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"I understand if you're angry with me," he replied frantically. "But please understand I'm only trying to do what's best for everyone here."
Bailey didn't respond. She backed away from him and glanced around at all the frightened faces, who were trying to decide what to do next. They needed someone strong to tell them what to do. Someone wise to advise them. Suddenly, as she realized how duped she’d been by King, she knew she was not that person.
“Everyone needs to do what they think is best for them. If King has a safe way for you to leave and you want that, you should go.”
“Bailey, wait,” King called as she turned and walked off. Time was closing in around her. Her mother would not last much longer. The danger would not be far off. And now, the one person she thought she could put her faith in had betrayed her. All she could do was walk away.
CHAPTERTWENTY
King
Mrs. Tully's eyes were blazing with anger as she confronted King. "How could you do that to her? After all she's been through?" she asked, her voice shaking with emotion.
He knew there would be hell to pay for hurting Bailey. She was so beloved here, and he’d embarrassed and betrayed her in front of everyone.
King held up his hands in a gesture of apology. "I thought I was doing the right thing. I didn't want her to question my motives or think I was using her," he explained. “So I kept the reason I arrived here a secret. But that didn’t change how I felt once I got here. It was never a job to me, not once I met her. I was trying to help her.”
"You failed miserably at that, didn't you?" Mrs. Tully retorted sarcastically. "You're a fool; you should understand how hard it is for Bailey to trust someone."
King hung his head. "I know. I messed up. I want to make things right now. We don’t have much time, and I know Bailey is not going to leave here."
Mrs. Tully's expression softened slightly. "Of course she isn’t. So tell me what you think you’re going to do now?”
"I need to do some surveillance on these men and their camp," King said. "I need to find out how many there are, what weapons they have, and what they're capable of."
Mrs. Tully frowned. "We know what they’re capable of, sadly. So why bother? You're leaving with all the others who are fleeing from Cinderhill, aren't you?"
King shook his head. "I'm not leaving unless Bailey does too."
Mrs. Tully's eyes widened in surprise. "Bailey's not leaving. You know that."
"I do," King acknowledged. "But I can't abandon her. I don’t care how upset she is with me. And I can't let these men take over Cinderhill. I think some part of their twisted ideology and messages from her father will involve harming Bailey. Her life is in danger."
Mrs. Tully nodded slowly. "I understand. I'm not leaving either. This time I won't sit by quietly and let them take over. Now that I know what happened to Bailey and how badly she was abused, I won't let it happen again. They kept it from us last time, but now we know."
At that moment, Moe walked over to join their conversation. Hunched in posture and holding his side with his hands, he groaned. "I'm not leaving either," he announced. "Whatever happens, I'll fight for Cinderhill."
Their resolve was endearing but misplaced. This was well beyond a few people banding together and standing their ground. Their convictions would not be enough. "I need to find these men and figure out a plan," he said. "Moe, you know where their camp is, right? Make me a map so I can go scope everything out.”
Moe nodded. "I'll get on it right away, but if they catch you out there—”
“They won’t.”
Mrs. Tully spoke up. "I'll get some supplies to take with you and start helping the families that want to leave to get ready.”
King sighed. "I understand. But I still think you should consider leaving, both of you."
Moe shook his head. "I wasted too much of my life standing for nothing. That ends today. Let me go out there with you to see their camp."
“You’re in no shape for that. You stay here and help Mrs. Tully. Keep an eye on Bailey.”
“I’ll try to talk to her,” Moe said, flashing a knowing smile. “I’m not much of a talker, but when I do finally figure out what to say, people tend to listen.”
“She’s never going to forgive me.” King hung his head in defeat. “The best I can do is try to help any way I can.”
CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE
Bailey
