Instead of a smaller cabin like the rest of the residents had, the preacher’s home was a three-bedroom house which sat back away from everything in their town. Rhi dragged her feet as she walked through the trees. Rhi couldn’t stop and enjoy the greenery. She wasn’t allowed to commune with nature, and that was the one thing that had killed her soul soon after being taken from her home. A guard was two steps behind, always accompanying Rhi so she wouldn’t stray from the path.
This wasn’t the first time she and James had been together for what the preacher deemed their courtship. They had been meeting three days a week for several weeks. Rhi found it ridiculous. She might have been thirteen when she was thrust into this new life, but she never forgot what it was like out in the real world. Where families sat down to dinner together. Where kids were allowed to play in the streets or visit each other’s homes and watch TV or play video games. Where they rode the bus together to school and ate lunch together. Where boys and girls laughed and flirted with one another. She would never forget, because one day, she would be back in that real world.
One day needed to come sooner rather than later because the preacher had promised James he could take Rhi as his wife. It didn’t matter that Rhi couldn’t stand James. It didn’t matter that she flinched any time he tried to hold her hand. If the man tried to kiss her, she’d probably vomit from repulsion. She didn’t find him attractive in the least. In fact, she found no redeeming qualities in him whatsoever. Why couldn’t one of the younger men have sought her out? Oh, because she “needed a firm hand.” Rhi needed a man who could keep her in line. Yes, that’s what the preacher had told her the first time he’d summoned her to his home and informed her of James’s intentions to marry her. Rhi had proven his point when she laughed and said she refused to marry James or anyone else in their town. It was one of the few times she had spoken in the last few years.
Sure, there were some younger men who were nice enough to look at, but even they weren’t nice enough for Rhi to give up on her dream of one day escaping their little community. The men weren’t allowed to take a wife unless they were over thirty. Rhi tried not to imagine what those younger men did to relieve their sexual tension. She couldn’t imagine masturbating in a cabin with two or three other men sleeping only feet away. They probably took care of business in the shower like she did.
When she arrived at the preacher’s home, he and James were waiting for her outside. She knew today would be one of those times she was allowed to accompany James into town. The first time had been a shock to her system. Rhi would never forget it.
“Anna, today you are going to accompany James to town for supplies. This will allow you both a bit of privacy. I have arranged a set of clothes for you to wear on your trip so you will blend in with the outsiders. You are not to speak to anyone other than James. You will represent our town with the same meekness I have attempted to instill in you over these last ten years. If you disobey, you won’t like the consequences. Am I understood?
Rhi nodded. The preacher sighed, but he didn’t chastise her for not vocalizing her words. She hadn’t spoken to anyone since the day she argued about marrying James. When the women joined the preacher in hymns, Rhi simply moved her mouth, pretending to sing along. Music, which had once been a huge part of her life, held no joy when the message was praising a god she didn’t believe in.
“Go inside and get changed. The clothes are in the yellow bedroom. You have two minutes.”
Rhi was excited at the prospect of leaving their little town, even if it was with James. It had been ten years since she’d been in the outside world, and she wanted to see how much it had changed. What she had missed out on. What she had to look forward to one day. She hurried inside and switched out the drab cotton pants and top for a dress that looked like something her grandmother would have worn. Did the preacher think this would make her stand out any less? When she walked back outside, both men eyed her appreciatively. As much as the man spoke against sins of the flesh, he didn’t school the lust in his eyes when he raked them down her bare legs.
“Where are the pantyhose? It’s too cold for you to go without them.”
Rhi just stared at him, refusing to answer. Grabbing her by the arm, the preacher dragged her back inside. “Put the stockings on, Anna, or you’ll find yourself in solitary for a month.”
That didn’t sound so bad to her. When she was confined to the square concrete room, she didn’t have to clean all the dishes or have her “dates” with James. On the other hand, she wanted to go into town. She grabbed the offending garment off the bed, kicked off her shoes, and sat down on the floor with her back to the preacher. She hadn’t worn stockings since she was little, and as soon as she pulled them up her legs, she cringed at the way they clung to her. Rhi hated the way the nylon rubbed against the hair on her legs. That was another thing she hated about where she lived. Women weren’t allowed to shave. The preacher was probably afraid someone would use the razor to slash their wrists.
Rhi shoved her feet back into her shoes and pushed past the man to head back outside. He grabbed her wrist, stopping her from getting far. “I’m warning you now, Anna. You make one move while on the outside, and you’ll regret it.” Rhi faked a smile and nodded all while contemplating his murder. No, she wouldn’t ever actually kill someone, but a girl could fantasize. In her heart, she knew what the preacher and his little community stood for was wrong, but she was one against many. She continued to stare at him innocently, and finally, he loosened his grip. When she walked back toward the front door, the preacher’s wife, Nadine, was standing at the kitchen entry, arms crossed over her chest. Lines creased Nadine’s forehead, making her look older than she likely was. Her gray hair was plaited, and the braid hung over her skinny shoulder.
Ignoring the scathing look, Rhi continued on outside where James was waiting. His eyes darted to Rhi’s legs, then he schooled his features. Probably because the preacher was right behind her. “James, you know the rules. I expect you back within three hours.”
“Yes, Brother Josiah. Thank you for this opportunity. I won’t betray your trust. This way, Anna.”
Rhi ignored his offered arm and walked ahead of James to the truck. He rushed to open the door for her, and when he attempted to help her climb inside, she turned and frowned at him. Polite or not, she didn’t want him touching her any more than he already did. Sitting in Josiah’s living room, side-by-side on the sofa while the preacher and his wife watched over them was more than she could stomach. Whenever James reached for her hand, Rhi put both of them under her legs, knowing James wouldn’t dare touch her there. Not with their chaperones watching over them. Nadine never spoke during their “dates,” but her eyes spoke volumes. She didn’t approve of Rhi on a personal level. She had been vocal on more than one occasion regarding Rhi’s insolent behavior, but that was only when her husband wasn’t around.
Rhi watched out the side window as James drove them off the property. “Oh, I almost forgot.” He stopped the truck and held out a black cloth. “You are to be blindfolded during the drive as a precaution.”
Rhi shouldn’t have been surprised because she knew their little community was a secret from outsiders. She grabbed the proffered cloth and tied it around her head. It wasn’t like she wanted to find her way back, but then she realized what this was about. They didn’t want her able to find her way out. When music filled the cab of the truck, it startled Rhi. It had been so long since she’d heard secular music, and her soul mended just a fraction.