CHAPTER THREEMichael drove on for a little while in silence.
“I am still waiting to hear why you have run away.”
He felt the girl beside him give a little shiver and she mumbled in the same small frightened voice,
“I had to go – there was nothing else to do. I prayed and prayed something would save me and I am sure it was Papa who told me – the only thing I could do was to run away.”
“Is your father dead?”
The girl nodded.
“Yes, he died nearly a year ago and I was left with just my stepmother.”
The way she said the last two words told Michael that this was the root of the trouble.
Stepmothers were traditionally cruel and unkind and hers was obviously no exception.
“What is she doing to you?”
For a moment he thought the girl beside him was not going to answer, but then she replied
