she’d answer you if you did. She’s been slapped around enough to know that it’s not her place in this world to say nothing.”
Duncan heard the bolt slide closed just after Ramon stepped out of the room. He relaxed back against the pillows. In the fever of the first day, he’d thought he was safe and someone was taking care of him. Now he knew he was in a prison and the nurse was just another prisoner.
He looked at the girl Ramon had called Anna. She would one day be a beautiful woman if she lived. He’d seen women begin having children when not fully grown. By the time they’d had three or four they looked forty even though they were still in their teens. Then, year by year each baby seemed to drain more life out of them. He wondered if Anna knew the life her great-aunt had planned for her. Nights with a bull of a man. Carrying a child every year without being allowed the joy of raising it. The girl would go mad, if she wasn’t already.
She stirred the soup and tasted a sip to make sure it wasn’t too hot, then offered him a spoonful.
“Thank you, Anna,” he whispered, not wanting his voice to reach the door in case Ramon was listening.
She fed him the soup as he fought to stay awake. Thanks to her, he was healing, but it would take at least a few days before he had the energy to walk, much less fight his way out of this place. Duncan had a feeling he didn’t have that long.
They heard the door bolt rattling, and she pulled the bowl away. With a feather touch, she brushed his eyes closed and pulled the cover up. By the time the door swung open, he’d figured out that he needed to stay asleep if he wanted to stay alive.
He heard Toledo move into the room, her layers of rags swishing like willow branches as she walked. He also heard the girl move the tray away, but he couldn’t hear where she went.
“Ramon!” Toledo yelled. “Have you heard a sound from our guest?”
“Nope,” Ramon answered from near the door. “But I’ve been sitting here on guard like you told me.”
Duncan felt the old woman’s bony hand on his cheek and forced himself to totally relax. When she slapped him, he gave with the blow like a man out cold. He wasn’t surprised when she hit him again, trying to wake him.
“He’s no good to me like this, but his color is better, I guess. Lock him in here in the girl’s room tonight. She can take care of him. If he’s dead in the morning, tie her to the hitching post and leave her there until I wake. It’s been far too long since I’ve taught her who her betters are. If she doesn’t keep him alive, she’ll be wishing she was the one who died.”
Duncan heard the old woman move a few feet away and kick something. If it was the girl, she didn’t make a sound. “If he dies, I’ll beat you, Anna.” Toledo almost giggled with excitement. “Do you understand, you worthless child?”
Ramon’s laughter came from near the door. “You’ll beat her anyway, and we both know it. If he dies, you’ll beat her. If he lives and is traded to the outlaws, you’ll beat her. I’ve never known you to go more than a month without beating her.”
Toledo’s voice moved away. “Well, if I do it’s none of your business, now is it? I don’t break any bones and I haven’t had to strip her and use a whip in years. She learned not to run away. And you best remember that you’ll not touch her until she’s ready. Do you understand, Ramon, or I promise I will break the rest of your bones.”
“I understand. You’ve told me often enough. She’s not a whore and she’ll not come to my bed until she’s a woman and the priest has said the words over us.”
Toledo laughed, as if their plan made some kind of sense in her mind. “Her children will be of mixed blood from peoples her parents wouldn’t have stopped to talk to. If they knew their only child will become nothing more than a breeder to children who will always be servants and thieves, they’d curse me from their graves.” Her laughter bore a touch of insanity in its joy. “They hated me, but I’ll have the last laugh.”