The Only Way by Jamie Sullivan Read Free Book Online Page A

that lack was serving her well now.
    They faced each other in the ring as Leo took his place on the sidelines, hooking his arms over the rope. "Okay, get into your stances:  hands up, blocking the face and upper body. Knees bent. Eyes on your opponent."
    Both girls raised their fists. Ruby dropped into the fighter's stance as easily as Hart did, and Hart wondered how many hours she had spent in this ring with her father, running through moves and maneuvers just as Hart had done with Duncan.
    "Because you're small, you want to keep your opponent running as much as possible. When you're fighting some huge chap, you can use his size against him. Last night you did a bit too much moving yourself," Leo advised. "Keep turning in place and dodging and make the other guy move around you . You don't want to tire yourself out along with him."
    Leo called out instructions as Hart and Ruby circled, neither making a move to actually engage. Ruby's footwork was good—better than Hart's, she noticed with some shame. After a few minutes, Leo told Ruby to start swinging, leaving Hart on the defense.
    Ruby's fist shot out hard and fast, and it was all Hart could do to stumble out of the way. The girl's lips curled up in a smirk, and Hart narrowed her eyes.
    With her next swing Ruby landed a punch, then another one.
    "Hart! You're supposed to be dodging ," Leo called out from the sidelines and Ruby snickered.
    "I'm trying," Hart shouted back, ducking into a crouch as Ruby's fist came towards her. Seeing an opportunity, she kicked her leg out. Ruby's feet shot out from under her and the she went sprawling to the mat.
    "No!"
    Hart frowned at Leo. "No?"
    "Don't knock the guy down unless you think you can keep him down. If you go for the pin too early, he'll just flip you and then he's won."
    Hart looked over at Ruby, lying flat on her back. She knew she could hold the other girl down, but if Ruby were Gage—or someone bigger—it was unlikely. She huffed a frustrated sigh.
    Leo grinned. "Now, back on your feet, both of you."
    They spent all day in the ring until Hart could barely breathe, let alone move. Ruby hit hard and moved fast. For most of the morning, Hart felt like she was just scrambling to keep up with her. Ruby taunted her about getting 'beaten by a girl', and Hart felt something twist angrily inside of her. There was nothing wrong with being a girl—Ruby's fighting skills made that clear—but if she wanted to survive, she had to convince everyone that she was just as tough as every other man in the ring.
    Finally, Leo called an end to the day. Hart glanced dolefully at Ruby, noting that the girl wasn't nearly as wrecked as Hart felt. Sweat poured over Hart, matting what was left of her hair to her head and sticking her clothes uncomfortably to her frame. She shifted, terrified the wrappings might show under her sweat-slicked top.
    "Showers are that way," Leo said, clapping a hand on her shoulder. He leaned close. "You did alright, kid."
    It wasn't much, as far as praise went, but Hart found herself walking a little straighter anyway. Ruby had kicked her ass, but then, Ruby was a damn good fighter. She'd get better, she promised herself. She'd take the girl one day and then the men.
    Hart slipped through the door Leo had indicated, into a shower room that was gargantuan by her standards. She eyed the shower itself with trepidation. It had handles and knobs and shining silver fixtures.
    They bathed out of a tub at home. Hart's house had a water pump that connected to the main line that ran through the Gutter—a luxury that most of her neighbors didn't share. They heated the water over the fire and washed quickly before it cooled. Filling the tub took ages, so full bathing wasn't something they did every day. When her family did bother, all the kids shared the same water. Little Penny got dunked first and Finn went last because he was always the dirtiest. 
    Hart reached out and touched one of the knobs with tentative fingers,