Read Taking Faith for Free Online

leaving only paring and small knives behind.
    She didn't even know what she was making, she just wanted to be doing something. She chopped fast and it became an angry rhythm to take out her frustrations on. She wasn't surprised when she sliced her finger, but she kept right on going, the knife banging on the board as she began to breath e heavy.
    She felt him beside her, taking the knife and moving her to the sink as he held her finger under the cool water. She refused to look at him, just stared at the wall behind the sink. "So, you're going to just hurt yourself, huh?" He looked back at the potatoes. "And ruin supper in the process."
    She glanced over quickly and saw blood on the potatoes she'd chopped. Oh, well. Good riddance.
    "Stay there," he ordered and left. He came back with a band-aid and ointment. He dried her hand and wrapped her finger. Then he brought the trashcan over and took his hand to slide all the potato pieces off the counter into the bin. He turned and sighed. "Well…let's see what else we've got."
    He opened the pantry and took out a Hamburger Helper box. "No knives involved with this. Wanna try again?"
    She shook her head…and didn't stop. She crumpled to the floor. Whatever she did, good or bad, was going to either be met with meanness or this strange behavior where he acted like they were actually a happily married couple. Her tears were hot on her cheeks and she even pushed his hand away when he moved to touch her arm. "Amy," he said softly. She shook her head harder.
    "Why?" she heard herself yell. "Why did you take me?"
    He seemed taken aback by her outburst and wobbled on his haunches. She saw him swallow and moved her eyes back to his. She would wait for her answer. She had to have some answers.
    "Amy, I'm sorry that you're having a hard time-"
    "Don't patronize m e," she yelled again. "You're not sorry and don't act like this is something I should just get used to . You kidnapped me! You stole me from my life and my family. There is no justification for that!"
    He stumbled to try again. "I…I needed a wife-"
    "So date someone! You don't steal people from the street!"
    He scoffed, but not in a humorous way. It was a way that told Amy he was actually surprised. "Well, y ou've gotten brave, haven't you? "
    "I've gotten tired," she confessed and didn't even t ry to hide the tears or wipe them away. Let him see. Let him feel guilty for what he'd done to her! "I miss my family. I can't imagine the worry they're going through." She locked her gaze to his. "You know they have the whole state looking for me, don't you?"
    "Yeah, probably," he admitted softly. "But it won't matter, Amy." He slumped all the way to the floor on his butt and leaned his head against the cabinets across from her. "The community is very thorough and hidden. Everyone in town, even the law enforcement, is involved with this. There…isn't an out for you."
    "So, even if I had ran…"
    "We would have caught you…and it would have been bad for you."
    "What made you this way?" she growled as much as she could through her tears. "What made you so heartless and callous?"
    "I wasn't made this way. I was…" he shook his head, "forced to be this way. I wasn't lying before." He steeled himself, his chin raising and his jaw hardening. "I don't want you here. I had to take you as my wife because that's what we're expected to do in the community. But I don't want some woman I have to look out for , and make sure you don't step over the line where someone can see and …discipline. They want m e - my father wants me - to hit you. To teach you that I'm your master and you'll do what I bid without question or concern for anything but getting it done."
    He shook his head hard and continued, "I don’t want that. I don't want to be that, but it's all I know and all I've had drilled into me, sometimes drilled literally into me." He touched his stomach absentmindedly. "They don't let people leave here, Amy. Not even me and I was born here. I've