Chapter 13
Thanksgiving.
Millie couldn't remember the last time she'd smelt the delicious smell of roast turkey cooking when she woke from her nap on Thanksgiving afternoon. The tantalizing smell had filled the whole house, wafting up the stairs and through the open crack of her door to gently coax her from her slumber. Mmmm. Turkey. She thought as she opened her eyes and yawned. Stretching gingerly, she winced as pain shot up her arms from the movement of her fingers. Though the doctor was pleased with how her hands were healing, that process was proving to be a painful and slow experience. Wonder how long it'll be till supper time. That smell is giving me quite the appetite…
A soft knock sounded on the door. Stifling a yawn she replied for them to come in.
"Good, you're awake." Audra said as she entered the room. "Supper will be ready soon so Mother wants me to come get you ready."
"Get me ready for what?" Millie questioned, sitting up in bed. "I don't understand."
"Well, since Thanksgiving is a special event, we all come to supper dressed in our Sunday best."
"Oh… I see." She sighed. "But I haven't got anything better than this." She motioned to the clothes she was wearing. The only set of clothing that she owned. "It's all I've got."
"I know. That's why you're going to come and pick one of my dresses to wear. Come on."
"Are you sure? You don't mind"
"No, not at all. Believe me. Besides, I don't mind sharing my clothes with you. I enjoy having another girl about the place, it's such a nice change when you've lived with brothers your whole life."
Millie chuckled softly as she swung her feet over the side of the bed and got up. "That sounds fair enough."
"I'll do your hair too if you'd like," Audra continued as they headed to her bedroom. "I've got a couple ideas I would like to try out."
"Sure."
"This is my room here." She told Millie as she opened a door and went over to her closet. '"You have a look through my dresses and pick anything you like to wear."
Looking at the selection of dresses in Audra's closet, Millie raised her eyebrows in amazement.
"I've never seen so many pretty dresses. I don't know where to start."
"How about I pull a few out that I think you'll like and take it from there?"
"I guess so…"
Audra began looking through her dresses and one by one, pulled them out to show to Millie. With a shake of her head, Millie dismissed them one by one until she pulled out a light purple dress with embroidered flowers on it.
Looking the dress over, Millie smiled as she nodded. It wasn't too fancy, it wasn't too plain and it was a color that she liked. "That one."
"Great! Oh this dress will look perfect on you." Laying it over the nearby chair she turned back to Millie. "I'll give you a hand getting changed."
"Oh, you don't need to. It's fine, I can get your mother to help me."
"Mother's busy helping Silas prepare supper." Audra replied as she began unbuttoning the back of her dress. As she kept unbuttoning, she frowned and as she realized what it was that she was seeing, she couldn't help the gasp that escaped her as her hand covered her mouth. My god. From her shoulders down to the top of her chemise and disappearing beneath it, narrow, long stripes of scar tissue marred her skin. It appeared that someone had taken a whip to her back.
Millie had frozen when she'd felt Audra beginning to unbutton her dress, her eyes welling with tears as she hung her head in shame.
"Oh Millie…" Audra was speechless and had to pause to regain her composure, tears filling her eyes as she stared at the girls back. "Who-who did this to you?"
Millie turned to her, tears trickling down her cheeks. "This is why I didn't want you to help me change. Please, just leave it be. I don't want to speak of them."
Swallowing the lump in her throat, Audra nodded and did her best to smile at her. "Alright. Let's get this dress on you then."
Silence fell as Audra helped Millie into the dress, each girl absorbed in their own thoughts. Millie, about the shame of having Audra discover her scars and Audra about the horror of what she had seen. Growing up as she had, she'd been sheltered from most of the atrocities of the world but confronted with what she had seen, her heart was broken. Millie was only a couple years younger than herself but she was starting to understand that their upbringings were vastly different.
"There." Audra finally broke the silence as she fastened the last button on the dress. "What do you think?"
Turning around to look in the mirror that stood nearby, Millie smiled a little as she saw her reflection. "It's a beautiful dress, Audra. Thank you for letting me borrow it."
She smiled, leaning down over her shoulder as she looked in the mirror too. "How would you like to keep it?"
"Oh no Audra, I can't-"
"Yes, you can. As you've seen, I've got plenty of dresses and this one looks perfect on you. I won't take no for an answer."
Millie bit her lip, overwhelmed by Audra's generosity. "If you won't take no for an answer, then I guess I'm gonna have to keep it."
