Hi all!

Yep, it's me! I'll try and post two chapters this week and either one or two next week, but after that, I'm not sure when I'll be posting again. I'm heading back to my Fiance's on the 26th and then my schedule is going to be packed in the lead up to the wedding in the middle of November. I expect I most likely won't be around to update till the beginning of December, just giving you all prior warning but I do hope to upload as soon as I can. It's just gonna be a little hectic for me for the next month with the wedding and moving out of home etc so yeah... No promises!

I will however, reassure you all that given my hiatus, I will leave the story with Millie being found. But I guarantee you are all still gonna come after me with a posse with how it all plays out.

Enjoy.

(And drop me those lovely, lovely comments)

Chapter 17

As dawn broke, Millie was woken by the sunlight coming through the gap between the curtains covering the window, the sun warming her face. It was no surprise given her current circumstances that sleep had been hard to come by, the girl only able to grab snatches of it here and there in between her thoughts and the aching of her battered body. As she sat up, her body screamed in pain and she had to take a deep breath to stop herself from crying out. One thing she had quickly been reminded of was just how hard Cade could throw a punch. Judging by how she felt this morning, he'd given her a thorough going over. Probably wasn't the smartest thing you've ever done. She chastised herself as she mentally took stock of her injuries. You're going to have to do something about this temper of yours if you want to get out of here alive.

She could feel her left eye was swelling up, more swollen now then it had been the night before. Apart from that though, he'd relatively left the rest of her face alone though her jaw was smarting from where a solid punch had been laid. No, her face was the least of her concern. While her eye being half swollen shut was an inconvenience to her, that wasn't the worst of it.

Her chest and stomach had taken the brunt of Cade's beating, her ribs protesting with each breath that she took. Not only that but her stomach felt rather tender and stiffly, she managed to unbutton her dress so she could take a better look. Bruises were starting to appear over her chest and stomach, her left flank having bruised slightly more already then the rest of her had. Winching once more as she put her dress back on, she buttoned it up once more then laid down again to catch her breath.

While it hurt now, she knew it could have been worse.

Much worse.

The pounding in her head had eased off overnight, just a little slight headache still hanging around for the moment. Staring up at the ceiling, she knew that all things considered, she'd gotten off rather lightly.

Or was it just the fact that for some reason, his beating didn't really bother her anymore?

Oh, the pain was real enough and that did bother her but the rest of it… All it did was further fuel the flames of anger and hate that were already flickering within her. She'd already vowed to herself she wasn't just going to take Cade's abuse any longer but on the other hand, she knew she had to be smart about it if she wanted to get away. Last night she'd pushed him just a little too far and she was paying for it now.

The weight of the chain on her wrist holding her prisoner in her room reminded her of what she was going to be up against. It appeared that Cade had gotten wiser after her successful escape attempt for this was a new occurrence. She'd never been chained or tied up at all in the past, this was new for her. Usually after he beat her, he'd just leave her in her room. He'd never needed to keep her chained or locked up before; she'd always been too frightened to leave until the first time she'd run. She'd been free for two days and having that freedom had been the incentive she needed to run again when she'd gotten the chance.

Now though, given that she was shackled to the wall this time around, she knew she was going to need to come up with a new plan.

Nature's calling interrupted her thoughts and she sat up again, using the nearby chamber pot to attend to her needs. Returning it to the floor when she was finished she moved up to the window, sitting on her bed still as she moved the curtain aside and peaked out the window. The sun was rising, illuminating the landscape in its various shades of orange and yellow hues.

If she were home, she'd have been out riding Tomahawk by this time.

Thinking of home, her heart ached. It had been a week now since she'd been taken yet it felt to her like a lifetime. Taken from everything she'd come to know and love, she realized just what it all meant to her. She'd been safe there, she had felt safe. The Barkleys had taken her into their home and into their hearts. The entire week she'd been doing her best not to think of them but now, abandoned and alone, tears began to slip down her face.

She missed them.

God, she'd give anything to be back there with them.

As the tears fell from her cheeks, she wondered how things were at home. If she could take a guess, she had a feeling that they wouldn't be great.

Thinking of them, there was only one slight consultation in this whole horrible nightmare that had taken place.

At least none of them had been hurt.

That had been all she'd ever wanted.

To keep them safe.

But now, the question remained; what about her?

