Opening: Day 11

Word Count: 66,009

Summary of Events:
Chapter 21:
Keiller received a reply from Mrs. Wylie and talked at length with the stage driver who'd delivered it. Sophia decided to bake some sugar cookies being as it was snowing outside. Keiller went to talk to Mr. Wharton's cousin but was detained and got into a fight with Cyril.
Chapter 22:
Sophia ended up tending to Keiller's wounds and found his black eye reminded her of her attacker. Keiller was woken up by Sophia in the throes of a nightmare and comforted her back to sleep. Sophia got up the next morning not remembering the nightmare at all.

Excerpt of the Day:
"Turning toward Miss Hagerson, Keiller saw her eyes were closed and she was in a fierce fight with something invisible, it seemed. Keiller reached out and restrained her wrists, which caused her to fight all the harder against his hold.
"Miss Hagerson," Keiller said loudly. "Are you alright? What's wrong?"
Her struggling instantly decreased, but didn't stop.
"Miss Hagerson, wake up," Keiller said. "What's wrong? Do I need to get Dr. Carrigan?"
Miss Hagerson opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling. Keiller looked up to see if anything was there, but there was nothing aside from the usual ceiling; he looked down at Miss Hagerson's face again and saw tears in her eyes.
She closed her eyes and the tears ran out. Keiller wasn't sure what to do; he let go of her wrists and knelt down beside the bed.
"What's going on?" Keiller asked. "Are you alright?"
Miss Hagerson gasped, but then lunged at Keiller and wrapped her arms around his neck, trembling viciously.
"He's after me," she whispered. "He's going to get me, and he's going to–" she dissolved into sobs.
Keiller gently wrapped his arms around Miss Hagerson, trying to still her trembling, then got up so he was sitting on the bed, as to better hold her and still her.
"Who's after you?" Keiller asked.
"He is," Miss Hagerson replied. "He was going to hurt Karita, but I stopped him and now he's going to get me."
"Who was he going to hurt?" Keiller asked.
"Karita," Miss Hagerson replied. "We were forced out, and he saw her, and now he's going to get me; he's here."
"Miss Hagerson," Keiller said. "You had a nightmare, there's no one here aside from me, and trust me, I would've heard someone trying to get into my home; it's alright."
"But he's coming!" Miss Hagerson said, with panic in her voice.
"I'll stop him," Keiller said. "I promise I'll never ever, ever let him come against you; no scum like that will ever touch you. I've got the firepower to keep you away from his harming you."
Miss Hageron embraced Keiller's neck tighter, whimpering softly. Keiller slowly began to rock her back and forth, in hopes of getting her to fall back to sleep. Her grip remained tight around his neck for a long time, but eventually started to loosen.
Keiller carefully got up and laid Miss Hagerson down on the bed; she startled, her eyes open, and looked terrified. Keiller wrapped both of his hands around her hand.
"It's alright," Keiller said. "I'm still here."
Miss Hagerson's facial expression relaxed, her eyes slowly closed again, but her hand clutched Keiller's tightly. Keiller sat down on the bed and held Miss Hagerson's hand gently as she returned to sleep.
Keiller was curious about the name Miss Hagerson had mentioned, wondering who she was, but it would wait until morning. Miss Hagerson was afraid of someone, and Keiller knew exactly who: the father of her child."