The Cinder Bullies (15)

"I see you two have already met," said Nadia, with a smile.

"I met Dancer, too!" replied Xavier excitedly, as they headed towards the kitchen. "He is just such a sweet little puppy!"

"Nadia's son?" Cindy asked herself, as she returned to her work in the rose garden. The puppy followed her and stretched out on the grass beside her. "I guess he does look like her, in a way."

Just then, Millie showed up unexpectedly, carrying the new, white shawl she had made for Cindy.

"That is so pretty and it's absolutely perfect, too!" exclaimed Cindy, as soon as she saw it.

"It will definitely keep you warm, if the weather turns chilly at the coming home party!" said Millie. "I know what a blessing mine was to me."

"I know who Xaviar is," whispered Cindy to Millie. "He is Nadia's son."

"I had no idea that she had any family, much less a son," replied Millie, with amazement as she thought Nadia was all alone.

"They are in the kitchen," said Cindy, quietly. "But, I think they probably need some time alone together."

"I cannot stay, anyhow," replied Millie. "I promised Rosa that I would only be gone a little while. She will be wondering where I am, if I don't go right back."

"Millie, thank you ever so much for the beautiful shawl. I love it and will take good care of it. I promise."

"Maybe Rosa knows Xaviar?" thought Millie, as she headed back to see what her next sewing task for Rosa would be. "I must remember to ask her."

But Rosa's lips were sealed if she knew anything about Xaviar.

"Sometimes, it is best not to say anything about others," she thought to herself. "Let them all get to know each other as friends, first. Maybe he will make Cindy his wife some day? Or perhaps Millie? Either way, it could be wonderful!"

Cindy went into the village to pick up some fresh produce for Nadia, and when she returned, Xaviar had already left.

"Maybe I will hear him play his flute again and we can do some more dancing," she told her puppy. "Do you like the name Dancer?"

"I do," said Nadia, who had spotted her returning from the village. "I think it suits him."

Tears welled up in her eyes, but Cindy was too busy playing with her puppy then, to see them.

"My son has had such a tragic life," she thought to herself. "How could he have been forced to do the work of a scullery maid, at such a young age?"

She wiped away the tears that had welled up in her eyes as she was thinking about him.

"He was such a good boy and so well behaved. He never said one word. It is my fault for not recognizing what was happening sooner."

No one had seen it coming. He was just one more person that had been abused by the cinder bullies.

"How can I ever forgive myself for the cruelty, degradation and humiliation that he suffered? I wonder if he will ever be able to get over it!"

She watched Cindy and Dancer playing happily in the grass.

"Maybe there is hope for all of them yet!"