It took several moments for Elizabeth to comprehend what had happened. She awoke in the bed just before dawn and Ryan was gone. A mixture of confusion and concern hung around her, making it impossible to sleep. Hurrying to get dressed, Elizabeth began putting on all her undergarments. A faint ray of sunlight began to sneak in through the window as she noticed the satchel that lay on the floor. When she went to place it above her petticoat, Elizabeth noticed that the money was there, but the letter was gone.
For nearly fifteen minutes, Elizabeth frantically searched the room. She looked in the blankets and under the bed. It did not seem possible that Ryan would have taken the letter, but the more she searched for it, the more she was certain that he had used her.
The hurt came first, and