Time slipped by, Millie staring absentmindedly out the window as the sun progressively rose higher in the sky. Earlier she had tried looking around for anything she might have been able to use as a lock pick to free herself of her bonds but Cade had been careful to ensure that nothing usable had been left within her reach. She'd given up when she'd realized that there was no getting out of these, not until he saw fit to come and unchain her.

Hearing what sounded to her like someone arriving back to the house, she swallowed as a shiver ran up her spine. Cade had returned. She'd know the sound of those footsteps coming up the stairs to her room out of a thousand.

The door creaked loudly from its rusty hinges as it was opened and Cade entered the room. "Good morning, my dear." He greeted as he walked towards her, stopping just out of her reach. "Sleep well?"

Glaring at him, Millie remained silent.

He chuckled. "So we're going with the silent treatment now, are we? Have you forgotten that you are supposed to answer when I ask you a question?"

Swallowing, Millie forced herself to reply with an answer that wasn't going to get herself into further trouble. She already had enough and as much as she loathed it, she knew if she wanted to spare herself further hurt, she had to comply with what this creep wanted. "I slept reasonably well, Uncle Cade."

Cade smirked a little at her polite reply. It appeared that after having had a good beating and being chained up overnight had done wonders in curbing the girl's little attitude problem. "How are you liking the new addition?" Taking hold of the chain, he tugged on the side connected to the wall to prove a point to her. "Had it made special just for you while you were gone, baby girl." He paused for a moment, turning back to her. "I can't have you running away again when I've just gotten you back. You're never leaving me again, my dear."

"Why?" She asked in a whisper, holding eye contact with him. "Why are you doing all this? What have I ever done to you?"

"Because I enjoy it." He replied, chuckling as she pulled back when he brushed the back of his hand over her cheek. "Because it makes me feel alive to see the fear in your eyes."

You sick… You sick, twisted…

"But... I'm not all bad." Pulling the key from his pocket he slid it into the padlock and unlocked it, Millie grabbing hold of her wrist when she was freed. "I think you've learnt your lesson for now. Come. It's time for breakfast."

Obediently, Millie rose and followed him downstairs to the kitchen below. Pulling out a chair Cade sat down at the kitchen table, motioning for the girl to begin working on breakfast. "You'll find eggs, bacon, milk, and butter in the icebox. There's some bread in that paper bag over there."

"How much am I to make, Uncle Cade?" She questioned as she added more wood to the fire. "Am I making enough for only you or am I also allowed to eat this morning?"

He thought for a moment. When had been the last time she'd eaten? Thinking about it, he realized she hadn't eaten since Friday night. "You can eat." Picking up the newspaper he'd left on the table earlier he began to read. "I want coffee too."

Nodding, Millie began to prepare their morning meal. Her stomach growled as she cracked the eggs into the cast iron fry-pan, reminding her she hadn't had much to eat the past days. At least she was home now and not on the road; feeding her seemed to be an afterthought to Cade although he always ensured he had a full stomach. If she behaved herself, she'd be allowed to eat. She just had to make sure that she refrained from lashing out at him anymore.

Her temper had to be kept in check. Easier said then done. She thought as she took care of making his coffee before continuing on with the rest of breakfast.

After serving him his coffee she returned to the stove to continue watching the food. Watching the breakfast carefully so it didn't burn, she had to bite her lip as the pain in her ribs and stomach worsened for a moment before subsiding again. She wouldn't allow Cade the pleasure of noticing her discomfort. Her body ached, reminding her that her little outburst last night had resulted in nothing but more suffering for her. Watching the food cooking, she had to stifle a chuckle as she thought of the way she'd lost her temper at him. Perhaps she had more in common with Nick then she'd first thought; acting first and thinking later. It had been exceptionally satisfying nearly bringing Cade to his knees when she'd delivered that well placed blow below the belt. Whatever pain she was in now paled in comparison to what he must have felt and it made it almost worth what she was going through now.

Almost.

Breakfast was finished being cooked a short time later and as she served up Cade's share, Millie glanced over at him. He was still reading the newspaper, his boots propped up on the table. "It's ready." She told him, returning the wooden spatula to the frying pan.

