Broken Branch Read Free Page B

had been hurt this time. She tried not to think about the possibility that the whispers were true and that God was displeased with them all.

6
    The last two storms gave rise to the inevitable. People began to talk of leaving. It wasn’t discussed in front of Otto or James or a few other men, like Earl Talbot and Franklin Meyers, but the women who washed clothes at the creek discussed it openly enough. After a quick glance around to make sure Rachel, Otto’s wife, wasn’t with them, Trudy joined in enthusiastically. She even volunteered that she’d consider leaving without James, which caused the other women to look at her sternly as if she’d just committed some unforgivable sin. After that, they worked in silence, dipping their husbands’ work shirts in the cold water and scrubbing them with rocks until the darkest stains were almost gone, though no amount of scrubbing, Trudy realized, would ever remove them completely.
    She kept one eye on Rodney as she worked. Since the attacks started, she tried to never let him out of her sight and that meant bringing him along with her when she worked. The other women questioned her about it at first, but eventually became accustomed to his presence. Rodney was mouse-quiet and usually played off to the side by himself, never disturbing any of them. In fact, the only time his presence seemed to cause any of the women any consternation was when one of them tried to engage him in conversation. He was nearly eight, an age when a child was expected to respond. When he didn’t, the women took it for a slowness, or worse, a kind of calculated rudeness. Trudy understood it was neither. Rodney was quiet and different, but he was still only a boy, and he had plenty of time to grow up. He clung to her fiercely, and the attacks only made this worse. The other women just didn’t understand, she thought.
    Since bringing him along, she’d only had to leave twice when she saw the signs of an attack coming. Both times, she managed to get him away from the other women in time. When she returned, she told them he went to play with some of the other children. No one seemed suspicious so far, and she hoped her luck would hold out.
    It was only as she was packing up her basket at the end of the day that Trudy saw Rachel a few yards down from them. The drooping branches of a willow tree had concealed her from the other women as they’d talked, and Trudy knew she’d be all too eager to report to Otto exactly what the women had said.
    She hated Rachel for many reasons, both petty and worthwhile. She hated her for being beautiful, for always looking polished and attractive, even after having two children, even after a long day’s work in the fields. She hated her for her voice, which always sounded sweet and made men turn their heads away from their tasks to see her. She hated her because their eyes always lingered, taking in her femininity, which seemed to pour off her in waves. But most of all, Trudy hated Rachel because of her attitude. Her smugness, and the delight she seemed to take in the misery of others.
    Yes, she would certainly report all of it to Otto.
    Let her,
Trudy thought, but the sentiment sounded more confident than she genuinely felt.

7
    Two days later, Otto called an emergency meeting and everyone gathered at the oak tree. It was like church except James wasn’t holding his guitar and instead of beaming at them all as they gathered, Otto frowned deeply. He seemed disturbed by whatever he was about to tell them.
    Trudy clenched her fists and hoped for the best.
    He’d spoken for less than a minute when she realized they were getting the worst.
    â€œIt’s come to my attention that many of you are thinking of leaving.” He paused, wincing, shaking his head. It seemed this knowledge hurt him deeply. The congregation murmured, feigning surprise, pretending that they hadn’t just hours before spoken in whispers of the very thing