Both pleased and appalled, Sophia thanked her, unable to keep from thinking that maybe if she were less attractive, Ezekiel would never have noticed her.
Arm in arm, Sophia and Rachel walked to the town center. All around them, others were doing the same. Though darkness had not yet fallen, twinkly white lights illuminated the path, decorating the trees like the entrance to some sort of enchanted fairyland.
Huge, black, charcoal smokers were arranged in a semicircle, manned by several of Ezekiel’s older sons. Long trestle tables had been set up nearby, practically groaning under the weight of multiple covered pans of food.
And children sat in circles with their age groups on the ground, watching the activity around them with wide-eyed anticipation.
Rachel waved to her class, beaming with pride. “See how well behaved my kids are? They’re doing so great.”
Unbidden, Jack’s words about how children should act came back to Sophia. She kept them to herself, aware Rachel would find them wrong and crazy.
Meanwhile, tonight Sophia would be meeting her fiancé for the first time. She inhaled, her mouth dry with nerves as she unobtrusively scanned the crowd for Ezekiel. When she didn’t see him or his retinue of wives and children, she felt a little bit better. “Which one is the boy with the problem?” she asked, glad to have something else to focus on.
“There.” Rachel pointed to a stocky, dark-haired kid near one of the attendants named Ralph, who appeared to be keeping a close eye on him. “That’s Benjamin.”
“He’s cute,” Sophia said, smiling in the child’s direction. Instead of smiling back, the boy frowned before dropping his gaze.
“There’s your friend.” Rachel pointed at Jack. “He’s waving. Oh, look, his roommate is with him.”
Blushing, Sophia waved back. “Do you know Phillip?” she asked. “He sure is eyeing you.”
Mouth curving in a pleased smile, Rachel nodded. “We’ve spoken a couple of times. I think he’s cute.”
A commotion had heads swiveling toward the north entrance. Sure enough, a procession headed toward them. With Deirdre and Ezekiel in the lead, Sophia couldn’t keep from trying to count the numerous women walking behind them.
“Soon, you’ll be there with them.” Rachel sounded both proud and sad.
Bile rising in her throat, Sophia nodded. “Are all of those women his wives?” she asked, trying to count them.
“Surely not.” Rachel noticed what she was doing and snorted. “You know some of them have to be his grown daughters. And the ones walking with the other guys must be his sons’ wives.” She giggled. “I wonder if they ever question why only their father gets to marry more than once.”
“I doubt it. They all understand he’s the leader.” Sophia made the reply automatically. She noticed the instant Ezekiel’s gaze began sweeping the crowd as if searching for something. Or someone. Most likely her. The thought made her nauseous so she maneuvered herself around enough that she had her back to him.
“What are you doing?” Rachel asked, her eyes wide. “You know he’s looking for you. You need to go and greet him.”
“Do I?” Sophia lifted her chin. “No. I won’t. He can come to me.”
Rachel gasped. Grabbing Sophia’s arm, she steered her back the way they’d come. Only when they’d gotten past most of the crowd and numerous people separating them from the square did she let go. “What is wrong with you?” Rachel demanded. “Now is not the time for you to go insane.”
“It isn’t?” Sophia stood tall and straight. Now that rebellion had gone from festering inside her to erupting, she knew she couldn’t go through with this farce of a marriage. Or could she?
“You have to,” Rachel replied once Sophia told her. “Even if it’s just to buy you time until you can find an alternative. Ezekiel is not only powerful and blessed, but he is proud. He won’t allow you to humiliate him in front of everyone. You’ll be punished, maybe even locked up. Then where will you be?”
She was right. Defeated and deflated, Sophia found herself blinking away tears. “I don’t know how I’m going to deal with this. If he touches me...” She shuddered.
Rachel made a face. “He’s not going to touch you too much, not now, not before the wedding. Maybe a quick, celebratory kiss or a hug. Surely you can deal with that.”
