“What if she doesn’t want me back?” Kara asked.
“What if she does?” Rebecca countered. “Maybe she’s searched for you this whole time and wants you home with her.”
Kara rubbed her eyes. “Where will I go if she doesn’t?”
“We’ll figure it out when we get to it,” Rebecca said, hugging her. “Today, we’re settling in, eating good food and decompressing. You’ll meet with counselors starting tomorrow. They’ll be able to give you your options. In the meantime, hang your clothes, slowpoke. I’m starving.”
“Will you get sick like earlier? Julio didn’t like it. He likes you a lot. When I snuck into your room last night, he didn’t even yell at me when I told him what I wanted. He watched over us. I think he’s nice,” Kara admitted.
“Yes. He’s one of the good ones,” she said, fighting back the tears. “Shall we grab a burger?”
Kara got out of bed and opened her bag. “Give me a minute,” she said, hanging up her clothes. They met the two other teens in the living room and walked to the larger cabin, where a sign read ‘mess hall.’ Rebecca hung back slightly, letting Kara speak with the two girls her age. She hoped Kara might make friends who understood what she went through.
They entered the building and the girls headed toward the buffet line while the workers delivered plates to the smaller kids. The room grew louder as more people drifted in, and the kids relaxed under the cheery atmosphere.
A brunette tentatively approached her. “Hello, Rebecca. You probably don’t remember me. I’m Rachel Foster. We met a few times in town when you visited Ty’s restaurant in Serenity.”
Yes, Rebecca recalled the stories about Rachel Foster. “Hello,” she greeted her coolly.
“I wanted to welcome you to the ranch. Matthew and I have a house to the west of here if you need anything,” she offered. “Julio hasn’t set foot here until today. I took over some fresh bedding and a few groceries. I didn’t know what you liked. Damn, there are a lot of kids here.”
“Yes. It’s probably not the best time to swear in front of them,” Rebecca replied, deciding she needed something to eatafter all. “Excuse me, I’m starved,” she said, brushing past the woman.
For the life of her she didn’t know why Rachel lived here. Before she ended up kidnapped, Rebecca recalled the guys ribbing Doc about the woman showing up in his bed naked and Kassie dragging her out of the cabin without a stitch on. The one time she met Rachel at Samantha’s spa, the woman seemed rude and obnoxious. What did Matthew see in her?
Plopping a bun on her plate, she eyed the offerings. Delaney made a variety of dishes, ensuring the victims found something they liked to eat. Fresh fruit, mac and cheese, beans, and cornbread adorned the table besides the burgers and hot dogs.
She scooped a generous helping of fruit, anticipating eating it again. Kara laughed at something one of the other young women said, making her smile as she made up her burger. Seeing her relaxed and getting to know someone her age, Rebecca slipped out the back. The chilly weather suited her after months of living in a cage with four to six women. She wandered down the path, picking pieces of her fruit and popping them into her mouth as she walked. Lost in her thoughts, she didn’t notice the horse coming up behind her until the last minute. She turned and screamed, throwing her plate toward the threat and running. Her heart pounded as she weaved between the trees with no leaves, reminding her of her time in the woods when she escaped Harrison and her boss Jackson.
“Rebecca,” someone called out, making her pause. She knew the voice. Whipping around, Rebecca saw Julio running toward her.
She leaned against the tree, attempting to catch her breath. “You gave me a heart attack.”
He slowed as he approached her. “I’m sorry. Kara panicked when she didn’t see you in the mess hall. One of the women said she saw you slip out the back door. It’s cold out here. We’re inTexas, sweetheart. Did you forget about the bobcats and coyotes this time of year?”
Rebecca recalled him telling her always to carry her weapon because of the animals in Texas. She shivered as a cold breeze picked up, and she crossed her arms. Julio took off his coat and wrapped it around her. “I forgot. It felt good to walk outside.”
“How about we ride on Satan?” he asked, still giving her some distance.
“Satan?” she asked.
“He’s my horse,” he explained as he pointed a few yards away. “Satan’s incredibly beautiful, and the mares always flock to him. My mother says he’s the devil and bewitches people and other horses.”
She peered at the animal in question. His coat appeared velvety black and the white stockings on his legs resembled snow. Julio’s mother called it. Rebecca had never seen such a beautiful horse.
“I’m sorry I threw my food at him,” she apologized, realizing she lost her fruit and the burger.
Julio took a step closer. “Did you and Kara get settled in the cabin?”
“Yes. They resemble the ones in Serenity,” she said, warily watching him.
“Kassie insisted they follow the same plan. Did you notice the cot in the closet with the alarm?” Julio asked, moving slowly toward her. “The counselors explained it to the other women, but the teens might find it a comfort, too.”
“I’ll be sure to show them when I return,” she said, her heart racing the closer he got.
“Are you afraid of me, Becca?” he asked gently. “It kills me I didn’t find you sooner. We tried everything and kept coming up with dead ends.”
She slightly shook her head, but Julio’s eyes watched her every move. Her body language betrayed her as she realized she gripped the tree. Her knee bent, ready to take off running. Her breaths became shallow and fast the more he closed the distance between them.
