My voice dropped to a whisper. "Come in."
Caleb Winston froze on the spot. "You... you really want me to come inside?"
He looked utterly bewildered, but the pull of my invitation was too strong. He clumsily climbed through the window.
"I... I just wanted to see you," he stammered, as if trying to justify his presence. "You're the one who asked me in..."
"Miss," he blurted out, his voice full of awe, "in all my born days, I've never laid eyes on a woman as beautiful as you. I just couldn't help myself! I hope I didn't scare you none."
I could see it now—while Caleb seemed a bit simple, his heart was genuinely pure.
My mind was racing for a solution when Caleb spoke again. "My momma keeps sayin' it's high time I found a wife, but none of the girls in this village hold a candle to you. Now that I've seen you, I don't reckon I'll ever find anyone else worth lookin' at!"
That's when it hit me. "Caleb," I said, leaning forward. "Help me escape, and I'll be your wife. What do you say?"
"Really?" His eyes went wide with disbelief. "But what do you mean? Escape? What's wrong?"
He had no idea Benjamin Lowell was holding me captive.
"Never you mind what's wrong," I whispered urgently. "Just come here. Reach your hand in!"
I was half-reclined on the bed, the thin blanket pulled up to my chest, one pale shoulder deliberately exposed.
When I told him to slide his hand under the blanket, he flinched like he'd been burned, completely thrown.
"You want me to reach in there? I... I can't! My momma said if I ever touch a girl, I gotta take responsibility!"
"Just hurry!"
"Well then... don't say I didn't warn you..."
His hand, trembling, crept under the blanket. The moment his fingers brushed against my wrists, his expression shifted from nervous confusion to shock.
I had guided his hands to feel the rough ropes binding mine.
"What in the world...?" he gasped.
"Now that you've touched them, you have to untie me. Quickly!"
Coaxed and cornered, Caleb had no choice. His fumbling fingers worked at the knots until my hands were free.
I scrambled up, ready to move. "Help me out the window!"
"Tell me what's goin' on first!" he insisted, his simple nature demanding an explanation.
In his confusion, he grabbed my arm, holding me back.
Benjamin could wake up any second. We didn't have a moment to lose.
"Caleb, your Uncle Benjamin is the one who tied me up. He's keeping me prisoner here. If we don't run now, he'll beat you to a pulp, too!"
The color drained from his face. The truth finally sank in.
"Uncle Benjamin... he's meaner than a rattlesnake. He'd break my legs for sure!"
"Then come with me, now!"
I didn't know my way around this village. I needed Caleb to be my guide, my protector.
But it was too late.
A sound from the other room. Benjamin was awake. Escape was impossible now.
"Under the bed!" I hissed, my voice tight with panic. "Hide!"
Without another word, Caleb dropped to the floor and scrambled into the dark space beneath the bed frame.