Rated PG-13\u00a0 (Violence and Thematic Elements)<\/p>\n
Word Count – 30,501<\/p>\n
Summary –\u00a0 Told in jigsaw puzzle fashion, follow Adam Cartwright as pieces\u00a0from the past eventually come together to form his future in this story of love, courage, and sacrifice.<\/p>\n
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Vandem House – Past<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 Long grass, soft and yielding, created an unsteady cover for the two young girls lying hidden.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cMeg, I\u2019m scared.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Meg turned, loose ringlets sliding along her pale features. She reached across the damp ground, entwining her fingers with those of her cousin. <\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 The two girls scooted closer together, each drawing strength from the other\u2019s presence. Not a sound could be heard. He never shouted. His speech was always low, controlled, cold. Then it came, much closer than they had anticipated.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 \u201cMargaret, Cecily, come out\u2014Now.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cecily began to tremble, and large tears slid down her cheeks. Meg squeezed her hand, quietly bringing a finger to her lips.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI won\u2019t repeat my warning.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The children froze at the sound of his voice less than a dozen feet away. Then, an irritated sigh.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cVery well. Gabe,\u201d he called, and hurried footfall could be heard coming from the other direction.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYes, suh.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cBring out the dogs.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cecily brought her hand to her mouth too late as she cried out. A moment later, he stood before them. The girls slowly shifted to their knees, clinging tightly to each other. Meg forced her eyes up to meet his\u2014there would be no mercy. Cecily continued to cry.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cGabe,\u201d he said again.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019ll not be needin\u2019 the dogs now, Massah?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNo.\u201d The silence was chilling. Finally, he reached for Meg. \u201cTake Cecily up to her room. Lock the door. Margaret will be coming with me.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Meg began to sob, her crying exceeded only by Cecily\u2019s screams as Gabe picked up the smaller girl and carried her toward the large white house. <\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou shouldn\u2019t have tried to hide,\u201d he said to Meg, digging his fingers into her tender flesh. \u201cI told you never to hide.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNo, Daddy . . . please . . . please, I\u2019m sorry . . .\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em>Ponderosa – Present<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPlease, Little Joe, I\u2019m tellin\u2019 you, it just ain\u2019t gonna work. These letters are all too mushy, and besides, Adam\u2019s gonna be back any minute. Come on, let\u2019s get out of here.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss emphasized his words by grabbing Joe\u2019s arm and yanking him toward the door, causing Joe to bump Adam\u2019s desk.<\/p>\n \u201cNow look what you did,\u201d Joe complained, reaching for the small drawer that had crashed to the floor.<\/p>\n Hoss sighed as he bent down to pick up the scattered papers.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph, when I said I needed help writin\u2019 a letter to Gloria, this wasn\u2019t exactly what I meant.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe rolled his eyes. \u201cHoss, girls like all that flowery stuff, and nobody writes flowery better than older brother.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss nodded in agreement, handing Joe the last of Adam\u2019s stationary.<\/p>\n \u201cDad-burn it, little brother, he\u2019s gonna know we\u2019ve been in here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNah, I\u2019ve got a plan.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss\u2019s eyes grew wide, and he held out his hands pleadingly. \u201cNow, Little Joe-\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry,\u201d Joe interrupted, giving him a wink.<\/p>\n Hoss watched cautiously as Little Joe went to Adam\u2019s window, opening it just enough for the stiff breeze outside to enter the room. The papers on Adam\u2019s desk immediately began flying in all directions.<\/p>\n Hoss was making a wild grab for them when Joe reached out and stopped him.<\/p>\n \u201cJust leave it. I\u2019ll open the drawer part way\u2014Adam will think Hop Sing left the window open again.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh, Joe, he ain\u2019t gonna fall for that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTrust me, Hoss. It works every time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, really? And just how many times would that be, little brother?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe shrugged. \u201cA few.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss watched over his younger brother\u2019s shoulder as he worked to get the small drawer back in place.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s stuck on something,\u201d Joe said, setting the drawer on the floor. \u201cYeah, there\u2019s a piece of paper stuck inside here. Looks like a letter.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, put it in the drawer and let\u2019s go,\u201d Hoss said, turning to leave.<\/p>\n He\u2019d almost made it to the door when Little Joe\u2019s voice stopped him. He turned and walked back as Joe read the letter aloud.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n My dearest Adam,<\/em><\/p>\n I know you weren\u2019t expecting to hear from me for quite some time. I\u2019ve been released early.<\/em><\/p>\n I\u2019ve no doubt you\u2019ll come; just as I know that in all these years you haven\u2019t given your heart to another for I still hold it in my hands.<\/em><\/p>\n You know where to meet me. I\u2019ll expect you sometime in August. Please don\u2019t-<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWhat do you think you\u2019re doing?\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss and Joe looked up suddenly as a dark shadow crossed over the doorway.<\/p>\n \u201cUh, Adam, we was just-\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou were just going through my things; reading my personal letters! Honestly, you two don\u2019t know anything more about privacy then you did when you were children.\u201d Adam snatched the letter from Little Joe\u2019s outstretched hand.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam, I\u2019m sorry. It was my idea, Hoss just needed-\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNever mind,\u201d Adam interrupted as he escorted his brothers toward the hall. \u201cI, unlike you two, don\u2019t need to know every detail about other people\u2019s lives.