Summary: Holly is trying to escape being forced into an unwanted and abusive marriage. Her Uncle Frank brings her to Westown to allow her to sow a life of her own. She faces many obstacles in this new landscape but soon discovers that she won't be taking this journey by herself.

Holly waited impatiently in the flower shop for her uncle's arrival. He knew she would be married in a few days and was bringing a batch of magic blue flowers for her bouquet. The flowers were hard to come by in town during late summer. Her mother and father were arguing in the shop over the cost of the centerpieces, so she knew her presence wouldn't be missed. When she saw the carriage coming down the road, she quietly exited the shop and ran down the road to meet her uncle. She waved him down, and he came to a stop. "He jumped down from his horse and embraced his niece. "Holly, my dear, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be with your parents helping to pick out the corsages and such?" he asked.

"Uncle Frank, please, I need you to get me out of here. I don't want to marry Neil," she said hurriedly.

Uncle Frank laughed a little and continued, "Don't tell me my favorite niece is getting cold feet."

"It's not cold feet," she screamed as she rolled her sleeve up to show him the bruises. "Please, believe me. I don't love Neil, and he doesn't love me. He is cruel. Mom and dad think he is Christ's child because he is wealthy. I will die if I don't escape here," she explained.

Uncle Frank looked around and said, "Listen, I am going to go drop off these flowers at the shop. Go back and act like everything is normal. Write a note explaining your disappearance, so no one thinks you have been abducted or are missing. Then, when your parents aren't looking, sneak in the back of my cart and hide in one of the empty crates. By the time they have finished arguing over wedding bullshit, they will find your letter but won't know where you went."

She threw her arms around her uncle with tearful eyes and whispered, "Thank you."

….

As she was told, she scribbled a quick note to her parents and slipped it in her mother's sweater pocket. Then, she peaked through the door and saw her parents going back and forth over whether roses or carnations were better. She went to step out the door when her mother said, "And just where do you think you are going?"

She turned back around and said, "I am going grab a snack from the drugstore down the road. I'll be right back."

Her mother waved her off, and she headed towards the back of the building where her Uncle Frank was unloading the flowers. He opened an empty crate inside the carriage and told her to climb in before covering it with his tarp. He dropped the last of the flowers off and went in to say goodbye to her parents and collect her pay before he jumped on and started driving up. "When we get far enough away, you can come join me up here."

Holly heard a knocking and realized she fell asleep in the crate. She sat up, and her uncle said, "Woooh, you must have been tired. You have been sleeping for a good 8 hours. I stopped the cart a few times just to check if you were still breathing."

"I'm sorry, I worried you," she said, knowing that she hadn't slept peacefully in nearly two months.

Her Uncle Frank hopped off the carriage and said, "Stay here for a moment; I will be right back."

She nodded and started to peak out of the wagon at the town. It looked like it came straight out of a John Wayne movie. She then looked over to the building her Uncle just entered, and the blood drained from her face. 'He brought me to a hospital… I have to get out of here,' She thought as she struggled to get out of the cart. When she got out, she took off.

….

Frank walked into the home of the local town Doctor and called out to his friend. "Ford, are you here?"

A tall man with dirty blonde hair and glasses came down the stairs with some books and asked, "Are you here for your pain medicine?"

"No, actually, I need your help with something else. Is anyone else here?" Frank asked.

Ford shook his head and replied, "No, it's just me."

Frank then explained his situation, "My niece is in the back of my Wagon hiding. She came with me from her hometown to escape an arranged marriage. The man beat the crap out of her. I want to examine her, but I know she won't come in if she had to tell you how it happened. Can you examine her under the pretext that she fell off a horse?"

Ford looked outraged by the suggestion and said, "If a man put his hands on her, he belongs in jail. Why on earth would you even ask this of me?"

Frank explained, "The guy's parents own a very well-established meat company. Even if it is reported, his parents have one hell of an attorney that will keep him from prison. Holly will be forced to return home and be forced to marry this man. Please, if you don't do it for my sake, do it for hers."

Ford let out an irritated sigh and pulled on a new pair of gloves. "Bring her in then," he concluded.

