When their gazes connected, he felt her agony soul deep. It was more than physical; her heart was hurting. “I feel like I’m dying inside, Lochlan.” Her words vibrated with her misery.
Pushing through the nurses crowding her, he looked to Kirsten for help. “Privacy?”
Shaking her head, she said, “I need to see her back first. She’s ripped the stitches and her IV out.”
Cursing, he pulled Sage gently into his embrace. Blood had nearly saturated the back of the gown completely, so he understood the worry.
“What did they do to you?” he murmured.
“He damned me to hell.” She cried against him. Her tiny fists clenched at his chest.
He didn’t know what to say. How to proceed to make her feel even a small amount better. This was unchartered territory for him.
“Can Kirsten look at you, sweetheart? Your back, it’s bad.”
Nodding her head slightly, Loch helped her climb onto the bed. After getting her comfortable on her stomach, he grabbed a chair and pulled it up to the side her head was facing. With her hand firmly entrenched in his own, he nodded for the professionals to work.
“Talk to me, Sage,” he encouraged, hoping to distract her from what was happening behind her.
“I don’t know what happened to them.” She didn’t have to clarify who the them were that she was referring to was. “They changed. Almost overnight.” Watching her face scrunch with pain as the doctor and nurses worked was hard. “One day we were joyful, and I was allowed to tell stories and dance in the wildflowers. I could stay up late and count the stars with Joss and Kaidence. Porter and Trusen used to take some of the younger boys on adventures in the trees.” Her smile at the memories was mesmerizing. “Our way of life, our beliefs, they weren’t for everyone. But for as long as I could remember, we were happy. Life was good, Lochlan.”
“What changed?” he asked quietly. “When did it change?”
Sage was thoughtful for a moment. “About five years ago. There was a young girl in Adna that went missing. I remember praying for her. Hoping she would be returned to her family.” Sorrow flashed in her eyes. “A man raped and murdered her.” A lone tear escaped her eyes, and Loch wiped it away, cradling her cheek in his hand. “I don’t think anyone was the same after that. My father, he was so angry. His sermons became more and more about fighting urges and temptations. He’s worried about sinners.”
“He became stricter with you?”
“Yes. Everything was very structured. Curfews were enforced. We were no longer able to explore. Teaching became a chore. We’ve always grown our own produce and wheats. We have cows for milking and sheep for wool. But it was like he amped it up. Gave us no reason to ever leave the compound.” Contemplating her next words, she told him, “I suppose his fear could have been that great for the other children and something happening to them. But then, why the beatings? The snake pit became a form of punishment for those wanting to leave.”
“I don’t know what to say, Sage.” He was truly stunned. The others in the room seemed to be listening to her raptly as well from the shock on their faces. “Fear is a great motivator to protect the ones we love, but it doesn’t excuse hurting them in the process.”
“Sometimes, I wish I’d never been allowed to accompany my mother that day. That I hadn’t pushed to see the outside world. We were free to before, but I’d never had any desire to. For some reason that day I was restless, I needed to know what else there was. I met you and then Ashley later in Denver. She made me see that things weren’t quite as they seemed.”
“If you hadn’t, I wouldn’t have found you,” he replied softly, unable to think of not knowing her. Even if they hadn’t spoken more than a handful of words to each other until the night before.
“That’s the single reason I don’t regret any of it, Lochlan. When I look at you, when we’re in the same room, my whole world lights up like sunshine. I feel so much more when I’m with you than at any other time.”
He was speechless. She described everything he felt and more. Running his free hand through her soft white hair, her eyes closed, and for the first time since meeting her, Sage looked content. Not stressed or fearful. Simply at peace.
Chapter Six
Have mercy and believe, the rest will come.
Lorraine Hogan couldn’t believe she was going to the hospital, yet again, for another of her children. After Levi’s stint with months of fighting, she’d been only too happy to never see the inside of one of these buildings again.
After the shock of Hayes’ brother being alive and her family needing time alone, Lorraine had been delighted to hear from her youngest that morning. When he’d mentioned he needed her at the hospital, she feared the worst. As any mother would.
Once he explained about a young girl needing help, she’d jumped at the chance. Her boys didn’t ask for much help anymore, and now that they were all meeting their special ladies, she was just thrilled. Hopefully, soon, Lennox and Sophia would be giving her grandbabies with the way her oldest son looked at his sweet fiancée.
She was positively delighted with the women her sons had chosen for themselves. Even after a rocky start with Hayes during their first meeting. She’d been so distressed about that and couldn’t apologize enough. Thankfully, the young woman was understanding, and they’d grown close.
Parking in the hospital lot, Lorraine went in search of Lochlan and his friend. Finding the room, she knocked lightly on the door, careful not to disturb Sage in case she was sleeping. Pushing through, she was surprised at the sight.
Lochlan lay on a bed on his side with a young woman beside him situated on her stomach. Her back was completely exposed. Covered in bandages, cuts, and bruises. Everything a girl should never have been exposed to.
Walking closer to the couple, she saw them facing each other, utterly lost in their own world. Satisfaction rolled through Lorraine as she watched her youngest gently soothe the girl at his side. Their light whispers were oddly touching to watch.
“Lochlan?” she called softly.