\u201d Shutting the door with a little more force than was necessary, Adam sighed and leaned heavily against it. There were a few moments of silence before he heard the sounds of his brothers retreating.<\/p>\n They deserved it. They shouldn\u2019t even have been in here, let alone reading this, this . . .<\/em><\/p>\n Adam quickly scanned the letter, picking up where he\u2019d cut Little Joe off.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n . . . Please don\u2019t delay. I need your help, and . . . my precious Adam, I have so much to tell you.<\/em><\/p>\n All my love,<\/em><\/p>\n ~Sissy~<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Running a hand through his hair, Adam began to pace the length of his room. Every so often, he would stop and throw back his head or loosen his shoulders. Finally, he stopped, his agonized features now replaced with a determined calm. Crossing to his bed, he dropped the letter, now soaked with sweat from his palm onto the quilt, then turning to his dresser, he opened it and began taking out his clothes.<\/p>\n I\u2019m coming, Sissy, I\u2019m coming.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Adam was packed and ready to go by that evening. He could hear his family downstairs; his father\u2019s deep voice, Hoss\u2019s natural tone, Little Joe\u2019s high-pitched laughter.<\/p>\n How am I going to explain this to them?<\/em><\/p>\n Adam checked his room over one last time, then picked up his travel bag. He didn\u2019t know when he would see this room again. It had always been there waiting for him in the past. He hoped it would be again. He paused for a moment at the top of the stairs. The busy hum of conversation going on below had always been a comfort to him.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 They\u2019ll understand.<\/em><\/p>\n As Adam descended the stairs, Hoss was the first to notice his valise.<\/p>\n \u201cHey big brother, where\u2019d you think you\u2019re going?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam\u2019s answer was directed at all three of the men in the living room. \u201cI,\u201d he cleared his throat. \u201cI need to talk to all of you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam, is something wrong?\u201d Ben asked.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not sure yet, Pa. That\u2019s what I have to find out. I got a letter yesterday.\u201d Adam pulled the envelope out of his pocket, noting the look of guilt that passed over his brothers\u2019 faces. \u201cYou might want to sit down,\u201d Adam said before continuing. \u201cThis is going to take a little explaining . . .<\/p>\n Charlottesville, VA – Past<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam wandered around the expansive marketplace with a few of his classmates for an hour or so before they went their separate ways. The local college students often visited the mostly slave run market during the weekends in summer. Though he wasn\u2019t considered a local, Adam had spent every summer for the last three years on the Charlottesville campus. The long distance and cost of traveling had nearly made him into a permanent resident, only ever escaping at the invite of a friend, or occasionally, one of his professors.<\/p>\n In spite of the fact that he\u2019d mailed a letter home just the day before, he found a spot in the shade, far enough away from the din to concentrate, but close enough to keep watch, and pulled out a clean sheet of paper. He was homesick, more so than he could ever remember being before, and his frequent letters of late proved it, even though he courageously tried to deny it.<\/p>\n He was well into his third paragraph on both the glories and despairs of being a university law student when a commotion at the nearest fruit stand caught his attention.<\/p>\n \u201cYou either pay for them cherries or you put \u2018em back, ya hear me?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam watched as a burly, colored woman spoke up to a slender, white girl who appeared to be about his age, maybe a little younger. The girl\u2019s cheeks turned scarlet and she took a step back, though she didn\u2019t release the basket of cherries. \u201cI, I\u2019m . . .\u201d<\/p>\n A crowd began to gather, and Adam didn\u2019t miss the look of panic on the girl\u2019s face. Jumping to his feet, he dug into his pocket for the few coins he\u2019d brought along with him. \u201cHere it is,\u201d he called, waving his hand in the air as he approached. \u201cI\u2019m sorry I took so long.\u201d Stepping up beside the girl and casually taking her arm, he gave her a smile and then handed over the money for the fruit. \u201cThat should about cover it, I think.\u201d<\/p>\n The colored women checked the coins in her hand and, seeming satisfied, returned to her cart. The girl glanced around anxiously until the crowd dissipated. \u201cI, I have to go,\u201d she said, then turned and quickly made her way toward one of the side streets.<\/p>\n \u201cWait a minute,\u201d Adam called, running to catch up with her. \u201cHey,\u201d he said, putting a hand on her arm. She stopped, but kept her eyes on the ground. \u201cI know I pretended to know you back there, but we haven\u2019t actually been introduced. My name\u2019s Adam Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n The girl stammered for a moment, twisting her hands around the handle of her basket. \u201cMy name is, it\u2019s . . .\u201d<\/p>\n Adam could barely hear her as a noisy cart rolled by. \u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d he said, \u201cdid you say your name is Sissy?\u201d<\/p>\n The girl looked up for the first time and met his eyes; for a moment she seemed to study him. He smiled at her and nervously reached out for some of the cherries. He stuffed them in his mouth and then chuckled as he wiped the trickling juice from his chin. He was glad to see her shoulders relax and the corners of her mouth turn up. \u201cYeah,\u201d she answered. \u201cYou can call me Sissy.\u201d<\/p>\n Vandem House \u2013 Past<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Lying rigidly in her bed, Cecily kept her chin rested on her arms, her eyes glued to the light under the door.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cGo away,\u201d she murmured. \u201cPlease, go away.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In her long nightgown, the young girl\u2019s red-rimmed eyes and occasional flinches of pain were the only outward signs of the harsh punishment she had received a few hours ago, but despite the biting sting from the welts that lay crisscrossed against the back of her legs, her focus was across the hall and three doors down. She\u2019d heard Meg being deposited in her room before her uncle had come to punish her. She didn\u2019t know what horrors Meg had been forced to endure while they\u2019d been separated, she only knew that she couldn\u2019t go to her until the light under the door was gone.