Chapter 3

Grandpa Eli. He was a living legend in these remote Adirondack counties. He knew every trail, every hidden spring. He' d faced down poachers, rescued lost hikers, fought wildfires. People respected him, not just for his ranger skills, but for his unwavering moral compass. And Grandma Agnes, she was the heart of their community, sharp-witted, fiercely protective. If anyone could help me, it was them. But how could I reach them?

The Petersons had scoffed at my claim. "Eli and Agnes only got grandsons here," Pa had repeated, "Teddy, Mark, and young Jake. No granddaughters. You're lying to save your skin."

He was right, in a way. My parents had moved away from the Adirondacks before I was born, wanting a different life for me, away from the local power dynamics and expectations that came with being a Miller in that county. They wanted me to make my own way, on my own terms. So, while Eli and Agnes were my grandparents, my existence as their granddaughter wasn't common knowledge outside the immediate family and their closest circle. It was a deliberate choice, meant to protect my "normal" upbringing.

I tried again, desperation making my voice shake. "Please, I can prove it! My mom, her name is Laura, Laura Miller before she married! Ask them! They'll know!"

Cletus just laughed, a nasty, guttural sound. "She's a feisty one, Pa."

Ma Peterson slapped my face, hard. "Enough of your lies. You're here to be Cletus's woman, understand? No fancy city girl is gonna talk her way out of this."

Pain shot through my cheek, but it was the hopelessness that crushed me. They wouldn't listen. They wouldn't believe.

But I wouldn't break. I thought of my SATs, my applications, the future I' d worked so hard for. I wouldn' t let these people, or Bree, take that from me.

"I am Sarah Miller," I said, trying to keep my voice steady despite the tears welling up. "And my grandparents will find me."

Pa Peterson just grunted and turned away. "Keep her tied up tonight. Don't want her trying another run."

The rough rope bit into my wrists. The fight wasn't over. It couldn't be.