A Walk In The Wilderness by Nancy Hopper

deep.  Caitlin, can you tell your uncle about what’s happened?  Perhaps he could help.”
           She blushed, and hung her head.  “Well; how can I explain?  I could, but it’s a hard thing.  You see, Uncle William has been so good to me, and his wife -- well, she tolerates me, but I am really just with them on sufferance, you know?  She’s kind, but her patience has its limits.  I don’t want to get him in trouble with her.  They’ve kept me for six years, now.  They are kind, but I’m just a family obligation.  A niece that got dumped in their laps.  I think that I shall just take my chances with the viper, and keep my mouth shut.”
         David felt his brow wrinkle, and forced it to smooth out.  He kept his face smooth and impassive.  She wasn’t loved .  He could feel the deep, aching emptiness inside her.  “What of your parents, Caitlin?” he asked quietly.
         “They were killed in a train accident, some years ago.”  she answered evenly.
          “I am very sorry.”  he said kindly.
         Caitlin looked up, and saw only gentle understanding in his eyes.  She smiled.  “Thanks.  It’s all right.”  she assured him evenly.  “It was a long time ago.  Life goes on.”
          “So, you’re working for your uncle to pay your way through college?”
       “Yes.  I’ve always helped in the motel.  They have been very kind, and generous to me.”
          “When do you graduate from college?”
          “Next month.  Then I will get a job, and be able to take care of myself.”
          She looked like a child, innocent and naive.  But she was transformed at the thought of taking responsibility for her own life.  David smiled.  “That’s very good.  Do you know, Caitlin.  I think that I may have a solution for your safety, after all.  If you approve.”
          “Really?  What might that be?” she asked, sitting up eagerly.
      “You could switch rooms with me, tonight.”
         She looked perplexed.  “But, David.  Skyler or Connie could show up; and then you’d be in danger, in my place.  I could never stand that.”
     David looked at her with mirth in his eyes.  “I’m counting on at least him showing up.  Trust me, I can handle both of them at once, if necessary.  Tell me the truth, Caitlin.  Has Sky been stalking you?”
          She looked shocked.  She blushed, and then went pale.  She looked up at him fearfully. “Well, I don’t like to think of it that way, but … when he was here nine months ago, it really rather came down to that.”
         “Tell me more about it, will you?  What has he said, and done?  I’d like to have a clear picture of where he's going with this.”
          “Well; on our first date, he took me to dinner.  Then we went to the theatre for his concert, and we were there alone.  I didn’t realize until we were out on the stage, that there was no one else in the building.  It frightened me, David.  It didn’t feel right, you know?  I just knew inside, that I should not be there alone with him.  Not that he'd have gone too far; yet, I'm so foolish sometimes.  I just didn't realize until I looked up and we were there, alone.  He was always too … intimate.  Not that that’s bad, but not so quickly.  We had just met.  I was never so glad to see people come along.”  She shuddered. 
     “He started telling me there at the theatre that he loved me, and that he wanted to marry me.  I made him stop; and told him he was moving too fast for a first date.  I told him I’d only stay for the concert if he would back off.” 
          “While I was still there, a phone message came from Connie that Jamie had to go to hospital.  Then, I heard some girls talking in the bath about how Connie would tear me apart.  I confronted Skyler about it, and he acted pained.  He said she was no one, an old girlfriend; and that the boy