“Do you want to come ride with me this evening? You can help me not get too close to Travis,” Ana said as she smiled.

  “Sure, I’ll go, but you have to go with me to the drama club meeting, it’s today at one.”

  “Ok, sure.” They drank their coffee and laughed about things that had happened at school. Ana went to the meeting with Brittani and sat in the back listening. They were discussing the upcoming production and casting. Ana thought she might have been in a drama club if she had been raised as a normal kid. But it was never an option for her. The play had three main actors, a lot of minor parts, and was set in the United States. Unfortunately for Ana, most of the faculty and staff knew her story. Rarely someone would mention the kidnapping, but when they did, it was always awkward. The director was a young lady. She seemed to be very young and more like a peer than an instructor.

  “Ana, will you audition? We would be honored to have a true American in the show,” the director asked as they were leaving.

  “I don’t know if I’m any good.”

  “An actor is better when they have a diverse life background. I bet you have been through more life experiences than most middle-aged adults. Just try it, here, I’ll give you a script.” Ana took it and smiled.

  “Ana, that is freaking awesome. You should audition,” Brittan said as they walked out.

  “I’ll think about it.” Ana drove down the road and thought about what the director had said. She thought she would at least read the script. They stopped at Ana’s so she could get clothes. Ana introduced Brittani to her mom and Nellie. Brittani was very polite and simply said hello.

  “Where have you two been this morning?” Andrea asked out of curiosity.

  “We went to a drama club meeting at school,” Ana replied.

  “Really?” said Andrea. She was clearly not expecting that answer.

  “Yeah, Mrs. Hutchinson. The director asked Ana to audition, I think she would be great,” Brittani said with enthusiasm.

  “Yes, I do too Brittani, I think that is an excellent idea. I was involved with theatre as a teen, and I really enjoyed it,” Andrea said.

  “I’ll think about it,” Ana said. “Come on, Brittani. Mom, we’re going down to the stables to ride for a few hours.”

  “Be careful, dear,” Andrea said as they walked out the door.

  “Thanks, Britt, now she’s going to be on me to be in the play. She’s all the time telling me I would enjoy school more if I would get involved,” Ana said.

  “Sorry, but she is right.”

  Ana snarled at her, “Shut the hell up.” Ana slapped Brittani’s arm and smiled. When they got to the stables, Travis wasn’t there. So, the girls had to saddle their own horses. They rode off, but Brittani could tell Ana was bummed.

  “I can’t help he isn’t here, so cheer up,” Brittani said.

  “I know, it just sucks. I wanted to see him.”

  “Did you tell him you were coming?”

  “No. Remember? I’m not supposed to see him, and it’s not a big deal anyway.”

  They rode the trail to the creek; Brittani was impressed with the scenery. “We could have a great time here,” Brittani said. “Do you think your mom would let us camp out here? Aren’t you a boy scout or something?”

  “I’m not a boy scout, I’m a girl, and I just spent some time on trips at the Academy where we learned how to survive on our own out in the wilderness,” Ana clarified.

  “See, you are a boy scout,” Brittani said, ignoring Ana’s obscene sign language.

  “I doubt she would let us anyway, with just us. She’s scared to death someone will take me again.”

  “What if Drake came, and he had some friends come?” Brittani suggested.

  “Are you nuts? Do you think she’s going to let me camp with guys? Dream the hell on.” Ana laughed at the idea.

  “Maybe we could pitch it a different way, not like a party, but like a game, and we just stay the night after.”

  “Ok, Alice, you're in wonderland. There will have to be supervision. You’re crazy, but it would be fun.” Ana admitted. They rode back to the stables, and Travis was there.

  “Well, look at that. Nice, very nice,” Brittani said, teasing Ana. “

  Shut it up.” Ana rode up to him and said, “What’s up?” teasing him. He smiled and helped her off her horse. They got the horses settled and sat down facing the pasture and the house.

  “Ana, I’ll be right back, just running to the car,” Brittani said.

  “Ok.” Ana looked puzzled.

