Page 68 of Relentless

Maeve reached over and squeezed her hand, instantly causing every fragile emotional wall to crumble. Harper tucked her arms to her chest and collapsed into Maeve’s lap. She felt her sister hold her tightly as she quaked with violent sobs.

“I hate him, Maeve,” she cried. “I hate him.”

Their father’s heavy footsteps clunked up the stairs, accompanied by what sounded like a belt snapping in his hands. Fear stole her last sliver of courage as she heard him making his way down the hall.

Frozen in place, she began to shake.

“Stand up!” Harris barked.

Harper obediently clambered to her feet, steeling herself for what was likely to be a brutal retribution. She heard the belt snap back and the buckle clang as he wound up to strike. Clenching her eyes shut, she allowed her mind to drift.

“Dad, please.” Maeve’s pleading voice sliced through their father’s blind rage.

Harper’s eyes slowly peeked to look.

Her little sister was standing in the gap between them, daring to raise her hand in Harper’s defense. He had always harbored a soft spot for Maeve, and she had never been forced to endure the brunt of his fury.

Harper slipped past them and into the safety of her bedroom.

Her father angrily paced the hallway throughout the early morning hours. Harper waited on edge, bracing for him to burst through her door at any moment.

She heard her mother comforting him in his distress.

“If it happens again, I’m calling the police, Harris,” Vera declared. “She could have really hurt you.”

“Haven’t I been humiliated enough?” he bit back. “There’s nothing good in her, Vera.”

Harper wanted to cry out that there was something in her worth saving. Yet, her growing self-loathing reinforced his words.

“At least we’ve got Maeve,” Vera whispered. “Our saving grace.”

“Thank God for Maeve,” Harris echoed.

Harper had heard enough.

Clasping her pillow tightly, she took deep breaths to settle her racing heart. She knew exactly what her parents had meant.

She wasn’t Maeve. She’d never be Maeve.

In the darkness of her room, Harper shut her eyes tight. Shedding her final tear, she whispered the last prayer she would ever truly mean.

Please God, make me good.

Chapter 20

Bosslady

Oakleigh crossed her arms over the wooden barn stall, watching over her chickens like a proud mother hen. Even being forced to stay indoors and out of the harsh weather hadn’t dampened the spirit, nor the volume of Nugget. The rooster had become the viral success that she had hoped. For her followers’ viewing enjoyment, she was even considering installing a twenty-four hourNugget Cam. She couldn’t wait to tell Sawyer all about it when he was well enough to hear the news, and she brightened at the thought of his predictable exasperation.

Her brow furrowed with concern. Bethany had driven him to the hospital that afternoon at the doctor’s orders, and she had yet to hear an update.

The barn door swung open, letting in a burst of cold air that made the animals shuffle in their stalls.

Oakleigh prayed that it wasn’t Harper.

Please Lord, I’ve had enough of thatwoman today.

No matter how much Maeve encouraged her, Oakleigh was still building up walls of protection around herself. She felt incapable of finding the balance of loving her mother while yet still protecting herself with firm boundaries.

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