Chapter 71

Sam lay on the hard, dirty, and cold bed, shivering. When she heard someone or something making noise on the stones outside, she became much more alert. Suddenly she heard the key in the lock of the door and tried to sit up. Her wrists were raw from trying to wrench free from the bed, her hands red, traces of blood on the blanket. Her face covered with dried, red snot. Her fur-lined boots kept her feet somewhat warm and weren't as cold as her face and hands.

The door opened. She closed her eyes and screamed, "Elliott."

"Sorry, missy, but he can't hear you from here and even iffen he could I doubt he would come for you." Scruff entered the cabin and closed the door, no sign of Larry anywhere. "I gave your lover man til morning to show up with the money and iffen he don't I'll get rid of you the same way I got rid of Ralph. Right over the cliff and down in the river." He threw a large log on the fire and she began to feel the heat, the warmth spread throughout her body. She wanted it t