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Anna felt her heart give a painful lurch. She was already drenched from the rain. It was obvious that Wade wanted nothing to do with her now that he knew the truth about Anna. She was a murderer.
* * *
The ride back to the ranch was in utter silence. Wade’s mind was completely on what Anna had told him by the river. He didn’t want her saying anything in front of anyone else in fear of incriminating herself. His mind played with all sorts of scenarios which could possibly explain this bit of information regarding Anna. She had been a mystery since the day she arrived at the ranch. Even when he felt he knew all there was to know, he was slapped with yet another shocking missing piece. He knew in his heart that whatever her crime, she was innocent. A woman could not walk away from such a horrendous event unscathed.
Sitting in his arms on the ride home, she had gone silent and still. Her tears had dried and her hysteria had gotten under control. However, Wade wasn’t entirely sold on the thought that it was a good thing. When he found her sitting along the riverbank, he knew she had been traumatized.
After seeing him and breaking into tears, he had thought they were for him. For the first time since knowing her, she had finally broken down and cried. However, thinking back, he realized her tears were in fact for a buried memory that resurfaced. A memory where she killed a man.
When they finally reached the homestead, he saw to Joe and ensured he was well before heading up to the house. Prescott and Anna had already headed that way. He wanted nothing more than to go straight to Anna, but he needed to change into dry clothing first. In his room, he quickly peeled off his wet shirt and pants and replaced them with a fresh dry set. Then he headed downstairs. He found Prescott in the kitchen putting on the kettle. “Where’s Anna?”
He gestured to the cook’s room but asked. “What’s going on Wade?”
Hesitating, he debated whether to inform his brother or not. He would much prefer knowing the circumstances first. But as he searched his brother’s face, he realized that he had not been the only one affected by Anna’s presence on the ranch. Prescott had become very fond of her as well.
“Hold on.”
Tapping on the door, he waited for a reply on the opposite side. There was a moment’s pause, then, “Come in.”
She had just finished changing into dry clothing as well and Wade’s eyes automatically dropped and took in the boy’s clothing. “Are you feeling better?”
She nodded vaguely.
“Could you come out here please?” There was a small hesitation where he could definitely read her misgivings. “Anna. You can trust us.”
Her eyes lifted and he saw they were still red and sunken from her outburst. His heart ached and he wanted so much to take her back into his arms and comfort her for as long as she needed. Slowly she moved toward him and he stepped aside to let her pass. Out in the kitchen Prescott was watching them closely, a small frown dancing along his forehead, the kettle whistling behind him, unnoticed.
“Prescott, would you pour the three of us some strong coffee.” He led her to the table and indicated a chair for her to sit, then took the one opposite. “I believe we’re going to need it.”
“Sure, but would one of you please tell me what’s going on?”
Wade studied her face, but she refused to look at him. “I’m afraid I can’t. Only Anna knows what happened.”
“What happened where?” Prescott retrieved three mugs. “Up in the river? The current washed you and Joe downstream. If you hadn’t snatched on to that tree while dragging Joe, you would have surely gone over the falls with Sty.”
His gaze was intent on Anna and he saw her visibly grimace, then slowly a tear escaped the corner of her eye and slid down her cheek. Inside, he felt her pain, but not its origin. He was tempted to go to her, but kept himself firmly seated in his chair. “What happened Anna?”
First nothing, then she opened her mouth and he heard a small sharp intake of breath and he frowned even harder. “I wasn’t alone.”
Puzzled, he waited for more, but when she offered none, he urged, “Go on.”
“In the clearing. I wasn’t alone.” She was transfixed on the table surface where she placed her folded hands. “He saw me. His eyes were full of evil. I had to run.”
Prescott brought their mugs then took a seat next to his brother. “What man?”
Again, she hesitated, then said, “In the village. They were killing those people. They were screaming and I was so terrified.”
Wade reached out and covered her hands with his own in a comforting and reassuring manner. He hoped she received his silent message.
“Those women,” her voice cracked, and another tear slipped from her eye. “They were so brutal.”
When she offered no more, Wade quietly said, “It’s all right Anna if you don’t want to say any more.”
Her eyes lifted and he was pierced with the most tortured set of eyes he had ever seen. “I was so terrified. I had to run. But he was so heavy.”
“He?” Prescott asked, obviously just as confused with her story line as Wade.
“I had to carry him, but he was so heavy.” Tears flooded her cheeks and Wade felt his inside lurch in pain. “I could hear them, they were coming. I had to hide. He was so heavy. I couldn’t run.”
