Hope pressed her hands to her belly, gasping in pain.
Becky was around the cutting-board table immediately, catching Hope by the shoulders and guiding her to a chair. “You okay?”
She nodded, sitting gingerly. “That was one wicked kick. The kid got me in the bladder.”
Becky pushed aside her worry best she could. “Don’t do things like that to me,” she complained. “It’s too soon for you to go into labour.”
Hope squeezed her fingers. “I have no intention of having this kid a moment earlier than his due date.”
“Hopefully he got the message as well,” Becky told her. “Are you sure you want me to leave? I can wait until Matt can come to get you.”
Her boss waved a hand. “I’ll be fine. I have paperwork to do.”
Becky watched carefully for a moment, but Hope seemed to be telling the truth. She rubbed a hand over her belly, pulling forward notebooks and her laptop computer.
“If you need help, phone me.”
“Go home, Becky. You’ll be spending enough time in the shop when I do have this kid.”
Summertime warmth greeted her as she stepped outside, running shoes tightened for the long walk home. Every day as she paced along the road she thought back to the early days of making this trip, and how much her life had changed since then.
Becky was no longer an invisible person. She had ID. She had a phone, and her best friend, Rachel, had taught her the secrets of texting. She had a job with someone she enjoyed working with.
She had a boyfriend. A lover who cared about her—it never ceased to amaze her.
What she didn’t have yet was a driver’s license, but she’d work on that before the snow flew. It hadn’t made sense to worry about it before she had the money to buy a car, but now enough funds were slowly collecting in her bank account to consider it.
Everything had gone so well over the past months, better than she had dreamed possible. But the one thing that was missing was the one thing driving her to do more as quickly as possible.
Paradise Settlement was still there. Sarah was still trapped, and Becky couldn’t rest yet.
“Hey, Rodeo.”
She shook her head, smiling because she should have expected it. She twisted toward the road to discover Trevor keeping pace with her, leaning out the driver’s window of his truck.
“You’re on the wrong side of the road,” she teased.
He slowed to a stop, checking the highway before running across the road and scooping her up. He twirled her then gave her a mind-blowing kiss before setting her on her feet, dizzy for more than one reason.
“Let’s go. It’s your turn to drive.”
She didn’t refuse. The driving lessons were another step in reaching her ultimate goal. Besides, as he directed them along the back roads around the Coleman range, it was a nice change of pace. Something else they could do together, and she wondered again at how lucky she’d become. Glancing at him as he sat aside her, patiently answering her questions then leaning back as if completely confident in her skills.
He barely twitched when she hit a pothole instead of going around it.
Everything she had that was good shone with such brightness it threatened to steal her breath away.
They moved from driving lessons to gathering things from the garden, making a meal to share with Rachel and Lee who planned on coming over later that day.
This was what life was supposed to be like. Friendship and fun. A community that cared for each other. A place to call home where no one threatened that enjoying life would bring down fire and brimstone, or an eternity in hell.
Trevor paused in the middle of pulling carrots. “Where’ve you gone, sweetheart?”
Becky turned her face toward him. She’d gotten lost in thought, sitting on a stool near the edge of the garden, her hands steadily working to clean the beans she’d picked. She had to refocus to take in Trevor.
He was easy on the eyes when she did.
Tall and handsome. Rock solid as he leaned on a shovel and looked down with tenderness. Careful and caring, like always, and while the expression on his face sent heat through her, it also calmed her.
He turned her on, yes, but he also made her heart beat for other reasons. She trusted him.
That meant a lot. That meant everything.
Becky spoke quietly. “I’ve been thinking about this, and I know it might seem sudden, but I need your help.”
He nodded. “What’s up?”
“I want to go back to Paradise Settlement.” It was the most important thing she could think of, and it had been too long in coming. “I want to go get my sister and her family.”
Shock flashed in his eyes “Jeez, Rodeo. For a second there I thought you meant you wanted to go back, and I was going to tie you up and chain you to the porch railing until you came to your senses.”
“I wouldn’t go back at all, except she needs me.” Becky took a deep breath. Just thinking about walking into the Settlement made her skin crawl. “I don’t want to go, but I can’t stand the thought that Sarah’s still living there. That the kids are there. The only way for them to get out is to have somewhere to go.” She waved a hand at the house and the garden. “I know it’s not a lot, but it’s a start. Sarah can find a job, even if it’s something like watching kids or sewing. We can make it work, but I have to go back if she’s going to have a chance.”
