She ran without looking back, her heart pounding in her chest. Tripping, stumbling over tree roots and rocks, she picked herself up countless times and pressed onwards. Her cotton sun dress, once lemon yellow, was now tattered and stained. The garment fell from her shoulders exposing her naked breasts as she ran, and she clutched at the fabric as best she could to protect what little modesty she had left.
Moonlight illuminated her path through the dense bush. She did not know how long she ran for, only that the more she ran the further she was from there. Tears streamed down her dirty face etching pale paths in their wake. Her thick, blonde curls whipped behind her like a bridal veil caught in a breeze.
With her heart about to explode from exertion she spotted a light below her in the distance. She almost screamed from joy, from relief, from exhaustion. Making her way down the grassy slope she misjudged her footing and fell, hitting a jagged rock. With shaking hands she reached down to her outer thigh and felt warm, sticky fluid. Groaning in agony, she picked herself up and continued towards the light.
Stumbling up the dirt path, she took in the sight before her. A double storied home, weather beaten and faded. The large windows above the wrap around porch were lit, and she saw figures moving behind the pale curtains. She prayed they would give her sanctuary. Dragging herself up the stairs, her slim, beaten legs finally gave out and she tumbled on to the decking, unable to go on.
-
Warmth, light, softness. Hushed voices, distant music. Sharp pains, shallow breathing.
Beth's eyes fluttered open and she squinted against the bright sunlight beaming through the white curtains. She glanced around the unfamiliar room, confused and uncertain. She tossed the warm bedcovers back, glancing down at a strange nightgown which came to her knees. She attempted to sit up but was overcome by an intense pain radiating through her ribs. She let out a groan and lowered herself back on to the bed. A dark head momentarily poked around the door frame, and she heard the thumping of running feet and a young voice calling out.
"Father! Father! She's awake! Daniel!"
Beth pulled the covers back over her, tucking them under her chin. Where was she? Who were these people? Was she safe? That last question Beth spent the least amount of time contemplating at that moment. She certainly felt safer than she had in a long time; She was warm, clothed, clean. But she was afraid, and completely unsure of what was in store for her next.
She heard a light knock on the door frame and she turned to see an older gentleman standing there solemnly, a look of concern on his face. The owner of the young voice popped his head in once more and smiled widely at her.
"It's nice to see you awake, miss," the man said. "My name is Victor. This here is Jamie," he gestured to the boy. "How are you feeling?"
Beth, wide eyed and scared, looked back at him without saying a word.
"Are you okay, miss?" the young lad chimed in, stepping in to the room. The man shushed him and gently ushered him back out.
"Go get Daniel, son," he said, turning to the boy. "Ask him to come at once."
Beth heard the pounding of running feet once more, and the banging of a door being swung wide open.
"Daniel will be along in a moment to check on you, miss. Don't you worry about a thing."
Victor stepped out of the door frame and left. Beth shivered and took a deep breath, wincing at the pain in her chest.
A moment later she heard heavy footsteps enter the house. They got louder as they reached the threshold of the room she was in, and she nervously turned her head towards the visitor. She was surprised to see a handsome man filling the doorway. He looked to be in his mid thirties. His short cropped dark hair, low thick eyebrows, and broad stubbled jaw framed a serious expression.
"May I come in?" he asked gently. Beth nodded, her hands still gripping the covers under her chin.
"My name is Daniel," the man explained as her pulled a wooden chair up next to her bed. He sat down and placed his hands on the knees of his dark woollen trousers. The sleeves of his creased white shirt were rolled to the elbows, leaving his tanned, muscular forearms exposed. "My father, my brother, and I have been caring for you." He glanced briefly at an old, worn watch on his left wrist and reached towards her clenched hand. "May I?" he asked, holding his large hand out, palm up.
Beth hesitated, casting her eyes up to look at his face. Looking in to his eyes, she didn't feel threatened or afraid. She didn't sense danger. She released the covers and placed her small, pale hand in his. Daniel held her wrist gently between his fingers and, studying his watch, took her pulse. He reached over and placed his hand gently on her forehead.
"We found you on the porch three nights ago," Daniel began, sitting back in the chair. Beth withdrew her arm back under the warm covers. "I'm glad you've finally woken up. You've obviously been through a lot." Beth remained silent. She cast her eyes down over the blankets, studying the delicate white embroidery on the crisp white fabric. Daniel stood up and returned the chair to the corner of the room. "Get some rest. I'll be back later to check your wounds."
-
Beth awoke as Daniel place a bowl of water on the table next to her bed. She grasped at the blankets and pulled them tightly over her once more. Placing the chair in the same spot as before, Daniel sat next to her, a soft, kind expression showing on his face.
"I won't hurt you," he said. Beth didn't know what to believe, but she relaxed her grip. "I need to check the wound on your thigh," he said. "I stitched it, but it will need constant attention to avoid infection."
Her mind flashed back to that night. She remembered running, falling, pain. Daniel reached for the blankets, attempting to access the wound, but Beth held tight and squealed in distress.
"It needs to be washed and redressed, miss," Daniel pleaded with her. "You're in my care now. Please let me help you."
With tears in her eyes, she looked up in to his face. She only saw patience and kindness. She nodded. Daniel took the top of the blanket in his hands and slowly drew it down from her body to reveal her nightdress. He carefully lifted the hem of the gown to the top of her lily white thigh. Beth closed her eyes, embarrassed. A solitary tear escaped her clenched eyelids.
Daniel's skillful hands carefully unwrapped the bandage from her leg. He reached in to the bowl of water and retrieved a cloth, squeezing the excess water from it. He gently pressed it to the wound, tenderly wiping it around the eight neat stitches he'd placed high on her thigh.
"It's looking great," he murmured to himself. "Coming along nicely."
Beth opened her eyes and glanced down at her legs. She gasped. A deep purple and red bruise covered her thigh from knee to hip, and she had grazes and welts on her knees and shins. She barely recognised them as her own legs.
"It's mostly superficial," Daniel said, noting her shock. "You're healing really well. Don't worry about what it looks like now. In a week or two it will all be faded."
He carefully wrapped a fresh bandage around her thigh, lowered her gown, and placed the covers back over her. He looked at her; The thick halo of golden curls splayed across the pillow; Her brown eyes sad and hooded; The downturn of her sweet rose bud mouth. His heart broke for her. He wondered what on Earth this woman had gone through. A tear silently slid down her cheek. He reached over and took her hand in his, squeezing it gently.
"You're safe now."
-