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Quietly, very quietly, she reached inside her pillow case and pulled out a loose down feather. Beginning her ritual, she held it over the edge of the bed and let go, watching it float slowly to the ground. It landed like a flake of snow on the ornate rug, bathed in the pool of light spilling in under the doorway. Reaching for another, she began to count, \u201ctwo, three, four . . . twenty-one . . . sixty-two . . . ninety-five,\u201d and then they were gone. The light had been turned out. Cecily lifted her head, listening for the telltale sounds of her uncle\u2019s departure from his study; the winding of the clock, the clink of glasses, footsteps descending the long flight of stairs, and finally, the click of a door. <\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Moving carefully, Cecily slid off her bed, pulling at the back of her nightgown to keep it from brushing against her legs. Moving awkwardly toward the door, she brushed the moisture from her eyes and bit her lower lip when it began to tremble. Stealing out into the hallway, she crept along, her hand on the opposite wall until it landed on the third door then, as softly as a shadow, she slipped inside Meg\u2019s room. The stifled sobs coming from the large bed near the window immediately drew her focus.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cMeg, I\u2019m here.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The moonlight coming from the window guided Cecily to her cousin\u2019s side. Meg was lying on her stomach, one tightly knuckled fist crammed against her lips as she tried to control her crying. Cecily could see several dark patches on the back of Meg\u2019s nightgown where blood had seeped through. She reached out gently to move the matted hair from her cousin\u2019s face. Her cheek was a dark purple from the base of her temple to the top of her jaw.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cOh, Meg, my poor Meg . . .\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em>Charlottesville, VA \u2013 Past<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Adam and Sissy had walked around the marketplace twice before he got up the nerve to ask her to have a meal with him. A few minutes later, they were seated at a table outside of the market\u2019s only restaurant. Though the young woman had begun talking more freely, Adam could sense that she was still uneasy. Whether that uneasiness stemmed from being with him or was caused from something else, he wasn\u2019t sure. He listened as she talked about a new litter of kittens born in the stables and then of an old willow tree with a wooden swing and handles made of rope. He watched the sun glisten on her light brown hair, kept loosely in a braid all the way down her back, and her eyes, nearly the same color as her hair, lit up when she told him how high the swing would go.<\/p>\n \u201cAlmost up to the clouds,\u201d she said, then settled back with a soft smile on her lips.<\/p>\n Adam felt himself focusing a little too intensely on those delicate lips and cleared his throat. \u201cWhere did you say you\u2019re from, again?\u201d<\/p>\n Sissy\u2019s eyes grew large, and she reached out to play with the hem of the lacy, white tablecloth. \u201cWell, I didn\u2019t say exactly, but it\u2019s a big house; not very far from here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI come to the market nearly every weekend. Observing people has become a sort of hobby of mine\u2014I know I would remember if I had seen you before.\u201d<\/p>\n The girl shifted in her chair and then reached for her water glass. Adam watched as she took a small sip; her eyes were constantly darting around, searching the crowd.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve never been here before,\u201d she answered after a moment. \u201cI needed to get . . . My cousin\u2019s had a craving for cherries lately. I guess I didn\u2019t bring enough money. I\u2019m not usually the one that makes the purchases.\u201d She gave him a wobbly smile and shrugged her shoulders. \u201cThank you, for what you did back there.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam smiled. \u201cIt was no trouble and, I\u2019ll add, more than worth the pleasure of your company.\u201d<\/p>\n The waiter came then and Adam placed two orders of crab cakes, then with a wink at Sissy, two slices of cherry pie. She giggled and ducked her head shyly. Adam worked to draw the young woman out as they ate, pleased that by the time they finished their dessert, she had begun to relax. \u201cThere\u2019s going to be a sort of fair here next week,\u201d he said. \u201cDo you think you might be able to come back? It might be fun to watch some of the games.\u201d<\/p>\n He was half convinced she was going to say yes when something behind him caught her attention. She bolted upright, her face instantly draining of color. Adam turned, scanning the crowd to see what could have frightened her so intensely. There were people milling about; children skipping, a stray dog chasing a gray cat. His eyes met with one of his college professors and he smiled and waved.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you all right? I don\u2019t see any-\u201d Adam turned around and found himself facing an empty chair. \u201cSissy?\u201d He stood up quickly and glanced around. The young woman had disappeared. Adam started to call her again, but the sound of his professor\u2019s voice stopped him.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam, how are you today, young man?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam forced a smile as he reached out to shake hands. \u201cHello, Professor Denton. I\u2019m just fine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre my eyes playing tricks on me, or did I see you with a young woman just now?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam noticed how the man\u2019s eyes went to the table where two sets of empty dishes sat. \u201cWell,\u201d Adam chuckled lightly. \u201cI was. She, uh, had to go.\u201d<\/p>\n Professor Denton nodded slowly. \u201cI see. What was her name? Is she a local girl?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam\u2019s gaze narrowed as the man took the seat that had just been vacated so hastily. He wasn\u2019t in the mood to chat anymore. \u201cHer name was Sissy. I\u2019m not sure where she\u2019s from. We just met this afternoon.\u201d<\/p>\n Denton snapped his fingers to get the attention of the waitress. \u201cI see,\u201d he said again. Adam noted how the man\u2019s smile didn\u2019t quite reach his eyes. \u201cI don\u2019t know anyone by that name from around here . . . Most interesting.\u201d<\/p>\n Ponderosa – Present<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Ben couldn\u2019t help but tense as Adam motioned for them all to take a seat. Whatever his son had to tell them, it was big, and Ben sensed, in a way, that meant change. He\u2019d felt it coming for a while now. His oldest boy, strong almost to the point of being rigid at times, intelligent and with a gift for perception, just, but always tempered with compassion, was also restless. Ben blamed himself for that. Every man\u2019s dream came at a cost, and he feared that his would eventually be that of losing his first born.