He gave her a kind smile.“That’s all in the past, and probably best left there.Where has all of this curiosity come from?”
“I suppose I just want to understand him.”
“I’m not sure knowing about his father will be helpful in your endeavors.Trent never met him.He may not even know which portraits are of his father.”
She nodded, taking another long look at the man that hung over the mantel.His coloring more closely resembled Ash, his eyes almost black.But not evil.Although, none of the men she’d encountered looked evil, and most of them certainly were.“I’ll cease my questions for now.Let us continue our backgammon lessons.”
An hour later, Trent appeared in the doorway, a smile on his lips as he entered the room.“First my sister, and now my backgammon partner?”
Samantha laughed.Something that, before coming here, she hadn’t done in years.And here in this house, it already felt natural.“You can have him all to yourself this evening.I promise I won’t interject myself into your nightly ritual.”
“You may interject yourself wherever and whenever you’d like.I am always glad of your company.”
He was far too kind, but she had no intention of taking over his whole life.
“Right now,” he continued, “I’m going upstairs to make myself presentable for dinner.I hope you’ll be joining us.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
Only when Benson quietly cleared his throat did she realize she’d been staring at the empty doorway.Warmth filled her cheeks as she quickly rolled for her turn.
A four!She tapped her piece on top of one of his.
“That’s the third time,” he said with a chuckle as he placed his piece on the bar.
“Beginner’s luck.”She shrugged.
After dinner, she joined Trent and Maggie for another bedtime story.She enjoyed watching him read.He was animated and used voices with the first one, and with the second, he spoke softly and slowly, lulling Maggie to sleep.Nearly lulling Samantha there, as well.
“You look sleepy,” he whispered after closing the second book.“Would you like me to carry you to your bed?”
“Don’t be silly.”She climbed carefully off the end of Maggie’s bed and walked with him to her own room.“Goodnight, Trent.”
She removed her wrapper and climbed into bed.The truth was, she did want him to carry her.She missed feeling his warmth.She shouldn’t miss that.It wasn’t appropriate for her to want those kinds of things.
With a sigh, she turned on her side and pulled the covers over her shoulder, the day’s events transporting her off to sleep.
“I don’t want to go, Norman.”
“But you will, and you’ll do whatever he asks of you, because you’re my good girl.”
Samantha gasped and clapped a hand over her mouth to keep in her scream.It was a dream.It was only a dream.He wasn’t here.Her whole body trembled and tears poured from her eyes.She tried her best to stay quiet, but the sobs overcame her.
Throwing the blankets back, she knelt beside the bed, resting her forehead on her clasped hands, but it didn’t help.Fear surged through her body like a river of ice.“Please, please, please.”She had no idea what she was saying, she just wanted the fear to stop.
A warm hand touched her back and a scream flew from her throat as she twisted away.
“It’s alright, Samantha.”
Dim light spilled in from the hallway, outlining Trent’s form as he knelt before her.“I’m not going to hurt you.You’re safe.I promise you’re safe.”
Relief washed over her and she reached for him, knowing he would help her.He pulled her into a tight embrace, rocking her slowly.
“Shhh.You’re alright, Samantha.I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
“Why did he do that, Trent?Why did he send me to those men, knowing they would hurt me?Knowing I didn’t want it?”
“I don’t know.”He sat down and settled her onto his lap.“I don’t know.”She felt his head shake.“He was a horrible man.I’m so sorry for everything you had to endure.I promise I won’t let it happen again.”
