Jimmy waited until it until it was almost dark. The wagon had not returned to Rolling Meadows, as he had initially feared. It was going elsewhere, picking up supplies perhaps. The wagon bed was empty so they were apparently not delivering anything. He also knew that the wagon would stop soon; it was getting too dark to continue traveling safely.

He shook Priscilla’s shoulder gently. She appeared to have dozed off. “We gotta get off this wagon,” he whispered.

Priscilla gave him a worried look but she did not object. When Jimmy jumped out, he held his arms open and Priscilla leapt into them.

“Run?” Priscilla asked, almost sorrowfully.

“Yep,” Jimmy replied.

*~*~*

Priscilla untied the laces of her boots. These boots were not made for running around the countryside. They were her best boots and were for special occasions, like the dance. As she slipped one shoe off, she thought about that dance. It seems like years ago, not just a day ago.

“Ouch,” she said involuntarily. Her feet were rubbed raw. She slid the stocking off her foot as best she could. She winced in pain, as she had to pull harder. Some parts of her stocking were stuck to her bloodied foot. She then did the same to her other foot and fell backward against the grass. Her feet were killing her, she was hungry and she was exhausted. She had not eaten or really slept in over twenty-four hours. And she still was so far away from home.

She turned her head and watched Jimmy. He was starting a fire. While she lolled about, Priscilla thought feeling guilty.

Once the fire was going, Jimmy turned to her. “I’ll see if I can get a hare or a partridge,” he said. “Can you keep an eye on this?”

“Yeah.” She could not do anything else. She rose to her feet and limped closer to the fire.

“Your feet hurt?” Jimmy asked, watching her walk awkwardly toward him.

“A little.”

“Can I see?”

“It’s nothing,” Priscilla began. But Jimmy had already grabbed her foot so she sat down to avoid falling.

Jimmy gave her a look of dismay.

“I was wearing my Sunday shoes,” Priscilla offered by way of explanation.

“Gimme a petticoat.”

Priscilla slipped one of her many underskirts off and handed it to Jimmy. He tore it into strips. Some he used to wipe off her feet and the rest were used as bandages.

“I don’t have any water. Once we do, I’ll clean ‘em better,” Jimmy told her. He studied her face. “You aren’t gonna be able to walk.”

“I know,” Priscilla sighed.

“Stay here,” Jimmy commanded. He soon vanished. When he returned, he was carrying a small rabbit. All Priscilla could do was watch as Jimmy cleaned it, put it on a spit and then roasted it. He handed her a piece, which she happily devoured.

“We should get some rest,” Jimmy said finally. “I’m gonna have to put the fire out. I don’t want anyone to see it.”

Priscilla nodded and soon it was so dark she could barely see her hand in front of her face.

“Night,” Jimmy called out.

“Night,” Priscilla responded softly. She lay down. The ground was so uncomfortable. Her stomach still felt so empty, her throat parched and worst of all every time she closed her eyes, her body drifting off to sleep, she awoke with a start, imagining that man grabbing her again.

“Jimmy,” she said.

“Yeah.”

“They won’t find us, right?” Maybe if he said the words, she would believe it and be able to sleep.

“I don’t think so.”

Priscilla closed her eyes once more, but she jerked into a wakeful state all too quickly, letting out a small gasp as she kicked away an imaginary pair of hands.

“You okay?” Jimmy asked. It was strange to hear his voice, Priscilla thought, especially since she could not see him.

“No.” She did not know how to answer otherwise. It was the truth. “I’m scared,” she whispered.

She heard a rustling sound and soon Jimmy was beside her. He patted the ground beside her. “Can I?”

Oh God, yes, Priscilla thought. Stay close. Stay very close. But all she could say was “Thank you.”

Jimmy soon lay down beside her and wrapped his arms around her. “I won’t let them hurt you.”

“I believe you,” Priscilla said. She took one of his hands in hers, lacing their fingers together, holding on for dear life. She felt some of her fears begin to melt away; her body began to relax and soon she drifted off the sleep.