\u00a0\u00a0 From the time Adam had been a small baby, they had travelled constantly. Ben, not always able to allow him to release his pent up energy, had focused instead on keeping the young boy\u2019s mind busy; always pointing things out, asking him questions, reading to him. Was it any wonder that now, as a man, he still thirsted for knowledge and held a desire to see new places? Through the years Ben had, as much as possible, allowed Adam to travel. Most of their ranch\u2019s outside business was handled by his oldest son, but even that didn\u2019t seem to be enough lately. Though physically Adam\u2019s wanderings had come to an end when Ben settled in the Sierra Nevadas, the boy\u2019s soul had continued to move on, and Ben had always known that someday, Adam\u2019s body was going to have to catch up with it.<\/p>\n He watched as Adam unfolded the letter in his hand then, briefly, their eyes met. Ben couldn\u2019t decide what he\u2019d seen in that look; excitement, desperation? He listened as Adam read, and then he understood, it was hope that had flashed in his son\u2019s eyes a moment ago, but Ben\u2019s were dashed by one word \u2013 Sissy. \u201cOf all the people and places in the world,\u201d Ben thought, \u201cwhy does it have to be Sissy?\u201d<\/p>\n Charlottesville, VA \u2013 Past<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>In his dorm room, Adam fiddled with the top button of his collar for the tenth time that morning. The hazel eyes of a mysterious, young woman had been haunting his dreams lately, and he was anxious to get to the market. He was beginning to wish he hadn\u2019t signed on for three courses that summer; he\u2019d hardly been able to concentrate during lessons, especially in Professor Denton\u2019s class. For a reason Adam couldn\u2019t explain, his relationship with his teacher had changed last weekend. He often found Denton\u2019s eyes on him when he\u2019d look up from his desk, and the man had asked to sit with him at lunch twice that week; always with a mask of friendliness. Adam had a feeling it had something to do with Sissy, but what the connection was, he wasn\u2019t sure. He\u2019d been relieved to hear that Denton would be gone that weekend. Along with most of the university faculty, he would be attending a teacher\u2019s seminar at a prestigious hotel near the ocean.<\/p>\n Scowling at himself in the mirror, Adam combed a part to the right, then to the left, and finally, he just raked his fingers through his hair, threw down the comb and walked out the door. Though at least a good mile away, he decided to walk to the market. He set a brisk pace, breathing in deeply the smells of green. At home, every breath was full of the scents of pine and sage. Adam chuckled.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Or cattle.<\/em><\/p>\n Along the way, he passed a grove of cherry trees. A few of them still had blossoms and, checking over his shoulder to make sure no one was coming, he quickly hopped the fence and broke off a stem full of the softly perfumed flowers.<\/p>\n When he arrived at the market, the fair was nearly done being set up, and he made his way through the various stands, twirling the stem in his hands and watching for a certain familiar face. His heart was beating wildly, and he had to force himself to take deep breaths and calm down.<\/p>\n An hour later, he tried not to be disappointed by the fact that Sissy hadn\u2019t arrived. \u201cShe never actually said she would come,\u201d he reminded himself. Walking slowly over to a cart of baked goods, he purchased a muffin and then found a shady place to sit near his usual spot. He quickly downed the muffin and then pulled out a book on Latin verbs and phrasing, but his eyes, instead, focused on the blossoms he still carried. With just the gentlest shade of pink, they reminded him of Sissy\u2019s lips and the way they\u2019d curled up at the edges when she\u2019d smiled. He sighed deeply and then tossed the stem off to the side, determined to memorize at least the next lesson in his book before he watched any of the games. A moment later, a soft, southern voice startled him.<\/p>\n \u201cAre these for me?\u201d Sissy asked, reaching down to pick up the discarded stem.<\/p>\n She wore a pale green dress, long and flowing, and her braid was pinned up in a circle around her head. Adam burst into a smile. \u201cAh, my lady, you\u2019ve arrived.\u201d<\/p>\n She smiled and dropped her eyes, bringing the flowers up to her nose. Adam noticed how much more at ease she was this time, and he delighted in the fact that he apparently hadn\u2019t been the cause of her anxiety after all.<\/p>\n \u201cWell,\u201d he said, jumping up from the ground. \u201cDo we play, or shall we stand aside and gape?\u201d<\/p>\n Sissy cocked her head in thought. \u201cI like the idea of gapin\u2019, then . . . maybe a game, though at some point, I do need to buy some more cherries.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam\u2019s eyebrows rose in mock alarm.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry,\u201d she giggled. \u201cI brought enough money with me this time.\u201d<\/p>\n Offering his arm, Adam led the way through the crowd to the area sectioned off for racing. First up were the young children in a three legged race. Adam laid odds on two tough looking little rascals he guessed to be around six or seven-years-old. Sissy burst into a fit of laughter when the two boys became tangled and each started to run in a different direction. It was the first time he\u2019d heard her really laugh, and it started a tingling sensation in the center of his stomach.<\/p>\n They spent the next hour watching people make spectacles of themselves in a variety of outdoor games. Adam invited Sissy to eat lunch at the restaurant with him again, and on the way, they passed a fruit stand with at least three different kinds of cherries. Adam leaned against a post, his arms folded across his chest, as Sissy took her time picking out the best ones. When she\u2019d filled her basket, he quickly reached out and gave the coins to the woman working. Sissy turned to him questioningly.<\/p>\n \u201cFor the pleasure of you company,\u201d he said, and was rewarded with a smile. \u201cIt\u2019s too bad your cousin couldn\u2019t join us.\u201d Adam had barely finished speaking the words when he wished he could take them back. The smile that had graced Sissy\u2019s face was gone, replaced with a pained look of sadness.<\/p>\n \u201cShe isn\u2019t feelin\u2019 real well. She hardly ever gets out of the house . . .\u201d Sissy\u2019s voice trailed off, and a faraway look came into her eyes. Adam reached out and brushed her hand and was surprised when she flinched and pulled it away.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d she chuckled nervously. \u201cI just got lost in my thoughts.\u201d<\/p>\n He shrugged. \u201cNo harm done. I\u2019ve been known to wander off myself once in a while. Now, what say we take a chance and order the catfish this time?