“Regardingyouractions, our decision has been even harder.”
She couldn’t breathe, could barely think as numbness took over her mind. It felt as though she were watching the scene from a distance, absorbing the chief’s words from far outside the circle.
“I believe I understand why you helped the prisoner escape. But that doesn’t change the reality of your actions. You deliberately went against the council’s order, releasing a prisoner we’d not yet deemed safe. I understand you felt differently, but that doesn’t change the magnitude of your disobedience. That’s something we can’t take lightly, not when we’re tasked with protecting and maintaining order in the village.”
The words penetrated her mind, but the shell around her heart protected her from feeling their pain. The chief hadn’t yet spoken the council’s verdict, so she didn’t have to respond.
“Because both of these matters affect the entire village, we’ve decided to allow the people to vote. They will choose your punishment and also determine what should be done with Levi.” He paused, but a hesitation in his expression said he might have more to say.
Sadness slipped into his gaze. “Based on your testimony, we understand Monsieur Masters had no intentional part in Leonard’s death, however I think it likely that event may play a role in the people’s decision. We’ll hold the vote atnoon two days from now. That will give the entire village time to seek God’s will through fervent prayer.”
The numbness had finally cracked in the night, exposing Audrey’s heart and emotions to the reality of what would come.
Tears slid down her cheeks, soaking her bedding as the pain of what might have been mixed with the fear of what might be. The chief was right; Levi had too many marks against him in the eyes of the people. They would insist he leave—or worse. What would they do to her? In the darkness of her apartment, with her father’s snores filling the air, she let the weakness come. Let herself give in to the pain.
The whisper came so softly, the sound barely broke through the chaos in her mind. But she held herself motionless to listen, as a lingering tear traced down the side of her nose.
“Audrey.” Even in a whisper, the way Levi spoke her name drew her. She’d not felt his presence through the pain and turmoil inside her, but awareness of him in the room surrounded her now.
She sat up in bed, wiping her nose and cheeks. He’d surely heard her, but she didn’t want to make her crying obvious by sniffing. If she spoke, he would hear it in her voice, so she stayed quiet.
“I can’t come to you.” Regret filled his tone. Meaning he wanted to be there for her, but to accept the solace he offered, she would have to be the one to close the distance.
Every part of her wanted his strength to shore up herweakness. Just this once. Just tonight. In the light of day, she would be strong again.
Slipping from her bed, she padded to his cot and sank down on the edge. His hand found hers, closing over it with his warmth. But that touch felt so small compared to the expanse of her pain. She wanted his arms around her, wanted someone else to carry the load for a while.
Maybe he read her thoughts, for when his soft “Come here” sounded, she didn’t wait for a second invitation. She curled up beside him, her head on his shoulder.
He wrapped both arms around her, tucking her close and cradling her against him. One of his hands stroked her hair, like a mother would a child. She’d never felt so cared for, so sheltered.
The tears slipped down again, dampening his shirt. This time she didn’t cry from desperation. Grief, yes, but also relief. She couldn’t stay in the shelter of Levi’s arms for long, but she would relish the moment while she could.
When the drops finally dried on her cheeks, and her body fully relaxed in the cradle of Levi’s strength, he moved the hand that had been stroking her hair around to cup her cheek. His thumb brushed the tear-salted skin there, and he pressed a kiss in her hair.
“I’m praying, Audrey. The Lord has a plan in this, though I don’t know what it is. He’ll carry us through.” His warm whisper caressed her forehead, and she squeezed her eyes shut as his words soaked through her. She’d lost sight of God’s power in this situation, had focused on her own human capabilities. No wonder the weakness had overwhelmed her.
She lay there for long moments, her eyes closed as her spirit reached out to the Father.I’m sorry, Lord. Work yourplan in this situation. And please, if it’s not too much to ask, don’t take this man away from me.
Finally, with new strength shoring her insides, she sat up on the edge of the bed. She couldn’t help brushing her hand along Levi’s temple, down the side of the beard that had grown thicker each week.
He kept his hand over hers, holding her there. “I need to shave. I haven’t been this long in a while.”
She brushed her thumb through the coarse hairs along his jaw. “I can help you with that. Maybe tomorrow.”
He slid her hand down and pressed a kiss to her palm. “Tomorrow.”
Before the tingle spreading up her arm could draw her back down to him, she stood and pulled her hand away. Better to find her own bed now.
Tomorrow would come sooner than she wanted.
Levi awoke to the pounding of metal on stone, as had happened so many times before. The apartment held no windows to see whether daylight lit the outside, but if men were already working across the hall, he must have slept late.
A glance around the room showed Audrey’s father sitting at the table, a mug in his hands. He met Levi’s gaze with a nod. Though he still wasn’t talkative, at least he interacted more than before.
After sitting up, Levi propped the rolled furs behind him. If only he could get out of bed for himself—shave and wash and get his own food. How much longer until he could at least move to a chair?
Monsieur Moreau scooted his seat back from the table and rose slowly. He shuffled toward his seat by the fire, but instead of settling in, he leaned down and picked up the stick he’d been working on these past days. Two sticks, actually. He turned toward Levi, his steps slow, as though the cool morning air made his joints ache.
