<em>“The usual?”</em><br/><br/>Evangeline fought to keep her carefully composed expression of Casual friendliness as Daniels deep tenor embraced her. Like her, he kept his tone casual, polite, businesslike. His gaze, however, revealed all too well the depth of his love for her.<br/><br/>He was very handsome, classically so. Tall, lean, and muscular, with dark hair and piercing blue eyes that made her melt from within.<br/><br/>Her cheeks flushed a lovely rose as warmth washed over her, flooded with love and excitement. Swallowing the hard lump in her throat, she replied,<em> “Yes, please.” </em><br/><br/>Setting her basket on the wooden counter, Evangeline dug into her coin pouch, and placed three large coins on the scratched and faded surface as Daniel moved to the back of the shop to pick up her order: two roasts, a pound of cubed beef, and two pounds of ground chuck.<br/><br/>Daniel returned shortly, her meat, as always impeccably wrapped in parchment paper and piled neatly. This time, also, like many before, there was a small piece of rolled up parchment tucked neatly beneath the twine. Her heart raced with anticipation as she imagined opening it when she left the shop.<br/><br/><em>“Pleasure doing business with you, miss.” </em>Daniel said, gazing intently at her, his large, strong grip briefly encompassing Evangeline’s small, delicate hands, causing her pulse to race.<br/><br/><em>“The pleasure was all mine,”</em>Evangeline briefly granting him her illuminating smile before picking up her basket and exiting the shop, leaving her heart behind with Daniel as she went. Soon, she thought as she began her journey home, soon.<br/><br/>When she felt it was safe and away from prying eyes, Evangeline opened the small slip of paper. It was not a long message at all. In fact, it was only one word long, but it was enough to shake her to the core and make her spirits soar.<br/><br/><em>Tonight...</em><br/><br/>.....................<br/><br/>Evangeline waited anxiously her bedroom window as she awaited Daniel’s arrival. Everything- it wasn’t much- that she would be bringing with her was stored neatly in a corner of the shed. She had slowly started packing weeks ago- her finest dresses and boots, what little jewelry she had inherited from her mother, silver pieces that could be melted or traded in for money- all of it fit neatly in two large trunks which right about now, Daniel should be loading into the wagon.<br/><br/>The day had passed excruciatingly slowly after she had gotten her note. She tried to read, but was too excited to focus. Instead, she primped and reprimped until she could find now flaws in her appearance and all that was left was to wait.<br/><br/><em>“Psst! Evie!” </em><br/><br/>Evangeline’s heart soared at the familiar sound of Daniel’s voice. This was it- it was truly happening. She saw his arms reach through her open window to help her out, and she stepped up and over the windowsill with the utmost confidence in him. Immediately he wrapped his arms around her and she melted into his warm muscular embrace.<br/><br/>Being much taller than Evangeline, Daniel had to bend slightly forward to kiss her, his love unbridled and fervent in the secrecy of the nights shadows. He allowed only one beautiful, enticing moment before straightening himself up and beckoning her forward, leading her by the hand.<br/><br/>It was a ten minute walk from the main house to the gates at the edge of the estate where he had the wagon packed and waiting.<br/><br/>The moments spent walking to their destination were silent but filled with unspoken love and anticipation, made prevalent by her gently pressing against his side, their fingertips intermingling their rushed, excited breathing. Evangeline could feel her whole body burning with love and excitement... and then suddenly nothing.<br/><br/>With a sudden jolt and gasp of surprise, Daniel was ripped from her arms and was thrown somewhere off in the distance. The shadows of the night, which had just earlier cocooned them with warmth and safety, suddenly left her cold and wracked with fear.<br/><br/>She did not hear Daniel utter a word, there were no thuds in the near suggesting he had simply lost his footing and fallen over, no reassuring words from her love. She knew her fate already. He had come for her and there was no escaping. There would be no one to come to her rescue- the other villagers, her father even, would not fight for her. As far as she knew Daniel was already dead, for merely even trying to whisk away, just for being associated with her.<br/><br/>Fearful and helpless, Evangeline did the only thing she could- threw her beautiful head back, her long golden curls cascading down her back and howled at what she had lost and what was yet to come...<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>