Seeking Safety Read Free

her hands before she
answers, "Sadly, that is true. A few other young girls have been
brought here and did not choose to live."
    "What happened to them?"
    Jasmine shrugs her shoulders, "I really don't
know. I guess they died from the beatings or something. All I know
is they were here one day and then they weren't here the next."
    Jasmine stays with me for most of the day,
but eventually she says, "Well Sweetie, I have to go help with
dinner. That means I have to tie you back up."
    A wave of fear washes over me, "Please don't
leave me!"
    Jasmine smiles sadly, "I'm really sorry but I
have to attend to my responsibilities. I don't want to make James
Bixby mad. I can't help you any more today. I do hope that you will
choose to live, Melanie. Once you accept your fate, it's really not
so bad here. I really hope you don't die."

CHAPTER 1
    Ten years later, January
2009
    Academy Award winning movie star, Barry
Farrady at thirty-two years old is happier and more excited than he
has been in a very long time. He has just signed the papers giving
him ownership of the ranch in Wyoming he has been dreaming about
for months, the Rock Springs Ranch. He walks out of the Title
Company with a huge grin on his face. As he climbs behind the wheel
of his little red sports car, he is busily making plans for the
renovations he is going to make at the ranch. He doesn't even
notice the Paparazzi snapping his picture and calling out questions
as he leaves the Title Company.
    The Rock Springs Ranch is located about
twenty miles outside of Cody, Wyoming and is situated next to the
Rocking J Ranch which is owned by his good friends, Jacob and Jason
Murray.
    Jacob Murray was Barry's criminal defense
attorney when he faced murder charges a few years ago. Barry
literally owes his life to Jacob. Without Jacob's representation,
Barry would likely be sitting on death row right now. Jason Murray
is Jacob's twin brother and Barry's financial advisor. The Murrays
have graciously allowed Barry to spend a lot of time with them and
their families at their ranch over the last few years. It was a
critical stress reliever when he needed to get away from Los
Angeles and the madhouse that is the movie business.
    When the Rock Springs Ranch was listed for
sale a few months ago, Jacob Murray notified Barry of the
opportunity. He went with Barry the day he toured the ranch for the
first time. Barry will never forget how pleased he was to find a
ranch so nice that would need relatively few renovations. The fully
furnished house is opulent with ten bedrooms all with adjoining
full baths plus two additional full baths. It has two huge living
areas, a state of the art kitchen, an indoor pool, weight room,
study, and a huge stone patio with meticulous lawns that make it
perfect for entertaining.
    Barry has starred in six movies since he came
to Hollywood. He shot to super stardom after his very first movie
and has reaped the benefits of his blonde good looks, blue eyes,
and sculpted body. Being a country boy at heart, he can't wait to
leave California and the movie business for good and this ranch is
the perfect place for him to retire.
    Barry's first stop after leaving the Title
office is a real estate office near his Beverly Hills mansion. He
signs the papers listing the mansion for sale with all its
furnishings. The movers have already packed up the items he wants
to keep and he sent a truckload of items to charity.
    Once all of the necessary papers are signed,
he heads to the mansion where he parks the sports car. He has made
arrangements to donate the car to a charity auction to benefit the
local Children's Hospital. They are due to pick it up this
afternoon. He grabs his pre-packed bag, calls his black Lab, Ringo,
and they climb into his brand new, very practical, silver extended
cab, four wheel drive pickup and head for Wyoming and the Rock
Springs Ranch.
    He picks up his cell phone and dials a number
as familiar to him as his own name. His heart is pounding