By night time, Anne was exhausted. She kept thinking how Andrew left and how they weren't able to say goodbye in private. Everyone was standing there, watching them.

With so many people wanting to talk to her, she had been so busy. The next thing she knew, Duke Ben and his men were mounting their horses to leave. Andrew was with them, watching her. His face was blank, but you could see the sadness in his eyes.

Her heart broke in half as she watched him slowly disappear from view, and she wondered... when would she see him again? 

But then she was quickly distracted by more people demanding her attention. 

"Anne?"

She looked up to see Charles standing in the doorway of the office that used to be Arthur's, but now belonged to her. 

"Yes?"

"I just wanted you to know that Thomas and Theodore will be guarding Arthur. Thomas tonight, and Theodore in the morning."

"Are they Duke Ben's men?"

"Yes. And I've sent Felix to gate duty. He's not going to be guarding Arthur anymore."

"Did Felix not want to guard Arthur? Or did you need him at the gate?"

Charles stared at the wall behind her. "Felix said Arthur was trying to bribe him to let him out, and I didn't want to risk it."

Anne nodded. "That sounds smart. Who's going to take Felix's place?"

"I haven't decided yet." Charles was staring at the floor, and then the wall.

"Is something wrong, Charles?"

"No." He smiled. "No, everything's okay. I'm very happy that you're the new mayor. I can't imagine a better one."

"Thank you."

"You are very clever and you will do well. And I'm very happy that you trust me enough to be your captain. I'll always do my best for you."

"Thank you, Charles. I'm very grateful to have someone I can trust in the position."

"If you don't need me, I'm going to go. I was at the gate all day, and I interviewed some people who want to train as soldiers."

"Good. Go home and get some rest. Thank you."

As he left, she couldn't help but think of Andrew. He would be wonderful at training Pinecrest's new guards, but would he want to remain in the little town of Pinecrest training soldiers? Andrew had been to places she never heard of, seen things she never imagined. and no doubt he had seen beautiful women who were good at dancing and wore beautiful gowns and whose fathers knew the king, or were even related to the king.

She groaned as she remembered kissing him. She might never see him again but she would never forget him, never stop thinking of him. The look in his eyes the first time she flinched when he touched her, as if she kicked him in the stomach. The way he had stepped in front of a wolf to protect her. The way his arms felt around her. She hoped she never forgot how it felt to kiss him, or the way he brushed her cheek with his knuckles, or the way he whispered her name that day in the town square, her forehead resting on his shoulder.

She let out a sigh. She might be the new mayor, but she was still a woman with a heart that couldn't help falling in love.

As he left, she couldn't help but think of Andrew. He would be wonderful at training Pinecrest's new guards, but would he want to remain in the little town of Pinecrest training soldiers? Andrew had been to places she never heard of, seen things she never imagined. and no doubt he had seen beautiful women who were good at dancing and wore beautiful gowns and whose fathers knew the king, or were even related to the king.

She groaned as she remembered kissing him. She might never see him again but she would never forget him, never stop thinking of him. The look in his eyes the first time she flinched when he touched her, as if she kicked him in the stomach. The way he had stepped in front of a wolf to protect her. The way his arms felt around her. She hoped she never forgot how it felt to kiss him, or the way he brushed her cheek with his knuckles, or the way he whispered her name that day in the town square, her forehead resting on his shoulder.

She let out a sigh. She might be the new mayor, but she was still a woman with a heart that couldn't help falling in love.

Three weeks later

Anne sat at her desk signing papers.

It had been 3 weeks and one day since Andrew had left. He had told her he'd be gone no more than 3 weeks. Was he okay? Or did he forget about her?

It was early. Anne hadn't been able to sleep and had woken up early to work on some papers when it was peaceful and quiet. But now the sun was coming up. Why weren't the servants making breakfast? They were noisy every morning, but the house was quiet today.

And where was Charles? He usually came around at this time to let her know of any problems that happened during the night.

Anne stood up and went to the office doorway, listening. She walked towards the kitchen and opened the door. No one was there, and it didn't look like anyone had been there. Everything was tidy and in its place.

She turned towards the stairs. As she put her foot on the bottom step, a loud thud came from the upper floor.

Anne picked up a sword and hurried to the steps. She climbed them two at a time, but stopped suddenly when a man appeared at the top. No, two people, but it was too dark to see who it was.

"Who's there?" Anne said.

"It's your stepfather and mother."

Anne's heart stopped as fear went through her.

Arthur. She saw his smile. He was holding mother around her neck, a knife pointed under her neck.

How did he escape? Where were the servants? How could this be happening? She had been so sure that she and mother were finally safe. 

Anne stood up and went to the office doorway, listening. She walked towards the kitchen and opened the door. No one was there, and it didn't look like anyone had been there. Everything was tidy and in its place.

She turned towards the stairs. As she put her foot on the bottom step, a loud thud came from the upper floor.

Anne picked up a sword and hurried to the steps. She climbed them two at a time, but stopped suddenly when a man appeared at the top. No, two people, but it was too dark to see who it was.

