In the Shadows

to the door, but her brow relaxed. She even began to tap her foot.

Thom’s fingers flew over the keys, building up to the end of

the song, when a fist banged against the front door of the church,

causing him to stop. Their ears rang with the missing notes.

The door rattled, catching against the bolt.

“Locked it,” Arthur said with a shrug, stopping Minnie mid-

twirl. His hands lingered at her waist, and Minnie flushed. “Out

the side.”

Cora stood with a low moan of despair or fear, but Minnie and

Thom shrieked with laughter, following Arthur past the pulpit

and into the dark corner at the front where a small door led to a

tiny, closet-like study. Charles and Cora brought up the rear, and

together the five tumbled out of the study into the fast-fading day.

“This way,” Arthur said, turning down a side street and taking

them on a winding, circuitous route through the town. Minnie

took Charles’s arm; she was nearly as breathless as he was, glancing

constantly over her shoulder for pursuit. Charles was too happy

that she had chosen his arm to care very much whether they were

caught.

An angry shout tumbled between houses after them.

“Charles can’t run much longer!” Thom said, puncturing

Charles’s mood. Though Charles was hoping they’d be caught

very soon. He could feel his heart, ragged and rebelling against

this strain, no matter how pretty the girl at his side.

Arthur nodded toward a row of houses. “Minnie, hide with

him. We’ll keep the chase going.”

Tugging his hand, Minnie pulled him through a narrow gap

between fences and into an overgrown yard with an old wooden

swing. They ducked low, letting the strands of grass tickle their

cheeks.