Chapter Thirteen
When they landed, buses met them and drove them to Serenity. As Julio promised, Kassie and her team waited for them. It didn’t escape her notice it consisted of only women. She watched the people she hadn’t seen in over a year welcome the victims and usher them into the hospital.
“Triage them and put anyone hurt in the ER. Annabelle and Addison will attend to them immediately. Tell Randy we need food brought up from the kitchen,” Kassie Winters ordered her team.
Rebecca smiled. The woman seemed to have grown more confident since she’d last seen her.
The older women, referred to as the grans, coddled the women as they draped a blanket over their shoulders and walked them inside.
Victoria seemed to have softened a bit as she led one of the younger women by the hand.
Kassie approached their bus as the next set of women helped them off. With everyone else gone, Julio stood, allowing Rebecca to lead the way. She rose and extended her hand to Kara.
“Do I have to stay here?” she asked.
“You’ll love it here. It’s very peaceful. We’ll only be here a night or two before we go to the new location. Then, we can contact families and let them know we found you,” Rebecca said patiently. “In the morning, you’ll see two big, beautiful mountains.”
“Will you be here?” Kara asked as she rose.
“I’ll be close,” she assured her. “They have to document all of our injuries and then you can sleep in a nice warm bed.”
Kara stepped off the bus, right into Edie’s arms. “Land’s sakes, child, did they turn off the heat on the bus? Let’s get you inside where it’s nice and warm. Do you like hot chocolate?”
Kara smiled shyly, her eyes widening with disbelief as she nodded. Edie wrapped her arm around her and escorted her inside.
Rebecca stepped down and Kassie smiled. “Welcome home, Rebecca.”
“Thank you for doing all this. Has Leo’s team landed? We need to go over the cities and the names while they’re fresh in my mind. I tried to write them down in order, but I’m not sure I have them correct,” Rebecca babbled nervously.
Kassie nodded. “They’re on their way back, except for Leo and Ivan. They’re handling the other details. I have a room for you if you’ll come with me.”
“I need to get the women settled,” she argued.
“They’re settling in as we speak,” Kassie said firmly. “Now it’s our turn to get you comfortable.”
“I’ll go with Kara. She’s scared and doesn’t know anyone,” Rebecca deflected.
Dr. Claire Meyers approached them, smiling at Rebecca.
“Hello, Rebecca. I’m Patch’s fiancée, Claire.
Why don’t Kassie and I help you to your room?
You can write anything else you can think of down, and when Leo arrives, you’ll have plenty of time to speak with him,” she assured her and took her arm, leading her away from Julio.
He followed closely behind, intent on going with the woman he loved.
Kassie pulled him back, sending him an empathetic smile.
“I know you want to join her, but we need to examine her and take pictures. It’s best if you wait across the hall.
I have to protect her privacy, but I will come for you if she requests it. ”
“She didn’t say much on the plane. Rebecca’s worried about the other women and refused to leave until they all arrived,” Julio murmured. “The teen, Kara, seemed anxious and Rebecca refused to leave her. Where did you take her?”
“She’s two doors down,” Kassie informed him as they entered the hospital. “The same rules apply to her, but she may see you as a safe person since you came for Rebecca. If I don’t find you in the waiting room, I’ll search there.”
“Thanks, Kassie,” Julio said, scanning the chaotic scene as staff led the brutalized women down the hall to X-ray while nurses rushed for IV bags to hydrate almost all of them. They appeared like haunted skeletons.
“You’re welcome. Randy will bring you something to eat while you wait. Doc will be here shortly with some of the team,” she said before heading to Rebecca’s room.
Kassie knocked softly and entered to find Rebecca furiously writing on a piece of paper while Claire observed her and frowned.
“This woman disappeared shortly before the auction. I don’t know her last name. They only called her Ebony. They shot a young woman named Hillary. They left her on the floor to die in a puddle of her own blood,” Rebecca said, scribbling harder.
“Rebecca,” Kassie said gently. “I know this must be difficult, but we need to document everything. Do you consent to a rape kit? You know how the process works because of your job, but right now, you’re on the other side. Do you want us to walk you through it?”
“No,” Rebecca said firmly.
Claire sat down close to the bed and touched her hand. “No, as in you don’t need a rape kit or no, as in you don’t need us to walk you through it?”
Rebecca set her pen down, staring at the two women as if they resembled total strangers. “Where’s Kara? She’s terrified. I promised to stay close.”
“Victoria and one of my nurses, Annabelle, took her two doors down. If she needs a support person, Victoria won’t leave her side. Annabelle will perform the exam. Julio asked about her, too. He’s waiting outside the door in case either of you need anything,” Kassie informed her.
“I don’t want him in here. He can’t see me like this,” Rebecca said, tugging the jacket Julio put on her at the sight of her nightgown.
“He won’t cross the threshold until you say you’re ready,” Claire assured her. “After we finish documenting, then we can get you into a nice shower and fresh clothes.”
Rebecca nodded. Her stomach twisted in knots at the idea of lying on the bed and having her body documented for all to see. Even knowing Kassie, she felt exposed and humiliated despite having no choice over her life for almost a year.