"Exactly."
"I've never had a dress this nice before." She stated as she turned back to Audra. "This is the nicest thing I've ever had. Thank you Audra."
Audra smiled as Millie embraced her and she rubbed her back as she hugged her in return, resting her cheek against the younger girl's head. "Your welcome Millie."
"And please-" Millie had her eyes closed as she melted into Audra's arms. "Please don't tell anyone what you saw. Your mother has seen them, she knows, but please, please don't tell your brothers. I couldn't bear the embarrassment of them knowing."
"I won't tell them."
"Promise?"
"Promise." Squeezing Millie tightly, Audra finally let her go and Millie stepped back. "Let's get started on your hair now, shall we?"
Heath stood in the living room, a glass of whiskey in his hand as he lent against the mantelpiece, quietly contemplating. This would be the first time he partook of Thanksgiving celebrations since he was a child. Though Thanksgiving had always been a meager affair at home, his mother had always tried to make supper a little more special in any way she could. Absentmindedly, he swirled the whiskey around in the glass as he thought of the last Thanksgiving he had shared with his mother. That year, he'd been lucky enough to be able to snare a couple of prairie chickens and to a young boy of thirteen, there was no finer Thanksgiving supper than the one they had shared that year.
Thinking of her, his eyes began to moisten as he took another swig of his drink. His little sister had met him at the door as he'd come in, wide eyed in awe as she looked on with glee at the prairie chickens he had brought. He'd tousled her hair and laughed at her enthusiasm when she stated that five was old enough for her to help prepare the birds for supper. He'd agreed, unwilling to turn her down when she was so eager.
Together they had plucked and gutted the birds, Matilda taking it all in and following his instructions to the letter. He could still remember how she'd looked when they'd finished, feathers all through her brown locks but so proud of being able to help her big brother. They'd put the birds in the oven, cleaned the kitchen while they cooked and once they had finished, waited for their mother to return home from working at the hotel.
Matilda had kept watch at the window and when she had seen Rachel and Hannah walking up the path to the house, had run out to meet them. Rachel and Hannah were family, the only family that Heath cared about apart from his mother and little sister. Every Thanksgiving and Christmas they shared together, each of them contributing in some way what they could. That year, Rachel had baked two pumpkin pies and Hannah had brought along some of her preserves. While they waited for Leah, Rachel told them a story and once their mother came home with leftovers from the hotel, they had sat down to eat their Thanksgiving supper.
That was the last Thanksgiving supper he'd been a part of, until now.
Now he was here and a part of Thanksgiving once more, gifted to share it with another family. A family he never knew existed until only early that year when his mother had confessed to him on her deathbed who his father was. When he'd come to Stockton in search of his family, he'd never intended to stay. At most he thought he'd stay a week or two but when he had met Nick for the first time, something inside him that he'd thought he'd long erased from his soul had been stirred; the longing to be part of a family again.
It was bittersweet, his ponderings. He was here but they were gone and with them, a part of his heart too. Matilda, his mother, Rachel. Gone. Only Hannah remained now but despite his best efforts to move her to Stockton so he could better care for her, she refused to leave the home she'd lived in all these years. He wondered what she was doing for Thanksgiving and hoped that the money he had wired her had arrived. Every month when he received his earnings for working on the ranch he wired her a portion. It was the least he could do for her given the care she had bestowed on his mother over the years.
Drinking the last of his whiskey, his thoughts returned to Matilda. His little sweet sister had been dead for over ten years but yet his heart ached as much now as it had when he'd received the news from home telling him of her passing. He'd only been gone a few months, gone to fight in the war so his meager earnings could be sent home to help provide for his mother and sister. Letters had been hard to get on the battlefield and by the time the news had reached him, Matilda had been dead over a month. Diphtheria, his mother had said, was what had claimed his little treasure and the news had crushed him. Even now he still felt guilt when he thought of his mother having to cope with the loss of her only daughter alone, accompanied by the guilt that if he had been there, maybe he could have done something.
"Mother says supper is 'bout ready." Nick announced as he walked into the living room, stirring Heath from his thoughts. "Eugene is helpin' Jarrod get ready for supper. Pappy is adamant that he ain't spending Thanksgivin' in bed so I'll need ya to give me a hand bringin' him down."
Heath nodded, looking down at the empty glass in his hand.
Nick frowned a little and stepped over to his brother. "You alright Heath?"
