Through the Deep Waters Read Online Free PDF Page A

nostrils. She couldn’t breathe. Panic thundered through her veins. His face loomed over hers, his expression forbidding. “This can be easy or hard. Do what I say, and it will be easy. Keep fighting me and …”
    He didn’t finish the threat, but he didn’t need to. Her throbbing cheek communicated his meaning. And she needed air. Stars were dancing behind her eyes. She bobbed her head slightly. A smile reappeared on his face, and he moved his hand. Dinah sucked in a long, shuddering breath.
    “Good girl.” He patted her face on the same spot he’d slapped. She bit her lip to keep from whimpering. He slipped his fingers beneath her collar. With one fierce jerk, he tore open the bodice all the way to her waist.
    She shivered as nausea rolled through her stomach. She was going to be sick. If he slapped her for talking, he’d surely beat her senseless if she dared to vomit. Dinah crunched her eyes closed. This was a dream. Only a dream … A nightmare, yes, but not real. It couldn’t be real.
    Over the next hour she learned Miss Flo wasn’t the only liar. Dinah had lied to herself—it was real, not a nightmare. And he’d lied, too. There wasnothing easy about what he did to her. When he finished, he made use of the water in the pitcher, dressed, and left without a word.
    She lay on the soiled mattress, curled in a discarded ball, for nearly another hour before she found the courage to unfold her sore, aching body. Bruises dotted her wrists. More decorated her thighs. Warm, silent tears rolled down her cheeks as she haltingly gathered the torn remnants of her dress, petticoats, and chemise.
    As she eased herself up with her wadded clothing in her arms, she caught a glimpse in the mirror of a pale face wearing a pinkish-purple smudge on the cheekbone and surrounded by a mass of tangled hair. She blinked twice in confusion. Was that truly her? She took two stumbling steps closer and stared hard at the image. Yes, her own face—and yet a stranger’s face—peered back at her.
    She dropped her clothes, covered her face with her palms, and burst into loud, pain-filled sobs. Her entire body convulsed with the force of her crying, but the torrent of tears did nothing to wash away the pain and degradation of the past hours.
    A door latch clicked, footsteps approached, and someone slipped something warm and soft around her bare shoulders. Hands guided her to the bed and eased her onto its edge. Then fingers caught her bruised wrists and pulled them downward. Despite the thick robe covering her nakedness, chills shook Dinah’s frame. She looked at Miss Flo, who stood before her. Tears veiled her eyes, making the woman’s image waver, but she heard clearly her calm, unconcerned statement.
    “I’ve ordered a tub an’ hot water. You’ll feel better after you’ve soaked a bit an’ had a good wash.”
    Dinah might have foolishly believed such a statement earlier, but her innocence had been shattered. That man—that so-called gentleman —had left his imprint on her soul just as he’d left his mark on her face. She’d never be clean. She’d never feel better. She touched her bruised cheek with her trembling fingers and grated out, “Liar.”
    She expected Miss Flo’s anger, but instead the woman laughed. She kickedat the pile of clothes on the floor. “I’m glad I thought to bring another dress. You’re gonna need it.”
    Dinah swiped the tears from her face with her wrists, then hunkered into the robe. “I don’t want your dress.” She didn’t even want the promised money. But she’d take it. She hated how much she needed it. She hated herself for how much she needed it.
    Miss Flo balled her hands on her hips. “Well, you can’t leave here in the altogether. So you’ll have to take it whether you want it or not.” She sighed and plopped down next to Dinah. “Listen, honey, take it from someone who knows. It’ll never hurt like this again. But there’s only one first time. That’s why you gotta get