Against the Stars

Chapter 50

Upon arriving home, Ginny locked herself in her room. See wouldn't let anyone in, and she want coming out. She wanted to be alone and see would do whatever it took to get that.

That is, until there was a loud powerful knock on her door. Only one person knocked like that. "Ginny," came her father's voice, "let me in."

Sighing, Ginny rose from her bed and unlocked the door. The knob turned and there was her father. He stood strong though his brow was marred with sweat add his brute eyes were filled with sleepiness.

Father sat on the bed and motioned for Ginny to do the same. He looked her in the eyes and said, "Ginny, what's going on?" When those piercings brief eyes looked into hers, knew it was impossible for her to lie.

"I can't stand Christian!" She said, exasperated.

Father displayed no change in emotion, he just kept starring at her, as if he was thinking hard on the matter. "Ginny, I understand that you cannot stand Christian now, but that may charge over time. He is a fine gentleman and a good match."

"But I don't want to be married! Do you not understand that!? I'm fourteen!" Ginny cried, all her anger coming out. "Blithe didn't marry until she was nineteen!"

Father rose to his feet with that comment. "Blithe was a disobedient child who sits but deserve to be called Miller. You will not be like her. She is no longer your sister. And if Christian proposes, you will accept whether you want to or not!" Father said, slamming the door closed.

Ginny collasped on her bed and began to cry. This could not be happening, she thought over and over again. Ginny wanted to be free she run. But she'd never have the courage. .

Ginny didn't eat that night. No one made her. She just started in her room and cried over the loss of her freedom.

Not long after dinner, there was a soft knock on the door. A small voice croaked out, "Ginny?"

Ginny couldn't ignore that call. She opened the door to see little Bess standing there, a small parchment in her hands. "This is for you."

Ginny took the letter from Bess's hand. "Oh Bess," she said, flinging her arms around her.

"Is everything all right Ginny?"

"It is now. Thank you Bess." Bess smiled and walked out. Ginny unrolled the parchment. On it were the words.

Midnight maple tree.

Ginny smiled as she rolled up the parchment, held it over a candle and watched it burn. No one eye needed to know her secret. No one else needed to make what she was going to do.

That night, when the clock struck twelve, Ginny jumped out of bed. She pulled on a simple blue dress out of her trunk and was dressed in a minute. She slipped the door closed as quietly as she could.

She slipped downstairs, taking two steps at a time for speed. She grabbed her lantern, cloak, and was out the door.

Ginny hurried through the dark streets, her eyes misty with tears. What could Ben want? Ginny knew it could not be good. Her anxious heart seemed to beat quicker and quicker, almost like it would explode if it got any faster. She tried taking deep breaths to slow her heart down, but it did no good

Ginny held her lantern higher and caught sight of the tree…  but no Ben. Ginny’s nearly steady heart picked up again. Where could Ben be? Had he abandoned her? No, this was Ben we were talking about, he’d never do that.

So where was he?

Ginny’s pace quickened as she hurried to the tree. On the tree was a small scrap of parchment pinned there in haste. The parchment was only hanging by a thread. On it was one word, meadow.