Prudence Iscariot

Pryde left Miss Brigham and the children at the church door, shoving the children inside. Pryde left for the reverend's house, leaving one dog to stand guard. The remaining dog sat on the steps, its muscular black frame poised to strike down anyone foolish enough to open the door.

Her hands still bound and her mouth gagged, Samantha could do nothing but collapse in the front row to await her punishment. She didn't think she did anything wrong this time, but she supposed watching two naked people kiss was against The Way. Helena would certainly tattle on her about the books from Miss Brigham's cellar to save her own skin. She imagined the reverend's outrage when he found out about that. Pryde would feed her to the dog outside.

The door opened and Samantha jumped, but it was not Reverend Crane. Miss Brigham untied Samantha's hands and took the gag from her mouth. "Samantha, what happened? Did that monster hurt you?"

Samantha worked saliva back into her mouth and then spat out the awful taste of the rag before she said, "I was on my way to the meadow like you said. I heard a noise and then I saw them kissing." She pointed to Helena and John lying by the altar, close enough together to kiss again.

"Kissing? This is most serious indeed. You didn't kiss anyone did you, dear?" Miss Brigham asked her.

"No, I saw them and then he grabbed me."