Page 38 of The Sheik's Vow

Kaia and Tara reached for each other, their hands clasping. That’s when they saw her. A woman. A stranger, but…not a stranger.

“That’s Betsy!” Kaia hissed, grabbing Tara’s arm.

Tara and Kaia were already running towards the barn, forgetting about their bodyguards as they raced to their childhood friend.

Ann took the lead, speeding quickly even though her legs weren’t any longer than Kaia’s or Tara’s. She shoved open the gate, leaving it open for the other women to get through.

“Betsy!” Kaia called out as she reached the other woman. “Oh my gosh, it’s so good to see you! I can’t believe you escaped!” She threw her arms around Betsy.

Betsy hissed, shrinking back from the embrace.

Kaia and Tara recognized the sound. The sisters shared a glance, then looked at Ann. Tara pulled away and moved to stand behind Betsy. The gasp warned Kaia that their guess was accurate.

“Who did this to you, Betsy?” Kaia demanded, her fury spiking as she saw the blood oozing through the thin fabric of her childhoodfriend’s shirt.

Betsy leaned a shoulder against the barn door. “Ethan sent me here to find you,” she announced with a weak voice.

Kaia’s adrenaline spiked at his name. Gently, she took Betsy’s hand, trying to offer the wounded woman some strength. “Did he do this to you?”

Tara was already rushing to grab a nearby wool horse blanket.

Betsy cringed only slightly when the blanket was thrown over her shoulders. But her fingers trembled as she pulled the blanket closer, trying to absorb some warmth.

“He said that,” Betsy looked pleadingly at Kaia, “he would do this to another person every hour that you don’t present yourself to him.” Tears poured down her cheeks as Betsy tried to wipe them away. “That was four hours ago, Kaia.”

Tara and Kaia looked at each other. The sisters were still for a long moment, neither speaking. Words weren’t necessary. They knew what they needed to do.

Ann gasped and stepped closer. “You’re not going to this monster!” She eyed the sisters in horror. “Tell me that you’re not going to give in to his demands!”

Kaia rested a gentle hand to Betsy’s shoulder. “He has to be stopped. And I know exactly how to do it.”

Betsy sagged with relief. “Thank you! I told Ethan that you’d do the right thing.”

Chapter 25

Ethan tossed the broken cane into the trash. It clattered among the broken bits of the previous two canes. It didn’t matter. He had plenty more. And the hardware store was only a few miles away if he needed additional supplies.

“You remember what to tell Kaia?” he asked, his voice calm and controlled as he unzipped the Tyvek suit protecting his clothing from blood and other bodily fluids. He stepped out of the rain boots and pushed his feet into the expensive loafers, sighing at the comfortable fit. He paid over five thousand dollars for his shoes so they’d better be good!

“Yes, sir!” the woman replied, her voice shaking with pain and fear.

“Good,” Ethan said, then glanced at his reflection in the mirror, smoothing down his hair. “You may go. Send Diane to me before you leave.” He looked at the nude woman, blood dripping down her stomach and thighs. “Tell me again why you were disciplined.”

The woman trembled, crossing her arms over her naked breasts as she tried to halt the tears. “Because you want us all to be present when our lord returns to earth and takes us up to heaven.”

“And?”

The woman ignored the tears streaming down her cheeks, herarms in too much pain to lift them. “And Kaia needs to be restored to us. We failed to make her feel a part of our community.” She sobbed, her back and shoulders curling inward.

“Exactly,” Ethan said, as he walked over to her. With his forefinger under her chin, he lifted her face, admiring the tears and the chapped lips. It was a good look on her.

“Send Diane in, then go do your duty.”

“Yes, sir,” she whispered, then turned and made her way up the stairs. She didn’t run, he noticed with pride. Most likely, the pain would keep her from running for a long time. He’d done a good job on her.

A knock on the back door startled him and Ethan turned, expecting to find one of his deputies. Instead, he saw dark, curly hair. “Kaia!” he hissed, grabbing a rag and wiping the blood from his hands. He should probably pause and wash his hands properly, but he was too eager to see his nemesis.

He paused to glance at the wooden bucket where additional canes stood ready for whatever discipline he decided to mete out.

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