cheaper.”
Seth just nodded to her and walked around the rack to where she was standing. Sara pointed at a set of clothes that hung from the rack, and turned around quickly to avoid seeing the price. Seth found the tag, and turning it over in his hand read the price. The clothing was priced at two silver. This seemed reasonable to Seth so he snatched the clothes off the rack, and carried them across the small shop to where he had seen a woman sitting behind a counter. Sara drifted along behind him, but she stayed far enough away from the counter as to not hear the price. Seth greeted the middle aged woman behind the counter and held the clothes out to her. Accepting the clothes the woman looked at Seth and then around the room. The clothes obviously not meant for Seth, must be meant for the woman he came with. The round woman behind the counter glanced around her store, spotting Sara glancing through another rack of clothes. Recognition dawned on the older woman’s face. She had seen this young girl before, bruised and battered. Always beaten by that no good, drunk, woman hating John, and always looking more like a homeless girl than anything else. She hefted the travel clothing onto the counter and pretended to notice something that Seth had missed.
“It’s your lucky day.” The shop owner told Seth. “This one here is on special. Half off it is. It’s been hanging on that rack for a while, time to be rid of it.” The woman smiled at Seth, happy the poor girl had found someone to take her out of this town, away from that wretch of a man.
Seth took out a silver coin from the small pouch at his waste and handed it to the woman.
“I’m glad you are an honest woman.” He told the lady behind the counter. “I hadn’t noticed the reduced price.”
The lady nodded at him and smiled. She had done her good deed for the day, as she tried to do each and every day.
“Would you like me to wrap it for you?” The woman then asked Seth, whose only response was a confused look. “So it doesn’t get dirty before she can change into it.” The woman clarified.
“Oh…um…I’m not sure, I’ll be right back.” Seth said as he walked between the racks of clothes to where Sara waited for him patiently.
“The lady wants to know if you want it wrapped so it doesn’t get dirty before you get to wear it.” Seth repeated the question.
“Can I change into it now?” Sara asked him.
“I don’t know.” Seth responded. “We can go ask.” He suggested. Sara nodded and again took his hand to follow him.
They wove back through the racks of clothes to the counter, but it was Sara not Seth to speak to the woman this time.
“Miss, could I change into the clothes here if you don’t mind?” Sara asked the woman a bit timidly.
“You sure can hun.” The woman replied. “Look, there in the back corner, there is a little booth you can change in.” The woman said smiling politely.
“Thank you.” Sara replied.
Taking the outfit off the counter, she skipped girlishly across the small shop to the booth in the corner, leaving Seth to trail behind her. Seth stood outside the small booth as if guarding it from some unseen enemy. Looking around the shop, Seth waited patiently for Sara to emerge.
“Seth?” “Are you there?” Sara asked. Her sweet voice carrying through the door as Seth did his best not to imagine her changing her clothes.
“yes.” He replied thinking the question a bit odd.
“Could you come help me?” Sara said with a tone Seth didn’t understand.
“Um… sure are you stuck or something?” Seth asked.
“Something like that.” Sara replied sounding a bit embarrassed.
Seth walked to the small booth, and slowly pulled the door open. Looking inside he saw Sara with her back to him, her arms clutching the shirt over her body, to cover herself. He then noticed that she was actually wearing the shirt, her arms through the sleeves, but the back remained open, a piece of leather strapping dangled from it.
“Can you lace me up please?” Sara asked him, her cheeks flushing a bit.
Seth then realized the leather strap was to pull the two halves of the shirt back together. Quickly, without responding to her question, Seth took up the two ends of the leather cord and wove it back and forth through the provided holes, all the way up her back. Feeling the shirt was securely in place Sara let go the front of it and pulled her hair over her shoulder to keep it out of Seth’s way. He laced the shirt all the way up to her neck, and then stopped unsure.
“Is it tight enough?” He asked her.
“A little tighter please.” Sara responded.
Starting at the bottom again Seth pulled the cord tighter and tighter working his way to the top, reaching her neck again he tied the cord in a bow, so that she would be able to remove it by herself when she needed to. Sara let her hair fall again down her back, as Seth stepped back out of the little booth. Sara turned around and Seth’s jaw hit the floor. He couldn’t believe his eyes. She wore black, skin tight, leather pants, a shapely woman’s tunic cut dangerously low in the front, also of black leather, barely contained her breasts. Around her waist, over the shirt a silver belt rested over her hips. The outfit left just enough to the imagination to send Seth daydreaming about taking it off.
“So? Sara asked. “Am I cute?”
“The outfit is…No, You ”…he emphasized the word. “Look astonishing.”
“I’m glad you like it.” She said while blushing again. “I picked it so we would match.”
Seth hadn’t noticed that indeed their clothes did match, and realizing this, he again smiled at Sara while his cheeks again burned with blood. Sara, happy he was pleased with her declaration returned his smile and strode forward, once again taking his hand. They left the store with a wave to the owner and again entered the street full of shops, Seth again leading, again looking for something particular.
“What are you looking for?” Sara asked as they made their way winding through the different stalls.
“Something to put on your feet.” He stated honestly.
This time she didn’t seem upset about him wanting to by her something, but she did however take the lead. Sara led Seth around a corner away from the jumble of shops. Down a side street they walked a short distance when Sara stopped in front of a small building and pointed to a sign above the door. Seth, seeing this was exactly where he wanted to take her, gave her hand a little squeeze and pulled the door open for her. Following Sara into the shop, she led him straight to a display on one of the walls, and picked up a pair of boots as if she knew exactly where they would be. A girl who likes shoes. Go figure.
“Been here before?” Seth asked Sara in a sarcastic tone.
“Yup.” She replied. “But I’ve never actually bought anything.”
Seth took her meaning, and took the boots from her. Sara turned her head as Seth read the small tag hanging from one of the boots. One silver, fifty copper. A bit steep, but they were what she wanted, and she had obviously visited them several times. This time Sara accompanied Seth to the counter. No one sat at the counter, but there
