Constant

Chapter 15

(LYDIA)

It had been hours since Peter had left with the horse. I wondered if he had taken the chance to make a break for it and get out of town. He could have left in the cover of darkness without ever looking back. Now was his chance to never have to see me again. Now was his opportunity. I sighed and pushed myself up from the table. I walked through the dimly lit kitchen to Eliza's bedroom. There was a cheerful quilt on her bed spread out across her bed I ran my finger over the delicate stitching that held the pieces of bright fabric together. I sat down and wrapped my arms around myself. I wasn't sure what to do or what to expect. 

I felt a headache growing as I wondered what Peter would think of me if he ever came back. I was young when my mother died and she never told me what went on between a married couple. I stood up from the edge of the bed with a sigh and started pacing back and forth. The shadows crawled across the room as the sun went down. I was exhausted and I wondered if I should wait for Peter to get back before going to sleep. I sat down on the edge of the bed again. I felt like I could go to sleep sitting upright. After a few more minutes I decided that he probably wouldn't be coming back anyways. 

I stood up to pull off my dress and my worn shoes. I folded the dress and aligned my shoes in the corner. Then wearing my underclothes I pulled back the quilt and slipped into the bed pulling the covers up to my chin. I was just about asleep when I heard the boots on the porch. I could tell that whoever was walking was trying to be quiet.

Were they expecting me to be asleep and trying to sneak up on me? I jerked upright wide awake feeling my heart start to race. My first thought was that Ruben had come for me. I wanted to dart out and hide underneath the bed. Part of me was tempted to pull the covers up over my head and hide. 

No, show him that you're not afraid. 

I pulled the blanket up to my chest for modesty sitting in the middle of the bed. I heard the front door ease open on well oiled hinges. The door closed quietly with an almost silent click. I couldn't hear the boots anymore and I realized that they had been removed. Straining my ears I could still hear footsteps but they were much quieter like the sound of socks. I closed my eyes to picture the kitchen and I could imagine where they were just by the sound of the footsteps. I opened my eyes and could see the slight glow from the dying embers of the fire turn bright as they were coaxed back to life. A log must have been added to the fire because the light grew even brighter. 

Suddenly I saw a shadow in the doorway and the bedroom door was pushed open. My gasp of surprise was replaced by a sigh of relief when I recognized Peter's form. He looked at me and I realized that I must look a mess. Then he turned around and walked back into the kitchen. My hands were shaking as I let the blanket fall and dropped my hands at my sides. Every now and then I heard Peter move and I would strain my ears to listen for him. I listened for him to come back into the bedroom but he never did. Eventually I must have fallen asleep because when I opened my eyes it was morning. 

Peter wasn't in the bedroom with me. I eased out of the bed and tiptoed across the floor trying to be as quiet as possible. I leaned around the door frame to look into the kitchen expecting to see him sitting in one of the chairs but he wasn't there. He wasn't asleep in the rocker in front of the fireplace and he wasn't sprawled out on the bench in the corner. I tiptoed through the rest of the house hoping to find him somewhere. I crawled up the ladder that led to the small loft where Eliza had dried her herbs and stored things. When I didn't see Peter their either I knew that he had taken the chance to escape. 

He must have waited for me to go to sleep then he had gone into town and taken the horses and left. It shouldn't have surprised me but that didn't make it hurt any less. I descended the ladder slowly. I could hear the sound of hooves out front going down the street and for a moment I thought it might be him. I sprinted for the door and yanked it open racing outside.