"Who's there?" Anne said.

"It's your stepfather and mother."

Anne's heart stopped as fear went through her.

Arthur. She saw his smile. He was holding Mother around her neck, a knife pointed under her neck.

How did he escape? Where were the servants? How could this be happening? She had been so sure that she and mother were finally safe. 

"Your money?"

"The money. It belongs to me and you've taken it."

"Money that you kidnapped children to mine? A mine that didn't even belong to you?"

"I discovered it. I mined it. And you've stolen it from me."

Mother looked pale and scared, but she didn't make a sound as Arthur dragged her down the stairs with him one step at a time, his hand wrapped around her throat.

"I guess it's still in the mine. Where did you last see it? Maybe you misplaced it."

"How dare you mock me. You've always did want to be in control, and now you've tricked Duke Ben into believing all your lies about me."

"Was it a lie that you kidnapped children so you can use them to your advantage?"

"Could I help it if they heard my music and decided to follow me? They liked the music. They came willingly."

"Your mind is sick."

"No, you were the one who was sick!" Arthur pointed his knife at Anne. " Now, if you don't give me my money, I'm going to kill you and your mother. Throw down your sword." Arthur shouted.

Anne threw down her sword and it clattered on the floor.

"Arthur."

Anne glanced over her shoulder to see Charles standing there. But why didn't he have his sword drawn?

"Charles. Arthur escaped."

"Get what you want and get out."

Was Charles speaking to Arthur? He must be trying to make Arthur think he was helping him so that he wouldn't hurt Mother.

"Yes," Anne added,"Take whatever you want, but leave my mother alone. She has nothing to do with this."

"Anne, just tell him where to find the money and he will let you both go."

Anne turned to look at Charles."What?"

"Give him what he wants so he can leave."

Charles must have a plan to recapture Arthur. But would Arthur let her mother go if she told him where the money was?

"Fine. The money from the mine is in a locked box in my desk."

"Give me the key to the box."

"Give it to him, Anne."

Anne went to the office and towards her desk.

"You said it was in the desk? Step aside and let Charles get it." Arthur motioned to Charles, who immediately walked over to the desk.

"Where is it, Anne?"

Something was wrong. She stared at charles.

"Charles, how did Arthur escape?"

"Charles took the key and opened the cell door,"Arthur said.

"Why, Charles?" She felt nothing inside. She had trusted him. He had been the only man she'd ever trusted. "Did you do it for the money?"

"He doesn't have to explain it to you," Arthur said. "You are no better than him. You probably only saved the children to get the money."

Anne ignored him. "Charles, please don't do this."

"Shut your mouth and stop talking to him!"

Mother cried out. Arthur must have been squeezing her throat. Anne turned around, panic rose inside of her when she saw her mother's lips were turning blue.

"Charles, hurry up." He looked at Anne. "I should make you watch me kill your mother. You always were a thorn in my side . I fed you. I clothed you. I gave you an education. And you never appreciated it. You never appreciated what I did for you." He dragged mother closer.

 Mother looked at Anne and mouthed run. Arthur began choking her.Mother pulled out his hand, but he didn't loosen his hold.

"Stop it! Charles, make him stop!"

"Arthur, you said you wouldn't kill them."

"Shut up. I will only kill them if they force me to." He finally loosened his grip and Mother gasped. "You, Anne, is what is causing your mother so much pain. You destroyed your mother's and my marriage. You did this, and it was sad that you were able to trick Duke Ben and turn him against me."

"You are insane, Arthur!"

He pressed the knife into mother's neck. She barely flinched. "Kill me, Arthur. I don't care anymore. Anne is all that matters."

Is Charles really not going to help them? How could he stand there and watch this and do nothing? 

"Charles, what are you doing? Why haven't you found the key?"

"I don't know where it is. I've looked everywhere. Tell her to come and find it."

Anne went over to the desk. She had no choice but to give Arthur the key. She couldn't allow him to kill mother.

Anne reached under the desk and took the key from where she hid it. She threw it at Arthur and it landed on the floor at his feet.

"Get the key, Charles."

Charles went over and picked up the key.

"Give it to me," Arthur demanded.

Charles handed it over. Finally, Arthur let go of mother, giving her a push, and took the key. "Charles, you know what to do. Get rid of our new mayor and her mother."

Arthur turned to walk out of the house, and Charles turned towards her.

"Wait." Anne stared at charles.

"I won't kill you," he said quietly,"if you will take your mother and go. Get out of town."

"I thought you were my friend, Charles. I never expected something like this from you."

"You and your mother need to go before I change my mind."

"Fine." Anne moved to walk past him towards her mother."Come on, Mother."

But as she moved past Charles, she reached out and snatched a sword from its sheath on his back. Then she stabbed him in the spot just above his knee.

Charles cried out and she stabbed him again, this time in the arm.

Anne, still clutching the sword, grabbed mother's arm with her other hand, and they ran out of the house and down the street towards the town gate.