Page 24 of Montana Delta Rescue
“We’ll need to change all your passwords,” Swede said. “Pick three new ones and I’ll get on that right away.”
Marilyn rattled off three new ones. Each of the three was a word followed by a number and an exclamation point.
“We’re going to change those a bit,” Swede said. “If I put a number in between the letters of each word, can you remember that?”
“I can try,” she said. “Wow, I never thought to do that before. I pick words because they are easier to remember than numbers.”
“Lots of people do that,” he said. “But it is easy for hackers to get in. Okay now the last thing. After changing your passwords we’re going to have you go silent online. No social media, no email, no account activity. We want it to look like you’ve vanished. So, if you have bills or anything that needs taken care of we need to do that now so you can go poof by no later than tonight.”
“Okay,” she said. “I have my bills on auto pay and I have cash for anything else I need. I wouldn’t have used my credit card at that car rental place except they always insist upon one.”
“Yes, but that’s over with,” Swede said. “You won’t need to use it now. Okay guys, that’s it, I need to get to work.”
“Thank you Swede,” she said.
He held up a hand as if to say no problem and then moved over to a corner where he sat with his laptop typing away, making the changes before making Marilyn vanish online.
“How long will I have to stay hidden?” Marilyn asked Hank. “I have a role in a movie that starts next month.”
“For now, we don’t know, but we can find a way to make that work,” Hank said. “You may need to have a full-time bodyguard assigned to you while you’re filming.”
“Lots of stars have bodyguards,” Sadie said. “Let’s not worry about that yet. You just got here! I have so much to show you, and I’ll help you practice your lines, so you’ll be ready when filming starts. I want you to enjoy your time here and let the guys worry about any bad guys.”
“Oh, thank you, Sadie,” Marilyn said. “That sounds wonderful.”
“Good,” Sadie said. “Now I think it’s time for everyone to say good night so you can get a good night’s sleep. I know you’re exhausted.”
That was the signal for the men to rouse themselves and head out. Each of them said good night.
Rock was one of the last to go. He lingered and then handed her a scrap of paper with his cell phone number on it. “If you need anything,” he said. “Don’t hesitate to call me.”
“Thank you, Rock,” she said. “I’m glad you found me.”
“I’m glad too,” he said and gave her a small smile. Though it was true he didn’t seem to smile much, he had a nice smile.
She smiled back at him, and his smile deepened a little.
“Good night,” he said. “Sleep well.”
“I will,” she said. “Good night.”
After everyone had left except Hank and Sadie, her friend showed her where the shower was and the stacks of clean towels.
She hopped in the shower, and the hot water pouring over her felt wonderful as it relaxed her muscles and washed some of the stress away along with the dirt from her road trip. Afterward she toweled off and then used some of the soft fragrant lotion in the guest bathroom that Sadie had placed there.
Sadie was a great hostess, thoughtful and caring.
It wasn’t long until Marilyn was curled up in bed in borrowed soft flannel pajamas ready to sleep. She fell asleep almost as soon as her head hit the pillow.
* * *
The next daySadie showed her around the ranch, and they made plans for the week. Horseback riding, something Marilyn had never done, a self-defense lesson, something the men of the brotherhood often taught to women, and a shooting lesson.
“With this schedule and practicing my lines, I won’t have time to think about Tony,” she said.
“Good.” Sadie’s eyes showed that had been her plan all along. “We’ll keep you plenty busy with all kinds of good things.”
“I don’t know what I can do to repay you,” Marilyn said. “You’ve already done so much for me.”
