Forest Dwellers

Chapter 2: News From the Outside

The fire had dimmed to a few glowing embers by the next morning, but the logs deep within were thick and ready to be used again. Sadie sat groggy-eyed, hunched over the fire pit.

Two figures emerged from within the mist – one lumbering and carrying a packet of envelopes and papers in its hands, the other small as a child, swinging a wide basket in one hand, her other wrapped around the taller figure's waist. It was Matilda and Herald, Sadie saw almost immediately, although the details of their faces were obscured. Who else would be up at this time and wandering the forest? Who else was as lumbering and tall as Evan but Herald, and who else had the sweet helpless air of a child despite the creases on her face?

"Something for me?" Sadie called to the figures. Herald plucked out an envelope and waved it in the air. "Anything for Evan?" Sadie asked when finally they were upon her. Herald looked incredulous and Matilda giggled.

"Evan? Heavens no!" She cried. "Evan is a true outcast; nothing of the modern world reaches him unless from his brothers, and even then they bring themselves straight to him, no nonsense letters."

"Well some don't have that luxury." Sadie replied, taking her letter. "Ah it's from Sophie. You know you really shouldn't be doing this for us." She said, gesturing for the two of them to sit on a log and then taking her letters from Alfred. "Honestly, Evan could go into town once a week and gather my mail; we can't even pay you, I feel so guilty."

"Don't be a fool!" Matilda cried. "Neither you nor Evan are stepping foot into town unless absolutely necessary! Your father is running for his second term. It's been all over the papers and likewise stories of your family, as well as pictures that have leaked out. You have a very distinct look, Sadie, one glance and anyone in this sleepy town would be able to know exactly who you are and what a ransom they would get for turning you in! Poor as we all are, they would leap at the chance! You would be chained to the back of a sheriff's truck and on your way back to Minneapolis faster than a jackrabbit. If Evan goes it is just as dangerous and perhaps more so. If you are captured they will be happy and leave the rest alone, if Evan is taken, they will torture him until he sells you out, then throw him in jail and take you as well." Sadie cringed as if she had been slapped.

"No, Evan would never do that. He would not speak. But wait – they have pictures of Evan?" Cried Sadie.

"No, not yet thank God or Evan would be out of work, but still there are descriptions of 'the man who kidnapped the senator's daughter' and how would it be if a man fitting that description came every weekend to pick up Sadie Hunter's mail?

Sadie sighed angrily. "It's Sadie Flynn, or at the very least Sadie Adams and I suppose you're right. Did you bring me a newspaper?"

"Yes...you sure you want to see it? News of the outside world can burn the mind, I'm telling you...I hate to even glance at the thing but I do it for you. Here then." She handed over the thick newspaper with a shiver. "I still think you should give a different name for your address and mail box. What letters do you even get? Ones from Sophie? Tell her to address you as 'Sylvia Fontoon' from now on or something." Matilda's forehead was creased with concern.

"You know I can't do that." Replied Sadie. "I also get rent bills for that apartment I keep."

"You should change your name for that as well." Matilda muttered.

"I know it seems ridiculous to you, but it's the only decoy I have. If my father or his men decide to come for me one day I need to know before they find me here so I can get away and have a good head start. If they hear of a Sadie Hunter living in apartment 47 they will bust open the door and search the place, 'cause a disturbance and you can hear the news and alert me. If I change my name and get rid of my apartment they are bound to find me anyway, and I will have no warning and worse of all, you may be followed and hurt."