Chapter Thirteen
Eleanor stared at a porcelain horse sitting on the table beside her. She reached for it and adjusted her position to look at Wes. Her thumb rubbed the china flank as she wrestled to find the words.
“This is so hard. I’m so tired of looking over my shoulder.” Her eyes searched his.
“I’m right here,” he said.
Exhaling one more breath, she began to tell her story, her tone stilted. “I was born on December twenty-ninth, thirty years ago, in a homebirth, to Malachi and Dinah Drake with my identical twin sister, Belinda. My birthname is Eleanor Drake. Lindy and I have nine older brothers. The oldest, Shaw, was fifteen at the time. We lived on a large piece of land outside of Shepherdstown, West Virginia, along the Potomac River with about one hundred other men, women and children.
“My parents were known as the General and the Major. Their group was called the Divine End, and my brothers were their lieutenants. Lindy and I were showpieces to others and slaves for my family. Life was dictated by rules and discipline.”
Wes placed his hand on her shaking one. She let go of the figurine and grabbed hold.
“The day after we turned fourteen, my favorite horse birthed a foal. We had a hot fall, and the usual mating pattern was off. My father was ready to write him off.” She closed her eyes, conjuring up the image of the foal. “I begged for permission to take care of him. As long as I did my chores and schoolwork, I could. He expected the foal to die.” She let go of Wes and held the porcelain horse again.
Her shoulders rose. “My parents were savvy in their practices. Members of our community assimilated into the local community. No one suspects a friendly neighbor. The children on the compound were homeschooled, but we were compelled to volunteer in town.” She huffed, “To look normal. Lindy and I chose the senior center. One of the administrators figured out we weren’t typical kids. We were not the first to participate there, but maybe as twins we were a novelty.
“The administrator, Cynthia, showed us and let us use the internet. She also gave us access to books we’d never be permitted to read.” Eleanor shuddered.
Wes pulled a blanket off an adjacent chair and wrapped it around her shoulders.
“Every night, I snuck out to check on the foal. The stable was beside a large metal building. One night, as I was coming from the stable, two large green trucks pulled up to the building. Men in camouflage clothing began to unload large crates. I returned to the foal’s stall to stay warm, and when I heard the trucks leave, I snuck into the building.
“I told the administrator what I saw. The next time we volunteered, two FBI agents were waiting for me. I repeated what I’d seen. One FBI agent told me I needed to show them more proof. The next time, I brought them a large bullet.” She opened her hands to show the size.
Wes coughed hard and adjusted his position.
“The agents sent me back. The other one told me things had to appear normal. Before the next dawn, the General and three of my brothers dragged me from bed. The tied me to a pillar in the great room of our house. My nightclothes were ripped away. Malachi Drake accused me of treason.
“I don’t remember anything after the fifteenth lash. I woke up in a hospital a couple of months later. Lindy was in the next bed. She told me, after they beat me, everyone left. Lindy refused to leave me, so they chained her to me. They thought we would die from the cold and dehydration. Somehow, Lindy got free and went for help.”
Her thumb dug into the flank of the horse, almost fracturing her nail. Wes took the horse from her hands and set it beside him, replacing it with his hands.
“For those few months, Lindy insisted on staying with me. We were assigned two US Marshals, Phyllis and Jason West. They spent all those hours with Lindy and then me. They grew attached to us, and we began to grow attached and trust them. They fought to foster us. Before we turned sixteen, they legally adopted us,” Eleanor sniffled.
“With the Wests we learned there was a whole world out there. They taught us about enjoying our life, cutting our hair, wearing pants, makeup, bathing suits, making friends, listening to all types of music, reading books, playing games, holding a job, love, driving a car.” Ellie swiped her face as the tears poured. “We started to live. We went to college. In our senior year, the Wests were killed in a car accident. They were driving to visit us.”
Wes leaned toward her and pulled her into an embrace. “Oh, Curly.”
Eleanor rested in his arms, enjoying the warmth of his palm against her back. “After Phyllis and Jason died, we inherited this house and their financial proceeds. We were also assigned a new marshal, Lance Starr. At that time, we decided we didn’t want to pick up and change lives again. We were six months from completing our bachelor’s degrees. No one had come after us in six years. Lindy finished the nursing program and moved back here. She worked at Inova Loudon. I stayed in New Jersey. I needed more time to deal with things than she did. He got permission for us to stay.
“After I finished my master’s, I moved back here to be with Lindy. We were happy.” She shook.
“Curly?” Wes adjusted his position once more to see her. Her beautiful eyes were now empty pools. “What is it?”
“Jason West always told us the truth will set you free. Funny coming from a marshal who made us keep secrets.”
“Ellie, you can tell me. I only want to help you,” Wes pleaded.
“I want to believe that. I want to believe you. My experiences have taught me not all people tell the truth. But I can’t keep secrets anymore. This is my last chance. You are my last chance.”
“My sweet Ellie. You aren’t alone anymore.” Wes kissed her lips softly.
She nodded and pushed back to create some distance between them. “On our twenty-fifth birthday, Lindy and I drove down to Fredericksburg to celebrate. I woke up on a dirt floor. Lindy was beside me.” Her expression twisted. “Eight hundred and six days later, I managed to escape. I told the police and the FBI the best I could where they could find Lindy and the other girls. By the time they found where I said they were, there was no sign of anyone.”
“Other girls?” he asked.
“At that time, seven plus our keepers. They wore masks. The only ones we saw were the women who fed us.” Eleanor shut her eyes. “I called Lance from the hospital, and Coventry, after hearing my story, gave me my job back. FBI Agent Nash, the agent who showed up at the hospital, kept coming back and questioning me. I think he was hoping if he kept asking the same questions, my answers would change. He thinks I am involved,” she sighed.
“You were a victim. Why would they think that?” Wes asked.
She looked up and to the left. “I don’t know.” She shook her head. Wes swallowed hard.
“About once or twice a month, Nash and another FBI agent show up and drive me to DC and question me. Lance comes as my attorney. He is a real one. The FBI doesn’t know about the Marshals. And now, by telling you, I’ve put you in danger. If you want, I’ll set up your program, and once it’s underway, I will ask Lance to find me another new identity and location.”
“Let me help you.” His voice wrapped around her.
Tears poured down her cheeks, and her body quaked with fear. “Why would you want to do this for me? My life is a disaster, and if my weight wasn’t a turn off, my scarred back will be. You can have anyone you want.”
“Ellie, I want you.” Wes tipped his head to his side and pulled her to him.