Sophia made a face. “I’m not sure.”
“Yes, you are. Put on a brave face.” Rachel turned her around. “They’re coming for you. You’ve got a fiancé to meet. Do me proud, my friend.”
* * *
Jack watched all the color drain from Sophia’s face before her companion turned her around and half pushed, half helped her face her fears. He glanced north to see what had so terrified her and froze. The huge procession heading their way had to be Ezekiel. The pudgy, bald, overdressed elderly man with an ornate cane who lead the group had to be COE’s exalted leader. The equally stout woman marching at his side must be one of his wives, probably the first one. She at least seemed sort of close to his age.
He turned to ask his roommate who they were, but Phillip still continued to stare at Sophia and her friend.
“Ahem.” Jack cleared his throat.
Finally noticing Jack watching him, Phillip gave a sheepish smile. “You know,” he said, sounding dazed, “I’ve never seen a woman look that good in a dress.”
“What?” Hiding his annoyance, Jack eyed his roommate. “Are you talking about Sophia?”
“No. The woman with her. That is Rachel, one of the teachers. She’s really cute, don’t you think?”
Jack nodded, aware he couldn’t tell Phillip the truth. He hadn’t noticed the other woman. He’d only had eyes for Sophia.
Damn, he was in trouble. Big trouble.
Needing something to distract him, he glanced back at the approaching procession. As soon as they’d reached the edges of the square, everyone shuffled for position. People had lined up to welcome them, in the same manner a crowd would stand to watch a parade.
Then he saw the children. His first thought was to wonder if they’d been drugged. Motionless, like little adults, they sat in an orderly circle watching the goings-on with quiet curiosity. They all wore matching uniforms—a crisp white shirt and plaid pants or skirts—reminding him of a private religious school.
For the first time he realized everyone else had dressed up, too; way too overdressed for a simple cookout, or at least in his world. Instead of shorts and T-shirts, all the men wore slacks and button-down shirts. The women, without exception, wore the same long dresses they always did, except these seemed to be made of a finer material.
Weird. Even stranger, Phillip hadn’t said anything when Jack had pulled on a pair of well-worn jeans. Of course, maybe he’d understood Jack didn’t own anything nicer than what he’d been given by Thomas.
As Ezekiel and his family neared the center of the commons, the rest of the crowd closed ranks, forming a circle around a raised wooden dais that resembled a stage. Transfixed by all the pomp and ceremony—really, where were the drums?—Jack watched as two younger men helped the elderly Ezekiel climb up on the platform. Once he’d been situated, the rest of his entourage flowed into place around him.
Apparently there would be a speech. Since no one had even remotely attempted to convert him to another way of thinking, Jack couldn’t wait to hear this. For the first time he’d get an insight into the way the COE thought, which so far seemed more like a rigorously controlled commune rather than a cult.
And then, as Ezekiel and his people settled into their positions, two of the leader’s men—Thomas and one other—moved out into the crowd, clearly searching for something. Or someone.
The crowd murmured, necks craning to see. Equally curious, Jack kept his eyes on Thomas’s tall figure, noting when he stopped and bent to converse with a shorter person.
A moment later, as Thomas and the other man made their way back, they had someone with them. The instant he realized it was Sophia, Jack started forward instinctively.
“No.” Phillip grabbed his arm, yanking him back. “Stay here. What the heck is wrong with you? You can’t interfere.”
Jack blinked. Of course he couldn’t. Even though every cell in his body urged him to help Sophia, who appeared both terrified and, oddly enough, rebellious.
“Here she is,” Ezekiel boomed, his tone jovial. For a man of his advanced years, his voice still reverberated with strength. “My lovely bride-to-be.”
At this words, Sophia swallowed. Then she straightened her shoulders, lifted her chin and climbed the wooden steps to stand in front of her fiancé. Her remote expression revealed nothing but strength.