\u201d<\/p>\n Vandem House \u2013 Past<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cecily pumped her legs back and forth, sending the swing higher and higher. Above her, the clouds formed a massive kingdom of billowing columns and wispy towers. She pumped harder, reaching out a hand toward the heavens, but no matter how long or how hard she tried, eventually her feet always came to land on solid ground. Clasping one side of the rope with both hands, she rested her head against them, slowly allowing the swing to come to a stop. For a long time, her eyes remained on the towering, white castle until the sound of distant jingling reached her ears. Jerking to attention, she strained to listen. It was, it was the harnesses. Jumping from the swing, she flew to the front of the house, where she ducked behind the large Hydrangea bushes. For the first time in a week, a smile graced her lips at the site of the carriage, hitched and ready to go in front of the door. She waited, just to make sure, and a short time later, crouched down even lower as the door opened. She watched as Gabe loaded two large trunks onto the back. Two trunks? That could only mean . . . Cecily\u2019s eyes lit up as her uncle and his friend exited the house.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cGabe, Mr. Denton and I will be gone about three weeks, maybe four,\u201d her uncle said. \u201cLook after the dogs.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cecily scowled at the mention of the dogs, but a moment later, as the carriage rolled quickly down the long drive, all woes were forgotten. Getting to her feet, she ran past Gabe, up the steps, across the long porch and into the house.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cMeg,\u201d she cried as she rushed up the stairs. \u201cMeg, they\u2019re gone. Three whole weeks!\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 Bursting into her cousin\u2019s room, she rushed to the chair near the window where Meg was working on a cross stitch. Cecily knelt on the floor in front of her and gently clasped the girl\u2019s hands. \u201cThey\u2019re gone, Meg. Both of them.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Meg turned a listless face toward her cousin, and then drew her brows together in question. \u201cBoth? They\u2019ve left? For how long?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI heard your daddy. He said three weeks at least.\u201d Cecily sat back and waited for the information she\u2019d given to sink in. Ever so slowly, the brightness that had been missing from Meg\u2019s eyes over the past few weeks began to shine again, and to Cecily\u2019s aching heart, it was more glorious than watching the sun rise.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThey\u2019ve gone,\u201d Meg said one more time; no longer a question, but a joyous expression. Standing up still somewhat stiffly, she allowed Cecily to take her hand and guide her. For the first time in months, both girls entered the upstairs hallway without fear or hesitation. The house was nearly empty, the only sounds coming from the long clock case in the hall and the occasional dings and clanks of someone working in the kitchen. <\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cLet\u2019s go see Bonnie,\u201d Cecily said, tugging Meg\u2019s hand in that direction. A moment later, the girls entered the kitchen, breathing in deeply. <\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cOh, Bonnie,\u201d Meg said. \u201cApple donuts?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYes, ma\u2019am,\u201d the young colored woman turned and answered, \u201cand some fried chicken and okra, mashed taters and biscuits.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou knew,\u201d Cecily declared with delight. \u201cYou knew they were leaving. Why didn\u2019t you tell us?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWanted to be for sure,\u201d Gabe answered, coming in through the side door with a basket of tomatoes. \u201cWouldn\u2019t a wanted to get your hopes up if there weren\u2019t no reason to.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The two girls laughed and, joining arms, began to swing around the kitchen table. Gabe chuckled and clapped a tune for them until Bonnie chased them all out to the back porch. \u201cYou go on and pick some peas for supper. I\u2019ll have some lemonade waitin\u2019 for ya\u2019ll when you get back.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Hand in hand, heading for the garden, Cecily couldn\u2019t keep the smile off her face. Gabe was humming a spritely tune, and the summer\u2019s gentle breeze was blowing through her hair. She turned to Meg. \u201cIsn\u2019t today wonderful?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Meg grew thoughtful for a moment, and when she spoke, her voice was tinged with longing. \u201cI wish there were more like this.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cecily grew quiet, afraid that her cousin\u2019s mood was once again sinking into despair, but Meg surprised her by reaching out and putting an arm around her shoulder. \u201cWe\u2019ll just have to savor each one as they come.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYes,\u201d Cecily nodded, her happiness rekindled. \u201cLike Christmas candy.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em>Charlottesville, VA \u2013 Past<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam quickly finished posting his letter home. He hadn\u2019t written since the day he met Sissy, and now, almost a month later, his father\u2019s last letter had sounded concerned. He was a little ashamed over how short this one was, but at least his family would know he was alive and well. He soothed his guilty conscience by promising himself he would write a long, newsy letter later in the week. For today though, he had plans, and those didn\u2019t involve having any thoughts of his pa or two younger brothers.<\/p>\n Adam jogged the first half of the way to the cherry orchard. Sissy had agreed to meet him there for a picnic, even declaring that she would provide the food. They had met twice since the fair. Sissy had gone back to being more reserved, and Adam wondered at the change.<\/p>\n Rounding a corner in the road, he saw her leaning against the fence waiting for him. She had a basket in her hands and was chewing her bottom lip as she looked down the road in the opposite direction. Quickly crossing the road, he jumped the fence and slipped up behind her.<\/p>\n \u201cLooking for someone?\u201d he asked, and then grunted as she turned quickly, slamming him in the chest with the basket.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, Adam. I\u2019m sorry. You scared me.\u201d<\/p>\n For a moment she looked so frightened that he reached out a hand to comfort her, but then she began to laugh.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd what, may I ask, is so funny?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYour shirt,\u201d she gasped between breaths. \u201cIt\u2019s, it\u2019s . . .\u201d<\/p>\n Adam looked down, and then wrinkled his nose at the smell emanating from a large wet spot on his shirt. \u201cAs much as I like pickles, I don\u2019t usually bathe myself in them.