“James is going to hold our kid in his hands, yes he will,” She muttered. “There is no way they can find us here.”
She took another bite of her fruit, savoring the taste. She turned back to her husband and a smile played on her lips as she watched him. A calm and peaceful life, this was all she craved. As long as she had James and their baby, she was content, more than content actually. Leila, Grimsson and the rest of them did not matter. She swallowed hard as she thought of her former friend. Till the end, Leila had chosen to betray her. Several times she had wanted to reach out to her friend, prompted by the memories of the times they had shared together, but then, she would remember all that and happened in the end, and be reminded that her friend was only an enemy, an enemy who was set in her ways. She had given her friend one last chance to help her and not only had Leila not done that, she had also lied to her face. Who needed enemies with friends like that?
“What is eating you up, darling? What’s got you so troubled?” James asked, breaking into her thoughts.
Elaina jolted to alertness. Her eyes widened at the sight of him in front of her. Just moments ago, he had been out in the yard.
“When did you get here?” she scratched her hair just as a ginger curl fell over her eyes.
He reached forward and brushed it behind her ear. “You were so engrossed in your thoughts that you didn’t notice me. Where were you, my dear?”
She sighed, “I was just thinking about Leila. I know I shouldn’t. It’s just, her betrayal still hurts, you know. We werefriends for so long. She betrayed me without batting an eye. It still hurts and... I know, I know, thinking about her only makes me feel agitated. It’s just...”
“I understand, my dear. She was one of the people you trusted the most. It’s not easy. That I know.”
He took her hand and kissed it. “How about this? Why don’t we go over to the pumpkin patch and get a very large and juicy one? I’ll make your favorite pumpkin soup.”
She nodded, her eyes sparkling with delight, “Sure. I’d love that. I should get my bonnet. It’s a warm day out there.”
“Speaking of warm, I think we also need to get some more ice for the ice box.”
Elaina nodded, “I will remind you when we go into town then. Let me go change.”
He winked as she left.
A short while later, she emerged and they set off to the outskirts of town where the pumpkin patch was located for what they hoped would be a fun day.
The sun was setting when Elaina and James started to make their way back home. As they moved through town, Elaina noticed weird looks being thrown their way by some of the townspeople.
“James, is it just me or did Mrs. Fuller look at us strangely?”
“She is always looking at us strangely,” James shrugged as he took her hand in his.
Elaina shook her head, “No, James. It seemed different. Did something happen? We were barely out of town. Surely, we would have heard if something happened.”
“I think you are just over thinking things. Mrs. Fuller has never been a...”
James' next words were interrupted when a hand grabbed him and Elaina and pulled them into an alley. Elaina opened hermouth to scream but a hand clapped over it. James tried to fight off the hand around his arm but then, gasped when he realized who it was. Elaina’s eyes widened when she saw the person holding her too. They were their neighbors, Katy, and Richard.
“What on earth are you doing?” James whispered as their friends dragged them farther into the alley.
Richard shoved a paper into James' hand. Elaina leaned in to see and gasped as she saw what was displayed on it.
“That’s... That’s me...” she stammered.
“Yes, and someone is claiming you are his wife and accusing James of kidnapping you,” Katy said softly.
“That is outrageous. I am married to James and we love each other. I’ve never been married to anyone else.”
“We believe you,” Richard nodded his head. “We have known you both long enough to know that your relationship is not that of a captive and captor. The soldiers came in today, sharing the fliers and claiming you, Elaina are a victim. Unfortunately, most of the townspeople fell for these lies and they directed the soldiers searching for the both of you to your house. I believe they even informed them of your pregnancy. Right now, they will be there and scouting the surroundings. We don’t have much time. You have to get out of town now.”
“But how do we do that? They already know that we are here. I bet they have everywhere surrounded and are on the lookout for us. And the people we saw in the Town Square, I bet they would have informed them by now,” Elaina worried.
“And there is no way I am putting my wife in a risky position, Richard. She cannot run.”
“Listen both of you, I don’t know why the soldiers are after you or what you both are into. But we are friends, and we are going to help you out in any way we can. And I need to let you know that if you do not flee now, there is no way you are going to get out of here. Elaina, I bet they want you alive, but James, theyare accusing you of a crime. Who knows what they are going to do to you? You have pissed off very powerful people and they aren’t playing here. Those soldiers are armed. Please listen to Katy and I and leave now.”
Elaina and James exchanged looks, then, they nodded. “All right. What do we have to do?”
