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“Only Faith can tell you, but it’s obvious she still loves you. She always has, probably too much.”
“What makes you say that?”
“She told me.” Her simple answer knocks me out far more than any act of violence could. She loves me. Then why run? It doesn’t make sense.
Purity drags my mind back to business and says with an urgency that doesn’t escape me.
“She is locked up in the reverend’s house. She has seven days before he lets her out of her room, and that is when her training begins.”
“Her training?”
Purity nods. “I overheard him telling my father. She will be tested and if she passes, he will allow her to prepare for the wedding and married life with him.”
“If she fails?” My voice is laden with animosity, and she shakes her head, looking worried. “He told my father he would break her and drag the devil out from inside her. My father asked how and then he laughed and said, the usual way a man breaks a woman. Her spirit, her body, and her humanity.”
I clench my fists, knowing only too well how the reverend drags the demons out and my first instinct is to head over there right now.
I say roughly, “Like fuck will I wait. I’m getting her now and if anyone gets in my way, they will meet their lord a lot sooner than they think.”
“No, Jonny! Stop!”
The fear in Purity’s voice makes me stop and turn and I can tell there is piece of this puzzle I’m still searching for.
“Faith won’t thank you for busting her out. You need to trust me and listen.”
I fall silent as she says nervously, “I can get you in to see her, but she is locked in her room. You may be able to speak through the door and figure out a plan between you.”
“You can get me in. How?”
I’m mildly curious and amused at the brave woman who looks as if she would have a heart attack if the wind blew in the wrong direction and her impudent smile makes me chuckle softly as she shrugs. “The reverend holds a service every second day at sunrise. The whole town attends, as I’m sure you remember. Well, that includes Miss. Hughes, so you will have one hour to head inside and speak to Faith.”
I nod in agreement, but my heart is hurting so bad right now. Talk to Faith. Will it really be so easy and what happens when I see her again? It could change everything and nothing at the same time. I will finally discover why she ran from me and if I like what I hear, seven days is shit because she will be heading home with me that same night and we will never look back.
CHAPTER9
FAITH
Ihave been reading the bible all day and the words blur under my tears as the stench of the bucket in the corner reminds me of how basic my life is now. If it only concerned me, I would never be here at all. I would have run, fought my way out of trouble and never looked back.
But they took the one thing that means everything to me in life and have hidden her away.
I know she’s not here. I only came here for my baby, but it’s obvious to me she is somewhere else. For the first hour of my incarceration, I listened for any sound of her at all.There was none. I thought she was asleep. That must be the case, but no. It’s a feeling inside me that is impossible to ignore. My baby is no longer here, so where the hell is she?
I must have sat at the table for half a day before Miss. Hughes unlocks the door and I almost consider attacking her and running like hell. Her words banish that possibility when she sets the loaf of dry bread on the table alongside a pitcher of water.
“Your child is being cared for elsewhere.”
“Where is she?” I scream at the wretched woman and make toward her and I’m shocked when she pulls out a pistol and snarls. “Give me a reason to use this, whore.”
I stop and she snarls, “You do not deserve the reverend’s attention. He is a good man who is plagued by the restraints of forgiveness. Your bastard child has been sent away until your demons are conquered and if you ever want to see it again, you will do as he says and be thankful for it.”
My verbal abuse hits the slamming door and I cry wretched tears of anguish that spill onto the pages of the bible. I have no choice but to see this through and until I discover where Hope is, and she is safe in my arms, I will do as I’m told.
It’s difficult to sleep with pain driving deep inside me. There is an empty space where my heart used to be. I try not to think of Hope. I try not to think of Jonny. I only try to think of a way out of this horror show.
* * *
Somehow,I fall asleep, only to wake when I am dragged from my mattress by my hair and forced into the wooden chair, the single light bulb shining in my eyes.
