“By giving us a large sum of money. For all of us to share. Isn’t that wonderful, sweetheart?”

I hardly knew the value of money, but it clearly made her very happy.

“That’s wonderful,” I said.

“All we have to do is go and get it.” She took a deep breath. “So tomorrow I’m going to take you into town and we’re going to meet with some important people and they’re going to give us our blessing.”

I blinked. “Into town?” I’d never been off the property.

Mother placed a reassuring hand on my knee. “I know it will be a challenge for you, but Mommy will be right beside you the whole time.”

“Why do I have to go?”

“Because you’re the one through whom all blessings flow, sweetheart. That’s how God works. He’s blessing me and Wyatt and Bobby and Zeke and all of us through you. Isn’t that wonderful?”

I was going into town?

“Yes. Yes, it’s wonderful.”

“Now . . . it’s very important that you are especially pure tomorrow. If anyone asks you any questions it’s very important that you give only the answers God would have you give to show how grateful you are for his provision all these years. He rescued you from the hell you were in and brought you into the loving embrace of your mother.”

I nodded but my mind was spinning with thoughts of town. And with Paul. What would he say if I told him I was going to town? He would be proud of me and for some reason that made me happy.

“I’m going to help you prepare for our big day tomorrow,” Mother said. “You have to be perfectly pure or God might withdraw his blessing at the last moment. You wouldn’t want that would you?”

“No, Mother.”

She shook her head slowly, smiling gently. “No, I didn’t think you would. So I’m going to suggest we start preparing by having you spend the rest of the day in darkness, praying. Do you think that’s a good idea?”

The closet? A chill washed down my back.

Then I thought about Paul, and how proud he would be that I was going into town and that brought me some comfort. If I was blessing Zeke, I was blessing Paul as well because Paul was his son.

“Yes, Mother,” I said.

14

WYATT DROVE the truck down the gravel road as the morning sun crested the tall, moss-draped trees to Kathryn’s right. It was a thirty-minute drive into town if they followed the main streets, forty-five if they took the back roads, which they would. Kathryn had chosen the route herself to make sure of that.

Zeke had arranged everything, he always did. Still, the uneasiness that haunted her whispered its worry, like a ghost trying to get in where it wasn’t welcome. But it was always there, wasn’t it? No matter how pure Eden was. No matter how many baptisms.

Always, always there.

Kathryn stared out the passenger window, chewing her fingernail, trying to quiet her mind. She should be happier, more at peace. It was a day of great blessing, wasn’t it? But she was also all too aware that danger crowded in on all sides.

What if something went wrong? What if this was a test from God and she failed? She could live without money; she had for a long time. What if someone recognized her? What then? She couldn’t live without Eden.

The moment they drove off the property, Eden would be in harm’s way. That was the truth and no one, not her nor Zeke, could guarantee Eden’s safety off the property.

“Right here. Stop the truck,” she said.

Wyatt brought the truck to a stop. She could see Zeke’s house just ahead to the left, surrounded by trees. His Dobermans were barking, probably because they’d stopped the truck.

Kathryn turned and looked at Eden, who sat behind Wyatt in the crew cab’s back seat, face pressed close to the window. She passed a black hood over the seat.

“You need to wear this, sweetheart,” she said. “Just for a little while.”

Eden took it without a word.

“It’s for your own protection.”

Eden stared at her with round blue eyes, then shifted her gaze back out the window.

“Are you all right?” Kathryn said.

She hesitated. “It’s just . . . the dogs.”

“Don’t you worry about them. We’re safe. Isn’t that right, Wyatt?”

“They’re chained up during the day. Nothing to worry about.”

Eden held the hood in her hands. Ran her fingers over the fabric.

“You’re quiet this morning,” Kathryn said. “This is a wonderful day for all of us, and especially you. You’re not excited?”

“I didn’t sleep well. That’s all.”

“I’m a little nervous too, but soon enough we’ll be back home where it’s safe. I promise.” She smiled. “Now, go on. Put it on. It’s a short drive to town so I want you to lie down in the back seat and rest your eyes until we get there.”

“Yes, Mother.” She carefully pulled the hood on, lay down, and rested her head on the seat.

They resumed their drive down the gravel road and past the other houses, which were scattered between Zeke’s and the county road.

There were now eleven families in the community, all who lived on plots of land not unlike their own, and all who were as much a part of Zeke’s family as his own children. They did what he said, and nothing less. He owned the land, didn’t he? He guided them in the ways of truth. He was the one who kept the law off their backs and food on their tables.

No one really expected moonshine to flow from the swamps, which was why Zeke had bought the land and set up his operation in Louisiana, he said. It made sense if you were smart.

Everything Zeke did was smart.

It took them thirty minutes along the back roads to reach the highway and follow its short jaunt into Lafayette and to the address Zeke had given her. She hated the city, always had. Too many people without a head on their shoulders, walking the wide path straight to hell. More than that, civilization and all of its laws represented the world that had taken Eden from her in the first place. And would again if given half a chance.

Wyatt pulled into a large parking lot next to a shiny, ten-story office complex. He angled the truck into a free spot and killed the engine.

This was it, then. Just in to see the judge, sign the papers, and get out without any hitch.

Kathryn wiped her brow with a handkerchief, and turned around. “You can take it off now, sweetheart. We’re here.”

Eden sat upright and worked the hood off her head.

“Careful not to mess your hair. You want to look your best.”

Kathryn got out of the truck while Wyatt opened Eden’s door, which was locked from the inside with a child safety latch. Eden climbed out of the truck and blinked in the sunlight. She turned slowly, taking in a world that had long been hidden from her. And for good reason.

The less time Eden spent outside, the better.

“We should get inside. We don’t want to keep the judge waiting.”

She put her arm around Eden and led her toward the building, glancing around nervously as they walked. They entered the building, walked across the glass atrium to a bank of elevators, and took the slow ride to the tenth floor.

“You okay, sweetheart?”

Eden nodded as the elevator rose.

“I know this must be hard for you being away from home, but I’ll keep you safe.” She smoothed her daughter’s hair. “Just don’t leave my side. Okay?”

“Okay.”

Kathryn glanced at the business card Zeke had given her—Suite 1003, the office of the Honorable Harlan Cobb, a long-time friend of Zeke’s who would take care of everything. They found the office at the end of a vacant hall.

“Here we go. Wyatt, you stay behind me and keep your mouth shut.”

When they entered they were met by a receptionist who took her name and showed them into the judge’s office where he was already meeting with the attorney Zeke was blackmailing: John McDermott, James’s old snake-skinned lawyer from Nevada. This was the very soulless bastard who’d probably made the arrangements for Eden to be stolen from her eighteen years ago. Served him right—she hoped the dirt Zeke had on him would end up putting the man in a grave.