Marveling, especially since he had a pretty good idea how she must feel inside, Jack tried to mimic her stoicism. He relaxed his hands, which he realized he’d clenched into fists, and rolled his stiff shoulders to release some of the tension coiling there.
“Everyone, I’d like you to meet my next wife,” Ezekiel declared, reaching out his age-spotted hand and pulling Sophia into his side, so he could gaze down lovingly at her. “Sophia Hannah, who has done me the honor of agreeing to become my bride.”
As if she’d had a choice. As happy cheers and congratulatory shouts erupted all around him, once again Jack found himself wondering what the hell was wrong with these people that they could cheerfully celebrate forcing a young woman to marry a man nearly four times her age.
Not only did this infuriate him, it made him want to stand up and say something. Which not only might be dangerous and foolish, but definitely would endanger the reason he’d come here—to find the Bartletts’ missing son.
Instead of worrying about Sophia, who clearly could take care of herself, he needed to figure out a way to talk to the children.
Judging by the stern-faced adults guarding them, doing so would be easier said than done.
But Jack was new and could always claim he didn’t know the rules. As soon as Ezekiel’s speech ended, Jack would make his way over to see what he could find out.
Meanwhile, Ezekiel had begun complimenting Sophia’s beauty. The older woman on his other side watched him, her eyes narrowing and her lips growing tighter with each glowing word.
As for Sophia, her eyes had glazed over. She stood in place, a cool half smile fixed on her face as she gazed out at the crowd. Since he knew her, Jack could tell she’d switched to endurance mode. He doubted anyone else made anything of it.
It sounded like Ezekiel might be winding down. “As my family of Chosen, I want to invite every single one of you to my wedding in less than a month’s time. We will hold it in the Sanctuary, of course. And then we shall celebrate here afterward.”
The Sanctuary. Was that some sort of church? This was the first time Jack had heard any mention of such a structure. Interesting. Resolving to check it out if he could, Jack returned his focus to what he had to do next. Talk to the children.
As the Supreme Leader of COE finished his talk, he once again tugged Sophia into him, leaning hard on his carved and polished mahogany cane. “And now,” he murmured, still loud enough to be heard, “we shall share a celebratory kiss.”
When Ezekiel bent his head to cover Sophia’s mouth with his, every fiber of Jack’s being rebelled. He managed—barely—to keep his feet motionless, imagining them locked into place. Because of the angle, he couldn’t see Sophia’s face, just the rigid way she held her body. He found himself hoping she could hold herself together and refrain from doing anything that might give her repulsion away.
Finally, Ezekiel released her. Instantly she looked down, no doubt in an attempt to regain her composure.
“And now we eat,” Ezekiel declared, waving his hand in a kingly gesture before motioning to Thomas to accompany him. Cane thumping, he moved away from Sophia without a backward glance, leaving her standing alone and rigid on the platform.
Though his first instinct was to go to her, Jack did not. He turned and eyed the children, still seated so very politely. They looked like little robots, he thought again.
Glancing at Phillip, who’d refocused his attention on Sophia’s friend, Jack shrugged and made his way toward the group of kids he judged would be around the right age as the Bartlett boy. He hadn’t gotten within two feet of them before one of the stern-faced attendants stood and placed himself between Jack and the class.
“Can I help you?” the man asked, planting his legs in an aggressive stance and crossing his arms.
“What?” Jack pretended bewilderment. “I just wanted to greet the youngsters. I love children.”
“Why?”
The question dumbfounded him, so he decided to answer in kind. “Why what?”
“Why do you want to talk to the little ones?”
Jack shrugged. “Do I have to have a reason? Is such a thing not allowed? I’m new here, so if there’s some rule I don’t know about, please fill me in.”
For the first time since confronting Jack, the other man appeared uncertain. Then, as he considered, the calm certainty reaffirmed itself in his face. “Their experiences are carefully controlled,” he said slowly. “We take pride in ensuring our offspring are raised properly. I’m afraid I can’t allow you to upset that.”
