Chapter 4

My parents finally gave in.

As I saw Elijah out, he hesitated, as if he wanted to say something. I looked at the old scars on his arm and said, "This money is what you risked your life for. Why should they get to take it for nothing?"

He said nothing more. When Loretta came back that evening, she was loaded down with bags of every size. The moment she saw me, she spoke up with a smug look. "These are all the wedding clothes Lowell bought me at the store, and little leather shoes too. They're the most popular styles in the city right now."

"These things all take ration coupons. You can't just buy them with money."

"I'm glad you like them."

Seeing how I reacted, she shot me a resentful look and was about to say something when Lowell stopped her. "Let it go. Don't say anything."

Seeing Lowell speak up for me, her eyes filled with even more spite, but out of concern for Lowell, she forced herself to hold it in.

Who could have guessed that the next morning she came storming into my room like a madwoman, threw a piece of clothing at me, and said, "Lily, I know you're jealous that I get to marry a city youth sent to the countryside."

"But you had no right to ruin my wedding dress."

I looked down. It was the new dress she'd bought yesterday, with several holes cut into it—but I hadn't done it at all.

Lowell walked in too, his face going ashen the moment he stepped through the door. "Lily, I knew you were faking it. You never gave up at all."

"I didn't cut her clothes."

Lowell slapped me across the face. "Then what's going on? You don't mean to say Loretta would wrong you for nothing?"

Loretta wept, tears streaming down her face. "Yesterday my sister said she wanted to borrow this dress, and I wouldn't let her. Who knew she'd get such an idea?"

"If I'd known, I would have just lent it to her."

"I—"

Smack!

My mother rushed in and slapped me. "Jealous of Loretta since you were little, and now you even dare to cut up her wedding dress. Do you think that just because you're getting married your wings have grown strong?"

"Hand over all your betrothal gifts to Loretta for her dowry, and we'll let this go."

So this was what they'd been waiting for. I looked at my mother with a sneer. "This is what you were really after, isn't it? Trading a dress that cost less than fifty dollars for my betrothal gifts."

My mother's eyes turned guilty. "What nonsense are you spouting?"

I grabbed Loretta's wrist and exposed the cut on her finger. "You hurt yourself last night cutting the dress with the scissors, didn't you?"

She guiltily pulled her wrist away. "What are you talking about? Are you saying I'd cut up my own wedding dress?"

I pressed closer. "Then how did you get hurt? You had no cuts on your hands yesterday."

Her eyes went panicked. "I... I—"

My mother seized my wrist. "Still framing your sister even now. Get into the cellar right now and think about what you've done. You don't come out until you admit you were wrong."

They tied me up and gagged my mouth. I was given only one bowl of porridge a day. Several days went by before Lowell came to see me. "After Loretta and I are married, I'll have your parents let you out, and then I'll bring you to the city."

"I know you want to marry me, but in this life I have to make it up to Loretta. Everything except marriage, I'll give you."

So he wanted to make me his mistress.

"Does Loretta know about this?"

His expression told me he hadn't said a word, so I went on. "You want me to be your mistress? Dream on."

He flew into a shamed rage. "Loretta could do it in her past life. Why can't you?"

"If you won't agree, then stay in this cellar for the rest of your life. You think your parents still mean to let you out? Dream on."

My heart lurched. Did my parents really mean to lock me up for life over those betrothal gifts? But then how would they explain it to Elijah and the others? I started thinking of escape, but even with my wrists rubbed raw and bleeding, I couldn't work my way free of the ropes.

Then, on the wedding day itself, I heard Elijah's voice come from above the cellar. My parents had actually told him I'd run out on the wedding.

I tried desperately to cry out, but my mouth was sealed shut and no sound would come. Then my eyes found the kerosene lamp in the distance. I dragged myself toward it with everything I had and, with one hard shove, knocked it over.

There was still straw in the cellar for curing beans, and in an instant thick smoke was rolling everywhere.

I choked and coughed without stopping. Just as the fire was spreading toward me, I heard a clang—and the cellar door was thrown open.