The Orphan's Wish by Melanie Dickerson

Author:Melanie Dickerson
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 2018-05-14T16:00:00+00:00

The next day Kirstyn stirred the frumenty while waiting for the bread dough to rise. The rope around her wrist, which was tied to the wooden beam bracing the ceiling, was just long enough for her to reach the fireplace.

A knife blade caught Kirstyn’s eye. Anna must have left it on the table when she went to the privy a few moments before. Her heart skipped a beat. She had to try again, didn’t she?

Kirstyn lunged for the knife and sawed furiously at the rope around her wrist.

Her stomach flipped and tumbled. She had to escape this time, or else Michael would lock her in the pitch-black darkness of the cellar, not letting her see the light of the sun for days on end, never letting her out even to go to the privy, never allowing her to talk to Anna. She would surely go mad.

The knife was dull, but finally the tough fibers gave way.

Her eyes focused intently on the only door. It led directly to the street. Her paralysis wore off and she ran to it, turned the knob, and practically fell out, stumbling on the two steps that led to the cobblestones, then started running.

Her dress had been patched so many times she could hardly tell where the original fabric was, and her hair was messy and uncovered, but she didn’t care. She was free.

She had rehearsed this over and over in her thoughts. She would try to locate the nearest church. There. A spire and cross rose above the roofs of the buildings. It was probably only a five-minute walk. Her heart thumped hard against her chest.

Several men traveled on the street. Would they grab her and try to hurt her?

Kirstyn walked as quickly as she could. Her pulse pounded. She felt so exposed. Was everyone looking at her?

A burly, middle-aged man made eye contact with her. He didn’t look away but stared. Should she ask him for help? But what if he tried to harm her too? She could never defend herself against him, as big as he was.

A cold fear gripped her and she kept walking. She could make it to the church. She wasn’t sure that man was safe, but there was no question of her safety at the church.

Her hands were shaking and her knees were weak. And yet she could walk for hours if it meant freedom.

Had Michael seen her leave? She couldn’t resist the urge to look to the left, right. Then she glanced over her shoulder. A man who looked like Michael was just behind her. Her stomach clenched. She glanced again and realized it wasn’t him. Still, she quickened her pace, eager to get out of the street.

Her eyes met those of a young woman, who looked down at the rope dangling from her wrist. Kirstyn ducked her head and hid her wrist under her arm and kept walking.

Had someone moved the giant stone building? It was taking so long to reach the church. People were staring at her, some with expressions of horror, others pity, and others curiosity.

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