Chapter One

She ran with all her might, leaping over logs, and dodging needy branches. Her delicate feet sank into the splattering mud with every step. The sky shot forth veins of lightning and offered a threatening roar. The rain began to pour down and slowly washed the mud off the girl’s face and dress, which sheltered her small frame. The mud danced and hopped and climbed until she was covered more with mud than she was water.

The darkness of the woods threatened to imprison her and the coldness of the air surrounded her. Her eyes, though heavy, remained alert and her feet refused to cease. Weakness and fatigue were suddenly her worst enemies and she knew, for the sake of her heart, she would have to take a break soon to rest. She reached a small cabin that seemed very welcoming. The smell of the smoke from the chimney indicated that it was almost dinner time for the strangers.  Her stomach tossed and growled and, though she had well passed the cabin, she decided to retrace her steps back.  

Arriving in the very spot that she had previously been, she looked up at the cabin with indecisiveness. She was not a beggar, though she knew in order to reach her destination, she must have something nutritious. With confident steps, she walked up to the door and gently knocked. No answer.   She hit the door with her small hands once more, this time slightly harder. When a man of about sixty came to the door, she began to feel doubtful.

“What can I do for you, Miss?” asked the man with a cheerful curiosity in his voice.

“I am in a hurry, but wondered if I may…if I may have something to eat?” when the last words slipped out, she felt an overwhelming amount of guilt.  She put her head down and for once discovered just how muddy and disheveled she looked.

            

The man looked in the direction of the house where his wife busied herself with several pots and dished steaming from the aromatic foods they cradled. Turning his focus back to the girl, he smiled and welcomed her into their home.

          

  “What is your name, young lady?”

            

“Rebecca,” she managed to say.

        

"It is a pleasure to meet ya!” he walked over to his wife and said, “This is my wife, Maria, and my name is Clark. We have plenty of food for ya if ya don’t mind hangin’ around a bit longer? My wife makes some really tasty chili; I think you’re really gonna like it! Come, have a seat.” He walked her to the living room and, before she had a chance to sit down, Maria asked Rebecca to come with her. She led the girl to a bedroom and tossed clothes out of her way until she found a dress petite enough to fit the girl.

           

“How old are you, Miss Rebecca?” asked Maria with a smile.

            

“I am eighteen, ma’am.”

            

“My, you look mighty young for your age! Here is a dress; the wash room is just across the hall. Get cleaned up and I’ll knock when dinner is ready,” she said with a motherly softness in her voice.

           

“Thank you,” said Rebecca with wide eyes.