Rittenhouse Royalty

Chapter Nine

Chapter 9: Dead Girlfriends, Future Lovers

For three days no-one was aloud in to see Lucy and she wasn't allowed out to see anyone. They even kept Amy from her. If they were trying to break her it wasn't working. She wouldn't allow anyone to control her life any longer. The first chance she had to get out she would take it.

That chance, in a manner of speaking, came later that day when they threw Amy into the room with her. Amidst her happiness in seeing Amy she almost missed the note that was stuck in her collar. A note from Wyatt. She had never been happier to see her dog in her entire life! She quickly took the note and unrolled it so she could read it.

Mae,

I am so sorry for the circumstances behind this letter. Just know that we are working on fixing everything. ReAnn wanted me to add in that she misses you dearly but is taking care of Lynn and Stasia. Both her and her suitor, Lee, are handling things very well. I am afraid it's me whose a mess currently. I can't wait to have you back by my side. I never should have let you leave to begin with. Just know we will be on our own soon enough.

Stay strong,

James

For a brief moment Lucy was very confused until she remembered the code names her and Jiya had come up with for themselves and the animals. Lee and James must be Rufus and Wyatt. She was so proud of Jiya for sharing this with them and helping find a way to free her. But she still had so many question. Who was Jessica? What happened to her? Why did it have anything to do with Wyatt? How did they plan on getting her out of here? So she decided to quickly pen a response to them.

James!

Oh how I miss you all. Please tell ReAnn how proud I am of her for everything she has done and that I cannot wait to see her again. I have so many question, but I am also afraid of the answers to those questions. I am afraid to even put these questions to paper for fear they might be found. So I will wait until I can ask you in person. Besides I would much rather see your reaction when I ask them. Every morning at about three there is a shift change. I feel as though that will be the best time and I will be ready. With or without assistance I will be free by four tomorrow morning.

Trying to stay strong.

Mae

When she had finished her letter she placed it in Amy's collar where she had found the one from Wyatt. After waiting another thirty minuets to avoid suspicion, and to play with Amy, she banged on her door demanding the guards let her roam free. From there all she could do was wait until morning hoping the others would be there to help her otherwise she wasn't sure how she was going to get out. She spent the rest of that day packing a small bag and getting some rest before three o'clock came around.

Soon it was time. She heard a bit of noise outside her door and waited for things to quiet down again. Then just as she was about to reach for the handle the door swung open to Wyatt standing over two guards dead asleep on the ground.

"Wyatt!"

"Come on babydoll, no time for questions now, Rufus and Jiya are outside waiting for us. We need to hurry before anyone finds us. I know where all the other guards are stationed and where they patrol. As captain of the guards I get to assign all that." He winked at her then grabbed her hand pulling through the door. Miraculously they made it out of the palace without too much trouble, Wyatt only having to knock out a few more guards. Then they quickly made their way to the edge of the forest where the others were waiting with the horses. As soon as she saw Jiya, Lucy ran towards her best friend hugging her tightly.

"Jiya! I am so happy you are ok! I was so afraid he was going to hurt you. And that letter was brilliant!"

"OK, come on ladies lets get out of here before someone figures out we are all gone. We need to get as far away from here as we possibly can. Jiya ride with Rufus he's an excellent rider. Luce, your with me. I brought Anastasia for you"

"Thank you so much Wyatt. For everything." Wyatt just smiles at her and helps her up onto Anastasia swinging himself up behind her. Then they were off into the forest as fast as the horses could take them. They needed to make it as far as they could before the guards awoke and came after them. Around noonish they were all starving and the horses clearly needed a rest. The found a small clearing in the woods that was blocked from the main path and all took a much needed rest. Rufus grabbed the bag he had brought with him that had bread and water in it and they all ate silently for a few minuets. Then Wyatt remembered something Lucy had said in her letter responding to him.

"Lucy, in your letter earlier, you said you had so many questions.... what were they?"

"Nothing, it was stupid. I am sure it was just Garcia trying to get in my head. You know try to get me to go along with him and everything."

"He must have said something serious if you were afraid to ask me. Please tell me what it was?"

"He, he told me to ask you about Jessica? And what happens to people who tell him no?" Wyatt instantly paled at the mention of Jessica and Lucy knew she shouldn't have mentioned it. She should have lied and made something stupid up but now she had hurt him. "Wyatt I'm sorry I didn't mean..."

"No it's fine Luce. You deserve to hear the whole story. All of you do. You all deserve to know exactly what kind of man we are running from." Wyatt stands up and faces away from them all, as if he is gathering his thoughts. Then suddenly he started telling them all about Jessica. His love for her. His plans on marrying her. Garcia deciding she was going to be his mistress. The fact that Garcia only wanted her because she wanted Wyatt. Even her suicide to get away from him. He told them how he blamed himself for everything and how he had failed her. Not once, while telling them all of this did he look at them. He didn't want to see their reactions. Their petty for him and his lost love. What they didn't know though was that Wyatt had found a new love and was doing everything he could to keep her safe. So maybe once all of this was over they could have the kind of life they both deserved. A happy life where they were both loved by those around them and not just being used as pawns in their families game.