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They had a plan. They were going to gather their few belongings and go west. They had a whole lot of land to cover at their own leisure, there was bound to be a place where the two of them could settle down.
Then Beatrice's father had returned and the whole thing had come crashing down.
It had been late, almost pitch dark, when the knock had come to her door. Isaac had gone home to gather his belongings. He'd told Beatrice that he wanted to say goodbye to Hannah before they left. Hannah and Isaac had been raised side by side and, without ever saying it, Grace Miller had made it obvious she wouldn't be angry if Hannah decided she wanted to marry into the Kalivodas.
He'd seen the party in the distance, much smaller than it had been when it left, and Isaac had known. With her father and Alexander back in town, Beatrice couldn't leave until at the least the next day.
He didn't live particularly close to Beatrice, a few houses down from the girl. If he stood in his backyard and she stood in hers he could maybe hear her if she yelled.
Which is why the scream was so harrowing.
He didn't think, he ran out on his mother mid-sentence until he reached her. Isaac flung the door open, ready to come fend off whoever was trying to hurt Beatrice.
She was on the floor, mouth open and crying, loud ugly sobs. Daniel was there, standing above her, and for a moment he felt such unbridled rage he almost wished Beatrice wasn't there. He didn't want her to see him kill her husband with his bare hands.
Her eyes were clamped shut, still letting out a noise that Isaac had never heard her make before. Daniel crouched beside her and Beatrice reached for him.
She took a deep gasping breath, crying so hard she felt like her chest was caving in. Daniel noticed Isaac standing in their doorway, watching him. He knew Isaac was one of Beatrice's closest friends. He trusted her.
"Hang on, darling," he stroked her back, standing back up. "I'll be right back." He stepped over her to approach Isaac. "Hi," he sighed. "I don't think she's alright to have guests right now."
Isaac had an awful feeling, but he didn't want to make it worse for her. If Daniel was doing something to her, Isaac's presence would make it worse.
So, he had to turn away and go back home.
Beatrice couldn't breathe, and, admittedly Daniel's presence was making it better. Having him there to stroke her back. She'd been so resigned, so resolved. Her and Isaac were getting out of there.
What she hadn't expected was the arrival of her husband home at such a late hour. A part of Beatrice felt like maybe things would be okay, he would leave in a few days anyway, they could make a run for it then. But the other part of her was wondering why he was looking at her like that.
Her stomach had been churning lately, most likely due to anxiety, and as he took her hands in his she felt like she was going to vomit. Then he'd uttered the words that had knocked the wind out of her.
