Baby

was incredulous. Why was I not told? When did this happen? Netty looked for a date on the will. On the signature line, she read that Mr. Woods signed it about five years before her marriage. And underneath his signature was her husband’s name as attorney of record. The stunning truth; he had always known.
    Feeling a lump on her lap, she realized she overlooked more papers. Smoothing them out on the desk, a tiny map of the farm and their cabin unfolded. It was attached to a message asking her husband to draw up the final contract for the transfer of Lots 1 thru 300, blocks 14 thru 46 to the O’Reilly Development Corp. He was selling part of the farm; her farm?
    Netty considered the implications. Mr. Woods’ family must have wondered about the strange bequest. They obviously are aware of it. If the will legally conveyed title to the property, she has been the legal owner for many years now. Her thoughts and emotions turned upside down with confusion while her sneaking anger grew. She just could not understand her husband’s motives for hiding her inheritance. It left her only one choice. She must challenge him and wrench the truth from him. Dare she hope that this might be the vehicle for her escape from her insufferable existence? She thought it might be, but she must take pains to be careful. Breathing deeply, she tried to calm down. She desperately needed to think straight.
    Pocketing the evidence, she rose to her feet. Startled at the sound of the front door opening, she scampered out of the room and up the stairs to her bedroom. Frantically, she searched for the wedding purse she had hidden away years ago. Yes, her silver coins were still there. She looked wildly around her small bedroom. Clothes, she needed suitable attire. She must be ready to run if things went wrong. Her nightclothes would not work.
    “Netty.” She heard her husband bellow loud enough to wake the dead, certainly the household staff. He sounded drunk as usual and more angry than normal. No time to change, she scooped up a heavy woolen shawl, slipping her purse and the papers securely into a deep pocket.
    Quickly, she descended to the foyer stairs where her husband waited. He stood at the entrance to the library, shaking with rage, his face purple and ready to explode. In his hands, he held papers. Her heart fluttered painfully. In her haste, she neglected to replace them in the secret drawer. Her courage began to desert her. This was not how she intended to pry information from him. She cowered at the thought of her lost advantage. Springing forward, Robert painfully caught her wrist, dragging her into the room.
    “Do you have any explanation as to why my private papers have been rifled through?” Netty ignored the question. Mustering her shaky voice, she confronted him.
    “I should like an explanation for this, Robert.” He appeared stunned to find the tiny map in her hand. She watched as the realization of her knowledge dawned across his face. Without any warning, he balled his hand into a fist, punching her hard in her stomach.
    “I told you never to question me,” he whispered, the venom in the tone of his voice, dripping poison. Dragging her to a chair, she doubled over, unable to breath. Robert screamed for Eli. It didn’t take long before he appeared, his leering grin, a sign he was hoping for some excitement. Looking wildly from Robert to Netty, he waited for a command. With a nod from Robert, he put his meaty paws on her, holding her down with his well-muscled brown arms, his reeking breath bathing her neck, while Robert paced.
    This will not be good, Netty thought, as she tried to sit up. She could hear Robert muttering angrily under his breath. His words got louder as he increased his cursing. Her ears perked up as she heard her mother’s name; something about her mother being difficult .
    Shapely … rape, just get rid of her, but she tempted me … the tramp … firm thighs … spread her legs for James Woods when they were kids. Choking the life out of her … Satisfaction … brat to meet a similar fate . Unthinking, Netty cried out in shock.
    “You killed my mama? Why? Why?” Robert’s eyes zeroed in on Netty. She cringed in her chair, Eli still holding her down. As Robert moved to grab her, the front doorbell rang. Robert froze, his hand raised to strike her. He ordered Eli to answer the door. They listened as Eli explained that Robert was indisposed. The men at the door insisted they must see him, as his