“I’d only been there a few days when Daniel took me aside to discuss the rules. That’s when I started to worry. There were rules for everything. And there was punishment if you broke the rules.”

Edge sat up straighter. “What kind of punishment?”

Molly’s cheeks flushed. “Corporal punishment. You know, spare the rod and spoil the child? But it only applied to the women. Either Daniel administered the punishment or the husbands did. They couldn’t use their fists, but they had other ways of hurting us. And you couldn’t deny a man his husbandly rights. Daniel said that came from the Bible. But I don’t think we were ever really married.”

“Why not?” Edge asked.

“Because sometimes the men went elsewhere and never came back, and that seemed to be okay.”

“How many women live there?” Edge asked.

“Right now, twelve women and fourteen men, plus Daniel. Two of the men don’t have wives yet, but eventually they will.”

“So once you’re inside, you can’t leave,” Skye said.

Molly nodded. “You saw the guards. If you tried to escape, you were punished or . . .” Molly swallowed and glanced away.

“Or what, Molly?” Edge prodded.

A tear rolled down her cheek. “I had a friend named Sarah. We met those first few days. Sarah was unhappy almost from the start. Then Daniel married her to a guy named Webb Rankin, and things got worse. Sarah tried to make Webb happy, but he expected absolute obedience. Sarah was outspoken, not used to being treated that way. She went to Daniel and told him she wanted to leave, but Daniel reminded her that she had taken a vow. He said she had pledged to obey her husband until death parted them.” Molly’s lips trembled. She covered her mouth with her hand.

Skye moved closer on the side of the bed and put an arm around her shoulders. “It’s okay. You’re safe now.”

“I just . . . I just want to get away from this terrible place.”

“What happened to Sarah?” Edge asked, the words more demand than question.

Molly’s pale eyes swung to his face. She took a shaky breath. “I think Daniel meant the words as a warning.” Tears welled. “Sarah should have listened. She should have . . .” She whimpered and glanced away.

“It’s all right,” Edge said more softly. “Take your time.”

Molly swallowed. “One night Sarah tried to escape. She had it all planned out. I wanted to go with her, but I was . . . I was afraid. At the last minute, I decided to go after her, make her see reason. I tried to catch up, but I was too late. I saw wh-what they did to her. I hid in the bushes and watched them beat her to death.”

Molly pressed her lips together. “My husband, Harley . . . he was one of them. I saw them bury her body behind the toolsheds near the vegetable garden.” Molly started sobbing. Skye pulled her into her arms, and Molly cried against her shoulder.