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The wind whisked the grass, the eerie rustle cutting the silence. It also blew the smoke all the way from the big house to the stables.
She crouched all the lower, trying to hold her breath. Listening for his footsteps, his favorite tune to whistle, anything.
A horse neighed not far away.
She jumped, nearly falling to the ground, but managed to catch herself. It was hard to balance with the long skirt, not to mention with her newly expanded belly—a feature she had been trying to hide. Needed to hide. It wouldn’t be possible much longer.
Not that it mattered.
He knew. Somehow Jedidiah had figured it out, despite her efforts to keep the secret.
Crash!
She tensed and pressed herself into the little corner where she hid. Tried to meld with the wall. It would be the only way to remain concealed.
Once Jed found her, her life would be over. He’d already warned her to stay away from the love of her life. The only thing he cared about was keeping the family name.
It was all that mattered to any of the Brannon men. Some of the women too.
Not her.
She only wanted the freedom to live her life as she saw fit—to love who she wanted and make her own decisions. And she had—for a brief moment. She’d loved gloriously and totally. Unfortunately, that decision would get either her or the one she loved killed. She’d come to the stables to find him, to warn him.
But Jed was, as always, one step ahead of her.
He thought he had more authority over her than Papa did. Because he cared more about controlling others than falling in love, he focused on her. On making her life miserable at every turn.
Now he knew the one thing that could destroy her.
Her breathing grew shakier.
Jed would find her in here.
She’d come to warn the love of her life—she didn’t even dare to think his name. Jed seemed to have the powers to read her very thoughts.
Clink!
That was closer. Too close for comfort.
She nearly cried out. Barely managed to cover her mouth to keep the sound from escaping.
“I know you’re in here!” Jed’s voice wasn’t far away.
His heavy footsteps grew louder.
If he found her, he would beat her hard enough to rid her of her condition.
Then he’d kill the one she loved.
She needed to get away before she lost everything, including her own life and the one she carried inside her.
Thump, thump, thump.
There was only one other way out of the stable since Jed was coming from the main entrance.
It was a risk.
But it was also the only chance she had, small as it was.
She pressed herself against the wall, held her breath, and took a moment to build her courage.
The footsteps had stopped for a moment.
Jed was listening for her.
She froze in place, afraid to even blink. The stable was so quiet, any sound could be heard.
Anything.
Her heart pounded so loudly, he had to be able to hear it. It felt strong enough to shake
the floor beneath. She tried not to breathe, but that didn’t work. Plus, she couldn’t go without air for long.
She would almost take hearing his footsteps over the silence. Then at least she would know where he was.
Not knowing was worse than knowing.
It was hard to hear anything over her heart and trying to keep her ragged breaths quiet.
She needed to get free. Run away. Never return to the cursed Brannon house. It made people go crazy. Especially the women—though that was no fault of the structure itself.
No, it was the men. They knew what they were doing, and they loved seeing their women lose their sanity.
The stories went back generations, chronicling all the women who lost their minds. The men always had the upper hand. It was true to this day. The reason she was hiding for her life.
Thump.
She squeezed her eyes shut. Couldn’t bear to see what was coming. Needed to get away. Couldn’t budge.
Thump, thump.
It was about to be the moment of truth. Jed would drag her back to the house and tell their father everything. He would end her life.
Another footstep. This one was close.
Breathing sounded.
It wasn’t her.
Shaking, she opened her eyes. Nearly fainted.
It was Abel.
Not Jed.
Her body turned to rubber.
“Where have you been hiding?” Abel pulled her up and wrapped her in his arms.
“He… Jed knows.”
“Everything?”
“Enough.”
“We have to run! You aren’t safe.”
She blinked back tears. “Neither are you!”
He wrapped his hand around hers and led her through the stables.
Jed was nowhere in sight. Neither was Papa or any of his other faithful followers.
Abel tugged on her hand, and they broke out into a run. The Brannon family property spanned on for what seemed like forever. They might never be able to escape, to get away from her brother and father.
Neither would bat an eye at killing the both of them.
She and Abel ran for the woods. Her feet caught on her skirt, so she had to hike it up.
If Papa and Jed were near the house, the trees would provide distance for the time being. At least they wouldn’t be out in the open. Not yet.
Then it was a matter of staying hidden.
They only had to make it a little farther.
“Found them!” Jed’s voice rang through the air like a shotgun.
Mouth dry, she glanced
over her shoulder.
Her brother held a rifle.
Aimed it right at them. The maniacal gleam in his eye chilled her blood.
Then he fired. ...