  Brittani came back with a bottle of brown liquor. “Y’all, got cups, or are we going to drink right out of the bottle?” Brittani asked, holding the bottle up with a mischievous grin on her face.

  “Oh my God, are you stupid? I just got out on parole,” Ana said, laughing.

  “Oh, chill out. There isn’t enough for us to get drunk,” Brittani said. “Well, I’m going to drink some of this while we sit here, and I’m going to imagine we are out on the prairie. I just rode in on my black stallion, and I’m waiting on my hot-ass cowboy lover to ride up. He got held up because he had to shoot some robbers in town.” Brittani took a drink.

  “Well, if you're that, then I’m a cowgirl. I just got in from the range where I had to shoot a wolf because he was trying to eat your lover’s face off,” Ana said, laughing.

  “Was that before or after the shooting of the robber?” Travis asked.

  “Hand me that,” Ana said. She took a drink and passed it to Travis. They took turns drinking the whiskey until it was gone.

  “I gotta pee, come on,” Brittani said. Ana got up and walked her to the bathroom. When they walked into the bathroom, Brittani asked, “Are you buzzing?”

  “Yeah, are you?”

  “Yeah, don’t get crazy. Here’s some gum. I can’t have my best friend getting put back in prison.”

  “Yeah, that would suck so bad.” Brittani and Ana went back outside.

  “I gotta get going, Ana,” Travis said.

  “Ok, I’ll walk you out,” Ana said, jumping up to follow him.

  Brittani pointed at her as she walked away and mouthed, “Two minutes, and I’m coming after you.”

  Travis was parked at the back of the barn. He usually let the owner’s park up front so they could get into the barn easier. He walked to his truck, and she followed him. “I’m sorry I couldn’t come here for the past month,” she said.

  “It’s ok. You’re here now.” He leaned into her and kissed her softly. She was surprised but didn’t resist. The alcohol was stronger than she thought. He kissed her hard, and she was kissing him back. He picked her up and set her in the driver’s seat of his truck. He leaned into her and kissed her neck, then pulled her shirt down and nuzzled near her breast. She pulled him closer as he stood between her legs, in a position that, if they were unclothed, would be dangerous. His hands quickly grabbed at her pants button, and then his hands were in them, pulling at her panties. Ana thought this was fast, but she didn’t say anything. She reached to touch him, and he unbuttoned his pants quickly to give her access. As his fingers advanced further, she gasped. It was painful, and she backed away. He pulled her back down toward him, and he pulled at himself like he was going to put it inside her. Ana thought this couldn’t be happening. It was too weird. She moved back then suddenly. They heard a car door slam and a beep as the doors locked.

  “Oh God, who is that?” Ana was frantically scrambling out of the truck and ran inside the basement of the barn. She had to get upstairs to Brittani, but she had to maneuver around equipment in the dark. She tripped and fell over something, “Son-of-a-bitch,” she said. The object was metal, and her shin was hurting. When she tripped, she knocked over a gas can that made a loud echoing bang on the concrete floor. The alcohol didn’t help her move in the darkness, and her nervousness only made her clumsier. When she reached the top of the steps, her heart was racing, and she was out of breath. She didn’t know if it was because of what had just happened with Travis or what she feared would happen upstairs. She listened at the door and could hear Brittani talking to Diane.

  “What is that sound? Where is Ana?” Diane asked, looking back and forth.

  “Oh, hello. You must be Diane. I’m Brittani; Ana has told me so much about you. We went riding today. You know it’s beautiful over there near that rock bluff,” Brittani said as she tried to think of where Ana could be.

  “Is Travis here?” Diane asked as she walked toward the back of the barn. Ana met her at the top of the steps. “Ana, what are you doing down here?” Diane asked.

  “I was just looking for a different water bucket for the mare. Her’s is broken.” Ana said.

  Diane walked by her and looked through the basement, then went outside. She knew Travis had been there because his boot prints were all over the ground in the red dirt, and so were Ana’s. Diane went back upstairs to find Brittani and Ana sitting on the porch looking at their phones. “Ana, when did he leave?” Diane asked.

