Breaking Free

Chapter 14

I ride for what seems like days, though it was probably only an hour or so. Once I'm far enough away, I ask Ezhno to stop. He willingly agrees, tired from the running I just put him through.

I reach into my pocket, and realize that I had shoved the letter into it.

After a few deep breaths, I open the crumpled envelope, and start to read my mothers familiar handwriting.

Taylor,

By now, the Stones have told you the truth, I'm sure. I want you to know that leaving you was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life, but it was all to keep you safe. Everything your father and I did, we did for you.

I understand if you hate us and never want to see us again- in fact, that's the reaction we are all expecting.

If you decide you want to contact us, go down to the police station, and talk to Deputy Peters. He is one of the few people who know what happened to us. He can put in a request to contact us, and then you can be secretly escorted to our new location. They would give you a temporary fake identity, but I'm sure that won't be too much of a problem for you.

You probably don't remember at this point, but you have an aunt named Corrine. She owns a ranch up north in Pennsylvania, called Maple Ridge Ranch.

At this point, I stop reading to catch my breath. Corrine was my aunt? I didn't recognize her, and she certainly didn't recognize me. If she did, she didn't let on.

I grasp Ezhno's mane as if it were the only thing holding me here, and I would blow away without it to anchor me.

After a long pause, I start reading again.

She can answer any questions you may have about me and your father, although even she doesn't know out exact whereabouts. We do make it a point to visit her every once in a while, as that can easily be disguised as just a vacation, and the killers won't connect the dots on that one.

Sweetie, I can't tell you how much I regret not being there to watch you grow up. If I thought it was safe, I would have taken you with me. But I couldn't be sure that you wouldn't be hurt, that we wouldn't be found. We did what we thought was best, and we'll regret it till the day we die.

Love,
Mom

I try to control my breathing as tears blur my vision, falling onto the aged sheet of paper.

I am so unbelievably angry at them, yet underneath that anger I feel happy that they're alive. Even so, I don't know if I'll ever be able to forgive them for leaving me. I was the foster child no one wanted for the majority of my childhood. I was so miserable that I ran away- I could have died and I'd have never known the truth.

I am so lost in my thoughts that I don't notice the sound of hoofbeats drawing close to me until Chester stops beside Ezhno.

"Taylor," Carter whispers, reaching out to grab my hand. "Are you okay."

"No- but I will be," I mumble. "Will you do something for me?"

"Anything."

I take a deep breath before I go on, partly to regain my composure, and partly for dramatic effect.

"Take me back to Maple Ridge," I request, meeting his eyes. He gives me a questioning look, so I hand him the letter.

After skimming it for a few moments, his eyes go wide as saucers.

"Take me back to Maple Ridge," I repeat, before turning Ezhno and urging him home.


A/N

Hey! I feel awful about how short this chapter is, I'll try to update again either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. But in case I dont, Merry Christmas!!!!