Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 79940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
My appetite was gone instantly. I placed my fork beside the plate and put my hands in my lap as I stared at Maeme.
She used her hand and motioned toward me. “Eat. You need it. You look like a strong wind would blow you away. That’s part of the abuse. The control he craved. I bet his dick was small too. Anyway, I’m not going to let you leave. You need family, and you need protection. I can give you that. I can even give you a step more. There is a small cottage on the back right side of my property that backs up to the Shephards’ ranch. You met their oldest son, Thatcher, last night. Our families go back to the early 1900s. Security is tight, and no one gets back there who isn’t supposed to be.” She paused and took a sip of her coffee, then reached to take a biscuit from the skillet.
I was speechless. All I could do was sit there and stare at her. Unable to believe what she was saying. The temptation to let her tell me what I was going to do and forget the reality of my actions yesterday was there, but I couldn’t. I knew that. I couldn’t help wanting to though.
“The house is furnished. It’s not much, but it is clean, safe, and so far away from the road that it is basically hidden. No one has lived there in a few years, but I keep it cleaned regularly for when it might be needed. I’m going to have King come by later and move your things out there. You make a list of groceries you would like, and he will bring those too. You need to hide, and I’m going to hide you.”
This was when I should tell her that I was hiding, but not from my husband. I was hiding from the police. She didn’t want to harbor a fugitive—or whatever I’d made myself look like. As wonderful as this house in the woods away from the world sounded, it wouldn’t be right for me to take it.
“Yes, my husband hurt me. But it’s not necessarily him I am running from. It’s complicated.”
“I don’t want to know. Your secrets are your own. I am telling you that you are a woman without a family who needs a safe place to hide. That’s all I need to know. Now, eat and relax. No one is going to find you. But if I let you leave here and go to a bus station or some other crazy idea you have come up with, they’d find you. Whoever is looking. You stand out, honey. You would be back in the shit you’re running from before the day was done.”
I dropped my gaze to my uneaten breakfast. She was right. I would need my identification to get on a bus. My cash would run out soon. I was hurt and would be an easy target to anyone. If she was so sure she could hide me, how long would that last? I couldn’t stay hidden forever, but while I was healing, I could use the time to think of a more permanent solution. Would that be so bad? No one knew I had gotten in King’s truck. Or who I was. How would I be traced here? I doubted there was any connection to lead the police to this place. At least not right away. They’d need a lead, and that would take time.
“Okay,” I replied, looking back up at her. The words tumbling out before I could stop them.
This was wrong, but she wasn’t really leaving me any choice. I would just get myself in better shape, then leave. They’d be safe here. I wouldn’t let them take the fall for my actions. I’d get out before it happened.
“Thank you. I don’t know why you want to help me, but I am forever in your debt,” I told her.
She walked around the island and placed her hand over mine. “God didn’t bless me with a daughter. But if he had, I’d like to believe that if she was in trouble, someone would step in and help her. You need family, and that I can provide.”
I felt a lump of emotion form in my throat. I’d lived my life looking for someone to give me what this woman was having to force me to accept. I nodded, unable to say anything just yet.
“Good. That’s settled. You have all you want to eat. I’ll get you a pen and paper so you can make a grocery list. There’s not a washer and dryer at the house, but you can do all your laundry right here.”
“Thank you,” I whispered, feeling as if I would never be able to say those words enough.
She smiled, then took another drink from her cup.