Chapter 21

Humiliation was only one of the myriad of emotions that plagued Eliza as she watched tiny tears trickle down her mother’s cheeks while she leaned down to kiss her forehead. Shock, disbelief, fear, and anger were also in the mix.

Arthur was clearly uncomfortable as he barked, “You’ll be safe here, daughter.  It’s best this way.”

“We can’t have you roaming about,” her mother gently explained as she exited the cage. “There are hunters searching for your kind on the mountain and we’re much too close to it.  This is for your own good.”

Eliza said nothing as her tear filled, chocolate colored eyes watched her father chain and padlock the door to the antique, iron barred cage that had been handed down from generation to generation.  He’d kept it hidden in the part of the barn that she’d never been allowed to enter.  Now, she understood why.

They’d taken her cl