“It’s all right, Rebecca,” Kassie murmured, guessing her thoughts. “We can go as slow as you need us to or as fast. You call the shots here.”
She swallowed the lump in her throat and slowly shrugged out of Julio’s jacket, losing his scent along with it. She placed it beside her as the women put on gloves. “Don’t put this with the rape kit. It’s Julio’s,” she whispered.
“We’ll leave it here beside you,” Kassie said, helping her remove the remnants of the tattered gown.
Taking a deep breath, Rebecca lay back against the pillows as the women covered her with a sheet and a warm blanket.
“I’ll do the exam first and document everything. You have the right to refuse any part of this. Do you have any questions or concerns?” Kassie asked, pulling a tray closer to the bed.
Rebecca closed her eyes, shutting out the memory of Dr. Reese and her exams. Kassie Winters hired the team to help find trafficking victims, not hurt them.
“They gave me a shot about two and a half months ago for birth control. I want to go back on the pill. Before they rescued us…” Rebecca paused. The words refused to come out and she struggled with what she needed to tell them. “There may be multiple semen samples.”
Claire held her hand while Kassie talked her through the process, moving slowly.
“I’m done with all the physical examination. You have a slight tear and bleeding. I’ll order an ultrasound and blood work to rule out any permanent damage and any sexually transmitted diseases. Do you know the exact date of the birth control shot?” Kassie asked.
Rebecca’s mind fumbled as she struggled to recall her last appointment with Dr. Reese.
The woman seemed upset when she saw her condition after her previous visitor.
They forced the clients to wear condoms to protect their property, but it didn’t stop Jim and his men. Hopefully, they all went to hell.
“I don’t remember. What’s today?” she asked, feeling confused and disoriented.
“Take a deep breath through your nose and out your mouth, Rebecca,” Dr. Meyers reminded her.
“It’s all right. We’ll take a blood test and check your hormone levels. Did you have any questions?” Kassie asked patiently.
“How long will it take to get the results back?” she asked anxiously.
Kassie sat back on her stool. “It’ll take multiple blood tests over a course of weeks to clear you of everything,” she informed her.
“I can give you a pill to prevent pregnancy. You can start the birth control immediately. I’ll send Annabelle and Ragu to Texas with you.
She can treat the women who decide to stay at the Texas site. ”
“What do you mean? I thought we planned to take all of them.” Rebecca exclaimed. “They need to feel safe.”
“And they will be here. I won’t make them go. They have a choice. We will send whoever wants to fly to Texas and give them shelter, counseling, and medical care while they heal and find their families,” Kassie soothed her.
“I’m sorry, Kassie. It’s been a long day,” Rebecca faltered.
“You’ve nothing to apologize for. I have called in several rape crisis counselors from Seattle.
Claire can speak with you after I finish taking the photos.
Another team of counselors will arrive in Embers, Texas, tomorrow night.
Rachel will ensure they’re settled and the cabins prepped for the victims.”
“Don’t call them that. They’re people,” Rebecca snapped.
“You’re right,” Kassie agreed. “Everything will be ready for when you arrive. Rachel Foster lives with Matthew since we last saw you. They’re engaged and live on the ranch.
Matthew has hired hands to keep up the ranch aspects while we’re recruiting the Texas team.
Julio wants to see you. Do you mind if he comes in when we’re done? ”
“Can you tell him I’m taking a shower? I need some time…”
“We’ll take care of it,” Dr. Meyers assured her.
“I’ll get your blood work when I put in your IV. Do you want to shower before I get you settled?” Kassie asked.
“We can give you something to help you relax,” Dr. Meyers offered.
“No, I’m fine,” she insisted. “Let’s get these pictures done and over with. I’ll go down for the tests. Then, I’ll shower and check on the women. When I return, you can hook me up to the IV,” Rebecca ordered, unwilling to let go of her control.
The women nodded and Kassie took several photos, inspected her skin, and ordered antibiotics for an infected cut.
Rebecca gritted her teeth while they did their job.
When they finally finished, Kassie pointed to the bathroom.
“I have fresh pajamas and a robe waiting for you. Tomorrow, I’ll have clothing ready for all the women. Do you need anything else?”
Shaking her head, Rebecca waited until they left before walking into the bathroom.
She glanced at her image in the mirror, seeing a mere shell of herself.
She disrobed slowly, taking in the cuts and bruises.
The robe fell the rest of the way to the floor, and she turned sideways to view her shame.
The brand on her thigh seemed to sear her skin like it did the night they held her down, permanently branding her like cattle.
Turning, Rebecca held her long blonde hair to the side as she inspected herself for any trackers.
Kassie traced along her skin, searching for anything embedded, but she didn’t trust the bastards.
Dr. Meyers didn’t press her too severely.
The doctor seemed professional as she prescribed anxiety medication and gave her a list of things to watch for to protect her mental well-being.
The hot steam filled the room as she stepped inside the shower.
The lavender shower bomb relaxed her as she took her time washing her hair, adding conditioner, and scrubbing the filth from her body.
Reminding herself, she’d never have to feel Jim’s hands on her again.