Free Microsoft Word - Dwyer-Dixie-Lynn-For-the-Love-of-Anna.doc by Owner Page A

cheeks. “Then, when Anna offered
    what money she had stashed to the men to let her go, her father called
    her a bitch and struck her as well.”
    “That bastard!” Ben stated as Wyatt stood and paced the room. He
    looked like a caged animal.
    “How did she escape, Stace?” Charlie asked.
    “She climbed out the window and down the fire escape. She
    grabbed a cab, then headed to the airport and straight here in all that
    pain.”
    “My God! It’s a miracle she’s even alive,” Charlie added.

    68
    Dixie Lynn Dwyer
    “She was running on pure adrenaline. She was running for her
    life,” Wyatt whispered as he looked toward the empty doorway and
    the hall as if he could see Anna sleeping in the bedroom upstairs.
    “She’s safe and sound asleep. Doc Jones gave her something to
    help her sleep better because of the nightmares,” Stacy added as she
    held Eric’s hand. Max kept his hand on her knee and caressed her
    thigh as she told Anna’s story.
    “She told you everything today by the river?” Charlie asked.
    Stacy nodded.
    She glanced toward the screened porch and the direction of the
    river. It was dark outside, and all she could hear was the crickets.
    “She was so quiet. She said she felt as if she could finally breathe
    without feeling anxious or worried about looking over her shoulder.
    She expressed her fears of men, of being controlled.” The men
    listened to her every word, and she was grateful. Especially if her gut
    was right and Charlie, Wyatt, and Ben were interested in Anna.
    “It’s important that you understand something. All of you,” Stacy
    whispered as she took a moment to lock gazes with the three men
    before her.
    “She feels defeated, unsure, and intimidated. Her experience with
    men that have entered her life has been of abuse, neglect, and control.
    She’s twenty-three, she’s had to financially support her family, care
    for her mom until she died and support her father, pay the regular bills
    and medical bills. She’s never been taken care of.” Stacy swallowed
    hard, then began to cry.
    “On the walk back from the river, she said…she said the only love
    she ever had that she could count on was…was…my friendship.”
    Stacy felt Eric wrap his arms around her shoulders.
    “It’s okay, honey. You’re a great friend,” Eric whispered. Max
    squeezed her knee.
    “She never let on to the abuse all these years. Sure, I knew he hit
    her a few times when she was younger but not during adulthood. I

    For the Love of Anna

    69
    didn’t know that her father continued to treat her like this. She never
    told me.”
    “How could you know? You hadn’t seen her in so long. There’s
    only so much you can detect over a phone, baby. She’s a fighter,
    Stacy. What good would it have been to tell you?” Max asked.
    “Maybe I could have gone to see her. Maybe I could have made
    her leave there and come with me.”
    “She wouldn’t have left, Stacy. From what you’ve told us, it’s
    obvious that she’s not a quitter. She sees things through, no matter
    how tough. She wanted her father’s love, and she thought by taking
    care of him, supporting him, and working so hard that she would get
    that love from him,” Charlie responded.
    The room went silent, and Stacy leaned into Eric more as he held
    her.
    Wyatt exhaled. “What we need to do now is get as much
    information from Anna as possible. I can make some calls, discretely,
    of course, and decide the best way to handle an investigation. Max
    and I will come up with a plan, and if we can get a description of
    these men, then we can be sure to get those photos out to the
    community. Any strangers come into town, we’ll know immediately,”
    Wyatt stated.
    “She knows that you were going to tell us, Stacy?” Ben asked.
    “Yes. She’s most concerned about me. She wants to leave here,
    guys. She wants to stay on the run and keep any trouble away from
    us. She expressed concern over all our well-being.”
    “That’s crazy!