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This time her sister shuddered. “I guess I know what you mean. He’s so old and creepy. You know he even tried to give me some candy last night?”
That bastard. She gave her sister a quick hug.
“I’m very glad you didn’t take it.”
Merry rolled her eyes. “I may be young but I’m not stupid.”
Katerina laughed. “I know you’re not.”
“So where are we going?”
“There was a woman in the village where we stopped two weeks ago. She said she could get us away and keep us safe.”
“Do you believe her?”
“I don’t know,” she admitted. “But I believe that she will try and maybe that’s the best thing we’ve got right now.”
Merry bit her lip, then squeezed her hand.
“All right then. Let’s get going. This place gives me the creeps.”
Her sister’s words gave her pause. There was no way Merry could know the story of Ghost Valley and yet she had sensed that there was something different about this place. As they resumed their journey, she looked around, trying to decide what it was about the pass that bothered her. The land was pretty enough, even on a gloomy winter day. The river ran close to the base of the mountains on the far side of the pass but on this side there was a wide strip of grassland between the river and the wooded foothills leading up into the mountains.
She had chosen to stay close to the tree line so they wouldn’t be immediately visible to anyone following them, but the pass followed the somewhat erratic path of the river and the open plains behind them were quickly out of sight. The pale grey of the rock and the deep green of the rushing water beneath the heavy grey sky made a serene if slightly ominous picture, and yet she did not like the sensation prickling at the back of her neck.
It was almost too peaceful, with only the rush of the wind and the soft rustle of their footsteps to disturb the silence.
“I don’t hear anything,” she muttered, half to herself, but Merry picked up on it immediately.
“That’s what it is. I haven’t seen or heard any animals, not even birds. Where do you think they are?”
Merry’s face had turned pale, and Katerina did her best to give her a reassuring smile.
“I’m sure they’re all tucked away in their burrows. They’re smart enough to stay inside on a cold day like this.”
And it was cold. As far as she could tell, the temperature had been dropping steadily ever since they left the caravan and she cast an easy glance at the looming clouds overhead. Was it going to snow? They were as well-equipped as she could make them, but if it did snow, there would be no wagon in which to take shelter. Had she been foolish to try to escape now?But if we hadn’t left now, it would have been too late.The best thing they could do was to keep moving and try to make it to the safety of the village as quickly as possible.
But despite the increasing cold and the heavy clouds, snow held off. Even Merry’s energy died away as the day wore on and Katerina decided that they had come far enough that it would be safe to make an early camp. She started looking for a suitable place and decided the best option was a giant boulder that rose out of the earth like an enormous foot. The rock face had split to form a narrow vee. While it wasn’t covered, the rock would provide protection from the wind – and anything that might be lurking around the mountains after dark.
They gathered firewood, and she used her firestarter to create a small fire at the mouth of the vee. She added powdered trail rations to a pot of water and set it over the fire to heat, and then they huddled behind the fire in their blankets.
“I can’t believe we’re doing this,” Merry murmured, her head resting on Katerina’s shoulder. “I never thought we’d get away from him.”
“I know. I’m sorry I couldn’t get you away before.”
Merry raised her head and gave her a wide-eyed stare.
“Why are you sorry? I know you did your best. I know if there was a way you would’ve gotten us out. He was much worse to you than he ever was to me.”
It was true – he had never been kind to Merry, but he had never been as abusive to her sister as he was to her and he’d never laid a hand on her.
“Good,” she said fiercely. “I never wanted him to touch you.”
“I know. You got between us often enough.” Merry leaned over and hugged her. “Thank you.”
“Don’t be silly,” she said, her voice shaky. “That’s what big sisters are for.”
Their meal was not exciting, but it was hot and it was filling and then they curled together in their blankets and slept. Or at least, Merry slept. Katerina dozed fitfully, startling each time a branch snapped in the fire. She had intended to let it die down to embers, but there was something so reassuring about the firelight, that she added more fuel every time she woke.