“Have you written to her? What’d she think of the idea?”
Becky shook her head. “There’s no use in writing. Abel would read the letter, and probably not even give it to her. We need to show up and get her, and then they’ll be safe.”
“Are you sure she’ll come?” he asked softly, worry painting his voice.
She nodded immediately. “We talked about it. How it would be good to have a place of our own, and how there was more the world could offer the children if they weren’t a few amongst the many.”
“But she’s the one who brought you to Paradise.”
There seemed to be no way to explain how in spite of being mixed up, her sister was mixed up for the right reasons. “Because she loves me. Sarah didn’t know what Abel was going to do, and Paradise Settlement was better than the military propaganda and fear in the community my parents belong to.”
He stood like a statue, but she could tell he was thinking, hard. It was a huge thing she was asking, she understood that.
But it was the only thing she could do.
Her request was so not what he had expected.
He knew Becky had never stopped worrying about Sarah. He’d never found a way to stop the nagging doubts and anger from rising every time Becky brought her up. As much as she was also a victim, she’d had a hand in hurting his Becky…
Forgiving her for that wasn’t easy.
He’d never quite figured out how he’d hoped the whole mixed-up, horrid situation would get resolved. It was an impossible situation with no clear solutions.
Trevor had enjoyed a few vivid daydreams about going into the cult with a convoy of RCMP so they could disband the entire commune while he personally laid into Abel and left him broken and hurting.
Going back to Paradise to convince Sarah to run away? He understood why Becky wanted it; he just didn’t see how it would work.
He sure the hell didn’t feel comfortable with her going anywhere near the cult without him. And no way was he letting her deal with the rest of it alone, either. So in spite of his fears, he did the only thing he could.
He reached down and lifted her to her feet. “If you’re sure, and this is what you want, then I’ll take you.”
A sigh of relief escaped her. “Thank you.”
His mind raced as he considered the logistics. He couldn’t imagine the cult doing something stupid like attacking them, but they’d be safer with some backup, all the same. “Let me talk to my sister. Anna should come along—her and Mitch.”
Becky wrinkled her nose. “I don’t want to make trouble or have anyone arrested, Trevor. I want to go in as quietly as possible, and leave the same way.”
“And I think having an RCMP officer along will help keep things quiet.” Although he wished she would press charges, he wasn’t going to make her go through what would be horribly traumatic all over again. “I need a few days to set things up.”
“I need to talk to Hope, but the sooner, the better, since her baby is due in October.” Her excitement was impossible to miss.
Ignoring how much this meant to her would be wrong, even as he worried how it was all going to turn out. “Then let’s make it happen.”
Becky curled her arms around his torso and hugged him tight, all warm and soft, and yet so strong. She felt perfect in his arms. Perfect in his life, in so many ways.
He couldn’t say no to something she’d been working toward for months, only he would do everything he could to make sure she didn’t get hurt more in the process.
It took a week to coordinate things. Talking to Anna and Mitch, talking to his brothers and Hope.
The drive took six hours with Becky fidgeting for at least half the trip. She’d fallen asleep at one point, exhausted by the lack of sleep the previous two nights, too excited and worried to rest once she knew for sure they were leaving early Friday morning.
She’d finally laid her head in his lap and slept fitfully, trembling awake far more often than he hoped.
They made a pit stop at the closest RCMP station at Anna’s insistence, not in any official capacity, but as a courtesy to say they’d be visiting the settlement.
The man behind the counter didn’t seem to understand what they wanted. “Sorry, but I can’t do anything. Not unless she’s here to press charges.”
Becky shook her head. “I just want my things.”
They’d all agreed that keeping quiet about her plan to ask Sarah to leave was for the best.
Trevor wasn’t sure what he’d expected, but the sight that greeted them as they entered Paradise Settlement wasn’t what had popped to mind as he thought of religious cults. Part of him wished he could see blatant evil glaring back at him. Something that would make the anger in his belly more understandable.
Instead it looked like so many small, sleepy communities, he was shocked. Innocent and forgettable, the community probably didn’t register on travelers driving by less than a mile away on the main highway.
Typical middle-class houses in a rural setting. Large yards, some of them with fences, some without. There were a lot of outbuildings and barns, but they made sense, backing onto fields that looked well maintained and nearly ready for harvest.
There were no kids around. He’d driven through Rocky at times and been totally confused at the lack of kids playing outside until someone had pointed out they were probably inside playing on their computers.
Here the kids wouldn’t have that excuse, though.
