Chapter 6

"Do you want to escape here for a while?" Grace asked the crying Bethy. Bethy looks up to Grace with wide eyes, surprised by what she had suggested. Grace just smiled at her and assured her with a nod. Bethy wiped her tears away from her rosy cheeks. She sniffs and calmed herself from crying.

"Is it possible?" Bethy inquired, her voice unsure. Grace laughed and began to arrange the books Bethy had read.

"Your parents are going to town," she replied, smirking. Bethy rushes to the bathroom and, once there, changes into her disguise clothes. Grace burst out laughing as soon as she saw Bethy.

Bethy was dressed in brown denim overalls with a brown sweater underneath. Of course, the overalls appear to be far too large for her! As a result, Grace burst out laughing. Bethy pouted, but realizes that she needs to be unrecognizable, so it's fine with her.

Grace looked in Bethy's closet for a brown floppy hat, but she couldn't find one, so she went to her room and let Bethy borrow hers. Bethy stared at her eyes as she placed it on her head and caressed her cheeks.

"Remember to come back at five," she said. Bethy nodded and gently stroked Grace's hands that's caressing her cheeks.

"I'll bring my phone... in case my parents arrive earlier," Bethy proposed. Grace agreed to her suggestions and reminded her of what she needed to do while wandering around the village.

"Oh! If you're in a tight situation, you should look for my friend Eleanor, who basically lives in her bakery store," Grace advised. Bethy smiled and nodded at her.

Grace eventually let Bethy out through the back door, where no one could see her, not even passersby. Grace's gaze followed Bethy until she was no longer visible. Bethy ran as fast as she could because she didn't want to be seen by anyone, especially her parents! She took the route she usually takes. This isn't something new for Bethy; she's done it before, escaping with Grace's help and exploring the village. Grace began assisting her escape when she was ten years old and has continued to do so to this day.

Bethy smiled as soon as she saw the bustling villagers, and she lowered her hat as she noticed everyone staring at her with interest. She barely gets away from the busy street, but she makes it! Nobody knew who she was, which made her happy.

She noticed the shops, one of which is Eleanor's. She walks gleefully to the bakery shop, but she comes to a halt when she notices a man hopping off his horse. Bethy takes cover in the goods store and examines the man. The man is dressed in black cargo pants, a maroon trench coat, and a white shirt. Bethy notices the man's features, and he is quite attractive!

Bethy tries hard to make herself be able to hear the conversation of Eleanor and the man.

"The usual?" Eleanor inquired of Antonio, referring to the bread he usually receives. Antonio nodded. Eleanor simply grinned as he thanked her for giving him the items he had purchased. Eventually, Antonio starts a brief conversation, and it is clear from their laughter that they are having a good time.

Harriet walks in with a scowl. Their dining room table made a loud noise as she was cleaning it. Eleanor and Antonio both cast worried glances in her general direction.

She was asked by her worried sister Eleanor, "Are you okay?" She gave a brief nod before starting to work.

She's not upset that her sister is having fun with a man, she just thinks it's unfair that she was forced to stop spending time with Conrad, when Eleanor is essentially doing the same thing she did last week... Having a good time. Eleanor turned her head to face Antonio, and even though he was outside their store, she stretched her arms to give him a gentle smack on the shoulder. Antonio acted in pain while laughing.

"You shouldn't have told Conrad to stop spending time with Harriet!" Eleanor grumbled. Antonio apologized and stated that he would speak with Harriet because he had noticed Harriet giving him the cold shoulder. He wasn't close enough to Harriet, but he is to Eleanor. He is grateful that Eleanor is approachable and kind; she has made a significant impact on him while living in an unknown village; therefore, he does not want Eleanor to ignore him... Eleanor, on the other hand, will not do what he thinks.

Bethy grew tired of watching them. She even got mosquito bites while gossiping! She slaps the mosquitoes away from her hands, as her hands are the only part of her body where mosquitoes can bite, and she is dressed modestly.

She adjusts her hat once more as she walks down the street. Eleanor became aware of her and her gaze followed her wherever she went. Antonio paused speaking when he noticed Eleanor's gaze was not on him, he also followed Eleanor's gaze.

"Who is she?" Antonio inquired. Eleanor squints her eyes and blinks a lot. She then averts her gaze and looks up at Antonio.

"Bethy," Eleanor said, slowly tilting her head.

"Where are her grandparents?" he inquired once more. This time, he's interested in Bethy. He's curious about her grandparents because he didn't see them at their welcome party. Eleanor was about to speak when she was interrupted by Harriet, who is now intrigued by their conversation.

"They died a long time ago," Harriet said in response. Eleanor casts a distant glance at Bethy.

"Oh boy, she cried a river," Eleanor said.

"How so?" Harriet and Eleanor both look at him in disbelief.

"Have you had the experience of losing someone you loved?" Harriet inquired.

"Of course I do," he defended.

"As a result, you must know how Bethy felt the day she learned about her grandparents," Harriet explained.

"Bethy cried hard that week, she's a poised woman, but five years ago all the village could hear were her cries and pain," Eleanor said.

"Of course, her parents tried to console her! They bought her her favorite bread, a pet she had wanted for a long time, and even a dress!" Harriet added.

"But she ignored it all, and she kept herself in her room...for two months—-what that's Grace told me," Eleanor said.

Harriet looked at Antonio, who was now perplexed. She wonders what he's thinking and now she got this gut feeling. She exclaimed loudly.

"Do you like Bethy?" Her tone betrays her. Antonio laughed, as did Eleanor. Eleanor had also asked Antonio the same question, so she finds it amusing that even her sister suspects Antonio has feelings for Bethy.

"I don't," he stated emphatically. Harriet didn't believe him and stopped cleaning the table to approach Antonio. Eleanor simply observes them.

"Oh boy... Even if I don't like Bethy, I'm sure she's not the type to like a man like you," Harriet squinted. Eleanor laughs at Harriet for being so cruel to Antonio, knowing why her sister is being so cruel to him. Harriet left Antonio, and he is dumbfounded!

Harriet declared, "I'm going to take a nap!" and stormed to her room.

Eleanor continued to laugh and shake her head slowly, clapping her hands as she did so.

"Why is she being so cruel to me?" Antonio wondered.

"That's what you get for controlling Conrad," Eleanor replied, laughing once more. She came to a halt when she noticed Antonio sulking.

"Oh... I'm sorry about that. She's like that when she's mad," she explained, and Antonio smiled and thanked her for her kind words. He quickly left to explore the mountains near the village. He even invited Eleanor to accompany him, but she declined, stating that she needed to work.

His horse started to walk in a fast pace while he's riding it. After five minutes, he saw Bethy walking in the middle of his path. Bethy seems to not noticed or heard the galloping of his horse, she continues to walk... Not caring about her surroundings. When Bethy was far enough, he began to let his horse walk slowly. He felt bad that if Bethy notice him she would immediately thought that he's a stalker!

When Bethy's phone rang, she hurriedly answered it and within a few seconds, she was in utter panic! She circles around, unsure of what to do. Antonio became aware of her predicament and commandeered his horse to approach Bethy.

When he comes to a complete stop, Bethy looks up to him. Bethy was still on the phone with someone, but she was taking her time identifying the man.

Antonio dismounted from his horse.

"Ms. Collins..." he stammered. "I'm hoping you're familiar with me?" he inquired cautiously. Bethy gave a nod.

"Do you require assistance?"

Bethy nodded once more.

"I have to get home as soon as possible." Even when she's in a panic, she maintains her poise. She appears and sounds so graceful while requesting assistance!

"All right, then, let me take you home."

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