“Sancha and Mel secretly made arrangements for me to move out of state to live with some friends of theirs in San Diego, California—Stan and Mary Baker. They felt it was imperative that I made the move without Paul knowing. They were convinced that if he suspected me of trying to leave, he would kill me before I could get away. And I was fearful that he would kill Sancha and Mel if he ever found out they helped me escape. They had been his friends at one time, and he would see it as betrayal. I didn’t know it then, but it was the beginning of a lifetime of hiding my identity.”
Chapter 23
Maddie continued her sordid tale. “It was going to be extremely difficult for me to permanently leave my life in New Mexico and all of my friends. It was all I had known since my parents died. But I also understood that if I wanted to protect Sancha and Mel, and myself, from Paul’s wrath, I had to go through with it.
“Sancha and Mel had never spoken to Paul about their friends in San Diego. They were certain he would never be able to trace me back to them—if he cared to try. We weren’t sure if he would even bother to find me if I just disappeared. I doubted he would miss me at all.
“One night when Paul was passed out from his drunken rage, Sancha and Mel put the escape plan in motion. They didn’t take the chance of traveling with me and being spotted. Instead, they arranged for me to travel with a wagon train that was passing through on the way to California.
“I didn’t know a soul in the group, so I stayed quiet and kept to myself, trying to draw as little attention to myself as possible. They were kind and left me alone for the most part. The trip was long and treacherous, and mentally and physically exhausting. It took us about a month to reach our destination. By then I had grown accustomed to being alone.
“The Bakers were very kind and wonderful people. They took me in and made me feel welcome in their home. They respected my privacy, never pried, or asked me to divulge any information unless I offered it. We quickly grew comfortable with one another.
“I assumed a new name and a completely new identity. I never spoke of RTP, or Paul, or my children, or anybody else I knew, for that matter. It was as if my old life had never existed. At first it was very lonely and difficult. I absorbed myself in reading, and soon I began writing poems and works of fiction. I discovered that I loved writing. It was my muse, my escape from reality and the past.
“Eventually, the Bakers encouraged me to get a job at a local library, where I could further pursue my interests. When I wasn’t working, I devoured all of the information I could on the subjects of writing and English literature.
“I started submitting articles to local newspapers under a male pen name, and eventually they started printing my work. When I wasn’t working at the library, I spent time volunteering at the newspaper printing press so I could learn all aspects of the paper production.
“Over time I began to develop friendships with people at the library and printing press, and with other writers in the area. Each step forward in my new life put my old life a little further behind me.”
Chapter 24
Maddie paused from telling her story, her focus seemingly coming back to the present as she looked at Adam and said, “Have you heard enough, or would you like me to continue?”
Adam looked down at his hands and noticed they were tightly clenched into fists. He said, “I was afraid there was more. I want to hear more, but I think I need another beer first.”
Maddie nodded, and yet another Shark Fin appeared out of nowhere.
Adam shook his head, still unable to believe what his eyes were seeing.
She shrugged and said, “No need to keep up the facade now that you know.”
Wide-eyed, he said slowly, “Thank you? It may take me a while to get used to this.”
Maddie snickered and smiled. This made Adam smile too. The mood was lightening up. It was so good to see her smile.
He picked up the beer, chugged about half of it and said, “Better. Now, please continue.”
Maddie reclined back on the couch and rubbed her eyes. She sighed heavily and continued her story.
“While I was in California, James Mackay, the owner of the newspaper printing press, took an interest in me. He was a brilliant writer and took me under his wing. We started spending a lot of time together. At first, I thought he was only interested in my talent as a writer because he was almost twenty years older than me. But he soon admitted that he was attracted to me and wanted more than just a friendship.
“I cared for James. I even grew to love him, but not in the same way that I had loved Paul. It wasn’t a love at first sight, or all-consuming, overwhelming passion. He was my mentor, my confidant, my best friend. I grew to love him gradually.
“The Bakers and some of my new girlfriends encouraged the relationship, and we became romantically involved. James was a gentleman, and we had a long courtship. He proposed to me two years later, and