"Just thinking 'bout Thanksgiving is all." He replied softly. "First I've had without Mama. I mean, I weren't home for Thanksgiving since I was a kid but…" His voice trailed off and he sighed.
The older Barkley placed his hand on the younger's shoulder. "I understand what you're meanin'. First Thanksgivin' without Father was hard too. Every year it's hard but this year… This year we all have somethin' to be mighty thankful for. I might have been mule-headed and stubborn about you when you first came here but I'm glad you're here Heath."
"You mean that Nick?"
"Course I do. Havin' you workin' with me, side-by-side on the ranch, a man couldn't ask for more. I for one am proud to call you my brother."
Heath smiled a little then cleared his throat and placed his empty glass down on the mantelpiece. "So, any Thanksgiving traditions our family has I should be knowing about before supper?"
"Only one. After supper, before dessert, we go 'round the table and each of us says what we're thankful for this year."
"Sounds simple enough."
"Sounds simple but a friendly word of advice; you might wanna think of what you're gonna say beforehand just so you don't get caught tryin' to think up somethin' on the spot."
Heath nodded. "I'll do that."
"Nick, Heath-" Victoria started as she joined them in the room, dressed in one of her finer, more elegant dresses fitting for the occasion. "supper is on the table. Would you mind seeing if Jarrod is ready to come down?"
"We're on it, Mother." Nick replied, heading for the stairs.
"Heath, wait.' She requested as he went to follow his brother but he stopped and turned back to her. "I know what it's like, spending the first Thanksgiving without someone you love," she started gently. "we didn't feel much like celebrating the first Thanksgiving and Christmas that we spent without your father. Each year we feel his absence but we are thankful too for the good times and the memories that we share." She paused for a moment. "What I'm trying to say Heath, is that it's okay for you to grieve for your mother. In time, the ache you feel in your heart will ease but it'll never be the same. Grief is something that we all have to deal with each in our own way, but we don't have to struggle alone. I just want you to remember that we are here for you Heath. You aren't alone any more."
Heath forced down the lump in his throat. "T-Thank you, ma'am. I-I best get upstairs and help Nick with Jarrod."
As Heath made his way up the staircase, Victoria's words played over in his mind. Somehow, knowing that she understood in essence what he was struggling with helped a little. In time, the ache you feel in your heart will ease but it'll never be the same. Grief is something that we all have to deal with each in our own way, but we don't have to struggle alone. I just want you to remember that we are here for you Heath. You aren't alone any more.
He mightn't be alone now but a body could be surrounded by people and still be lonely.
The rest of the Barkley's were seated at the dining room table with a bountiful feast set before them, a testament to Victoria and Silas's hard work in the kitchen throughout the day. At the head of the table, set before Jarrod, was the centerpiece of their work; a huge turkey that had been cooked to perfection. It was upon this scene that Audra entered first, taking her seat beside Eugene.
"Where's Millie?" Victoria questioned, seeing that their young house-guest hadn't arrived yet.
"She'll be along in a minute, she just needed to take care of something."
Nick sighed heavily. "Always waiting on women…" He grumbled beneath his breath.
"Now just a minute Nick Barkley-"
"Nick, Audra." Victoria interrupted softly but with a tone of authority in her voice. "We will wait patiently for our guest to join us for supper."
"I'm sorry for making you all wait-"
Heads turned as Millie made her appearance, a hush falling over the room. Audra had worked her magic on her and before them stood a fine example of a young lady. The light purple dress that she had chosen complimented her features perfectly and thanks to Audra's work, the young woman who stood before them was almost unrecognizable as the poor waif they had welcomed into their home. Her long hair had been worked into a half-up, half down style with soft curls draping down her back below her shoulders and as she took her seat at the table, Heath could have sworn for a moment that he could see his mother in her.
"I hope I didn't hold you all up for long." She continued as she took her seat between Audra and Jarrod on her right at the head of the table. "I was trying to find something."
Turning to Audra she lowered her voice and showed her what was in her hand. "Would you help me put it on please?"
With a nod Audra did so, wondering as she did the clasp on the necklace up what was in the locket. It was a simple gold locket, nothing fancy but still elegant in its own right. After she had placed it on her, Millie gently touched the locket with her bandaged fingers and smiled at her. "Thank you."
Audra smiled back and turned her attention to Jarrod. "We're ready."
