Page 33 of Cowboy

The woman sets the tray down and steps back. "Please, eat. You need your strength."

As Saoirse eagerly reaches for a piece of toast, I study the woman. "Who are you?" I ask.

She hesitates, glancing toward the door. "My name is Maria. I... I work here."

"By choice?" I press.

Maria's eyes fill with tears. "We all make choices, dear. Sometimes they're not good ones."

I nod, understanding what she means.

"Are you... like us?" I ask hesitantly.

Maria's eyes dart to the door again. "I was, once," she says softly. "But that was a long time ago. Now... now I just try to make things easier for others when I can."

I nod, understanding. Maria might not be able to help us escape, but she could be a valuable source of information.

"Can you tell us anything about this place?" I ask, keeping my voice low. "Where are we? How many others are there?"

Maria shakes her head. "I shouldn't say too much. They... they don't like us talking to the new ones."

But I can see the conflict in her eyes. She wants to help, even if she's afraid.

"Please," I press. "Anything you can tell us could help. We need to get out of here."

Maria glances at Saoirse, who's watching our exchange with wide, frightened eyes. Something in the little girl's face seems to soften Maria's resolve.

"We're on a private island," she whispers. "Somewhere in the Caribbean, I think. There are... There are others. Maybe twenty or thirty in total. Mostly women and children."

“Have you all been taken like we have?”

She nods. “All the women have…The children—” she pauses, looking back at the door before speaking again. “They were born here.”

I swallow hard, realizing that the women have been raped and forced to carry children.

"Is there any way off the island?" I ask.

Maria shakes her head. "The only way on or off is by boat or plane. And they're heavily guarded."

I nod, trying to process this information. An island makes escape even more difficult, but not impossible. There must be a way.

"Thank you," I say to Maria. "For the food, and for talking to us."

She gives me a sad smile. "I wish I could do more. Just... be careful. And whatever you do, don't anger Mr. Blackwood. He's not as kind as he pretends to be."

With that ominous warning, Maria hurries out of the room, leaving Saoirse and I alone once again.

I pull Saoirse close, my mind racing. We're on an island, surrounded by water and guards. Escape seems almost impossible. But I refuse to give up hope. For Saoirse's sake, and for my own, I have to find a way out of this nightmare.

As we finish our breakfast, I try to formulate a plan. I know it’ll take time, but I’m determined to escape.

I look down at Saoirse, who's watching me with trust in her eyes. "We're going to get out of here," I promise her. "No matter what it takes."

I just hope I can keep that promise.

11

COWBOY