Chapter 46

She bowed her head and covered her face with one hand and the tears came then, unrestrained and uncontrolled. After a few minutes, she realized that the water was burning her hand and she quickly shut it off after she’d finished washing the plate. With that done, she wiped at her face and tried to calm herself down before returning to the living room. Though she wasn’t able to wipe away all the signs of her distress, her two hosts were polite and did not mention her appearance.

“I’m sorry. I’m very tired now. Is there somewhere I can sleep?”

Daniel got up and motioned with one hand. “Of course, come with me and I’ll show you where the extra bedroom is. We have one in case any of our tribe needs a place to sleep for a night or two when things get too hot. Make yourself at home. If there’s anything you need, please let us know.”

Amanda forced a smile. “Thank you, Daniel. You’ve both been far too kind to me. I really appreciate it. Even if you did kidnap me, hogtie me, and throw me in the back of a big white creeper van. I forgive you both for that.”

Daniel burst into laughter. “Well good, I’m glad we can all move past that little nasty business.”

She hadn’t exactly meant to be funny, but Daniel’s reaction to her words even brought a faint smile to her lips. “Me too. Night.”

“Goodnight.”

Amanda closed the bedroom door, dropped her backpack on the floor then lay down on the bed and cried herself to sleep for the second time in less than twelve hours.

Amanda woke to the sounds of a hushed conversation in the other room. The walls were paper thin and she was able to make out the rising and falling of the voices as the conversation continued on but she couldn’t quite make out the actual words.

It sounded like it was just Sara and Daniel talking; her soft voice only barely made it through the walls while Daniel’s deeper tone came through easily enough yet was still too unclear to make anything out. She considered whether she should try to sleep some more and give them time to finish talking or if she should go on out and let them know she was awake, lest she overhear anything she shouldn’t.

Amanda finally decided that making her presence known would be the most polite thing to do. She pushed herself up out of the bed and ran her fingers through her hair a few times before pulling the door open.

“No, Sara doesn’t think that it’s a good idea for you to come over here just yet.”

“Oh, just throw me under the bus why don’t you.” Sara muttered quietly.

There was a pause in the conversation.

“Yeah, she was pretty upset when we found her. She was bawling her head off. What did you do to her, man?” Daniel sounded annoyed. “Look, she doesn’t even know that we know you. We’re trying to build up her trust here and if you come over here swinging your cock around, you’re just going to send her running in the other direc—Hello? Cole? Are you there? Son of a bitch!” There was a beep, followed by Daniel announcing in an exasperated tone. “That bastard hung up on me!”

Cole? Her Cole? Amanda closed the bedroom door again as quietly as she could and turned to look around the room. One window on the outside wall looked like it might be low enough to climb through. She hurried over and pulled the curtains back, pleased to find that there was no screen on the outside.