"Alright. Let's bow our heads for the blessing." Jarrod waited for a moment until everyone was ready then began to pray. "Heavenly Father, today we gather here to give thanks for the blessings thou has bestowed on us this past year. We thank you for the food laid before us and the company of our loved ones. Please may this food be nourishing and strengthening to our bodies. In your name we pray, amen." With the blessing said, Jarrod took charge of carving the large turkey set before him and began serving the bird up. "I hear we have Eugene to thank for our turkey this year." He said as he handed another plate down to Audra, serving the women first. "And never a finer specimen of a turkey has graced our table."
Eugene's cheeks had tinged red slightly at his eldest brother's compliments. "I was just lucky."
"Oh no, there was no luck 'bout it boy." Nick corrected. "You saw that bird before Heath or I did and you had a good shot."
"You earned it Eugene." Heath added. "You did good."
Audra served herself a scoop of mashed potatoes then passed the bowl to Millie. "They're right Eugene, your first turkey. Maybe you'll get next year's one, Heath."
"Yeah, maybe.'
"Although I do think credit where credit is due. Mother, you and Silas have really outdone yourselves this year too." Jarrod continued, serving himself up some turkey now that the rest of the family had been served. "You both have created a proverbial feast. Looking at this, I wonder if I'll have room left for dessert."
"Oh, you always have room left for dessert." Audra teased with a twinkle in her eye.
Victoria smiled. "Thank you Jarrod." Silence fell as the family settled down to eating and from time to time, she glanced over at Millie. The girl remained quiet, observing everything and as she watched her, she couldn't help but be reminded of how Heath was around them when he'd first come to the family. He'd been exactly like her: always observing, never speaking up unless directly spoken too. While conversation was engaged in by the rest of her family, Millie kept to herself, quietly eating. "So, Millie, what did you do with your family to celebrate Thanksgiving?" She questioned in a lull in the conversation. "Did you have any special traditions?"
Millie shook her head as she swallowed what she had in her mouth before replying. "My folks weren't big on celebrating the holiday's, ma'am. We never did anything special."
"But you did Christmas with your folks, right?" Audra questioned. "Why, Thanksgiving and Christmas is the best time of the year."
"Never made much of a fuss about Christmas either."
"Oh that's a shame. Well, you'll just have to see how we do Christmas. We decorate the house, throw a big party-"
As Audra spoke on about what the Barkley's did to celebrate the holiday, Millie tuned out again, focusing on her plate in front of her. The last Thanksgiving she had celebrated had been when she was ten, the year before Hosea had been killed. That year was the last they had done anything for Christmas either, and though they never had much money, they'd always managed to scrape together enough to buy her a little something to make the day special. That year it had been a little jewelry box that played music. She'd loved that little box but it had been broken early on when they'd had to move in with Cade.
Thinking about her past life, her appetite began to dwindle and she found herself pushing the rest of her food around on her plate as cheerful conversation carried on around her. At the touch of a hand on her shoulder, she jumped a little and relaxed when she saw it was Heath. For a moment she thought she was back where she'd come from.
"You alright?"
After a moment, she shook her head slightly. "No."
"Want to take a walk?"
She nodded.
"Alright. Let's head outside and check on your horse then." He stood, helping Millie out of her chair. "We're just headin out to get some air, we'll be back inside before dessert." He said to satisfy his family's curious glances. "We won't be long."
After bundling up against the cold, Heath and Millie stepped out into the evening. It was just after sunset, the house illuminating the ranch yard as they made their way across to the barn. Upon going inside, Heath lit a couple of lamps and then joined Millie where she sat on a hay bale, petting her stallion with the back of her bandaged hand. "Want to talk about it?"
Millie let out a heavy sigh. "It was just… Getting a little much. The memories, I mean."
"I can understand that." He replied as he took a seat on the bale beside her, draping a blanket he had found around her shoulders. "I know it's hard celebrating holidays without family. It's my first Thanksgiving without my mother."
"Your mother passed away this year too?"
Heath nodded. "Quite some time ago now, near the beginning of the year."
"I'm sorry to hear that. She must have been special."
"She was. We never had much growing up but Mama took care of me the best she could. We made do. The last Thanksgiving we had, I was thirteen. Snared two prairie chickens for the dinner table. Boy, she was so proud."
Millie smiled a little as she kept stroking her stallion. "We used to be happy if we had a couple fat rabbits to put on the table. If we did, that was cause for celebration."
