Inheritance

Part 2 Chapter 39: Enshadowed

There was no time to waste.

She let Kline kiss both her cheeks after the servants drew her a bath and then took her time getting out the door as she normally did. She did not want to make her husband suspicious.

Once she had left, however, she dropped all pretenses. She sprinted toward town as fast as she could under a gently rising sun.

Her eyes darted around quickly as she searched for Rory. She was hoping Rory would be outside his house, but she appeared to be out of luck.

She didn't think his family's shop was open this early in the morning, but she nonetheless tried knocking with no luck.

The thought of knocking on his parent's door and risking Rory's discretion was not a comforting one, but she had little choice.

She approached his door--raising a fist. She rapped her knuckles against the door.

Answer, answer... Pollyanna begged with sweat dripping into her eyes.

No answer.

Her mind was blanketed in trepidation at the silence. Answer... Answer!

She knocked again without reticence.

"Coming, coming!"

Pollyanna sighed a sigh of relief. That was Rory's voice.

She heard his footsteps shuffling behind the door. It opened after a beat and she nearly threw herself at him when he opened it.

"Who is it, Rory?" His mother, who was a far way down the hall inside, asked.

Rory glanced behind him and answered quickly, "no one, mom."

He hastily shut the door behind him. "What are you doing, Pollyanna?"

"There's no time to explain! You have to come with me, now!" Pollyanna grabbed his hand and tried to tear him from his stoop.

"Pollyanna, wait! What's this about?" Rory demanded, wrenching his hand away from hers.

"I'm pregnant! I'm pregnant!" Pollyanna sobbed hysterically. "We have to leave!"

"Pregnant? But you said the amulet was working..." Rory's voice trailed off as he realized whose child she was carrying.

A slow smile bloomed on his face. "It's mine?"

Pollyanna nodded and couldn't help but return his smile. She was so happy it was his and not Kline's, but she was also in a panic. Every minute that went by while she was running away was a minute Kline could spend catching up to them.

Rory's smile slowly melted from his face as he, too, began to realize the danger they were both in. "I'm too short to ride a horse... Do you know how to ride one?"

Pollyanna shook her head.

"We'll go on foot, then... I'll... I'll get supplies." Rory murmured. "I suppose... It would be best not to say goodbye to my parents."

His voice was the most nervous and melancholy she had ever heard it, and she realized how cruel it was to ask him to give up his whole life to run away with her. "You don't have to do this if you don't want to."

Rory was quiet as he looked down on his feet.

Pollyanna knew he had good, kind, loving parents. She thought for sure he would decide to stay with them over leaving with her.

"No. I told you before I would run away with you if you asked. Well, now you've asked." Rory said determinedly. He held her hands in his. "This is what I've always wanted. I want to be a father and a good husband like my dad; you've given me that opportunity where no other woman has!"