RUNAWAY TWINS (Runaway Twins series #1) Read Online Free Page A

Today was no exception. He’d snuck out before dawn, intending to skip chapel if he could get away with it. He went for a long walk along the outer edges of the compound, observing the temple guards for future reference. And then he took the wilderness survival book, written by his father, to the gazebo by the old covered well. He sat down on the grass with his back against the latticework and began to read. It was a cold late fall morning, and he shivered a bit; but cold or not, it was better than the Tate house and its monstrous hypocrisies.
    He heard the Lemon twins run into the gazebo above him, heard their sighs and exclamations of dismay, and then heard Janie say, “…We are not going to end up like Mary” and heard Rachel’s response, “We’ve got to get away, get to Sheba for some help.” He wasn’t quite sure what they meant, but he had his suspicions. He knew the twins were approaching their thirteenth birthday and when the date arrived they would be given in marriage to one of the arrogant old men—and he was virtually certain the girls recoiled at such a union. He was tempted to stand up, show himself and tell them he understood and was on their side. But he chose not to do so. He could have misinterpreted their conversation, and even if he was assessing the situation correctly, his sudden appearance might frighten them and cause them distress. He rose to his feet and strode quickly to the woods, hoping they had not noticed him.
    At dinner Sunday evening (always an unappealing event, with Elder Tate presiding at a table of browbeaten wives and children), Justin made it a point to find out all he could about the Lemon twins. The answers were positive, and the elder made it clear the girls were anxiously awaiting their marriage to one of the elders or deacons of the Sheba Hill Temple. Tate wasn’t certain who the bridegroom would be since the Prophet had cancelled the girls’ marriage to Hank Biggars; but he knew the Prophet would make a wise and appropriate choice.
    Justin stared at his new uncle and concluded that the odious old man could not conceive of a situation where young girls would not be delighted with marriage to a prominent leader in the Sheba Hill congregation.
    “Why all the questions?” asked Aunt Ruby.
    “I’m just trying to make friends,” Justin said.
    She nodded. “Good, good. It’s time you came out of your shell.”
    Elder Tate tightened his lips and said, “Keep in mind that those two young women will soon be dutiful wives. Don’t establish any improper relationships.”
    Justin nearly gagged on his food. Improper? Tate was warning him about being improper? Amazing. “Young women?” he said. “I thought they were still little girls.”
    “What?” Tate said, straining to hear.
    “Nothing,” said Justin.
    At school the next morning he came face to face with the Lemon twins on the landing of the main staircase. They all paused and stared at one another, but no one spoke. Justin considered blurting out that he sympathized with them, but he held his tongue. There were other children passing on both sides, and he didn’t want to be overheard. And he still didn’t fully comprehend what the twins’ attitudes were. He wanted allies, but he didn’t want to open a can of worms because of an incorrect assessment of the situation.
    Rachel broke the ice and said, “Hi,”
    “The gazebo is nice, isn’t it?” said Janie.
    “Yes, I like to go there and read.”
    The girls exchanged glances, and Rachel said, “We saw you there yesterday. Were you reading something by the Prophet?”
    Justin took a breath. “I don’t read books by the Prophet.”

6
Hyenas
    In the presence of the assembled elders, the Prophet lavishly praised Seth Lemon for his loyalty to God. “You will be rewarded for your service, both here and in the world to come.”
    Seth lowered his head and basked in his leader’s approbation. He still felt a degree of residual guilt for calling security on the