“Wow.” The word slipped out, but once it had, Jack was glad. “That’s really rigid.”
“Maybe it is.” The man’s shrug made it clear he didn’t care what Jack thought. “But I’m going to have to ask you to move away.”
Aware he had no choice, especially since he couldn’t afford to make a scene, Jack nodded and carefully made his way back to Phillip. His roommate no longer mooned after Sophia’s friend; instead he’d fixated all his attention on the smokers and grills.
“Man, smell that?” Phillip sniffed the air in appreciation. “I’m craving some ribs. How about you?”
“I could eat,” Jack admitted. But he found himself scanning the crowd for Sophia. Since he didn’t see her, he figured she must have been hustled off to do something with the people who would soon be her new family group.
Glancing once more at the children, he finally gave up and followed Phillip over to one of the long tables, where food had been set out and lines were already forming. He’d scarf down some food and then try to find her. He had a hunch she might need a pep talk after what had just occurred.
Chapter 8
After Ezekiel’s kiss and subsequent dismissal, Sophia knew she couldn’t get away quickly enough. She suspected she might lose her fragile grip on self-control and explode if she had to endure one more thing, so she hurried down from the stage and pushed her way through the crowd. She moved fast, having picked up her long skirt in one hand so she wouldn’t trip and add injury to insult.
While she wasn’t sure where she was going—anywhere but here—she knew she didn’t want to talk to anyone. Including Jack. Not yet, at least.
At first, she thought she might head home and lock herself in her bedroom for a good cry. But instead she found herself near the edge of the compound, near the fence that separated their space from the untamed forest.
Glad Jack had reminded her of this place, she stopped and leaned on the rough-hewn timber. It had been far too long since she’d come here. Maybe she could regain some of the peace and joy the woods had brought her when she’d been younger.
Hitching up her dress, she climbed up to sit on the top rail. When she and her friends had escaped, as they’d called it, they’d all spoken in whispers about the possibility that there were cameras. That would mean their every move had been noted and recorded. But nothing had ever been found.
Glancing back toward the compound, she could see the smoke plumes from the barbecue grills and smokers. Everyone still gathered, celebrating. No
one would notice if she disappeared for a little while.
Not even, she thought with a crushing sense of disappointment, Jack.
After she managed to climb over the fence without tripping on the hem of her long dress, she stood on the other side, feeling slightly foolish. Nothing had changed. Had she really expected it to? Since she’d never truly known freedom, she had no idea what it might feel like.
Still lifting the edge of her skirt with one hand, she took a deep breath and walked into the forest. She had no destination in mind. She just wanted to walk until she stopped hurting. Of course, the way she felt right now, she’d have to walk for days and weeks and months.
Careful to take note of her route, she continued into the forest. Once, she thought there might have been a path here, but undergrowth had reclaimed it.
She couldn’t stop thinking about the flat assessment in Ezekiel’s lizard-like eyes when he’d looked at her. Right then, she’d known that, to him, she wasn’t a person, or even a woman, but a possession. A thing. His to do with as he pleased.
And she’d realized she’d rather be dead.
Shaken to the core, she wanted no part of his world. Not in three weeks’ time, not ever. She didn’t know what she was going to do or where she would go, but she wouldn’t be marrying Ezekiel.
She knew she’d need to make a plan.
“Hey.” Jack’s voice, from a short distance behind her. She spun around. He’d found her. But how? How had he known where she’d go?
Though her heartbeat thundered in her ears, she worked hard to keep her face expressionless.
“Did you get a chance to eat?” Jack asked when he reached her.
“No. I wasn’t hungry.”
“I didn’t think so.” Holding out a paper-wrapped plate, he steered her to a fallen tree trunk. “Sit. I brought you some brisket.”
“Oh. That’s usually one of my favorites, but I’m not sure I can—”
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