Inheritance

Part 2 Chapter 39: Enshadowed

Pollyanna's dark cheeks turned red and her heart bloomed with affection and love. She felt like she had improved his life by being in it; she could say that about no one else.

"Go wait for me on the east side of town; I'll join you once I have the supplies." Rory kissed her hands and then set out.

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Time eked by at a snail's pace as Pollyanna waited for him at the east side of town behind a black, rotting oak tree.

She had little else to do but count the seconds as they went. There was nothing of interest for her eyes to see as she looked out upon the endless, dead land stretching out in front of her.

One, two, three, four...

Pollyanna peered out from behind the tree and looked west--toward town.

No one was coming her way.

Five, six, seven...

She heard laughter and the scuffling of feet nearby.

It was only children playing tag close to town.

Eight, nine, ten...

She counted to sixty, but she was so nervous about what was to come that she could count no more.

She exhausted herself with her worrying.

She sunk to the earth and wondered if Rory abandoned her. He had perfect reason to, after all. He could either live a peaceful life with his parents or run away with her on a perilous journey. The choice was clear.

She closed her eyes and nearly dozed off as her thoughts kept spiraling and weighing heavily upon her sore shoulders.

"Pollyanna." A voice cut through her negative reverie sometime later.

Her eyes flew open. She choked on a gasp as she backed up against the tree.

She smiled sheepishly when she saw it was only Rory. He was carrying a large pack with cooking utensils hanging from it on his back.

He looked at her confidently. "Are you ready?"

Pollyanna took a deep breath. There was no way she could ever be ready for this dangerous undertaking. Nonetheless, she nodded.

She was out of options.

She didn't know when Kline would allow her to leave the manor again, after all. She was sure he would be able to tell that the baby was not his when it came out, and even if he didn't, there was no way she would raise her baby with a man she hated.

She began walking down the dirt road with Rory in tow.

He was looking over a map of Maribel.

Rory mumbled under his breath. "We should get off the road right now. We'll take the long way around to Brined—they won't expect that."

Pollyanna glanced at the map. It would probably take two weeks to get to Brined taking the road... It'll take even longer going off road.

She followed Rory off the path and out into the barren, brown wasteland surrounding it.

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Pollyanna's legs were sore after walking for two weeks out in the wasteland. Her hair was grimy and disheveled; unforgiving heat stuck to her and coated her clothes in sweat. All of her muscles were sore and tense. She began to feel sick.

Her feet had blisters, and every step she took made her nearly weep with pain.

They had to rest often because her feet were sore and tender.