\u201d He joined Sissy in laughing at himself as he helped her over the fence. \u201cThere\u2019s a creek just up ahead a little ways. I can clean up there.\u201d<\/p>\n Once at the creek, Adam began splashing water on his shirt, and Sissy busied herself setting up the food. She\u2019d brought a blanket with her and spread it over the ground, then joined Adam at the creek. She giggled as he struggled to get the water to the front of his shirt. \u201cBetter take it off,\u201d she tsked. Adam looked up, a twinkle in his eye, and she began to stammer, \u201cI, I mean. Well, the smell isn\u2019t going to come out if you don\u2019t wash it properly.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam grinned and reached for his top collar button. He felt her eyes on him and his insides suddenly grew warm. He undid his left cufflink next, and then allowed Sissy to take his arm as she helped him with the next one. Before she finished, he reached out and put a hand over hers.\u00a0\u00a0 She didn\u2019t pull away. Bringing her hand slowly to his lips, he gently kissed her fingers. Their eyes met, and Adam wondered if her heart was pounding as fiercely as his. He tipped his head toward her, but she leaned away, a trace of apprehension in her features. Taking a step back, he forced his breathing to calm. She watched him, a look of longing now replacing the fear that had been there moments before.<\/p>\n \u201cSissy, I won\u2019t do anything you don\u2019t want me to. I would never hurt you.\u201d<\/p>\n She paused for a moment then nodded. \u201cI know . . . Adam? Will you kiss me?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam smiled and stepped closer to her once again. Taking her hand, he drew it to his chest. With his other hand, he slid a finger along cheek until it touched her chin; gently, he tipped her face toward him and softly, their lips met; long and full, it was an embrace that left them both breathless.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was nice,\u201d Adam said, leaning in for another kiss, but a giggle from Sissy made him hesitate.<\/p>\n \u201cYou smell like pickles,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Adam threw back his head and laughed, long and loud. With the mood broken, he realized just how hungry he was, so they returned to the blanket. The meal was delicious, and before they finished packing up for the day, they had agreed to meet in the orchard again after Adam\u2019s Tuesday class. Later, on the way back to his dorm, Adam chided himself for his practical joke. Pickle juice was definitely not conducive to romance.<\/p>\n Ponderosa \u2013 Present <\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Little Joe noted the look of concern on his pa\u2019s face as Adam finished reading the letter. There was something familiar about that name, and as Adam continued to speak, the pieces of distant memories started to come together in his mind. A letter from Adam\u2014Pa was worried. Packing quickly\u2014a long trip. He and Hoss were left with friends\u2014Pa was gone a long time\u2014he was sad when he came back. Little Joe\u2019s thoughts were interrupted when Hoss spoke.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, Pa, that name, Sissy. Does this have anything to do with the time you left Little Joe and me in New Orleans?\u201d<\/p>\n The look of regret in his pa\u2019s eyes answered the question for Little Joe. He\u2019d only been about eight-years-old at the time. Through bits and pieces of adult conversation, he\u2019d picked up on the fact that something had happened to Adam; although, his pa would never say just what it was. He\u2019d hoped that maybe Adam would be coming home with his pa, but it was still several years before he saw his older brother again.<\/p>\n Seeing his brother standing there now, twisting the letter nervously in his hands, his travel bag at his feet, Little Joe feared he was going to lose him again. He glanced anxiously across the room at his middle brother.<\/p>\n Hoss was sitting on the hearth, elbows on his knees, staring intently at his clasped hands. He\u2019d been waiting for this ever since Little Joe had found that letter. When he\u2019d looked over his brother\u2019s shoulders while Joe had been reading, he\u2019d scanned to the bottom of the letter and seen the signature. The minute he saw Sissy\u2019s name, his heart had sunk.<\/p>\n Things hadn\u2019t been the same for a long time after Hoss had heard that name the first time. The long trip across country after Adam\u2019s letter had arrived might have been a fun and adventurous time had the circumstances been different. But it hadn\u2019t been fun at all. Pa was constantly worried, and there was never time to see or enjoy anything; always in a hurry to get to the next stop. Then Little Joe had gotten sick and their pa had detoured to leave them with some friends in Louisiana. When Pa had finally come back, it was deep into wintertime and they had remained in New Orleans until the following spring. That winter had been one of the worst ones Hoss had ever known. Pa was solemn and quiet, often pacing for hours at a time in the living room of the small home he\u2019d purchased. All he\u2019d told Hoss was that Adam was in a bad way, and that only time would tell the outcome .<\/p>\n They didn\u2019t get any letters from Adam for a long time, but he knew his pa was still getting word of him somehow. Then, finally, one day in April, Pa had received a letter from Adam that made some of the deep edges of sadness around his eyes ease. He\u2019d sold their little house the next week, and they\u2019d headed back to the Ponderosa. Adam was supposed to have graduated from the University of Virginia that May, but it was three more years before he finally came back home. Hoss had blamed whatever happened with the mysterious Sissy for the delay, and here he was fifteen years later, about to lose his brother again.<\/p>\n To the same dad-blamed girl twice!<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/strong>Charlottesville, VA \u2013 Past<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Adam and Sissy walked along the small stream in the cherry orchard; their regular meeting place for the past month. Adam had completed his summer classes the week before, and the two had been meeting nearly every day since. He smiled when Sissy reached out and took his hand; her touch always sent his pulse racing. He loved her, he was sure of it now, more sure than he had ever been of anything before. She wasn\u2019t the most stunning or brilliant, certainly not proud, in fact being almost a little too shy, but in every way that mattered to him she was . . .<\/p>\n \u201cBeautiful,\u201d he said, stopping and pulling her close.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI said, I think you\u2019re just about the most beautiful woman I\u2019ve ever met.\u201d<\/p>\n She smiled and tilted up her face for him to kiss her. When he pulled away, she lightly pushed his chest. \u201cJust about the most beautiful woman?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell,\u201d he chuckled, \u201cyou rival a place right up there at the top.