Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Running my fingers through the dog’s fur, I stared out the window at the mountains. The very tops of them, as well as some of the crevices, were covered in snow. I longed to see it up close and feel the cold. I didn’t even know what day or month of the year it was.
My head dropped back against the island, and I closed my eyes. An image of Liam smiling at me appeared, and I felt myself relax even more, until sleep released the grip that fear had on me.
CHAPTER SIX
Liam
Bubba and I rode to the east side of the ranch, where one of the original barns was still standing. It hadn’t been used in years. Not since my father had taken over and built the main barn and corrals, where we took care of all the cattle’s needs. The main barn was by Billy’s house, which used to be my parents’ house, the place where I grew up.
“Creepy as shit,” Bubba said as he got off his horse and threw the reins over her neck so she could graze.
I took in the old barn and slowly shook my head. It was tilting to the left and looked like it might collapse at any minute.
“Who’s going to go in first?” Bubba asked with a grin.
Shooting him a dirty look, I started for the barn. The door had been removed or blown off, so we could see directly inside. Something scurried along the floor, and Bubba jumped.
“Was that a mouse? I can’t deal with mice, Liam, you know that!”
Looking back at him over my shoulder, I rolled my eyes. “Just stay close to me and try to step where I step.”
We slowly made our way into the old barn. Small trees were growing in some of the old stalls, and leaves and dirt covered the warped wooden floor. Each step caused the barn to let out a moan of displeasure as we moved farther inside.
I glanced up and saw some holes in the roof. That would definitely allow for some sunlight. My stomach knotted up.
“Whose idea was this to check this place out?” Bubba whispered.
“Yours.”
He scoffed. “Since when did you start listening to me?”
Old tack hung from one of the walls, and they made strange sounds when they bumped together with every strong gust of wind blowing through the structure. I looked up to the loft and noticed the floor was about to fall from rot. Besides the tack, nothing else seemed to be in the old barn. My mind wondered why no one had ever removed the tack, instead just leaving it here to decay.
Bubba poked my back. “You know, in the horror movies, when people yell out not to go in there? This is exactly one of those moments.”
“Turn around and leave if you’re scared, Bub.”
“I didn’t say I was scared,” he argued—then jumped and moved closer to me when one of the window hatches blew shut and slammed. “That scared the piss out of me! Like legit, I think I just pissed my pants.”
Laughing, I wanted to turn and yell boo, but was worried the noise might make the whole barn come down.
My smile faded when I saw the door to the root cellar. It was a large metal square. It would’ve had to have been left open for Mallory to have escaped. I highly doubted she would have been able to lift it. But she did say her kidnapper would leave it open each time he came in.
“Mallory said there was a door to the basement where she was being held. Do you remember any doors down there?” I asked Bubba.
He thought for a moment. “No, the steps lead straight into the cellar.”
Reaching down, I pulled on the door, unable to get it to even budge. “It feels like this door hasn’t been opened in years.”
“Here, let me try.”
After Bubba attempted to open it, we both tried at the same time. The door finally opened with a loud creak.
“Who’s going down the dark stairway first?” Bubba whispered.
I pulled a small flashlight out of my back pocket and shined it through the door. He was right; the steps led straight down into the root cellar. “I remember playing in here now. It’s not a very big room, and it was filled with jars of food.”
When he nudged me forward, I looked over my shoulder and glared at my friend. “Would you like to go first since you seem to be in such a hurry?”
“Sorry. This place is just giving me major creeps.”
I drew in a deep breath and aimed the light at the rickety steps, hoping they’d hold us as we walked down. When I stepped onto the first one, I let out the breath I’d been holding when it felt solid. Taking it slow, I continued down the steps, Bubba not far behind.