Chapter 27

After a night of heavy sleep, Estel felt like she had stones in her eyelids and muscles the following day and had to force herself out of bed. Seeing her tired appearance in the mirror, she determined she couldn't let Michael take any pleasure in further humiliating her because of his vile conduct the night before.

So, she sneaked into the kitchen to tell Shayne she was sick and would be staying in her room for the day. Shayne's empathy prompted her to quickly send her packing while promising to return with tea and toast. Estel didn't even have the strength to object, though she questioned if she could get anything past the lump that appeared to have landed permanently in her throat.

When Estel returned to her room, she sat down in a chair by the window and stared at the fresh snowfall, wondering how she would muster the strength to stay until she had achieved the goal that had brought her there.

A part of her had almost resigned herself to the knowledge that as long as she was in M