Shorn: Chapter 32

Melda wrung her hands. “Where could she be? We have to find her.”

“We will.” Shorn’s thoughts were racing, trying to figure out where the child might be. “Did she say anything last night before bed?”

“Nothing specific. She was still upset about Moll refusing her friendship bracelet, but I don’t…” She trailed off, looking at Shorn fearfully. “Is that why she left? Did she run away?”

“That does not sound like Lysa,” Shorn replied. “She is a sensible girl.”

“I don’t know. She was pretty hurt. I remember her saying how much she’d like to have a big sister.”

“That still does not mean she would run away.”

She gave Shorn a worried look. “Either she ran away or something took her. I know which one I prefer.”

“The boys are still here?”

“Yes. Kit was coughing. I went in to check on him. That’s when I saw that she was gone.”

“Had her bed been slept in?”

Melda thought for a moment, then nodded. “Is Patience still here?”

“She is.”

Melda leaned again Shorn. “I don’t know what I’ll do if anything happens to her. I should have talked to her last night. I could have helped her see that it’s not her fault.”

An idea occurred to Shorn. “Have you seen Rascal this morning?”

“No, I haven’t.” Some of the tension left her. “He must have gone with her. I don’t know why that makes me feel better, but it does.”

Pol came to the farmhouse door, rubbing his eyes. “What’s going on?”

Melda put her hands on his shoulders. “It’s Lysa. She’s gone. Do you know where she went?”

Pol stopped rubbing his eyes. “Lysa is gone?”

“She left sometime during the night. We think Rascal went with her. Did you see her leave?”

“I didn’t see anything. I was asleep the whole time. Why would she leave?”

“I don’t know, honey.”

“Maybe she’s down at the swimming hole. She likes going there.”

“Run and check, will you?”

“Sure, Mama.” Pol took off, not bothering to put on a shirt or shoes first. This time of year, the kids spent most of their time barefoot. The soles of their feet were like leather.

Kit and Ren emerged next. Ren was dragging her doll, yawning as she walked. Kit’s hair was sticking up crazily.

“Where’s Pol going?”

“He’s looking for your sister.”

Kit looked down at Ren. “She’s right here.”

“Your other sister.”

“Lysa is gone?” Kit looked from Melda to Shorn and back, finally registering their concern. “Where?”

“We don’t know. That’s why we’re looking.”

“I can help. I know all the places she likes to hide.” Like his older brother, Kit took off shoeless and shirtless.

“Up, Mama, up,” Ren cried. She didn’t quite know what was wrong yet, but she knew something was wrong. She buried her face against her mother after Melda picked her up.

Moll came out then. She was fully dressed. The sword was awkwardly tucked into her belt. She looked at Melda and Shorn and frowned.

“Is something wrong?”

“Lysa is missing. She disappeared during the night. Did you hear anything?” Melda asked.

Moll shook her head. “I didn’t hear a thing. Why would she leave?”

Melda looked at Shorn questioningly. Shorn shrugged. She looked back at Moll and made her decision. The words, when she said them, were sharp and accusatory, her fear spilling into them.

“She was hurt. When you refused the bracelet she made.”

A horrified look came onto Moll’s face. “What? No. I never meant…”

Shorn spoke up. “We don’t know for sure that’s why she left.”

But Moll wasn’t listening. She was shaking, her expression dark and troubled. “I shouldn’t have come here. Everything I touch is ruined. I destroy everything. First Mother and Father, and now this. You should have let them take me. I’m no good. I deserve whatever they do to me.”

Melda’s sharpness disappeared instantly, replaced by concern for Moll. She tried to take the young woman into her arms, saying, “Don’t blame yourself. You’ve been through so much. You didn’t know.”

Moll pushed her away. “Yes. I did. I was hurt, and I wanted her to hurt too.” She hit herself on the side of the face with her fist. “I always do this. I hurt anyone near me.”

“Hush, child, that’s not true.” Moll was still trying to push her away, but Melda was a strong woman, her muscles earned by working long days on the farm. She wrapped Melda in a hug and held her tight.

Kit came back. “I didn’t see her anywhere.”

Shorn saw movement and looked to the road. His heart jumped when he saw a familiar, small form running toward them.

“Sorry I’m late. It took longer than I—” Her words were cut off as Melda swept her up and hugged her fiercely, suppressing a sob as she did so. “What’s going on?”

Melda released her from the hug but kept hold of her shoulders. “I’ve been worried to death. Where did you go?”

“I’m sorry, Mama. I meant to get back before everyone got up, but then I couldn’t find it in the dark. I had to wait for it to start getting light. I was glad I had Rascal with me.”

Rascal was by their feet, lying on the ground, looking worn out and sad. It was the same look he got when he wanted some treat he wasn’t allowed to have.

“Couldn’t find what? What are you…” Melda stopped speaking as she realized for the first time what Lysa was carrying.

It was Moll’s bow and quiver of arrows. Lysa walked over and handed them to Moll.

“I didn’t want you go out there by yourself without your bow. I know you’ll need it to keep you safe. That’s why I went and got it last night. I didn’t want you to leave without it.”

Moll took the proffered items, her face twisting. For a long moment she held there, trying to manage the storm inside her.

Suddenly, she threw her arms around Lysa, her face streaming with tears. “I’m so sorry. Yes, of course, I want to be your friend. I can’t think of a better friend to have.”

(If you're interested in reading more of Shorn's story from the time before this current one, go check out Wreckers Gate. It's book one of Immortality and Chaos, the series where we first meet Shorn. I will warn you that he doesn't appear until book 2, though!)