They drove past another nondescript bi-level, and he squeezed Becky’s fingers, checking in his rearview mirror again to make sure Mitch and Anna were still on his tail. “Where is everybody?”
“Not sure. Someone should be at home.” Her voice was tight. “Take the next right. It’s the yellow house, and you can park around the back. I’ll see if Sarah’s there, and if any of my things are still in my room.”
They got out of the truck at the same time, Becky giving him a dirty look.
“Oh, hell no,” Trevor admonished. “We talked about this. You’re not going anywhere by yourself.”
Becky sighed, then nodded, waiting for Mitch and Anna to join them as she walked to the back door and knocked.
There was no answer, not even when she tried a second time, so she opened the door and slipped in.
“I’ll just be a minute.” Her eyes were cast toward the floor, and all her fire and energy seemed to have vanished.
This wasn’t his Becky. This was someone in hiding, downtrodden and abused. Muted fury rushed through him as he kept control for her sake. The sooner they left, the better.
He silently followed her up the narrow staircase to the bedroom at the end of the hall. Becky stood in the doorway, staring in without stepping any further. Her body trembled, and he moved in closer so he could hold her, trying to give her reassurance as she faced whatever demons possessed this place.
A simple wooden bedframe. A dresser. Thin curtains at the window. Nothing that looked like his Becky.
He stroked a hand along her neck. “What’s the matter, Rodeo?”
She shook her head. “None of this is mine.”
Dammit. “Nothing?”
“It’s okay. I didn’t have that much, anyway.” She turned, forcing a smile to her lips that he knew she didn’t feel. “Come on. I think I know where they might be.”
It was like driving through some strange movie set. All of the buildings were there, but none of the actors had shown up. Becky leaned her head against his shoulder, taking deep breaths as he followed the loop to the largest building in the community.
Here finally were people—the full parking lot was the first sign, followed by the appearance of a few women with children in their arms standing outside the side door, obviously rocking noisy children during what must be a church service.
The faint sounds of organ music met them as they left the truck, Becky sliding her fingers into his. “In a way, this makes it easier. We can get Sarah and the kids, and it will all be done at one time.”
Trevor had agreed to not take her supposed husband apart, but it wasn’t enough. “Nobody touches you,” he warned. “I won’t go in and pick a fight, but if anyone tries to hurt you, I’m not standing there and letting them.”
She stopped, worry on her face. “Trevor, you promised.”
“He promised not to start a fight,” Mitch grumbled softly. “Neither of us promised not to finish one.”
Damn right. “Anna, I like your choice of husbands.”
His sister straightened her jacket, putting on her cop face. “He’s a keeper.” She gave Becky a direct look. “Remember, all you can do is ask. It’s up to Sarah, because no matter what the guys just implied, there will be no fighting today.”
In some other place, at some other time, Trevor would’ve called his sister a spoilsport, but this moment was far too serious for joking.
Becky tightened her grip on his fingers and led them up the stairs.
The soft, churchy music had stopped, and someone was talking over a loud speaker. Nothing earth-shattering or demonic. Something about harvests and a fall gathering. Only, as Becky walked them past the back row of dozens of pews, the man standing behind the pulpit faltered, his voice trailing off into nothing.
People turned to see what he was staring at, the wooden pews creaking like a chorus of ghosts, shock on faces the clearest thing Trevor could see.
And then the whispering began.
Becky’s fingers were ice cold in his, but she kept walking, chin jutted out, bravery in every step. The same kind of bravery that had taken her through a world of change over the past months.
He’d never been prouder.
Trevor had also never been more afraid in his life—not for himself, but for her. Having to face the people who had held her trapped for so long? He just wanted to get the hell out of there and take her with him.
“Rebekah?” A slim woman stood in the front pew, eyes wide in her white face. The family resemblance was there in the lines of her cheekbones and chin, although her dress was from a former generation, her hair braided back plain and proper.
Becky slipped her fingers from his and stepped forward, rushing to wrap her arms around her sister. “Sarah. I’ve missed you so much.”
For one moment Trevor thought in spite of his misgivings it was going to be a grand reunion like he’d seen on TV shows, or heard about on the news. Long-lost family reunited, and there’d be tears of joy in celebration, then they’d move on to the next thing—
But while Becky was hugging her sister, Sarah hadn’t moved. She stood stiffly, arms hanging at her sides. The sound in the room was no longer made of muted whispers, but anger and confusion.
He stepped forward, certain things had just gone to hell.