Folding his newspaper up, Cade sat up properly as she laid the plate down on the table in front of him. On the plate sat two thick slices of bread with a generous amount of butter spread across them, three fried eggs cooked to his liking and a decent serving of perfectly crisp bacon. Now this was what he was talking about; this was something he had missed in Missie's absence. Picking up his knife and fork he dug in, looking over at the girl as she served up her share. Her plate filled, she started to the door to go eat in the dining room. "Missie, wait." She stopped, turning back to him and he motioned at the table with his knife. "Sit. Eat with me."

Warily she returned, taking a seat across from him. Eyes downcast she began to eat, forcing herself to slowly nibble at her food so she didn't make herself sick.

"So, tell me Missie." Cade started as he piled his eggs onto his bread. "How was it living with the high and mighty Barkleys?"

That question was a pure trap and she knew it. Thinking carefully, she deliberately cut another little bit of bacon and ate it before responding. "I worked for them, Uncle Cade."

"I know. I was watching you."

A shiver ran up her spine.

"You seemed happy with them." Cade continued between bites of his meal.

"They were good to work for, sir."

"Oh, come now Missie. I think we both know your arrangement was a little more than just doing ranch chores. Whose bed were you warming? Jarrod's? Heath's?" At that, her head shot up, her eyes flaming as she glared at him and he chuckled. "Oh, I know. It had to be Nick. Yes. I'm sure it had to have been him, seems to me he'd be the kind of man to like 'em young." He remarked between bites. "I saw you two dancing in the barn before the Spring Dance. It was really touching to see how he cared for you."

"There was nothing more to our relationship and you know it." Millie replied cautiously, knowing he was baiting her. "It was purely a work arrangement. Nothing more."

"Fascinating." He exclaimed simply as he began working on his second piece of bread. "Well, it seems to me you must be right. If you meant something to them, they'd have found you by now."

At that, Millie looked back down at her meal. He was right. If she'd meant something to them, they would have come for her but they hadn't. His words cut her deeply and she knew that he knew it.

"Poor little Missie. You mustn't have meant that much to them after all." Cade sneered with an evil chuckle. "But never mind that now, my dear girl. You're back where you belong and you will be happy."

She forced down the lump rising in her throat, her eyes misting with tears as she forced herself to eat another bite of her bread.

"There's no escape, no way to run." He continued menacingly. "No one is coming to rescue you. This place is your forever prison. Just you, and me. But-" He paused, the girl looking back up at him after a moment. "it can be your home too. If you surrender."

No. This place would never be her home. She would never surrender to him. She could comply but she'd never surrender. She'd never give him that satisfaction. "No." She stated softly, firmly. "This was never my home. It never will be. What I had with Mama and Papa, that was home. Not this." She met his eyes, watching his expression closely as she continued calmly. "Not this with you."

Cade raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure that's the answer you want to give, young lady?"

"Uncle Cade, living in a house with someone doesn't make it a home."

"And living with the Barkleys… That was home?"

She held her gaze with him for a moment longer then dropped her eyes back to her meal, eating on.

Her silence was the only answer he needed. So that's the way it is then, is it? He wondered as he finished with his plate. Maybe I can kill two birds with one stone…

Maybe he could have his revenge on Nick Barkely and deal with Millie at the same time.

Swallowing the last bite of his breakfast, he rose. "I'm heading into Alder then up to Angels Camp. Got business to get taken care of. I might not be back till tomorrow night so while I'm gone, I want this place cleaned spotless. Understand?"

Chewing on her food, Millie nodded.

"I didn't hear a yes sir."

"Yes sir." She replied, trying her best to keep the sarcasm out of her reply as her mind ticked over. "I understand."

"Good. See? That's all you need to do. Just cooperate and things will go much better for you." Picking up his hat from a nearby counter-top he started to the door. "See you when I get back."

Millie sat in place, slowly continuing to eat her food until she'd heard the front door open and close. Rising, she went over to the window and watched as he made his way over to the barn, emerging a short time later with his horse saddled. He was leaving and he hadn't locked or chained her up! Yes, he was taking the other horse along with him but if he thought that was going to deter her from running, he had another surprise coming. If she had to run away on her own two feet, she would. There was no way she was staying here a moment longer.

As she watched, Cade mounted up and without so much as a glance back at the house, rode out of the ranch yard leading the other horse behind him. She stood there until he'd disappeared from sight down beyond the horizon and dropping the curtain back in place, returned to eat her breakfast. While she wanted to bolt out the door that very instant, she knew she had to at least eat the rest of her breakfast first. If she was going to run, it'd be better to do it on a full stomach.

