This is an original work by Zeb_Carter and is protected under copyright by U.S. copyright law. It is only submitted at Literotica.Com and any submission to any other site has not been authorized by the Author.
Mary Tagert
Part 1
Mary Tagert crept along the side of the decrepit building following the shadows cast by the harsh street lamps. Flowing through the night, a shadow herself, Mary paused to look around her. Nodding her head, she scrambled in through the gaping window before her. Inside she tried to find a place out of the light and the chill breeze flowing through the place. In a corner, she leaned against the cold bricks and slumped to the floor. She was cold. Bone cold. This winter had started early and the cold stayed longer in the day. She closed her eyes and was asleep even though her body shivered.
Mary woke suddenly. She was being pulled up out of the darkness and sleep. In front of her was a large black shadow of a man. Before she knew what was happening she was over his shoulder.
"My things," she shouted.
"I have them," he said hefting her duffle in his left hand.
Looking around Mary thought about struggling but she just didn't have the strength. She also spotted the dog. Large, black and trotting just ahead of the man. She was over John's shoulder. John and Rudy were well known among the homeless. John had never hurt anyone. Rudy on the other hand would hurt anyone who tried to hurt John or anyone with him.
Through the cold, dark streets, John carried Mary. Until they came to a burnt out building not too far from where Mary had tried to hold up. Inside, John climbed some rickety old stairs to a platform above. He gently set Mary down on her feet. Turning, the dog, Rudy, blocked the stairs. John lay down on a pile of cardboard boxes.
"Come. Lay down," John said.
Tentatively, Mary lay next to John. He opened his long, heavy coat and pulled her in close to him. She tried to move away.
"Stop wiggling. I'm just trying to keep you warm..."
"Yeah, I bet," Mary croaked, scared to death.
"Stop," John said closing his coat over Mary. "Rudy, come."
The dog trotted over and lay down in front of Mary. John reached over and pulled Rudy close, then flipped several heavy blankets over them all.
"Now go to sleep," John ordered.
Mary grunted, trying to settle herself. Her flee instinct had kicked in and was still yelling at her to run. Yet in the back of her mind she knew John had no ill will toward her. She shook as the adrenalin dissipated from her bloodstream.
"How old are you girl?" John asked gruffly.
"How old are you?" Mary snapped back.
"Well, said," John said chuckling.
They both lay quietly. Rudy snorted several times. He was a big black, mostly, Rottweiler, mostly. Mary could feel the heat rising from him as he lay in front of her. Tentatively, she moved her hand to rest on his side. He snorted, but didn't protest.
"I'm sixteen."
"You should be home with your parents."
"Not really."
"What happened girl?"
"It's Mary, but you know that. Why are you out here? A grown man like you?"
Silence filled the air once more. The sounds of the city barely intruded the space they were in. Mary lay there, listening to Rudy breath. Feeling John's chest rise and fall with his breathing.
"I left home two years ago."
"You've lived on the street for two years?" John asked in credulously.
"I have. And they were a lot better than the fourteen years I spent at home. Well not all fourteen, just the last two. Before that, mom was there. Mom was there and everything was good. Daddy had a job. There was food on the table. Then Mom got sick."
"She died?" John asked.
"Yes."
"Been there," John whispered, shuddering at a memory.
"Ya. After that, dad lost it. He started drinking. At first he tried, but the drink took away his will..."
"He lost that when you momma died, dear."
"I suppose. Luckily, my oldest brother was working and brought home food. Dad did pay the rent, but that was it. The rest of his paycheck was for his beer. He didn't start the hard stuff until later. Whenever he would come home drunk, us kids would hide in my bedroom. It was the only one with a lock on it. Alex, my oldest brother would keep dad away from the rest of us.
"That was until he started punching him. Alex tried to fight back but couldn't take on a two hundred pound drunk. The rest of us would get slapped around pretty good too. Alex started taking Karate lessons. For two years he took them. Then one night when dad came home blasted, he knocked him down and kept him down. Then he told dad to leave us all alone. Dad got past him and busted in my door. Seems he had it in for me for some reason. Billy my younger brother tried to stop him. Got a broken arm for his trouble. Finally, Alex and Charlie, my other older brother, got dad under control. Alex knocked him out, then dragged him to the living room. Charlie, who was seventeen, took Billy to the hospital. Me and Sean, my youngest brother, with Alex stayed in my bedroom the rest of the night.