Holly ran as fast as her pained legs would carry her and ended up near a pond. She stopped for a moment to catch her breath and used the water to clean off the sweat that formed on her brow, forgetting that she was wearing makeup to hide the bruises. When Holly looked at her reflection in the water, a startled gasp escaped her lips. How is she supposed to hide this now? Fear caused her breathing to get shallow, and she started to gasp for air. The reflection of a man on a horse calling out her name was the last thing that she remembered before she blacked out.

Ford waited while Frank went out to the wagon and was surprised when he returned without the girl in tow. "She's gone," he told the doctor panicked.

The doctor grabbed his bag of supplies and asked, "Do you have a picture of her?"

Frank nodded and showed him a beautiful curly-haired blonde with blue eyes. Ford took the photo and put it in his pocket. "I'll go get Wayne to help us look. You can trust him. Bring her back here immediately if you find her."

Frank agreed and rode off in the direction of the general store. Ford hurried over to the post office where Wayne worked and found him sorting the mail. "Wayne, I need your help," he said.

Wayne knew Ford since they were children and knew that whatever he needed was urgent. So when they were alone, Ford pulled the picture out of his pocket and said, "I need you to find this girl. Her name is Holly, she is injured. I need you to bring her back to the clinic at all cost."

Wayne tipped his hat at Ford and said, "You can count on me."

Ford paced back and forth nervously in his clinic with all his supplies laid out next to a stretcher. After what felt like hours, Ford heard horseshoes speeding in his direction. He looked out the door and saw Wayne jumping down from the horse with a girl. Ford held the door open while Wayne carried her in. Wayne asked, "What happened to her?"

Ford ignored his question and continued to work on her. Wayne knew better than to ask again, so he stepped back into the waiting room. Wayne paced back and forth when he remembered he still had Holly's photo. He pulled it out and placed it on top of Ford's desk to return.

Shortly afterward, Frank arrived in the clinic and explained the situation to Wayne. Wayne's face turned red with anger. How could any man put their hands on a woman? He waited anxiously for Ford to come out with the results.

Ford walked in a little while later and asked Frank, "Do you mind Wayne being in the room for this?"

Frank shrugged and said, "He knows the rest of the story, so why not?"

"Holly has two cracked ribs, several large bruises across her body, and what looks like cigarette burns. I noticed a strange-looking brush burn around her wrists which suggests she was possibly tied up. She is underweight and appears to be having panic attacks. Either of which could explain why she fainted by the pond. She will be alright physically after a few days. Still, I have no idea how her mental state will be after enduring this kind of abuse," Ford explained.

Frank grabbed the Doctor's gloved hand and shook it, "Thank you for caring for her, doc," he said quietly.

Ford continued, "I still think you should report this to the police. However, since I have already agreed to keep my mouth shut in exchange for being able to treat her, I feel like I must request you at least continue to bring her to me to treat her wounds." Ford sat across from Frank and asked, "What do you plan on doing with her once she is healed?"

Frank shook his head and said, "I haven't thought that far in advance. This was all just sprung on me. I suppose she can work her grandfather's old farm. He left it to her after all."

Ford made a face and said, "She is a bit small to be a farmer. I doubt that would be a good profession for her."

Frank countered, "Don't underestimate the girl, she may be small, but she is strong like an ox. She might not be able to handle the farm work right now with her injuries, but she has her grandfather's spirit."

They were then interrupted by a voice calling out, "Uncle Frank,"

Frank stood up, and before he walked in the room with her, he said to the two, "Give me a moment."

As he walked closer, she panicked, "Why would you bring me here?"

Frank said, "Calm down, Holly, they think that you fell off your horse. So you don't have to worry."

Holly let out a relieved sigh before she asked, "Wait, who's they?"

Frank called the two boys in and said, "Holly, this is Doctor Ford and Wayne. Wayne found you by the river. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to find your horse."

"Your injuries are substantial, so I would like you to stay here for a few days for observation," the doctor informed her. She looked down as if she were debating what he said. He thought for a minute before adding, "Your uncle just mentioned you are new in town and would be looking for a job. Once you heal, I could offer you a part-time job here from time to time."

She looked up at him and nodded, "I would like that. Thank you, you are very kind."

Ford was taken back slightly. He found it strange that she would think he is kind, but all things considered, anyone would look kind next to her former fiancé. She then let out a yawn, and Ford said, "Perhaps we should let you get some rest. Have you eaten yet?" She shook her head no. Ford pushed his glasses up his nose and said, "Rest for now. I will wake you when it is done cooking."