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs she your mother?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe was.\u201d<\/p>\n The two grew quiet again for a time; Adam lost in thoughts of the past. They came to a low hanging branch, and Sissy sat down, pulling a few cherries from the limb above her.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know,\u201d Adam said, \u201cI\u2019ve told you all about my pa and brothers, but other than the fact that you have a cousin, I know nothing about your family. I still don\u2019t even know where you live.\u201d<\/p>\n The familiar cloud that always came over her features whenever he spoke of her family ascended.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is it?\u201d he asked softly. \u201cWhy won\u2019t you tell me about yourself?\u201d<\/p>\n Sissy remained quiet, and Adam could see there was a war raging within her. Flashes of everything from despair to terror shone in her eyes. He took hold of both her hands and stepped closer.<\/p>\n \u201cTell me, Sissy. What are you so afraid of?\u201d<\/p>\n Vandem House \u2013 Past<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>For two weeks, Cecily and Meg had basked in the simple peacefulness of being left alone. Their days had been spent in picking wild flowers, helping Bonnie bake, and riding Jumper, the beautiful Palomino mare that had belonged to Meg\u2019s mother. In their daily games, they had been in and out of nearly every structure and room on the vast property. Now, on a sunny Wednesday afternoon, they stood in the upstairs hall, in front of the doors to the room they most longed to enter.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWe can\u2019t, we just can\u2019t,\u201d Meg said, taking a step back. <\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 Cecily turned to her then clasped her cousin\u2019s hand. \u201cDon\u2019t you want to see?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Meg swallowed hard as she stared at the large set of French doors, but then she nodded. Cecily reached out and turned the knob, and a moment later the two girls entered the forbidden room. It was unlike any other room in the house, and they stood mesmerized for a moment as they took in the space filled with plush chairs and decorative pillows. Colors of pink, gold, and cream splashed the walls and carpets, and a large blue vase filled with exotic feathers sat on the floor near a white marbled fireplace. Cecily was the first to cross the room; heading straight for the heavy, floor-length curtains and slowly pulling them apart. The cousins gasped in unison as the light flooded into the room, showering it in a thousand tiny dust sparkles. Meg, standing in the center of the room, held out her hands as if to catch one of the shimmering beams. Cecily walked around, looking at the pictures on the wall, most of them were paintings of flowers or gardens. Crossing to a small writing desk in the corner, she picked up one of the frames.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cMeg, come and see,\u201d she said, her voice shaking with excitement. \u201cIt\u2019s my mother, and yours, too.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Meg was across the room in an instant, and Cecily handed her the small painting of the likeness of their mothers. The older girl tenderly traced the outline of her mother\u2019s face. \u201cLook how happy they are.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 Cecily smiled and nodded. \u201cJust like us right now. I wish we could have our picture taken.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Meg hugged the picture to her chest then turned to Cecily. \u201cI think they would be happy that we\u2019re together. Bonnie said once that she\u2019d never seen two sisters that were as close as our mothers.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cecily laid her head on Meg\u2019s shoulder. \u201cI wish it could have been the other way around. That my parents hadn\u2019t died and you had come to live with us.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cMe too,\u201d Meg replied softly.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The two girls spent a good amount of time pouring over the various trinkets and looking at all the beautiful items decorating the room. They were about to leave when Meg spotted a delicate looking porcelain box on the fireplace mantel. Cecily scooted a chair over and, climbing up, carefully lifted the box down to Meg. She hopped off the chair as Meg opened the box, and instantly, it began to play a haunting little melody.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cOh, Meg,\u201d Cecily cried. \u201cIt\u2019s a music box. Listen to how beautiful it is.\u201d Cecily glanced up at her cousin with a smile and was confused by the sight of tears in Meg\u2019s eyes.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI . . . I\u2019d forgotten,\u201d she said, brushing a tear from her cheek. \u201cIt\u2019s been so long since I\u2019ve heard music.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cecily began to sway to the tune, and a moment later, took her cousin\u2019s hand and beckoned her to dance. Meg hesitated for just a second before following her cousin\u2019s lead. The two girls continued to dance and giggle in the sunlight until a dark shadow suddenly fell over them.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cHow dare you?\u201d Meg\u2019s father stood in the doorway, shaking with rage. \u201cHow dare you come into this room\u2014touch these things, and this . . .\u201d He was across the room in a stride and yanked the music box from Meg\u2019s hand. You two are no better than the thieves I sentence in my courtroom.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The girls stood frozen to the spot, too terrified to move or speak. Never before had Cecily seen her uncle so angry. He wasn\u2019t supposed to be back yet. Why, oh why did he have to come now? Cecily felt a moist droplet hit her hand and glanced up. Meg eyes were pooled with tears, but she wasn\u2019t looking at her father; she was fixed on someone just past him. Cecily\u2019s heart began to thump wildly when Mr. Denton stepped out from behind her uncle.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNow, Judge,\u201d he said, his voice laced with amusement. \u201cIt\u2019s not as bad as all that. They didn\u2019t actually take the music box from the room.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cecily glared at the man her uncle called friend, a man whose words always appeared kind, but who she knew secretly delighted in their misery.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The girls waited in silent agony, longing to flee, but not daring to move so much as a muscle. Every infraction, no matter how minor, was always met with painful discipline, and Cecily couldn\u2019t begin to imagine what they were going to have to suffer for breaking such a large rule.