"Your folks not have much either?"
"Yeah." She sighed heavily. "Drought hit us pretty hard, we had a ranch. Crops failed, livestock died and the bank…" She sighed again. "Well, the bank didn't take to not being paid. It was hard making ends meet." She paused for a moment. "I know the Barkley's mean well, but they haven't a clue what it's been like to be as poor as I was growing up. You get it though. We've got a lot in common."
Heath nodded. "I still have to pinch myself when I wake up each day, gettin' to live here. Still feels like a dream sometimes and I'm gonna wake up and it all disappears."
"You're lucky but. You found something better than just money and a fancy house to sleep in. You found a family. Having family, a place where you belong, is worth more than all the things in the world you could buy." Millie hesitated, the stallion closing his eyes as she kept stroking him. "I haven't even got that."
Not sure how to reply, Heath remained silent and instead placed his hand on her knee.
"That's what hurts the worst." She continued after a time. "Seeing you all interacting as a family. I'll never have that."
"I didn't either for a long time and it hasn't been easy, believe me."
Millie chuckled softly. "Audra told me Nick gave you a pretty hard time when you first came here."
"That he did. He did indeed."
"But for me…" She bit her lip. "In a few months, once I've made some money, I'll be moving on. I've got no plans, just see where the road leads me, I guess. All I've got in this world is this pony of mine and my possessions all fit into one saddlebag. There's no place I belong."
"You'll find where you belong, one day. You just have to keep believing and one day, it'll happen."
"Is that what happened for you?"
Heath ignored her question, instead standing up to leave. "We should go back inside, we don't want to keep them waiting on us."
Millie nodded and gave Tomahawk a kiss on the nose. "Night boy." She gave him one last pat. "I'll see you in the morning."
The stars were twinkling brightly as Heath and Millie walked back to the house, the girl looking up into the skies in awe of their beauty. She couldn't remember seeing them ever appearing so gorgeous as they did during the winter months. "The stars look beautiful tonight."
Heath stopped beside her as Millie kept looking towards the heavens, joining her in stargazing. "Do you know how to tell which direction is North from the stars?"
She nodded. "You find the big dipper-" She began pointing out the constellation. "Then above it is the little dipper. Just below its handle is the North star and that's North."
"Yep. That's it." He let her look for a moment then gently placed his hand on her shoulder. "Come in, let's get inside. It's too cold for you to be out here."
Going back inside, they found the family in the process of clearing away the empty dishes in preparation for dessert. Pulling out Millie's seat for her, Heath helped seat her then took his place again beside her.
"You alright Millie?" Audra questioned softly.
Millie nodded as she smiled. "I'm fine. Just needed a moment is all."
"Heath, Millie, you're just in time for our Thanksgiving sharing." Jarrod informed them. "Just waiting on Mother and Nick to bring in dessert and we can begin."
"What's Thanksgiving sharing?" She questioned hesitantly.
"Each year, we go around the table and say what each of us is thankful for." Audra explained. "It can be anything that's happened during the year that you want to share your thanks for."
Millie nodded her understanding.
"Well-" Eugene sat back in his chair, rubbing his belly. "I'm certainly thankful for this year's meal."
Jarrod chuckled. "Don't get ahead of yourself, dear boy. The best is yet to come."
Nick walked into the room, carrying a pumpkin pie in one hand and an Indian pudding in the other. "The main course has arrived." He announced as he placed them down on the table. "Hope you all left some room."
"We've got a chocolate cake too." Victoria added, bringing in her own creation to add to the table. Taking her place at the head of the table she looked around to make sure that everyone was present before they began. "Well, we've come to that time again. Which way around the table do we go this year?"
"We went left from you last year, didn't we Mother?" Audra questioned.
She nodded. "I guess we'll go right then this year. I'll start. This year, as usual, I'm thankful that we have all safely come through together to another Thanksgiving. We've had our trials, our ups and downs but together, we've come through stronger for it. This year, I am thankful we have been blessed to have a new member added to the Barkely family. Heath," She smiled as she looked to the man sitting to her left. "our family has been blessed to have you with us these past months and I for one am thankful you are here. I've watched you grow these past months and earn your place among us and I'm proud of you."
Touched by her kindness, Heath felt his eyes begin to water. "Thank you, ma'am."
Victoria smiled at him then turned to Nick. "Alright Nick, I'll pass to you now."
