Choices Like Rivers by Nancy Jackson

Author:Nancy Jackson
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-73489-462-2
Publisher: Wild Ideas Press

Donna - July 1973

The last four weeks had resulted in multiple escape attempts as Donna continued to grow in size. Buddy’s patience seemed to be growing thin. After each failed attempt, she expected wrath to greet her, but he would just gently retrieve her and took her back to the old farmhouse.

He insisted that she accompany him for everything, even when his need to use the restroom came. He would tie a thin rope around her wrist and hold it as he relieved himself. He would let her stand just outside the door and then shut the door holding the rope tightly.

Several times she had reached up with her other hand in an effort to hurriedly untie the knot. But Buddy’s strength always pulled the knots so tight that her small fingers couldn’t separate the loops before he would once again emerge.

When she needed to go to the bathroom, he stood in the doorway. There never seemed to be any sign of sexual tension coming from Buddy. He seemed to have no interest in her in that way. One day her need to bathe became so overwhelming, that she found herself just stripping and bathing with him standing there. Not once did he seem to react to her nakedness. He would stand there and look away giving her a small bit of privacy, if only visually.

There was no electricity in the old house. It had been built for electricity, but she assumed that when his parents had died, lack of payment had caused them to shut it off.

There was an old well pump outside they hauled water from. She bathed in the tub, putting a stopper in the drain and dumping water in that they had hauled in.

Donna did her best to fall into a routine. She had been born with a naturally positive attitude and throughout her childhood she felt happy, hopeful, and optimistic. Even when she had learned she was pregnant, it hadn’t diminished her sunny disposition. She immediately turned her thoughts to all the pleasure the baby would bring to her life.

The month in the old farmhouse had worked hard to diminish her core optimism. The hope she had felt so keenly in the beginning now came and went just as the night faded to light each day and then back. What would I do if I lost hope all together, she thought? So, she worked hard to make the best of her days.

Then suddenly one day Buddy announced, “I take you to your home.”

Donna’s skin prickled with anticipation. “Home?” Her eyes searched his for more. Dare I hope he means what I think he means?

“You and baby need a home. I take you to your home.”

Donna frowned. “What home?”

“Buddy has you a home. It real close.” Donna’s heart sank. She wasn’t going home, yet. She knew that her parents and Jared would be looking for her. But where were they and where would they look? She knew, hoped really, that they wouldn’t give up looking.

Buddy took Donna by the upper arm and marched her out the back door.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.