Stunned, Sophie could not speak for several seconds.
“I don’t care where you came from, only that you are now my friend.”
“Amelia, I love you.” Sophie sniffed, hugging her hard.
“I love you too. Now, what do we do?”
“I have a knife,” Sophie said, pulling it out of her sling.
“Excellent. Let’s hope we don’t have to use it,” she added.
They were brought a bowl of warm water and some rags but no soap, which Amelia scolded them for. Later, they received dry bread, water, and, surprisingly, a small cup of whisky.
“I would like one of Mrs. Stigg’s pies now,” Sophie said as she struggled to swallow the bread. “Or even one of Grandma Puckett’s.”
“Was she the one whose mouth seemed to be folded inside her face?”
“Yes,” Sophie said, then yawned loudly.
“Sleep, I think,” Amelia added, moving to the bed. “We must keep up our strength if we are to beat these men.”
“Yes, and while I doubt I will sleep, I would like to lie down.” Sophie climbed from the bed and circled the room. She tried the window and then the door, but both were locked. The windowpanes had been removed and replaced with boards. Placing their tray and the water against the door, she joined Amelia on the bed.
“Very clever. When they return, the noise from the tray moving over the floor will alert us.”
“Oh, I have lots of clever tricks up my sleeves,” Sophie said, yawning once more.
“One sleeve. You must keep the sling on, as it hides the knife plus offers support for your arm,” Amelia said.
“True,” Sophie whispered.
They cuddled together for warmth.
“They will be looking for us by now, Amelia.”
“I know. I hope they find us soon,” she whispered.
“I am so sorry to have got you into this.” Sophie clutched her friend’s hand.
“You have saved me, Sophie. Saved me from my life that was so filled with misery and sadness, I sometimes wondered if I would ever escape.”
They talked until exhaustion forced their eyes closed and sent them to the oblivion of sleep.
CHAPTER 44
Sophie woke as the tray skidded across the floor.
“Get up. You’re wanted.”
Blinking the sleep from her eyes, she saw one of the men standing in the doorway. He no longer had the lower half of his face covered, which scared her. If he was not concerned about Amelia and Sophie identifying him, that suggested they wouldn’t be leaving here.
“Amelia.” Sophie nudged her friend, who was lying on her side snuffling softly. “Get up.”
She woke with a start and sat up. Blinking several times, her eyes went from Sophie to the man standing at the door.
“He wants us to go with him, Amelia.”
“Fine. But I am not a morning person,” her friend said.
