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was impressed and terrified. I smiled and instinctively I raised my hands as a gesture of calm and safety.
                  “It’s okay, I won’t hurt you, I work in there,” I pointed behind me. “It’s a women’s shelter. Do you want to come in?” I hoped to god she said yes and said it soon before one or both of us went into hypothermia. Her eyes shifted from me to the warehouse, nervously. Oh yeah, she had that same look they all did. Suspicion and fear. “Full house tonight, all women except for me. I know, I’m crazy to put myself in confined quarters with so many women, but I enjoy being fussed over. Anyway, if you ladies all wanted to band together and take me down, I’m sure you’d have no trouble.” I allowed a small grin just to let her know I was making a joke. These scared fragile women didn’t often get my sense of humor. To my surprise, a small grin escaped those pretty lips that were starting to turn blue.
                  “Come on in and take a look at least. It’s too damn cold to be standing out here. I don’t even have a jacket on, you’re all rugged up and I’m freezing my kahuna’s off.” With only a moment’s hesitation she moved forward, mindfully taking a wide birth around me. I didn’t walk behind her I knew that made the women nervous, but instead stayed slightly to the side and in front. I opened the door and stepped through, holding it open so she could follow. The warmth was welcome as I slammed the door shut on the frigid storm outside.
                  “My name is Jax Carter. This is Mercy’s shelter, I help run the place. There is no reason for you to be afraid here.” I had said those words thousands of times, planting the seeds of trust right from the start. The pint-sized girl stood sopping wet, shivering and watching me warily. Her little fists were curled up at her side, her face a little defiant. She had anger in her, she was a fighter. You needed that strength to live on the streets, but not even her bold little stance could hide the fear. At least she wasn’t screaming or fainting. It had happened before. “Come on in. You can take a warm shower and get some dry clothes on. Supper is about to be served but I’ll make sure to save you a plate.” I moved through the small foyer not checking to see if she would follow. She either would or she wouldn’t, it was something that couldn’t be forced.

Chapter 3
Ella
                  Only I would have the shit-house luck to step off a bus and into a full blown blizzard. But I’d take the freezing, icy snowstorm over Marcus any day. How I ended up in Claymont at the base of the Black Ridge Mountains I have no idea. I was supposed to be on my way to the ocean. For four long tiring years I had been making my way in that direction, the clear blue skies and golden sands of the ocean calling me forward. However this morning when I pulled out my small wad of cash and looked up at the glittering lights of the departures board at the bus depot, something drew me to Claymont. Rita had mentioned the town Claymont to me a couple of months ago, she had a friend there who owned a florist. The fact that the town now started down at me, taunting me, daring me was surprising. Call me superstitious, but I always listened to my gut. So, here I was in the freezing snow with no idea where the closest hotel was, I was hungry, cold and beginning to feel a whole lot sorry for myself which just made me angry. I didn’t need anyone’s pity least of all my own. Mind you, even if I did somehow stumble across a hotel, I didn’t really have enough money for a room, but it wasn’t the first time I had arrived somewhere without money and a roof over my head. Somehow I always ended up okay. I had only had to sleep on the streets a handful of times over the years and I hated it, but never enough to face the wrath of returning to Marcus. I always tried to make sure I could swindle my way into some