Knocking sounded.
“Let me put something on,” Madame called out. “Let me get decent.”
“Out through the closet with you two.”
Wycliff opened the door and shoved me inside.
“Baron, you want your coin back?”
“No, ma’am. You’ve shown us a good time.”
Wycliff closed the door and led me through the gowns, shelves, and strong-smelling floral tonics to the back stairs.
We made it out of the house.
It was dark now.
Guided by stars, we walked quickly through the woods to where his carriage was.
Then I saw it.
A man had a gun on Mr. Lawden.
“Ruth, stay here.”
He pulled out his sjambok. “Stay.”
I watched Wycliff go to his man’s defense.
My ears perked up. Something moving nearby. It wasn’t the wind, nor was it imagined. Footsteps crunching twigs.
That feeling like this was all happening again swept over me. This was my fault.
I’d made Wycliff come here.
But this was worse than the past.
At least Adam had known that I loved him. Before he had died, he’d known all my love. Wycliff knew nothing of my heart.
With these glasses, I couldn’t make out what it was.
I didn’t trust them. I trusted me.
I felt around and found rocks. I gathered a few.
I heard the noise again, soft and low, crouching.
No closing my eyes.
No sitting back.
No taking it and hoping.
This time I’d face the danger and we, my Wycliff and I, would win.
…
With his sjambok at the ready, Wycliff started toward the clearing.
