Hiram chuckled. “It would seem you’ve grown brave in our absence, but it won’t do you any good, Addie. You can threaten all you like, but if you don’t do things our way, I’m gonna kill Isaac Hanson.”
She felt her color drain. “Isaac has nothing to do with this.”
“Well, he means something to you, so that means he does. You’ll cooperate with us, or he dies.”
“And money is what you want?”
“For starters. I think Shep and I will be staying with you for a while, so you need to make sure and get some comforts for us here. Food and whiskey to start.”
Addie couldn’t begin to make sense of all that was happening. How could they be here? How did they find her?
“God loves you, Addie, and He always knows exactly where you are and what’s happening to you.”
Well, Lord, if You know now what’s happening ... if You’re here with me ... I could surely use some help.
18
After a restless night, Addie finally got up and dressed. Hiram had taken her bedroom, and Shep had taken the guest room. This left Addie with the sofa in the living room. She didn’t really mind, but she knew these arrangements weren’t going to work for long. She needed to get back to Pearl and Otis. They would be able to protect her.
Or could they? The horrible thought of Hiram tormenting them left Addie realizing that she couldn’t go to anyone without risking their lives. Hiram had already threatened to kill Isaac. The thought of Isaac lying dead was almost more than Addie could bear. She wouldn’t be able to bear it if her loved ones were hurt by Hiram as a means of punishing Addie.
She hurried around the place, hoping she might get her things together and sneak out before her brothers woke up. She was nearly ready to walk out the door when Hiram opened the bedroom door and strolled out, yawning.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“I have a job. If I don’t show up, they’ll send someone looking for me.”
“That’s too bad. You and me are going to the bank today.”
Addie fixed him with a blank look. She knew he expected her to turn thousands upon thousands of dollars over to him. The gold-nugget necklace in particular intrigued him. No doubt he had dreamed on that thing many a night in prison. Addie couldn’t help but wonder if he would go away and never bother her again if she just gave it to him. She knew it was worth a fortune, and maybe that would be enough to make Hiram happy. Unfortunately, she didn’t think her brother was the type to be contented with that alone.
“You know, I’ve been thinking,” Hiram began, “we sold you too cheap the first time. I’m bettin’ that given you’ve turned into a fine-looking woman, we could get even more money for you this time around.”
“I’m not going to be your pawn, Hiram.” She knew she couldn’t fight him with brute strength, so she would have to outsmart him. The only trouble was Hiram could be quite the thinker when he put his mind to it.
“And how do you propose to stop me?”
She could see the challenge in his eyes. Hiram enjoyed intimidating people and making them feel helpless. Addie crossed her arms against her body. “You’ve always underestimated me, Hiram.”
For the briefest moment, there was a look in his eyes that suggested doubt. That gave Addie a sense of strength. It was good to know that she could make Hiram doubt himself. Even if just for a moment.
She took up her hat from the peg by the door. “I have to go to work now.”
Hiram crossed the room and took hold of her arm andbent it back behind her. The pain was immediate and unbearable.
“Let me go!”
“You’d best listen up, Addie. You can put on a brave front and pretend you have some sort of power to fight me, but you don’t. You’re going to do exactly as I say.”
“If I don’t go to work, they’ll come looking for me. Maybe even send the police. Is that what you want?”
He loosened his hold. “You’re going to get me that money. I know you have money in the bank.”
“I do. I have a few hundred dollars, and after thinking about it all night, I’ve decided I will give it to you, but only if you agree to leave me alone.”
Hiram let go of her altogether and laughed. “Why should I agree to that? You can bring in some real money if I sell you to the right person.”
“I will never let you sell me again, Hiram. This you should understand.”
