to go outside.”
“She asks now if she wants to go to the edge. Papa won’t let her go that far without asking,” Elijah says.
“Yeah, but he lets her wander the outside whenever she wants. Her place is inside cooking, cleaning, doing the wash. She can keep up with her garden and the chickens, but that’s it. At least for a while.”
Elijah’s face scrunches. “That seems harsh. She’s done nothing wrong.”
“If we show her we mean business at the beginning, it’s less likely she’ll start listening to those wicked thoughts women get,” I point out.
He scratches his neck. “Yeah. I suppose. But let’s leave it at that for now. If we’re too hard on her, she’ll be scared of us.”
“Don’t be a pussy, Elijah,” I snap at him.
“I’m not.” He turns to square off with me. “But there’s no need to make her scared. She should fear punishments, not our love.”
He makes a good point.
“Okay. Just those two rules for now. See how she adjusts.”
Once Papa gets home, I’ll talk to him about the ceremony. Then she’ll take the test, and by nightfall, she’ll be completely ours.
It’s going to be a good day.
My stomach hurts.
Nausea rolls through me, and I’m sure it’s because there’s a baby in my belly. I thought about it all night and more this morning. I can’t have a baby. Not theirs. This isn’t right.
The stranger was right. Love shouldn’t hurt the way it does here.
I run through the yard to the back edge where Mama and Grandma live. He said he’d be back today, but he didn’t say what time. I can only hope he’s there. I won’t get another chance to come out this way today.
The boys are still working on the fence, and Papa’s gone. He’ll be gone for a while since he’s in town. I should be able to hear the truck driving up the road. I hope.
I pass the chicken coop and keep speed, walking until I get to the place where I first met the stranger. I bite my lip as I search the trees. Hopefully he’s not dumb enough to wear that stupid orange thing again.
The clouds are blocking the sun, and there’s a soft fog moving through the trees. If we hurry, it will hide us. I think. I hope…
Hope. A word I never dared think in my mind. But now, I can feel it. The churning in my stomach is from excitement of what can be, what I’ll find on the other side of the trees. No more rolling sickness because of what I might have to do by the end of the night. No more dread of who’s going to leave their door open for me at night.
I spare only a quick glance at Mama and Grandma. They weren’t lucky; they didn’t get away from this madness. But I will.
Leaves crunch, and I spin to the left.
“You’re here!” I raise my hands and rush forward. Breathing comes easier to me now; my heart beats a little faster. It’s good. It means I’m alive.
“Hey. So are you.” He smiles. It’s a victory grin. “I wasn’t sure you would be.”
“I wasn’t either,” I reply with half a laugh. “My Papa went to town, and my brothers are up front. We have to hurry,” I say.
“Do you have a bag?” he asks, looking around, but there’s nothing.
“If they saw me in the yard with a bag, they would have known,” I answer him. “I don’t have much anyway.” Three dresses in total. Four pairs of panties. That’s it. They don’t want me spoiled.
“Okay. Okay.” He checks over my shoulder again. “Shoes.” He points to my bare feet.
“They’re only for the winter,” I say, like I’m reminding him of something he should know. Confusion shows on his face. “I have to ask Papa for them when it snows. He would have suspected something if I asked for them.”
“You have to ask for shoes?” he says, dumbfounded again.
“That’s not how it is in town?” I ask with a tilted head.
He laughs. “No, sweetheart. You’ll never have to ask for permission for shoes again.” He unzips his jacket and shucks it off his shoulders. “Here. It’s cold. You have to be freezing.”
“I’m used to it,” I answer him, but take the jacket. The thin cotton fabric of my dress doesn’t keep the wind from hitting my skin. We’re deep into fall. Winter will be rushing in soon. Once the snow starts falling, Papa won’t be able to make as many runs to town.