Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 79039 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79039 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Ty works quickly and with an ease that only a kid can maneuver. Before I know it, he’s in the backseat, on the driver side, and buckled in tightly. “Got it, Beau,” he tells me.
I take a deep breath, as I slowly apply the emergency brake. The car makes a groaning noise. My heart is beating hard in my chest. It fishtails a little but with some quick steering I straighten it.
“It’s going to work, isn’t it?” Ty says, sounding hopeful.
“It seems to be,” I respond and I’m even starting to feel better. Then, I hear the sickening popping noise as the car starts jerking and spinning on the road. I try to fight it by applying the emergency brake completely. That’s probably a mistake because the car careens even more.
“Beau!” Ty hollers, panic in his voice.
“I think the tire blew out. Just hold on, baby. I’ll get us out of this.” I pray I’m telling him the truth. I’m fighting the wheel with everything I have. We still end up going off the road because there are no guardrails on this particular stretch of the road. The car bounces as we drive over the different ridges and rocks that are hidden in the overgrown, wheat colored prairie grass. There’s a loud popping noise and the car fishtails to the right. I hear the sound of metal on metal, but the force of the blow sends my head forward, slamming into the steering wheel.
I fight the blackness that threatens my vision. I lift my head slowly and look around. There’s a state mower out. From us with the side crunched. I guess that’s what we hit. You’d think they wouldn’t park up here, but whatever. “Ty?” I call out fear bitter on my tongue.
“I’m ok. Are you?”
“Yeah,” I croak. I try to sit up and a movement in my side mirror catches my eye. It’s a face I never thought I’d see again. A face I thought was still in jail. My blood runs cold. I reach down into my purse on the passenger seat and find my purse, my ears ringing and my heart pounding. I find my purse once more, whispering quickly to Ty. “Ty, I need you to stay down like you’re passed out. No matter what you hear or see, you must do this for me.”
“Beau—”
“Do you have your phone?”
“Yeah. I keep it with me when Dad’s out of town,” he answers nervously.
“Good. Now, listen closely. There’s a man here. I know him and he’s not a good guy. I need you to stay down and act like you’re knocked out until I get rid of this guy or until I’m gone with him.”
“You can’t—”
“I can if it keeps you safe and will give your Dad a way to find me,” I snap, my voice stern. I slide my phone into my bra, and then pull my jacket around me, zipping it quickly, to help hide the phone. I look in the mirror to see the asshole is almost to my car. “The minute you’re alone or I’ve gotten rid of him, call your dad. Tell him where you are and to send help. Tell him that Donald Ray Hyde was here and took me. Do you understand?”
“Donald Ray Hyde,” he whispers.
“Good. He’s almost here, but your papaw will know who Donald Ray is. Tell him to use my phone to track me. I’ll keep it on me as long as I can.”
“I don’t want you to go with him, Beau.”
“I don’t either baby, but your dad will save me. Now, he’s almost here. Do as I said,” I tell him, my hand going back to purse and wrapping around the handle of my pistol. I drag it out and let it hang in my hand, hiding it beside my leg. I take the safety off with the flick of my thumb.
My door is jerked open, making me curse myself. If I had driven the truck automatic door locks would have been engaged. I didn’t even think about locking them. Then again, I’m woozy as hell and feel like I’m barely hanging on. “I’ve missed you, Beau,” he says, his voice dripping with stone cold evil.
I force myself to turn and look at the devil himself. “I didn’t miss you at all.”
He just keeps that same greasy smile. “I’ll remind you of how much you are lying to me later.”
“No thanks. I’m busy washing my hair. I thought you were in jail. You remember that nasty stalking, breaking and entering, attempted rape, having a limp dick, being an asshole … The charges were numerous.”
“I’m going to enjoy bringing you to heel, Beau. Now, get out here unless you want me to kill your lover’s boy in the back. I already am fighting my inclination to do it now.”