  “Who?” Ana responded, playing dumb.

  “Travis, when did he leave?” Diane asked.

  “Not too long ago, he said he had to do something for his dad.” Ana was making it up as she went. Diane walked back in the barn, leaving them on the porch. Brittani looked at Ana and busted out laughing. Ana smiled, trying to whisper, “Shut up, you idiot.”

  Diane walked back on the porch and said, “Are you going home for dinner?”

  “Yeah, I guess,” Ana replied.

  “You guess?” Diane stared at the both of them.

  “Come on, Brittani, we gotta get going,” Ana said.

  “Bye see you later,” Brittani said to Diane.

  The girls got into the jeep and drove down the drive. Diane looked around the barn and shut off the lights. She threw her an old broken horse bridle she had found lying on the step into the garbage, and she heard glass break and thought that was odd. She leaned over and found an empty whiskey bottle. She must have hit it just right to break it. She thought surely Ana had enough sense not to drink this close to getting off restriction. Maybe it was Travis’. He was older and maybe drank here on evenings when he was alone. Diane decided to go to dinner at the Hutchinson house.

  “Oh my God, that was so close, I almost had a heart attack, and I almost broke my damn shin,” Ana said, then asked, “Brittani, you staying for dinner?”

  “Better not, I need to get home.” Ana dropped Brittani off at her car, and she left.

  Travis called, and she answered. “Hey, you ok?” he asked.

  “Yeah, but I’m still shaking. That was too close,” Ana said.

  “Don’t worry about it. We can go somewhere more quiet next time,” he said.

  “I’ve got to go,” Ana said, ignoring that comment.

  “No, I want to talk to you,” he begged.

  “What is it, Travis? I’m probably already screwed with my parents. We are not a thing. My mom will freak the hell out if she finds out I messed around with you,” Ana said impatiently.

  “I don’t know, but I don’t want to lose you,” he replied.

  She pulled over. She was at the beginning of the driveway, and she didn’t want to be on the phone when she pulled in. “I’ve got to go, Travis. I am sorry, but this can't happen. I like spending time with you, and messing around with you is ok too, but it’s going to suck if my parents find out. I am watched like a hawk, and this isn’t worth it. We could never date, you know that. I’ve got to go.” She hung up without a goodbye. She was irritated at the whole situation, but especially at herself for making out with him the first time. It was like she had opened a door that couldn’t be closed. Even though she knew better, she couldn’t help being physically attracted to him, but she didn’t like how he moved so fast. She was secretly glad they had been interrupted. When she got home, she saw Diane’s car in front of the house. “This is freaking great,” she said to herself.

  When Diane arrived at the Hutchinson's, she found Andrea in the kitchen looking at her phone. “Why is Ana sitting on the side of the road at the end of our driveway?” she asked Diane.

  “What? Let me see. How long has she been there?” Diane wanted to know as the dot started to move.

  Andrea responded, “Maybe five minutes or so.”

  “Well, I found an empty liquor bottle in the trash at the barn. I don’t know if it was Travis’ or Ana’s.”

  “Are you kidding me?” Andrea said, raising her voice.

  “No, but don’t say anything. I’m looking into something, just trust me. I think it will reveal itself soon enough.”

  “Was he there today with them?”

  “Yes, but he was gone when I looked for his truck. I don’t know how long he was there.”

  “So, what is the deal with them? God, I hope nothing,” Andrea said. They heard Ana coming in the side door from her car. Andrea nodded to Diane as Ana came through the door.

  “Hey, mom. Hey Aunt Diane, I didn’t know you were coming over here,” Ana said.

  “Yes, a last-minute decision,” Diane said.

  Ana thought to herself, yeah, I bet it was. “Well, I’m going upstairs to shower and change clothes before dinner.”

  “Ana, wait, stay for a minute. Tell Diane about the theatre club,” Andrea said.

