Chapter 110

Henry had become her pillar of strength, the one she clung to with gritted teeth and unwavering determination. She knew that as long as she held on until Henry returned, everything would get better.

The longing for Henry was so intense that Sophia dreamed of him every night. Her dreams were filled with sweet moments they had shared, scenes that felt as real as they were surreal. In these rustic surroundings, he had led her through countless romantic escapades.

Amidst the chaos of these romantic scenes, Henry suddenly placed a city return application form in front of her, saying, "The township committee indeed has two spots for city return, and I've secured one for you..."

The alarm rang, jolting Sophia awake. She hadn't had time to dwell on the dream when she saw Lily, Grace, and Cecilia already up and tidying their beds. She quickly threw off her covers, got up, and joined them in their morning routine. They were in a rush to get to work.

Summer and Logan weren't in as much of a hurry, so they naturally woke up a bit later. Getting up all at once would mean a scramble for the limited kitchen stoves, which was more hassle than it was worth.

Sophia was always the last to get a turn at the stove. Fortunately, they cooked more food in the evenings, so mornings only required a quick reheat, which didn't take long. Once they were ready, Sophia sat down, lost in thought, and her mind drifted back to the dream.

She replayed the romantic scenes in her head. As the scenes faded, the image of Henry placing the application form in front of her became clearer with each replay.

Mike and Lily had finished reheating their breakfast. Sophia, sitting at the stove, still saw that scene vividly in her mind. Despite its fragmented nature, it felt more like a premonition than a dream. She believed this might be a sign from above, telling her that enduring until Henry's return would not only end her current suffering but also bring an end to the pain of being forced into this rural exile.

As long as she had Henry, she could see hope and light at the end of her dark tunnel.

***

Summer and Logan didn't join the morning rush. They woke up later, taking their time to feed the chickens. By the time they finished, Sophia had hurriedly eaten and left for work, leaving the place quiet and relaxed.

With just the two of them, they enjoyed a leisurely breakfast before heading to the school. Before they even got close, they saw the master builder and workers laying bricks on the foundation next to the school.

Country folks were earnest and knew that the sooner they finished a job, the sooner the homeowners would have to pay another day's wages or make a good meal. So, they worked quickly to get the house built.

Summer and Logan understood this well. They greeted the workers, thanked them for their hard work, and offered each a cigarette as a gesture of appreciation.

After expressing their gratitude, they rang the school bell to start the day's lessons. But they didn't rest at noon. After lunch, they borrowed the town's mule cart and headed to the brick kiln.

The master builder had said it would take two to three days to lay the bricks and half a day to put on the roof. Summer and Logan had everything else prepared; they just needed the tiles. They used the afternoon to fetch the tiles, knowing it would soon be time to move.

The sun was still blazing as they drove the mule cart to the kiln. Summer wore a straw hat to shield herself from the sun. The kiln wasn't far from their town, about a half-hour drive.

As they approached the kiln, Summer lifted the brim of her hat and said, "We're almost there, just ahead."

Logan, however, wasn't looking at the kiln. His gaze was fixed on a large yard nearby. He pointed it out to Summer, saying, "Look over there."

Summer followed his gaze and saw many people toiling away, bent over, shoveling, carrying, and pushing carts full of dirt. There were others overseeing the work, some with whips, others with guns.

Just as she was about to look away, Summer recognized a familiar face in the crowd. Then she saw two more familiar faces.

***

The sun was scorching the ground just past noon. On the chaotic work site, Henry, Charlie, and Gabe, along with a group of detainees, were working tirelessly.

Henry had just returned with a full cart of dirt and was catching his breath when he heard someone call, "Henry, Charlie, Gabe, come over here!"

Wiping the sweat from their brows, Henry, Charlie, and Gabe put down their tools and approached the caller.

Not sure what this was about, Henry asked, "We haven't done anything wrong today, have we?"

The stern-faced man replied, "Someone's here to see you. Follow me."

Henry, Charlie, and Gabe exchanged puzzled glances. Who would come looking for them in such a place?