Free Promise Me by Cora Brent

sapping the brain cells?”
    “Mmmm,” Kira leaned her head back and closed her eyes, as if in memory of ecstasy.  She jumped up suddenly.  “I’ll be back.  Got to take care of some morning wood.”  She blew us a kiss and let the aluminum door shriek closed behind her. 
    “Wow,” I said. 
    “Ah , yeah,” Rachel laughed.  “Miss Kira thinks the art of screwing wasn’t invented until she came along.” 
    I didn’t know how to answer that so I chewed on a piece of cantaloupe. 
    Rachel pulled Kira’s laptop onto the table and squinted at the screen.  “What do you say we order you some clothes? When Kira got here we had a fine time touring around Quartzsite trying to cobble together a wardrobe for her.  If we order it now and opt for overnight shipping you’ll have plenty to wear tomorrow.” 
    “Rachel.” 
    My cousin looked at me. 
    My hands twisted in my lap.  “I don’t know how to thank you for everything.”
    Her face was tender.  “No need,” she said quietly.  “I always hoped that someday my cousins, my sisters, someone, would leave Jericho Valley and come to me.”  She took my hand in hers and spoke in a halting voice.  “I’m so glad you’re here, Promise.  So glad you got away.”
    “I am too,” I whispered.  As she hugged me across the table I glanced out the window.  Grayson Mercado stood in the barren sandy lot with his arms crossed.  He was staring thoughtfully in our direction and for a brief moment our eyes met.  Then he dropped his gaze and turned around, disappearing back into the old trailer. 
    Rachel helped me shop for clothes at Kohls.com.  After selecting a few pairs of jeans and some t-shirts, she talked me into shorts as well as a few stylish dresses, saying I would be glad for the light fabric in this desert heat. 
    After about twenty minutes, Kira bounced back in, flushed and giggling.  “Sweet Jesus,” she howled, “I love taking it from behind!”
    “Go fix your Sex Hair,” Rachel chastised her and Kira twisted her long blond locks into a quick ponytail. 
    Smiling at their comfortable banter, I retreated to the tiny bathroom and showered.  As I combed my fingers through my shorter, more manageable hair, I looked at myself in the mirror.  I no longer looked like a Faithful woman, which pleased me.  I gingerly felt around the edges of the tape Callie had secured over my cracked ribs.  It wasn’t as painful as it was yesterday.  She had said it would take three to four weeks to heal completely but would feel a little better each day.   The bruises on my breasts were still dark, but were beginning to yellow with recovery around the edges and the mark on my arm had faded considerably. I pulled on the same sundress Rachel had given me the day before and opened a new package of underwear she had left for me. 
    Once I’d dressed, the only noticeable trace of the abuse I’d endured were the welts from when Winston had whipped my legs.  The marks were red and hideous but I knew they would fade.  It was the memory of those terrible days which would be more difficult to heal from. 
    “Look at you!” Kira smiled when I opened the door.  Then her gaze traveled down to my legs and her face fell. 
    I couldn’t bear it anymore; all these people feeling terribly sorry for me.  I was free.  Other women and girls were not.  There was no need to pity me. 
    “I look okay, right?” I asked shakily. 
    Rachel put an arm around my shoulders.  “You look beautiful, Promise.” 
    Soon after , a shadow fell across the door and I looked up to see Casper in the doorway.  He only seemed to have eyes for Rachel though. 
    “Hey, baby,” she purred, rubbing her long legs together and then jumping into his arms. 
    I looked away when their tongues began lapping unabashedly but Kira stared at them avidly.  Casper picked my cousin up as if she weighed nothing and spoke to us without even looking in our direction.  “You ladies mind giving us