Stone Field by Christy Lenzi

Author:Christy Lenzi
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781626720701
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

18

Things only turn worse when we get to the house.

I must be having a nightmare. If I thrash and jerk my body hard enough, I’ll wake up. But no matter how hard I fight them, Reverend Preston still holds me down on the bed in the Lenox guest room, his chest on mine, his knee over my thighs, while Lu attempts to tie my wrists and ankles to the bedposts with ropes of twisted linen.

“Effie!” I cry. “Papa! Where are you?”

Why aren’t they here?

“Stonefield, speak to me!”

“Goodness!” Lu cries. “I told you she hears the Indian’s voice in her head!”

Maybe if I relax my muscles, the dream will change—I can dream that I’ll fall asleep on this bed and wake up in my own bed, or in the secret house with Stonefield.

“Miss Lu, she’s quieted down. Hurry and tie the last bind. Gently, now—don’t bruise her. We don’t want to make things worse for her; we just need to keep her from hurting herself. Here’s the sleeping powder your sister left for her. Just mix it in the warm milk.”

I turn my mind to the rhythmic sound of rain dripping from the roof and the distant barking of a dog until the voices in the room become nothing more than a low hum. I breathe in the fresh earthy smell of mud on the damp camisole I’m wearing and imagine I’m running through the rain again, toward Stonefield, with no one to stop me.

* * *

“Reverend Preston, I hardly think these binds are necessary!”

It’s Effie’s strong, clear voice, the next morning.

I struggle to wake, but sleep hangs on me like a thick mountain fog. “Effie?” The word sounds like the croaking of a bullfrog. My throat’s so sore, I must have finally caught the sickness from Papa like I pretended to Henry.

“Listen to that horrible voice—I told you, Effie!”

“Hush, Lu. Rest, Catrina.” Slender fingers tug at the knots tied near my wrists and then my ankles, releasing me. I can’t open my eyes.

“Stonefield?” I moan as bullets shoot through my stiff limbs. My whole body’s turned numb—they must have left me to sleep in this position with my arms tied up. I cry out in pain and shake my limbs to force some feeling into them. The bed shudders and bangs against the wall.

“See, Effie—she’s possessed!” Lu screeches. “Preacher Preston’s right—it’s a demon inside her!”

I shake my head hard against the pillow.

“No!” My voice is so hoarse and rough—it scares even me.

Effie’s warm hand slides into mine. “Catrina’s had a concussion and been treated very roughly, Lu. She’s not feeling herself. It’s important that she relax—she needs rest. Henry, we’ll let you have some time with your sister. Come, Lu, Reverend Preston.”

“Miss Effie, since you’ve taken the binds off, perhaps I should stay—”

“I’m sure Henry can handle everything.”

“Yes … yes, of course.”

“Thank you both,” Henry says as he sits down beside my bed. “My sister and I will be fine.”

When they’re gone, I use all my strength to push the sleep away.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.