The Witness Wore Red: The 19th Wife Who Brought Polygamous Cult Leaders to Justice by Musser Rebecca

Author:Musser, Rebecca [Musser, Rebecca]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Biography & Autobiography / Personal Memoirs, Biography & Autobiography / Religious, Biography & Autobiography / Women, Religion / Christianity / Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints, Religion / Cults, Religion / Fundamentalism
ISBN: 9781455527847
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Published: 2013-09-10T00:00:00+00:00

It felt much too soon and dangerous to go back to Utah, but Ben had promised to return Scott’s truck and the trailer, and Ben was nothing if not an honest soul. That afternoon we drove back, taking comfort in the fact that no one except Scott would expect us to return. Still, as we left behind water, pines, and lush growth for the desert again, fear gnawed at me. It wasn’t a topic of polite dinner conversation, but we both knew that girls in my community had been forced back to their families and some quite literally held captive until they could be “sweet” again.

During the drive, I became aware of a new tension between us that lasted all the way to southern Utah. Every time Ben moved in his seat, I was excruciatingly aware of the ripple of muscles along his arms and legs, his red hair gleaming in the fading sunset. When he would beam a reassuring smile at me, I felt a little thrill before reality set in. Until Ben had kissed me in the canyon, the only place he held in my world was as a friend. Now when I would look at him or think of him, my head kept spinning.

As if he could read my thoughts, Ben gave me a mischievous look, then suddenly reached over and took my hand. We sat there, hands clasped in the space between us, the warmth from his suddenly spreading up my arm. I didn’t understand this feeling. I dropped his fingers and looked out the window. Ben glanced at me but didn’t push it.

Our hearts were both heavy at what we had done. So many people were angry and horrified with us. The calls hadn’t stopped. And it wasn’t as if gold was at the other end of the rainbow: Coos Bay in November was humid and cold, with a chilling wind that had whipped through our bones. But along the way, Ben and I began to talk seriously and decided that no matter what, we were not going to live in Utah. All it held for us now was a dead-end road, a life of misery and manipulation.

The sunrise was bright and beautiful, and the air warmed considerably by the time we met Scott in St. George to exchange vehicles. Scott brought Ben’s Chevy Blazer and promised to take back the trailer to Reliance Lighting. Then he gave us an update on what the new Prophet was saying about us.

Using his old tactics, Warren had warned the people that anyone who associated with either of us would be considered traitorous and deeply immoral. Our families were not to contact us—their eternal salvation was at stake. I was concerned for Scott, but he laughed it off. He was on his way out, too, and he knew it.

Once we said good-bye to his brother, Ben and I realized our mutual exhaustion. Neither one of us had slept well since before the escape. To attempt a trip back to Oregon now was to risk our lives.

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