Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 26566 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 133(@200wpm)___ 106(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26566 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 133(@200wpm)___ 106(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
I reach for the boards, trying to slide my fingers in between them to pull at them. I pull as hard as I can and I hear a creak, but the board doesn't budge. Tears start to leak down my face. My fingers feel numb as I still try to pull at the board. I give another hard tug and I slip, falling onto the hard ground. The air leaves my lungs and I can’t find the will to pull myself off the cold hard ground.
5
Cole
I only get one knock on Mrs. Lemon’s door before it’s flying open. She stands there with Fluffy in her arms and a scowl on her face. Her lips are clenched together. She’s clearly annoyed.
“He could have died with how long it took you to get here!” She holds the cat closer to her. The cat tries to break free, but it’s no use.
“Sorry about that, ma’am. The roads are a little messy and I had to stop to pull a few people out of some ditches. Don’t want any of the citizens of Aurous freezing to death in their vehicles.” I smile at her as I say it.
“Well then, I guess you don't want any of your elderly citizens falling down either then.” Her eyes go to a bag labeled SALT that’s sitting on her porch. I have a feeling Fluffy was never lost at all. She called to get me to come salt her sidewalk.
“I sure wouldn't, ma’am.” I let my grin widen. When I first started getting calls from Mrs. Lemon I was annoyed. She would only let me come out when she called. I think it’s because the other men on our force would play into her games. At first I thought about not doing it, but I saw past her little games.
Mrs. Lemon is alone. Has been for years since her husband died. They didn't have any kids and I could tell she was lonely and sometimes just needed someone to help her out a little here and there, so I played into her games because really it didn't hurt anything. Normally I wouldn't mind salting her driveway, but today I’ve got a young girl on my mind.
I pick up the salt bag without another word and quickly get to work on her driveway and sidewalk. It doesn't take me but a few minutes. I drop the bag back on the porch. Her door opens back up and she’s got a coffee in one hand and a small tin in another.
“Thanks, sheriff.” She hands me the tin and coffee.
“Anything for you, Mrs. Lemon. You got everything you need for a few days? Town is going to lock up tight.”
“I’ll make do.”
I give her a nod, heading back down her sidewalk hoping into my cruiser. I say a small prayer there isn't another reason I need to stop. I drove through town once on my way to Mrs. Lemon’s and I’ll do it again now on my way over to the foreclosed house.
Main Street is clear as I drive down. I pull out my radio and call in to the station. I’m happy when I hear that everything is looking good and the snow trucks have already salted the roads twice now.
When I get to the house I pull into the driveway. A track of footprints on the pathway are already being covered by fresh snow. I glance to the front door and curse when I see the boards covering it. I walk over to my cruiser and turn on the headlights since the sun has almost fully set.
I follow the prints to the back of the house. All the air leaves my lungs when I see a young girl lying on the ground, snow starting to cover her. I rush to her and lift her in my arms, breathing a sigh of relief when she wraps her arms around me, burying her face into my neck. A jolt rushes through my body as I pull her close to me, almost knocking the air out of my lungs.
I rush back to my cruiser and open the passenger door. I practically have to pry her off me. I don’t want to let her go either. Her little body fits perfectly up against me, but I need to get her warm.
“Sweetheart. You have to let me go. I have to get you warm.”
“No hospital,” she whispers softly into my ear. Her voice is silky sweet, making all the hairs on my body stand up.
I hadn't planned where to take her, but the hospital is twenty-five minutes away and that’s with good weather.
“No hospital. I’m going to take you home with me and get you warm,” I tell her. She still doesn't let me go.
“Please, baby,” The words slip past my lips. I have no idea why I called her that, but it came so easily. It felt right. Like I was supposed to call her that.