A Town That Wasn't Home
The morning air carried the scent of fresh bread and damp earth as Emma and Ruby—now Anna and James—stepped onto the bustling streets of the small town. The town was quiet compared to the city Ruby had left behind, but that didn't make Emma feel any safer. If anything, the unfamiliarity of it all made her stomach twist with unease.
She clutched the basket in her hands tighter, her fingers curling around the worn handle. They had spent their last few coins on food—just enough to last a few days. But soon, they would need work.
Ruby walked beside her, his shoulders tense, his eyes scanning their surroundings. He was no longer the confident, charming son of a wealthy family. He was just another man, looking for a way to survive.
Emma tugged his sleeve. "We need to find somewhere to stay," she murmured.
He nodded. "And work."
A part of her wished they could just keep running, disappearing deeper into the countryside where no one could find them. But that wasn't realistic. They needed a place to rest. To gather their strength.
She just prayed they wouldn't be found before then.
---
A Job, A Risk
They stopped by a small inn on the edge of town. It wasn't much—a weathered sign hanging over the door, a few carriages lined up outside. It smelled of smoke and ale, the scent wafting through the open windows.
Emma hesitated. "Do you think they're hiring?"
"Only one way to find out," Ruby said, pushing open the door.
Inside, the inn was modest but clean. A few men sat at a table in the corner, their laughter low and rough. A woman in a faded apron stood behind the counter, wiping down a mug.
She looked up as they entered, her sharp gaze scanning them.
"You looking for a room or a drink?" she asked, her voice gruff.
"Neither," Ruby said. "We're looking for work."
The woman snorted. "You don't look like laborers."
Emma swallowed, stepping forward. "I can clean. Cook, too."
The woman raised an eyebrow. "And him?"
Ruby hesitated. "I'll do whatever's needed."
The woman studied them for a long moment before sighing. "We could use an extra pair of hands in the kitchen. You—" she pointed at Emma "—can start now."
Emma's breath caught. "And him?"
The woman shrugged. "I'll talk to the innkeeper. See if there's work for a man who looks like he's never lifted a shovel in his life."
Emma glanced at Ruby, worry flickering in her eyes. But he gave her a small nod.
It was a start.
---
Secrets in the Kitchen
The kitchen was warm, the scent of bread and roasting meat filling the air. Emma rolled up her sleeves, focusing on scrubbing the dishes stacked in the sink. She had worked in a wealthy home before, but this was different. There were no delicate china plates, no polished silverware. Just simple wooden bowls and heavy pots, the kind that fed workers, not aristocrats.
The cook, a burly man with a thick mustache, grumbled as he chopped onions. "You work fast. That's good."
Emma kept her head down. "Thank you."
He snorted. "You got a husband?"
Her hands faltered on the plate she was washing. "Yes," she said softly.
"Good," he muttered. "Lot of girls round here end up with trouble when they ain't got one."
Emma's stomach twisted.
She glanced at the door, wondering if Ruby had found work yet.
She hated being apart from him. Even for a moment.
Because every second away from him was another second that someone might recognize him.
Might take him from her.
---
A Dangerous Encounter
Hours passed, and the sun dipped lower in the sky. By the time Emma finished her shift, her arms ached from scrubbing, her back sore from bending over the heavy pots. But it was honest work.
She stepped outside the inn, searching for Ruby.
And then she saw him.
Standing near the town square, speaking to a man.
A man she recognized.
Her blood ran cold.
It was one of his family's guards.
Panic surged through her veins. She clenched her fists, ready to run, but then—
Ruby laughed.
A casual, easy laugh. As if he were speaking to an old friend, not someone who had been sent to drag him back home.
Emma's heart pounded as she took a step closer, straining to hear.
"James, you said?" the man asked, his voice low and suspicious.
Ruby nodded. "James Carter. Just passing through with my wife."
The man frowned. "You look familiar."
Ruby shrugged. "I get that sometimes."
Emma could barely breathe.
For a moment, she was sure the man would call him out. Would drag him away.
But then—
The man grunted. "Well, if you're looking for work, the blacksmith might need an extra hand."
Ruby nodded. "I appreciate it."
Emma didn't wait. She rushed forward, gripping Ruby's arm.
"James, we should go," she said, forcing a smile.
He nodded quickly, guiding her away.
They didn't speak until they reached the edge of town.
Then Emma turned to him, her voice shaking.
"He knew you."
Ruby exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "No. He thought he did."
Emma swallowed hard. "This is too risky."
Ruby cupped her face gently. "Emma, we have no choice."
Her throat tightened.
She knew he was right.
But that didn't make the fear any easier to bear.
---
A Love Worth Risking Everything
That night, they lay in the small attic room the innkeeper had given them. It wasn't much—a straw mattress, a thin blanket—but it was a roof.
Emma curled against Ruby's chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart.
"Are you scared?" she whispered.
He hesitated before answering. "Yes."
She looked up at him, surprised by his honesty.
"But I'm more scared of losing you," he continued.
Tears burned behind her eyes.
"Ruby..."
He kissed her forehead. "We'll find a way, Emma. No matter what it takes."
She wanted to believe that.
She needed to believe that.
Because if she didn't—
Then what was left for them?
Nothing but a life of running.
And she wasn't sure how long they could keep that up.