Chapter 17 #2
Right before the door slams, I see someone sabotaging Sabre’s bike.
It takes me a split second to realize they’re not only slashing his tires, but they quickly thread heavy chain through the front wheel and around the frame and lock it into place with a big master lock.
The side door closes and a few seconds later the saboteur jumps into the front passenger seat of the van and fastens his seat belt as the van speeds away.
As the van reverses, I look through the front window.
Just when all hope is dimming, the restaurant doors burst open and Sabre comes running into the parking lot at full speed.
He literally tries to run the van down on foot, with the driver barely managing to get away from him.
My guy doesn’t give up though. He continues running after us on foot, straight down the middle of the parking lot.
His arms are pumping and his jacket is flying open while he screams something I can’t understand.
I try to scramble over the bench seat and into the back of the van, thinking I might be able to open the back door and jump out before they can stop me.
The younger man is quick. He grabs both my shoulders and tries to pull me from my position straddling the back of the seat.
Of course I fight him, right until my father grabs a handful of my hair and jerks me back down into the bench seat, leaving my scalp stinging like I’ve been attacked by a swarm of hornets.
“Sit down, Linny. You’ve always had spirit but you’re sorely testing my patience today, girl.”
The van turns the corner behind the diner and passes the kitchen entrance. As we speed by, the back door opens and my mother rushes out. She climbs into the open door of a waiting gray sedan, which falls into line right behind us.
We exit the far side of the parking lot and get onto the main road, with Sabre still trying to catch up on foot. He’s got no bike and since my father took my car keys, he can’t even follow in my vehicle.
It takes me a minute to catch my breath but then all the pieces fall neatly in place.
It was a setup. My own mother did this. Ruthie was never in danger and there was no secret escape attempt.
She used the little sister I never met because she knew Ruthie was the same age as my Noah and I would risk any and everything to save her.
I look up at my father and realize this is just him manipulating me through other people.
My mother betrayed me, not once but twice.
The first time was all those years ago when she encouraged me to stay with the man beating me.
The second was today. She lied to me, so my father could get control over me again.
I’ve never felt more disgusted by my family than I do right now.
The young man rummages around in a toolbox for what seems like forever before pulling out a handful of zip ties, the oversized ones that are practically impossible for someone to break free from. He fastens them around my wrists, pulling them tighter than necessary.
“That hurts,” I say, kicking him in the side. He just ignores me.
My father sits across from me on a bench, mostly staring out the window. Once the van reaches highway speed, he begins talking.
“You dishonored our family. You acted like a Jezebel opening your legs for Dylan. Then you refused to marry him after getting pregnant with his child. And the most shameful sin is lying about his child dying in the womb. Now I find you’re living in sin with outlaw biker trash.
Ten years is a long time, but the Lord’s work is never done.
How do you plan to atone for all that sin, girl? ”
“I don’t. I’m an adult. That means I can make my own choices.”
His top lip snarls back and he spits out, “There you go, being disrespectful again. Even after all these years, you’ve learned nothing, girl.”
“I’m an adult now. You’re not going to intimidate me into doing what you want anymore.”
For the first time, real regret shows on his face, rather than just anger.
“I tried to raise you to live a righteous life. I allowed your mother to dissuade me when the rod would have served better to drive home lessons about right and wrong. That was my failure, one I’ve regretted every single day since you ran away from home. ”
I swallow thickly. This is scary because there’s no getting through to him. He’s so fixed in his ways, he can’t open his mind to another way of living.
“I won’t make that mistake with our good son,” he says. “I’ll not spare the rod with him.”
“Our good son?” I ask, more than a little bewildered.
“Noah. You’re not fit to be a mother, I can at least ensure he has a proper upbringing. God knows what kind of life he’d have living with you and that biker.”
A chill creeps down my spine. I want to scream at him that he’ll never get his hands on my son. I don’t, though, because it’s a waste of breath. Instead, I ask, “Where are you taking me?”
“Somewhere quiet where you can repent. There are people waiting to help you. They have my permission to humble you, to do what is necessary for you to find your way back to God. You’ll stay there for as long as it takes.”
Just when I thought this couldn’t get creepier, he comes off with something like that. My mom is right about one thing. He’s becoming more unhinged with time.
He casually checks his watch. “Once you’re settled, we’ll deal with retrieving Noah.”
That chill that ran down my spine just swamped my whole body. A white-hot fury swells up in my soul. Instead of shouting and fighting, I tell him in no uncertain terms, “You will never touch my son. Stay away from him or you’re going to become Dylan’s new cellmate.”
My father looks disappointed in me. “You see, this is exactly the defiance I’ve been talking about.
Noah needs his family, not a Godless single mother associating with outlaws.
How can you not see that, Linny? It’s almost like you suffered a head injury at some point and all your good sense fell out. ”
I just turn and stare out the window. My father loves to preach, and I can already tell that’s how he plans to spend our travel time. I need to zone out right now because it’s going to take hours to drive back to Montana.
“Noah needs strong male role models, men who can teach him discipline and faith before those outlaws you’ve been shacking up with destroy whatever good remains in his soul.”
Words come tumbling out that I didn’t mean to say. “Those outlaws aren’t criminals. And they’ve shown him more patience, love, and protection than you showed any child in your entire life.”
My father’s expression hardens. His hand comes out to grasp a handful of my hair and pulls my head back to stare into my eyes. “You will learn to control that disrespectful mouth of yours, girl.”
I stare straight into his eyes. “You had eighteen years to make me into the puppet you wanted. Consider it a missed opportunity.”
“I can see you plan to challenge my good judgment every step of the way. Once I straighten you out, I think it’s time to get you married once and for all.”
“They have a new word for marrying women against their will. It’s called human trafficking. Did you know that?”
He just stares at me before saying, “God’s will shall be done, on Earth as it is in heaven.”