I…. I…..Cand….Candace…have you…oh god….

The woman started to cry softly and it was very painful for Tina to see her like that.  She looked at her and her heart ached and her stomach knotted.  She put her finger to the woman’s lips.

Tina:  Shush, shush, don’t worry sweetheart.  Yes we have found another woman.  I am not sure if it is the woman you are calling Candace but there can’t be many of them here.  if she is the woman you are asking about then she is safe.  Calm down, you will be safe too I promise you.  Shush please don’t worry.  You will be ok.  You are with me now.  You are safe.  I am not letting you go.  I was so worried about you.  How did you manage to hide and crawl all the way up here?  You are so amazingly brave.

The woman looked up at Tina with teary and bruised eyes she wanted to say something.  Tina looked back at her and felt the pull of her.  A new kind of pain was invading Tina’s heart and mind, but she has never felt so happy, she was almost delirious.

Than you, thank you so much. The woman said.

Tina:  You are most welcome sweetheart.  I am so sorry I didn’t take you with me the first time I saw you…. I… I wanted to do it so bad but I had to call for help.  Dave is here.  He’ll be back soon and this time we are not leaving you behind.  We’re going to take care of you and your sister.  I am taking you to the ranch and then to the hospital.  You’ll be ok.

The woman was struggling to speak, so she whispered.

Not….not my sister.  She’s my….my friend.

Tina:  Oh sorry I thought she was your sister.  That’s ok don’t worry.  She’s safe now, you are safe too. What’s your name sweetheart? You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.  I understand.

But in Tina’s heart there was a fire that started to burn.  She wanted to put a name to this wonderful creature’s face.  She wanted to call her by her fist name.  She lowered her head again and got closer to her mouth making sure she wasn’t touching it.  She thought maybe this time the woman would be able to tell her.  Again the woman whispered in Tina’s ear.