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The judge took several deep breaths, visibly working to calm himself. Snapping the lid shut, the music came to a sudden stop, and the girls flinched. Crossing to the mantel, the judge replaced the porcelain box, and then turned his eyes on the two young girls in his charge. <\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cLet\u2019s go,\u201d he said. Taking the girls each roughly by an arm, he pulled them out into the long, dark hall.\u00a0\u00a0 His grip was tight, and Cecily bit her bottom lip to keep from crying out as he dragged them swiftly down the hallway. When he came to the attic door at the end, he opened it and shoved the girls ahead of him up the stairs.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019ll remain here,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ll deal with you after our company has left.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cecily could just see Mr. Denton in the hall at the bottom of the stairs. He\u2019d followed them. She took some satisfaction in knowing that at least he wasn\u2019t going to be around to see them punished. Her satisfaction was short lived however, when a moment later, the attic door slammed shut and they were enveloped in darkness.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cMeg?\u201d Cecily called, already frightened. Something brushed across her hand, and she screamed.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s me, Cecily, it\u2019s just me.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cecily fell into her cousin\u2019s arms and dissolved into tears. \u201cWhat\u2019s going to happen to us, Meg? What\u2019s he going to do to us?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cHush now,\u201d Meg said, though her own voice shook. \u201cClose your eyes. What do you see?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNothing. I can\u2019t, I can\u2019t.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYes, you can. What do you see?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cecily forced herself to close her eyes and begin describing the patterns the lights behind her eyelids made. Meg took a turn next, and soon the girls felt calm enough to sit down on the wooden floor. Clinging desperately to each other, they continued their made up game. Cecily hated the attic, full of mice and roaches and completely and utterly dark. Her only solace was that she was near Meg. <\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Time dragged on endlessly for the two girls locked in each other\u2019s arms. Cecily nearly fell asleep as Meg stroked her hair, but then the door rattled and she sat up with a start.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cMeg? Meg!\u201d She couldn\u2019t stop the tears from coming as the door at the bottom of the stairs opened, and she blinked rapidly against the light. Meg had no response this time, lost in her own fear, all she could do was step closer to her cousin.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cCome with me,\u201d the judge said.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cecily forced her legs to obey, and she and Meg slowly descended the stairs. Her eyes were riveted to the riding crop her uncle held in his hands.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cInto my office,\u201d he said, and Cecily\u2019s knees nearly gave out. She\u2019d only ever been sent into his office once before, and the experience had burned itself into her memory. The two girls dragged their feet as long as they dared while he held the door open. Just before the door shut, Cecily caught a glimpse of Gabe standing in the hall, and her eyes sent him a silent plea. Once the door was closed, the judge again took their already bruised arms and propelled them to the middle of the room. That\u2019s when Cecily saw it, and a cold chill swept down her back. A rope dangled from the ceiling, a small stool placed beneath it. Meg had seen it, too, and the older girl instantly began weeping. The judge released Cecily and pulled Meg over to the stool, lifting her to stand on it. Cecily began to cry, and she brought her hands up to her mouth to keep herself silent. If she cried for Meg, it only made things worse.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cDo you girls know what happens to thieves?\u201d the judge asked, bringing his hands behind his back and drawing himself up. When neither girl answered, he pursed his lips and continued. \u201cThey either go to prison, or they hang.\u201d With these words he stepped up behind a trembling Meg and pulled the rope down and over her neck.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cDaddy, please,\u201d Meg sobbed. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, I\u2019m so sorry.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cecily crammed her fists into her mouth to keep her own sobs quiet.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s what the men in my courtroom always say when I sentence them,\u201d the judge answered. \u201cBut it won\u2019t do you any more good than it does them\u2014evil must be punished.\u201d With those words the judge drew the rope up higher, forcing Meg onto the tips of her toes. Her crying turned into strangled gasps for air and Cecily, suddenly feeling sick, turned away, retching onto the carpet near her uncle\u2019s desk. But then her head jerked back around at the sound of a crack and Meg\u2019s anguished cry. Her uncle was whipping the back of Meg\u2019s legs with the terrible crop. The girl danced around on her tiptoes, dangerously close to the edges of the stool. Cecily watched in horror; too shocked even to cry. The stool began to wobble and, for one terrifying moment, she thought Meg was going to fall. Before she even realized what she was doing, Cecily had flown across the room. Grabbing her cousins legs, she squeezed her eyes shut tight and turned her back to her uncle.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve got you, Meg, I\u2019ve got you.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The first crack of the whip across Cecily\u2019s back nearly caused her to scream, but instead she kept repeating the words out loud. \u201cI\u2019ve got you, I\u2019ve got you.\u201d The whip continued to fall, much faster than it had been with Meg a moment ago. \u201cI\u2019ve got you, Meg. I\u2019ve got you.\u201d Cecily began to feel sick again, and a blackness was threatening to overtake her. \u201cI\u2019ve got you, I\u2019ve got you.\u201d Just when she felt she couldn\u2019t stand a moment longer, a loud penetrating sound filled her ears and the whip stopped. What was that sound? Her ears were ringing. It sounded like the bay of a hound . . .<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cBlasted dog!\u201d she heard her uncle say. \u201cGabe! The dog\u2019s loose. Gabe!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 And then he was gone. The office door remained open. The ringing in her ears was getting louder, and the pain, it burned. Her back, her legs, they were on fire. She still clung to Meg. \u201cI\u2019ve got you, I\u2019ve got you.\u201d Then Gabe was there, he was trying to lift her. \u201cNo, I have to hold Meg.\u201d He picked them both up. Cecily cried out. Meg was quiet. He put them both in Meg\u2019s room on the bed.<\/em><\/p>\n