Philemon suddenly grabbed her arm, squeezing it tightly, causing Madeline to flinch. "Now, I will teach you a lesson you will never forget," he declared.
Madeline frowned and, just as Philemon was about to grab her with his other hand, she slapped him with her free hand and then spat, "If you do not leave here, I promise to hurt you even more."
Anger consumed Philemon, and he forcibly dragged her. "You dare slap me?" he seethed, eyes flashing with a different anger that surprised her.
Madeline struggled to shove his hand off, but he was too strong. When did this lanky man become so powerful? "Let me go!" she cursed.
Philemon paid no heed to her pleas and continued dragging her until they were out of sight from the cottage. Not even her screams alerted her parents; perhaps they hadn't heard her.
"Let me go," Madeline warned, her voice trying to maintain its earlier confidence even as fear began to wash over her.
