Chapter 21

TWENTY-ONE

Inches from her head, cold water dripped through slats of wooden boards darkened with age and covered in lichen and moss. Shiloh moved her head in an attempt to avoid the freezing droplets. She pulled the quilt tighter around her, but a chill seeped through the floral material, raising goosebumps on her flesh. Determined not to give in to the horrible man who had taken her, she stared at the cobweb in the corner of the small enclosure. The breeze coming through the holes in the top of the box made the water droplets sparkle to resemble a fine diamond necklace. Her mother had always said she had a stubborn streak and that it would get her into trouble one day. It certainly had this time, as trouble had come in the shape of being thrown inside a wooden cage attached to the eaves of an old shed.

The cop had told her his name was Evan, and as no one had come forward to claim her, she belonged to him now. Her mother had died and no one else in the family wanted her. He'd forced her to sit with him and watch movies. Horrified, she'd tried to shut her eyes, but he'd threatened her and then held her firmly on his lap, so tight she could barely breathe. She had no recollection of her first night in the cabin or of the videos he had taken of her. She had sobbed and tried to run out of the door. There was no escape. Evan was so strong he could just pick her up in one arm and restrain her without a problem. When he sat her down and told her the rules he expected her to obey, she had shaken her head and refused. He had locked her in a closet for hours. When he had taken her out, he'd asked her again if she would obey the rules. She'd screamed and run for the door throwing it open and running out into the wilderness. Behind her, he'd followed slowly, laughing.

After running around for what seemed like hours, he'd caught her, dragged her back to the cabin by her hair, and then thrown her into the small cage. The quilt had been his only concession, to avoid her freezing to death. The time alone in the tiny space had given her the opportunity to think straight. She had very few options. He'd explained she would never leave the cabin until someone else had made an offer for her. She would need to work for her food and do everything he said willingly or she would spend most of her life inside the cage.

Footsteps and the sound of men's voices came from outside the shed. She had no room to turn around to look at the door, but as the rusty hinges creaked, a blast of freezing air smelling of snow hit her cheeks.

"Get her down, so I can get a better look at her." Another man, carrying a small bag, walked around her cage peering at her.

"She'll fight, scratch, and bite." Evan grinned at her. "She's a little wildcat. Aren't you, Shiloh?"

"There are some who'd like that in a girl." The man smiled. "I might have taken her myself, but my place isn't set up for company just now. I'm staying above the practice, but I do have a nice secluded cabin not far from here. It will be ready in a day or so. I have the men working on it for me as we speak."

"You found a practice already?" Surprise crossed Evan's face. "How did you manage that?"

"These mining towns always need another doctor." The doctor smiled. "I emailed them my credentials and Dr. Clint Brewer got the position. They provided the office in town and a receptionist—an old biddy, been in the town for centuries." He lifted his chin. "They're looking for security guards and I can vouch for you. Our stories are that we came all the way from Dawson, met up in town just yesterday. I've brought all the documents you need to get the job with me. They're in my truck."

"That's great! This place is perfect." Evan rubbed his hands together. "Easy access by chopper or road most times. People on the move back and forth with the mines. No chance of any suspicion."

Trembling, Shiloh tried to pull away as Evan dragged her from the cage. Her numb legs crumpled under her and she fell at his feet. She looked up at the two men. The second man, Brewer, was nodding at her. She looked up at him. "Can you help me?"

"I sure can." Brewer placed his bag on a bench and pulled out a syringe. He filled it from a small bottle and bent toward her. "This will help."

Trying to scramble away, Shiloh gasped when Evan's fingers dug into her shoulders. A sharp prick slammed into her thigh and warmth flooded through her. Lightheaded, she fell forward and lay on the ground, her cheek pressed into the dirt. Moments later, Evan lifted her up and carried her out into the cold and headed to the cabin. He tossed her onto the bed and stared down at her. Lightheaded and dizzy, Shiloh fought the drug rushing through her veins. "I want to go home."

"This is your home." Evan's eyes bore into her like knives. "Get used to it. You know now you can't run and I can make you obey me." He waved a hand at her. "We can give you a little or a lot of the drug as we see fit. Do you want to be like this? It's much easier if you cooperate."

Shaking her head, Shiloh glared at him as he moved in and out of focus. "I hate you. Lock me up, I don't care. I'll never do what you want, not ever." She tried to control the tears spilling down her cheeks.

"Is this how it's going to be?" Evan shook his head. "It makes no difference to me. You think on it for a time. The doctor will be back to see you real soon." He smiled, showing yellow uneven teeth. "I'll make sure he leaves a ton of those shots here just for you. Now, I gotta go. Doc brought another girl for me to check out. Catch you later."

The key in the lock turned, and Shiloh tried to make her eyes focus but the room swam. She couldn't lift her arms and trying to sit up was hopeless. Terror gripped her. She'd never been so terribly alone. Nobody had told her about men like Evan. He frightened her and the doctor was no better. Treating her so bad was like some horrible game to them. She had no chance to escape and now they'd trapped another poor girl. She moved her tongue around her dry mouth and tried to call out. She desperately needed a drink but only a whisper escaped her parched throat. She lay there unable to move for some time before the key in the lock turned again and the doctor walked inside. "Please, can I have a drink of water?"

Brewer said nothing and the smell of cigars drifted inside the room with him. After removing his coat and laying it neatly over the back of a chair, he turned to stare at her. "Evan told you, you must earn your living, didn't he? I'm sure he explained the rules." His gaze moved over her. "This is the easiest way to earn points. All you have to do is smile. You'll get points for every time you smile. Points add up to food and water." He pointed to a red light in the corner. "Why don't you smile for the camera and we'll see about the water?"

Shaking her head as best she could, she turned her head away. "No."

"Have it your own way." Dr. Brewer moved around out of her vision. "I don't really care. I have girls in foster care eager to take your place. You, my dear, are disposable."

She trembled all over. Disposable? What was going to happen to her now?