The jostling of the wagon stirred Ella’s stomach. It was night again. They had been traveling for over twenty-four hours. Her father must be exhausted, but still he persevered. At some point he’d have to sleep, wouldn’t he? And then she’d run to Raven.
She sighed, the straw from her bedding prickling her back. Run to Raven. How could she? She had no idea where she was, or how far they’d traveled, or what direction they were going. Her throat tightened, but no more tears came. Perhaps she had cried them all away.
Beside her, her mother slept fitfully, soft snores escaping her lips. When the wagon stopped, Ella jolted. She heard her father’s deep voice speaking to the horses. What was happening?
When she heard her father’s footsteps coming toward the back of the wagon, she closed her eyes, forcing her breath to come in shallow, even puffs, feigning sleep.
The wagon jarred and blankets rustled as Ella listened to her father lie down next to her mother. He cleared his throat.
“She’s asleep, Bobby,” Ella’s mother said softly. “Come to me. Rest your head.”
“Can’t.” her father said. “Can’t let them…take her.”
“Shh. It’s all right. Sleep, my love.”
The love and devotion in her mother’s voice soothed Ella. Her parents loved each other. Needed each other. Had been through…well, hell…together. They were soulmates. Mates of the spirit, as she and Raven were. Her mother understood.
One day, so would her father.
When both her parents’ breathing had evened, Ella quietly stole out of the wagon.
* * *
“I do not understand,” Bear said to Raven, as they ate a small rabbit they had caught, skinned, and roasted over a campfire. “No wagon tracks, no horse droppings. It is like they disappeared. How is it that a preacher is so good at covering his tracks?”
“Luck, perhaps.” Raven gnawed on the meat, eating only for sustenance. Though he normally enjoyed rabbit, he found no joy in this one. The taste did not soothe him. A thought niggled at him. Ella’s father. He was not what he seemed on the surface.
“We will find her, Raven.”
Raven nodded. He had no wish to harm Ella’s father.
But he would if he had to.
* * *
Ella’s legs felt like jelly under her as she forced them to keep moving through the dark, dense woods. Why hadn’t Raven come for her? Something must have happened to keep him away. Something terrible. He hadn’t been on a horse the previous night. What if another bear had attacked him? His leg still wasn’t completely healed. Ella shook, her mind a jumbled mass of fear, anger, passion. She stopped to rest and sat down on a bed of downy moss. Moss so like the patch where she and Raven had made love. She lay down and closed her eyes, and the darkness took her.
“Looky here, Jasper.”
Ella jerked awake at the male voice. The light of a lantern shone in her eyes and she blinked. Before her stood a balding man dressed in a dirty shirt and trousers. His lips curved upward to reveal rotted teeth.
Icy tentacles of fear gripped her. “Wh-What do you want?”
“Oh, I think a little of your sweetness might quench our thirst, eh, Jasper?”
Another man strode toward her. This one was tall and lanky and stank to high heaven. Had he wrestled a skunk? “Whatta ya got there, Irv?”
“Found myself a sleepin’ beauty.” Irv brought his head closer and his rancid breath nearly made Ella lose what little was in her stomach. “Spread your legs, darlin’.”
Ella winced. Her heart thundered against her breast. Surely he didn’t mean…
“I mean to have a little o’ you. It’s been a long hard day, and Jasper and me, well, we ain’t any richer than we were a coupla months ago. Cain’t afford the whores in town. I reckon you’ll give us a little for free.”
Ella shuddered. They were bigger and stronger than she was. She could never fight them off. “Please…” Her voice came out hoarse and squeaky.
“She’s sayin’ please.” Jasper came nearer. “I think she wants ya.”
“No.” Ella shook her head. “Please, don’t hurt me. My father… My…my husband.” Raven’s face flashed into her mind. Where was he? Why wasn’t he here to protect her?