pointed at him.
“Just let me go.” The stranger rolls to his back and puts his hands up. “You’re not doing anything wrong here. He covers his wound again. A hunting accident.” He offers up an excuse for the bullet lodged in his shoulder.
Papa lifts his rage-filled gaze to me.
“This fucker was taking you from us. I saw footprints out here a few days ago. They were his.” He throws the wallet onto the stranger. “You’ve been plotting to run off!”
Mark fists my hair, pulling my head back. He’ll slit my throat easily in this position.
“Please,” I beg, even though it’s not allowed. I plea for him not to hurt me.
“Is that right?” Elijah demands of me, looking at me from over his shoulder.
“I told you,” Mark yells. “I told you she would give in to the wicked thoughts.”
“No!” I’ve never defended myself before, but I have to this time. There’s a gun pointed at the stranger. A knife at my throat.
“No? You weren’t going to run off with him and leave us? He doesn’t mean anything to you?” Papa says in the tone he uses when he’s trying to fish out the answer he wants. I’m not sure what the right answer is here. If he doesn’t believe my lie, it will be worse, but if he believes me, I can save us both.
“I…he confused me,” I say, looking at the stranger on the ground. Blood covers his sleeve. “I…he needs to go away. He won’t bother us anymore. Will you?” I ask him, urging him to give the right answer.
“No. I won’t bother any of you anymore. I swear it. I’m going home today. No one even knows I was up in these mountains.” He points to the cell phone. “No reception up here. But I’m expected home tonight. As long as I get there, no one will know anything.” Desperation drips from his words.
Papa considers him, looking at me briefly, then to Elijah. “Mark, give her the knife.”
Mark hesitates.
“Give it to her,” Papa barks, and Mark pulls the knife away from my throat. He let’s go of my hair and pushes me toward Papa before offering me the handle of the knife.
With a shaking hand, I take the knife and turn to Papa. If I obey him now, be real good and do what he says, I can convince him to forgive me. I’ll be put away for a few days, but he’ll forgive me.
The black rage pouring from his glare makes my stomach shake.
“Take off that fucking jacket.” He flicks his chin toward me.
I unzip it and wiggle out of the sleeves, letting it fall to the ground.
“Get over by your boyfriend there,” he nudges the end of rifle toward the stranger.
I swallow back a whimper and take the small steps toward him.
“On your knees,” Papa commands. I’ve heard the same words over and over since my birthday brought double digits, but this time is different. There’s no hunger, no desire weaving through the harsh tone.
I keep my gaze locked on Papa while I lower myself to the ground. My bare knees press into the cold dirt below me.
“I’m so sorry,” the stranger says to me. A little too late now. I pretend like I don’t hear him and give my attention to Papa. I can make this better.
“You brought him, you’ll take him out.” Papa motions to the knife in my hand.
It takes a dozen heartbeats for me to understand his meaning.
A shudder scrapes down my spine. I have to kill the stranger.
“Papa.” I clear my throat from the fear clogging it up. “Please, Papa. I…he’ll go and he’ll never come back.”
Papa’s eyes narrow into black slits. He twists his torso, pointing the rifle at Elijah.
My throat clamps.
“You hear that, boy?” he asks Elijah.
I will Elijah to look at me, to understand. Out of all of them, Elijah will.
“You were going to leave us,” Elijah says. The sadness in his voice clenches my heart. Disbelief gives way to anguish.
I’ve seen him beaten, helped clean him when his asshole bled after Papa loved him too hard, but never have I seen such raw pain in his eyes. I want to rip my heart out of my chest, it aches so much.
“Well, Nicolette.” Papa moves closer to Elijah. “You have a choice here. You see, there’s only four people living on this homestead. So, either you take care of your boyfriend there, or I’ll take care of Elijah.” He takes aim. Elijah’s eyes widen, the color in his