Hansel and Gretel Read Online Free PDF

drastically. Already the atmosphere in the place became heavier. It was soon discovered, even though she was beautiful, that Cora was cold and quick to judge before finding the reasoning behind things.
    A few days after the wedding, she scolded Gretel severely. “What do you mean when you say you could not wash the dishes today? This house is a pigpen without them done! I will not have disorder around this kitchen. Do you understand?”
    “Yes, ma’am.” Gretel bobbed a slight curtsy. “But I could not wash them—”
    “Why?” Cora asked, her green eyes flashing fire as she approached the girl. “What excuse do you have for not listening and doing the task I gave unto you?”
    “The pump is broken—it sprang a leak. Hansel is outside now looking at the thing, and he specifically asked that I not use the water at the moment.”
    Cora folded her arms. “So you could not have fetched it from somewhere else?”
    “The closest community well is two miles down the road.”
    “Then I suggest you go immediately.”
    “But …”
    Cora pulled her hand back and slapped Gretel. Hard. “Now!”
    “There is no need to strike her,” Hansel said as he came into the cottage, wiping his hands upon his trousers. “The pump is fixed. She can simply collect the water as normal.”
    Cora pointed at Gretel. “Go, then! Get the water at once!”
    Gretel scurried past Hansel. They shared a look before Hansel nodded his head to his stepmother and stepped outside.
    “Does she hit you often?” he asked.
    “Nay.” Gretel rubbed her cheek as she walked over to the pump and picked up the bucket.
    “Something is not right with her. I do not like it,” Hansel said as he followed.
    “Yes, but Pa is clearly in love.”
    Hansel grunted. “I still do not like it.” He reached across and took the bucket from her. “Allow me.”
    “Thank you.”
    He pumped the lever up and down several times. “Gretel, if she becomes upset with you again, will you tell me, please?”
    “Yes.”
    “She has a very controlling character. She must have things just so. It is not good.”
    “Well, it is her home now.” Gretel touched his forearm. They stood side by side as the water sloshed down. “We should at least try to respect that.”
    “Yes, but to harm you because she would not see reason does not make it right.”
    “So you have said.” She chuckled. “I am fine, really. With you so worried about my safety, it does quite take away my own need to be concerned over such things.”
    He set the full bucket upon the ground. When she shut off the pump, he turned and held her shoulders. “Gretel, listen to me. I will worry constantly for your safety. Always. Since the very first time I laid eyes upon you as a drowned waif, I have felt the need to watch over and protect you. I know I have not been the kindest—especially as of late—but I do care. Greatly. And I will not allow someone to use or abuse you. Remember, you are a princess.”
    “No.” She shook her head.
    “Yes. You are.”
    “Hansel, I do not know that life anymore. I am nothing but a village maiden. I work in a cottage. My family is gone.”
    “No, not my Gretel. You are in hiding—do not cast that knowledge aside. You will one day rule upon your throne. And you will do so honorably.”
    She gasped, pulled away from him, and tersely whispered, “Shh! I will not. You upset me with this talk. I do not want that life or anything else grand and frightening. I want to be a girl and have a family like all my friends.”
    He slipped his arm around her shoulder and tugged her farther from the house. “You cannot deny who you are, or what you were born to become. There is a great reason you were saved as you were. Do not just toss this fact away. You have a chance at creating a world that would help many, many more people than just simply a husband and children.”
    “What of you? What do you wish to become?”
    He chuckled, and his eyes met hers. “What am I destined for? Is