Taking Faith Read Free

back." He let her arm go. "Fee l better now?" She shook her head and remarked silently on his pristine waxed floors. He grimaced, but spoke softly. "Go and make something for dinner. I know you're hungry."
    She was. Dang it, she didn't want to be, but she was. They'd barely fed them at all in that place.
    She left his side and made her way to the kitchen once more. She opened the cabinets and stared blankly at the contents. She pulled a box of minute rice out and went on the hunt for a pot. After making the rice she peered down into it as she fluffed it with a fork. She hadn't even made anything to go with it. She just didn't care. She wanted to go to bed and to never wake up if this was going to be her life now.
    She spooned the rice out with a fork , plopping it in a bowl and went to the table with it. He was already there. She set it in the middle of the table and stood like a robot. She'd be a robot for the rest of her life…
    "Forks? Plates?" he barked.
    She went back into the kitchen and hunted down the items. Then she went back and grabbed two glasses of water. She sat down in the seat the farthest from him. He glared at her over the rice. "You didn't make anything but rice?"
    She looked at his throat because she didn't want to see his face. "I don't know what you have."
    "You have eyes, don't you?" She didn't say anything. He huffed and spooned the rice onto his plate. "Well, tomorrow for lunch you get a pass because we're going to eat with a friend of mine…and his new wife." Amy perked up at the idea. One of the girls in the warehouse with her? "Anyway, you won't have to cook for that, but for supper tomorrow , I expect something a little bi t better than plain white rice."
    She once again stayed silent. She reached for the spo on of rice, half expecting him t o tell her she wasn't allowed to eat. He watched her as she spooned a small amount onto her plate. He sighed. " I know you're hungry. Eat the rest of it ."
    She took what was left and dug in, her fork clanking on the plate with each swoop for another bite. Her stomach howled with delight at finally being supplied something. After they finished, she went into the kitchen with their plates. She figured that was part of her job description and was putting them into the dishwasher when the doorbell rang.
    "Oh, no," he grumbled. He peeked his head into the kitchen. "Remember what I told you earlier." It was a command, not a question.
    He opened the door and she once again heard loud male voices. She finished the dishes, turning it on and turned around to find a large man in the doorway. Roger was behind him and he looked anxious. "There she is, eh?" the man said.
    He came closer, Roger on his heels. She stayed in her position with her back pressed against the counter and her eyes to the floor. He moved his hand to pull her face up roughly. He whistled. "Sure is perty."
    "Uncle Ben, we're heading to bed. Can't we do this tomorrow?"
    She jolted at his words and the man laughed. "Oh, she's a n eager one." He leaned forward, his breath smelled of tobacco. "She just can't wait to get it, can she?"
    "Uncle B-"
    "Shut up, now!" the man yelled and turned on Roger. He grabbed him by the shirt front. "Your daddy said you was trying to slack. I just stopped by to make sure you understand that we ain't gonna tolerate no slackers in our family. You get her straightened out good and quick like. You hear me?"
    "Yes, sir," Roger answered quickly. "Of course. I plan to start as soon as you leave."
    "I'll come by to check up on you . She bests be colorful and tender, boy."
    Roger nodded and followed his uncle out. Amy heard the door slam and it was as if instinct took over. She looked around for a back door and saw the back porch light on, illuminating the yard and steps. She bolted for it . But it was locked and she couldn't figure out how to do the lock to save her life, literally. There was no phone to be seen, either. Roger came in just in time to see what she was up to. He