Page 31 of Prodigal Son

Unsure if she was safe, panic set in. She once again searched for her clothes. Sliding open the dresser drawers, she found several men’s shirts and plain black pants. “Jeeze, starch much?”

The stiff cotton fabric smelled of hard work and outdoors. The pants were too long for her short legs and too tight for her thick waist line, but she could probably make one of the shirts work.

She shook out a cream shirt and frowned at the strange way the buttons were hidden. Glancing back at the closed door, she dropped the quilt and quickly shouldered on the shirt. Luckily, it hung below her hips, but it was ridiculously tight over her chest. Still, it was better than nothing.

Climbing back onto the bed, she covered her legs with the blanket and waited. Why couldn’t she remember getting here? She examined the quilt covering her lap. Such intricate needlework could only be handmade. A serial killer wouldn’t put that much work into a blanket, would he? Maybe a nice, old grandmother lived there.

Should she look for someone? Underwear would have been helpful.

The door opened and Destiny tensed, pressing her back into the headboard. A woman in a bonnet appeared and paused. “You’re awake.”

The beautiful young woman, garbed in a loose-fitting black dress, entered the room. Was she a nun? Was this a convent? The woman smiled, transforming her already pretty face into something stunning as she carried a tray to the dresser.

“I brought you some chicken broth.”

Parched and hungry beyond measure, she silently watched the woman set the tray aside. She laid a cloth napkin over Destiny’s lap and then brought the soup to the bed.

“You must be hungry. I didn’t want to make anything too heavy after all you’ve been through.” She handed her the ceramic bowl. “Careful, it’s hot.”

Destiny accepted the warm offering and stared at the woman. “Who are you?”

“You may call me Sister Larissa.”

Sister. So, she was a nun. “Thank you, sister.”

“Take a sip.”

She watched the nun as she brought the bowl to her lips, not expecting the broth to be so flavorful, she hummed with appreciation. “It’s good.”

Sister Larissa’s smile widened. “Your clothing was a mess, so I washed it. I tried to mend your shirt, but I’m afraid there was no fixing it.” She touched the cuff of the shirt Destiny stole. “But I see you found something.”

“Is that okay?”

“Of course. If there’s anything you need, just ask. You’re our guest.”

This nun was way nicer than the nuns that taught at her grade school. “Thank you.”

Despite her hunger, her empty stomach could only handle so much broth. When she had enough, Sister Larissa carried it back to the tray and poured her a glass of water from the pitcher.

The room was cold with exposed hardwood floors, aside for one braided mat, yet the nun’s feet were bare. She didn’t look like a traditional nun. Instead of a habit she wore a bonnet. Maybe she was in that casual stage Julie Andrews was in just before she was shipped off to the Von Trapps—an apprentice nun.

She moved a wooden chair closer to the bed and sat. “How did you meet Cain?”

Destiny’s focus jerked from the nun’s bare feet to her face. “Cain?”

“The male who rescued you.” She smiled fondly.

Was it a rescue or a form of kidnapping? Her memories jumbled. “Where is he?”

“He’ll be back soon.”

She didn’t seem afraid of Cain, so Destiny supposed he wasn’t a threat. “Is there a phone I can use?”

The nun tilted her head, but the rapid tempo of approaching horse hooves distracted her. She glanced toward the window then adjusted the quilt over Destiny’s legs. “We have company.”

The clip-clop halted and a door opened and closed, followed by heavy footfalls. Sister Larissa stood just as the door opened and a tall, black haired man with onyx eyes ducked into the room.

Destiny shrank into the pillows. There were just certain people who were imposing without speaking a single word.

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