  “Oh yeah, the director asked me to audition—no big deal. Whew, I got hot riding, I’m sweaty,” Ana said, pulling the hair off her neck and into a ponytail. As she pulled her hair back, a red mark was revealed on the left side of her neck. It wasn’t very noticeable but was definitely there. “Be back down in a minute.” Ana left the kitchen for her room. She was relieved to get away from her mom and aunt. She felt like Diane was there to rat her out to her mom.

  “Did you see that?” Andrea said.

  “See what?” Diane asked.

  “On her neck, I swear it looks just like somebody has been sucking on her neck.” Andrea was clearly convinced it was what she thought it was.

  “No, I didn’t see it, but I wasn’t on that side of her either. You don’t know that for sure, don’t go crazy, Andrea. Wait until we can talk to her, don’t jump to conclusions.”

  Ana took off her clothes, showered quickly, dried off, and brushed her hair. As she pulled her hair back, she saw the same thing her mother had seen. She was shocked. “Oh my God, that asshole.” She looked closer in the mirror. “I’m dead. Just call the funeral home now because if I’m not dead, I will want to be. What am I going to do?” she said to herself. She called Brittani and told her the entire situation in a minute flat.

  “Oh God, Ana, you're screwed. Mom and Aunt Hawaii 5-0 are on the case,” Brittani exclaimed.

  “What am I going to tell her?” Ana asked in desperation.

  “What is your plan? How are you going to explain that?” Brittani started laughing.

  “Don’t laugh. That was an asshole thing to do.”

  “Sorry, you’re right. Looks like he was trying to mark his territory.”

  Ana huffed, “I’ve got to go. I just heard my mom yelling up the stairs.” Andrea had called Ana, but by no means did she yell. Ana didn’t wear foundation or concealer makeup, so that option was out. So, she wore her hair down and a bulky sweatshirt to dinner. “Dear Lord, let her vision fail or give her explosive diarrhea so she won’t be glaring at my neck,” Ana whispered, going down the steps. Then she apologized for that prayer, “Sorry, I know that isn’t nice, Amen.”

  When she went into the dining room, the table wasn’t set, which was odd. She walked into the kitchen, where her mom and Diane were setting the small kitchen table in the breakfast nook. “We’re going to eat in here, it’s just us three, and it’s less work,” Andrea said. Ana sat down almost across from the two women. “I would like to pray before we eat. We really should do this more often, to give thanks.”

  Ana and Diane bowed their heads. “Dear Heavenly Father, we are so very thankful for our food, our home, and our family. Lord, please forgive us for our wrongdoings and help us to search ourselves and be honest with you in confession. God, help us to fight the flesh of the body from all temptations. Don’t let us fall into sin and temptation. Thank you for this meal and my wonderful daughter, whom you have blessed me with. Amen.” Andrea looked at Diane, who couldn’t believe Andrea had just prayed that. Diane almost laughed and couldn’t help but laugh.

  That prayer would make a nun confess to fornication, Diane thought.

  Ana wanted to bang her head against the table. She thought that was probably a better option than finishing the meal. They ate and shared casual conversation. “Ana, I was worried when you were late, and when I looked, you were up at the end of our drive for a while. Was something wrong with your car?” Andrea said casually.

  “Why are you tracking my every move? Ugh.” Ana couldn’t help it. She hated that they had her on GPS.

  “Why do you have a problem with me tracking you? You are my daughter, and it is my vehicle you're driving. Do you have something to hide, young lady?”

  “I’m not arguing any of that. It’s just -- nothing,” Ana gave it up. “I was on the phone, so I just pulled over.”

  “Who were you talking to?” Diane asked.

  “A friend of mine who was freaking out and wanted to talk. Why do you ask?”

  “Just wondering who would be so important for you to stop?” Andrea said.

  “Just a friend Mom, I don't like to be on the phone while driving.” They had begun to eat, and a few moments passed.

  “Anastasia, can I see your phone?” Diane asked as she smiled at her.

  “Sure, I just did the new update.” Ana handed it to her. Diane scrolled through the phone, then laid it down in front of Ana. Diane then picked up her own phone, pulled up Travis’s contact information, and laid it beside Ana’s phone.