Secrets

"Well-"

"I took it for you. Don't you like it?"

"It's the most beautiful thing I've seen, but-"

"Take it and put it away someplace." Prudence finally took the dress and hid it in the bottom of her sewing box. She came back to Samantha wringing her hands and looking around the cottage worriedly like she still expected God to smite her.

"This doesn't feel right," she said.

"Stop worrying. Everything will be fine. Tomorrow I'll go back down there and see what else I can find."

"I don't like this at all. Secrets are almost the same as lies. We're going to Hell for this."

"Calm down. We're not going to Hell." She put both hands on Prudence's shoulders and looked into her friend's eyes. "I need to know I can count on you. Can I trust you with this?" Prudence nodded. "Good. Remember, you can't tell anyone about this, all right?"

"I know. I swear I won't."

"I found something else down there too." Samantha reached into her apron again and pulled out the book she'd taken from the cellar trunk. "It's a book."

"A book? Like the Bible?"

"Not exactly. It's called Rebel of Love," Samantha said. She showed Prudence the book's cover, on which a bare-chested man sat atop a motorcycle with a blonde woman.

"What's that?" Prudence asked, pointing to the motorcycle.

"It's a motorcycle. A motorized bike."

"What's a bike?"

"A bicycle." When Prudence shrugged, Samantha sat her down to explain. "A bicycle is kind of a two-wheeled carriage. The person sits on it and makes it go with his feet. A motorcycle is a bike where instead of using the rider's feet, the bike is powered by an engine. Do you understand now?"