Her heart racing, she forced herself to calmly and slowly finish off the remainder of her breakfast before she rose again. While she hadn't expected to be given an opportunity so early to be able to run, she wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth. He'd be a day at least, possibly even two and who knew when she'd get a chance like this again? She had to take it.

Dumping her plate into the sink it only took her a few minutes longer to put together a few things she'd need and then, slipping out the back door, she ran.

Cade waited, hidden amongst the trees on a rise overlooking the ranch. He didn't have to wait that long for a short time later, Missie emerged from the back door. Binoculars in hand, he smirked as he watched her looking around. In her hand was a small white cloth bag and he chuckled as she started for the back hills. Oh the stupid, naive little girl... She'd fallen for his trick so beautifully.

Did she honestly think he'd make it so easy for her to escape?

Sitting here, he followed her with his binoculars until she'd made it to the cover of the forest and disappeared from view.

He was in no hurry and after returning the binoculars to their leather bag, he walked back to where he'd hidden the two horses.

Saddling up the spare horse he'd bring her back on, he swung up onto his own gelding's back and started after her.

This would hardly be a challenge for him, given her current condition she wouldn't be able to make it far.

It was time for the hunt to begin.

Standing on the back doorstep of the house, Millie paused for a moment to look around first then she started for the hills. Across the back yard, through the post and rail fence, she left the ranch behind like a rat leaving a sinking ship. Every fiber of her being screamed at her to run and that was exactly what she did. Despite her aching body, despite her throbbing ribs, despite being weakened from the pain, she ran in the direction of the mountains behind the ranch as fast as she could.

It only took her a few minutes before she'd reached the creek that served as the boundary of the property. She recognized this area well for she had buried Ruth close by. Stopping for a moment to catch her breath she debated whether or not to stop by there first. With any luck, this would be the last time she'd come across this part of California and so, determining that she could spare a few minutes, she changed her course slightly.

The crude wooden cross that marked where she'd laid her was still standing tall beneath the willows as Millie approached, the young woman kneeling down beside Ruth's grave. Her final resting place was unmarked apart from the cross she'd made from two branches, tied together with twine and placed into a pile of rocks. "Never thought I'd be back here again." She said softly, looking around again for a moment before turning back to the cross. "It's been a long time..." Tears began to pool in her eyes as she ran her fingers over the stones. "I was able to make it, Mama. I got away from Cade for a year. I went looking for my real mother but I was too late…" She stifled a sob, brushing a couple of tears from her cheeks with the palm of her hand. "She died two weeks before I found her. I was too late." She paused for a moment, her heart aching with sorrow. "Why did you take me from my real family? Why?"

The only answer that came to her was the gentle breeze blowing through the trees.

Regaining her composure, she wiped her cheeks dry as she sighed heavily. She wouldn't find the answers to the questions she'd held so long here. Rising once more, she lingered at the grave a little longer. She had to keep moving. This was only just a stop on the way back to freedom.

After saying a silent goodbye to the woman who had raised her, Millie continued on. Her mad dash earlier hadn't done any wonders for her at all and now she walked instead of running. She was safe enough up here, she'd gotten herself a little head start and even if Cade returned early for some reason to find her gone, he'd have a hard time finding her now.

She'd grown wiser after the last two times she'd tried running away, picking up a number of tricks along the way. As soon as Cade discovered she had run when he got back from taking care of business, she knew he'd come after her. The thought that maybe this had been too easy, that perhaps this might be a trick, another one of his games, hadn't even crossed her mind.

Despite everything, Millie was still too trusting.

In order to confuse Cade when he undoubtedly came after her, Millie deliberately made it appear that she'd walked up creek when she in fact, was heading downstream instead. Her footprints went up along the creek a way then deliberately, they disappeared. Backtracking, she walked through the shallows of the creek until she'd gone a couple of miles and then she crossed over to the other side.

Time slipped by as she continued on, the young woman careful to make sure she left no trail behind her for Cade to follow. Keeping to the hard ground so she didn't leave any footprints, she headed upwards into the mountains. She didn't have a set plan in mind yet but she knew she'd need to come up with one soon. Apart from a kitchen knife she'd taken, she didn't have a weapon. She'd brought with her the rest of the bread, a few cans of canned goods and a couple other food items that wouldn't easily spoil but that wouldn't last long. She had three, maybe four days worth of food if she was careful.