"Ah, well. I guess I'm thankful for what I'm thankful for every year. Family, a good Thanksgivin' supper. We had a good harvest, did well with our livestock. The ranch has done well this year." Nick said, looking up at Heath. "But what I'm most thankful for is Heath. Havin' Heath working beside me, well, it's been really somethin' to have him have my back."
Heath smiled a little at him. "Thanks Nick."
"Right," He turned to Eugene beside him. "You're up, lil brother."
Eugene smiled as Nick clapped him on the shoulder. "Well, I'm thankful I didn't miss my shot at the turkey, otherwise we'd have missed out on a fine meal Nick is so thankful for." Laughter rang out around the table. "But yeah, I'm thankful we're all here. I'm thankful that Jarrod is recovering, you all had us worried there for a moment Pappy." The mood sobered once more. "And I think I speak for everyone in saying I'm thankful that you are on the mend."
"And the sooner I'm able to be up and on my feet," Jarrod replied. "the happier I'm sure we all will be." He turned to his younger brother. "My turn now?" Eugene nodded. "Well, I guess I'm going to start with being thankful that Millie was up at that cabin. Without you Millie, I wouldn't be sitting here now. So I'm thankful for you. And I'm thankful for you too Heath, you've been a welcome addition to the family. You've proved your place amongst us, not only to us but to the townsfolk too. That your word is just as good as any other Barkley. You've done us proud and I couldn't be happier to call you my brother."
"Thank you Jarrod."
"Audra."
She nodded. "Well, I'm thankful for, family, Jarrod getting well, having Millie here is a welcome change from being surrounded by all you menfolk and Heath, my new brother. Oh, and my work at the orphanage. That's me. Millie, your turn."
Millie cleared her throat, thinking for a moment what she was going to say. "Well, it mightn't sound like much, but I'm thankful for a roof over my head and food in my belly." She paused for a moment. "There's been many nights of my life I've not had one or both, and for the first time in a long time, I do. So I'm thankful for that, and for the generosity and kindness of you folks for taking me in and caring for me these past weeks." She stopped again then shook her head. "That's all."
Now that it was Heath's turn, he squirmed uncomfortably in his seat being put on the spot. "Well, I uh… I guess I'm thankful to be here. After my mother died, I didn't know what I was going to do. Finding my father and claiming my birthright seemed like the only thing that kept me going but coming here, I found more than that. I ah.. I found a home." He paused for a moment. "I've found a family and that's a dang pretty good thing to be thankful for."
Late that night, Audra couldn't sleep. Instead, she was thinking over what she had witnessed earlier that day: the patchwork of scars on Millie's back. She'd been horrified to see them, mortified that someone could mistreat another human being so as to scar them for the rest of their life. What kind of monster did that to a person? Why had they treated Millie so horribly?
Unable to sleep, Audra slipped out from beneath her covers and tiptoed out of her room, intending to go to the kitchen for a late night snack when she noticed light shining from beneath her mothers door. Hesitating for a moment, she changed her course and stopped at her mothers closed door, knocking faintly.
"Come in." Victoria invited softly, looking up as Audra entered the room. "Audra, what are you doing up at this hour?"
"Couldn't sleep." She replied, sitting down on the bed beside her. "Mother, can I speak to you for a moment, about Millie?"
Placing the book she had been reading aside, she gave her her full attention. "Yes?"
"When I was helping her get ready for supper this afternoon, I… I saw her back."
"Her scars?"
She nodded. "I can't help thinking about it. Why would someone hurt Millie like that? Why would anyone want to hurt someone like that?"
"I don't know sweetheart." Victoria replied with a soft sigh. "Sometimes there are no answers for why people chose to treat others the way they do."
"But someone hurt her bad enough to cause those scars."
"I know."
"What are we going to do? We can't let them take her back."
"Jarrod and I have been trying to find out more about Millie's past. Millie is very closed about what happened to her, she won't talk about it. We're trying to help her the best we can, that's all we can do."
Audra nodded. "She can stay here though, with us? I mean, until something can be figured out?"
"Of course, she can stay as long as she needs to. Once we've gained her trust, hopefully with time she will feel confident enough to confide in us. Until then though, we just keep trying to be friends with her."
"I just can't help thinking about those scars and wondering why anyone would want to hurt her."
"I know it was hard to see, but it's alright. Millie is safe here." She placed her hand on her daughter's arm. "We'll figure something out for her."
