Blake took off at a run after her, but by the time she reached the gate, Eda was already bringing the ball back through.
The crowd cheered her.
‘Keep going,’ Blake said. ‘I’ll clear a path.’
The rest of the team were still behind them. Not surprising, given how fast Eda was. With her arms pumping and eyes fixed on the chapel in the distance, she ran her heart out. Blake hitched up her skirt in order to match her speed, cutting off any farmer who neared her sister.
They were halfway to the chapel when some of the other merchants finally caught up.
‘Pass it,’ Blake called over her shoulder. She had seen men three times her size be mowed down a few yards from the chapel door.
Eda did not pass the ball.
The players opened their hands, calling for it.
‘Give it to them!’ Blake said.
Eda picked up speed instead, and Blake cursed. The girl always had something to prove.
Blake saw a farmer approach from the side. She slowed to block him, barely remaining on her feet when he hit her.
‘Pass it!’ she shouted at her sister, partly winded. Her voice barely carried.
Up ahead, farmers stood blocking the chapel door.
‘Give me the fucking ball!’ one merchant shouted, moving closer to Eda.
With a look of defeat, Eda finally threw the ball to him. The man caught it and positioned himself between the merchants flanking him. Blake and Eda slowed. It was best to remain back in case they lost the ball again.
And they did.
Blake looked over her shoulder to where merchants, including one brave woman, stood ready. The farmers arrived in packs then, creating safe pockets for the ball to pass through.
Sweat beaded on Blake’s forehead. It was about to get bloody, and Eda was standing in the middle of it all.
‘Move out of the way,’ Blake said.
Her sister ignored her.
Blake found herself looking around for Harlan, but neither the spectators nor defenders had caught up to the game yet.
‘Eda,’ Blake said, turning back to her sister.
Her sister was no longer there. She was now running straight for the man with the ball.
‘Eda!’ Blake took off after her, deciding that when she finally caught hold of her sister, she was going to tie her to the closest tree.
Slam.
A large man slammed into Blake. The bones in her neck ground together as her head snapped sideways. Her teeth hit so hard she expected them to shatter like glass in her mouth. Her body landed as if someone had dropped her from atop the wall, bones creaking with the force.
Someone shouted her name.
Then darkness swallowed her.
Chapter 17
Blake woke to a cool hand on her brow. She blinked her eyes open and looked around the room, trying to figure out where she was.
