Chapter IV

They woke with a start, the sunrise seeping through lace curtains and spilling onto the bed. 'Shit,' hissed Malachi, throwing aside the quilts. They staggered around the room, grabbing articles of clothing and throwing them on. They rushed out of Gatlin and back towards the barn only to be sidestepped by Rachel. Her eyes judged them, 'Isaac wants to see you both. Now.'

In the church, she stumbled for words, trying to piece together an excuse for their absence, Malachi interjecting with that He had asked of them a night of meditation and prayer. Isaac was not fully convinced, but was held off at the moment. He had eyes always watching, making it nearly impossible for them to steal a moment for themselves.

A Sunday afternoon when Isaac's sermon was finished, Rosalyn walked towards their makeshift town on the outskirts to gather linen for washing. A hand clasped onto her forearm and she was pulled behind the barn wall. Malachi's lips pressed hungrily onto hers; she finally twisted away, breathless and smiling. 'Malachi,' she whispered. 'We cannot do this here. If Isaac were to see us—'

'Impossible,' he replied, grabbing her arms and wrapping them around his neck. 'He hasn't the foggiest idea what is going on between us. We're too cautious.'

'This is careful?' She pulled away. 'It's midday!'

He jammed his fists into his pockets. 'I hate this,' he glanced over at her. 'Let's run away, Rosalyn.'

'I couldn't leave the children,' she balked.

'Let's take them with us!'

She sighed, 'Malachi—'

His eyes narrowed at her. 'You were so passionate about that thought not even a month ago. What has changed?'

'It's more complicated. You speak of us being cautious, well we were not cautious enough.' Her voice dropped, 'I'm pregnant.'

He fell back a step, his brow raised. 'Really? Are you positive?'

She nodded her heard, her face gaunt. She had torn through the town's only convenient shop left, digging through the overturned aisles looking for pregnancy tests. She had taken all six she had found, all positive. She prayed for her menstrual cycle; it was a week late. 'I do not even have an assigned Beloved. The ceremony is not for another month! What if I'm showing by then?'

'We have to leave.' He pressed closer. 'I want this,' he laid his palm onto her stomach. 'But I don't want this life for my child.'

'But…where will we go?'

'I have family in Salt Lake.'

'And they'll what?'

'They'll help us! I'll get a job, any shit job. We'll save every cent. We'll make it,' he grabbed her hands and held them in his own. 'Don't you think we can?'

Her mouth slacked, her mind racing, 'Yes. Yes we can do it, but is it—'

'We will wait, let Isaac lax his guard. I'm going to raid the town, comb through everything. There has to be cash stashed in some of these house. We'll lay low,' she nodded, her dark curls bobbing. 'We'll be fine. We'll get out of here. I spotted a jeep outside the Patterson's old home. We can siphon gas from the remaining vehicles in Gatlin.' He lifted her chin, his eyes locked onto hers. 'I promise you'll get out of here.'