The sun was overhead now, Millie stopping to take a drink from the canteen she'd stolen from the house when it had started slipping down in the western sky. Savoring the water trickling down her throat, she drank a little more then screwed the lid on again. She had to keep going but her body was screaming at her to stop. It was getting harder to push herself to keep going but she couldn't stop now. She had no choice. There were still another five or so hours of daylight and she needed to use every minute of it to get as far away from the ranch as she could.

She could rest when she'd found somewhere safe to spend the night.

Mustering up what strength she had left, she forced her feet on-wards. If only she hadn't antagonized Cade the night before she wouldn't have ended up beaten and in this current condition. There was nothing she could do to change the past though, this was the hand she'd been dealt and it was the hand that had to be played. Given her weakened state, the hard terrain and the fact she was trying to ensure she didn't leave behind a trail she hadn't been moving as fast as she would have liked but it was the best she could do. If she could take a guess, she'd traveled about seven miles in the five hours she'd been walking.

Onward. Onward.

Alternating between walking and rest breaks, she kept forcing herself to keep moving. Time slipped by and before she knew it, the sun was beginning to sink below the mountains on her left. Darkness would soon fall and Millie began searching out a suitable place to spend the night. It got cold in the mountains overnight and she knew she couldn't risk lighting a fire. She'd brought with her a single blanket but it wouldn't protect her well at all from the elements. She needed to find a cave or a rocky overhang and lucky for her, these mountains held a number of both.

After a few more minutes of walking towards a cliff face on her right, she began walking along the base of it. As the sun began to set, she found what she'd been looking for. A large overhang was just up ahead of her and with the promise of rest mere yards away, she hurried towards it. Ducking her head, she crouched down and went in as far as she could go. This would do. She had a view of the surrounding landscape from here without revealing her position too much and it would protect her from the elements.

For the first time all day, she allowed herself to relax a little.

She was finally safe.

Grateful to be finally resting, she helped herself to the water from her canteen again. In the morning she'd have to go looking for more water, she'd drunk almost three quarters of what she'd brought with her already. Screwing the lid on again she placed it aside, turning to watch the sunset as the sky was painted with a canvas of oranges and pinks on the underside of the clouds floating by.

What now?

Now that she'd made it this far, what was she to do next?

She couldn't return to the Barkleys. That was what Cade was expecting her to do. That would be the first place he'd look and she wouldn't do that to them. She couldn't let them get hurt. Thinking of Tomahawk and Miracle, she wondered what would happen to them now that she was no longer there. Would they sell her mustang? What would happen to her kitten? She had no control over what they might choose to decide about them and that thought worried her.

Maybe she had no choice but to go back…

If she went back, she wouldn't be letting them know she was there. She couldn't. They'd try to talk her into staying and if that happened, she knew she wouldn't be able to say no. No. It was better if she just snuck in, grabbed her animals and her belongings and left again. After all, it wasn't stealing if she was only taking back what rightfully belonged to her.

At the sound of a twig breaking to her left, Millie was instantly on alert. Something had made that twig break and it sounded like it was large. The kitchen knife was in her hand in a second, her heart racing. She was ill equipped to deal with a wild animal if indeed that was what it was. A kitchen knife was no weapon against a wolf or a bear.

Not hearing anything else, she carefully and slowly crawled out from her hiding place and stood up just out from beneath the overhang. Maybe it had been a deer, she'd seen plenty of signs to say they were abundant in the area. If it was a deer, maybe her food problem would be solved. If, that was, if she could find a way of bringing it down with a kitchen knife.

"Drop it."

She spun around at the voice, bringing up the knife to defend herself from this unexpected threat. Someone was out here. Her eyes scanned the bushes where the voice had come from. It hadn't sounded like Cade. "I'm not afraid of you! Whoever you are!" A lousy kitchen knife. Oh how she wished that she had a pistol in her hand and not a blunt cooking utensil. "Show yourself!"

The bushes rustled after a moment and her heart skipped a beat as a figure arose from behind them.

Recognizing who was standing there in front of her, Millie's heart fairly stopped.

"Oh for the love of… Damn you to hell!"