Captive Bride - Alta Hensley Page 0,51
chances of her getting away with a lie is about as impossible as escaping this godforsaken town.
“If your father notices the tracks in the snow,” I say as we get closer and closer to the school, “tell him we wanted to play in the snow.”
“He’ll know the truth,” she says. “He always knows everything.”
“Ember,” I snap. “You need to listen to me. Tell him we went for a quick walk. Nothing else.”
A new fear forms. Ember.
If she tells Richard about the couple, he may try to hide us or even relocate. He may go on the run and take us with him to avoid authorities. Hell… he may kill us both to hide any evidence of kidnapping.
“We went for a walk to get some fresh air,” I reiterate. “Are we clear?”
She nods, but I don’t really believe her. And as we open the door to the schoolhouse—our prison—I just pray to a God I don’t know that I believe in any longer that the couple is reaching civilization and getting help quick.
20
Ember
I see our prints all over the town below. If I can see them, then I know Papa Rich can too. There are so many, and two sets have snowshoes. There is no way to explain this. There is no way out.
“Shit,” Christopher sees what I do outside the schoolhouse window. “We need to somehow hide all those.”
It’s snowing but not hard enough. Not fast enough.
Mother Nature is not on our side.
We both have our feet wrapped in a blanket from our bedding, warming them up. I can’t imagine going back into the snow now.
“I don’t see how we can,” I say.
“Okay…” Christopher begins. “We tell him that you and I went for a quick walk outside to enjoy the fresh air. When we were down there, we saw the snowshoe tracks, but saw nothing else. We need to keep to this story.”
I nod for Christopher’s sake, but I already know we are doomed. Papa Rich knows. I know he knows.
“We just have to buy enough time for them to reach the authorities,” he says. He turns to look at me with a look of determination in his eyes. “If he finds out, or if he tries to move all of us, we have to fight him. Do you hear me? We have to do whatever we can to fight the man.”
I shake my head as tears well in my eyes.
“Ember, I need you to be strong. I need you to listen to me.”
“Christopher—”
“I’m your husband!” he shouts. When I flinch, he softens his facial expression. “I’m sorry for yelling. But I’m your husband and you need to trust me. You need to have faith that I’m going to get us out of this. You just have to be on my team. My team.”
“I’m scared,” I admit.
“I know. But we’re so close. We just need time.”
Father Time is not on our side either.
Because the next voice I hear is Papa Rich’s. “Trust,” he begins as he slams the door to the tunnel. “Trust is something that should never be abused.”
He knows.
He knows.
Christopher turns to face him without the slightest show of fear. “Let me guess,” he begins as he crosses his arms against his chest. “You’re annoyed that Ember and I went for a walk? Are we expected to never go outside and see the snow? Ember said that when the tourists leave, we can move about the town more freely.”
“Very true,” Papa Rich says calmly.
“So then why are you standing there as if we did something wrong?” Christopher asks.
I stare down at my feet when Papa Rich looks into my eyes. I can’t face him. I can’t lie, and he knows it.
“I know you think that you are the head of the household now that you are married to Ember. That you make the rules,” he begins. “But not in Hallelujah Junction. I make the rules here. I oversee this kingdom.”
Christopher sighs. “Note taken. We’ll remain inside. Anything else?”
“Ember?” Papa Rich says, forcing me to look up at him. “We talk about consequences all the time. You know all about them.”
I nod. “Yes, sir. But like Christopher said, we just went for a walk. It was quick because of the snow on our feet.”
I had never lied to my father before, and it surprises me how easily the words flow from my mouth.
An evil grin forms on his face as he pulls out his pistol and points it at Christopher.
“Papa!” I scream. “No! Don’t kill him. Please!”
Christopher calmly