Total pages in book: 160
Estimated words: 155798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 779(@200wpm)___ 623(@250wpm)___ 519(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 779(@200wpm)___ 623(@250wpm)___ 519(@300wpm)
It was worth repeating.
She began picking at the pillow in her lap, and she mumbled, “But I did it, what he made me—”
“No.” I made sure to look her straight in the eyes. “You think about what would’ve happened if you hadn’t done what he wanted you to do? What might’ve happened to Georgie? To Sammy? Would he have hurt them in retaliation?”
Her eyes clouded over.
“You were twelve.” Jesus Christ. The same age as when I’d—“Don’t put that on your shoulders. It doesn’t deserve to be there.”
She tore her eyes away and went back to picking at the pillow. “Still. Not their fault. Any of them.”
I relaxed a little again. “Yeah, but they’re adults. They all think they’re superheroes and think every bad thing that happens is their fault. It’s easier to blame someone than accept they were powerless, including blaming themselves.”
She didn’t react anymore or respond. I wasn’t sure how she took my words, but Brett and I left the next morning after breakfast, and she’d hugged me so long and so tight.
She’d heard me.
Now we were back in Texas and we were driving to the farm.
I wanted to grab some things and see Vicky and Howard for a little bit before going to Brett’s for the rest of the night. We’d just turned onto the driveway when his phone lit up.
Callie calling.
He frowned, but took the call. “Calli—”
A blood curdling scream cut him off. “Brett! BRETT—”
“Callie?” He jerked forward, hitting the acceleration and closing the distance between us and the farm in record time. “Callie!”
“Brett,” she was sobbing. “Help! I need help. He won’t stop and—” she choked off as another scream came over the phone.
He cursed but braked at my place. He threw open the door, shouting at me, taking his phone with him and speaking into it as he yelled at me, “Grab your bag.”
“My bag?”
He was at my place and through the door.
I’d gotten my bag and my phone in my hand when he came back out. “Your place is safe.” He stepped to me, grabbing my shoulders, and pressed a firm kiss to my forehead. “I love you. I love you so much, and we’ve not talked about all the heavy shit that happened this weekend, but know that I love you with everything in me. I have to go.” He began running back to his truck.
“Brett!”
He started to get inside but stopped in the door and pointed at me. “Get inside. Be safe. Call 911 for me. The cops will get there faster than me.”
My heart was pumping, strongly and loudly, and my hands were sweating.
I was having a slightly delayed reaction.
It happened so fast. Callie’s call. Her screams. And now Brett was going to rescue her. It took one minute for all of that to transpire.
And I needed to call 911.
Shit! I needed to call 911.
I sank down on the bed, and did that.
“911, what is your emergency?”
I told them everything, gave them the information they needed, and as I did, I held up my hand. It was shaking. Not a slight tremor or tremble. The entire hand and wrist were uncontrollable.
The screams.
It’d been Callie’s screams.
It brought it all back.
Of course, it would’ve come back.
They hung up with me almost right away and were going to call Brett’s landline. I didn’t have Callie’s cell number to give them. After that, I took a few deep breaths before I realized I could call someone else.
I called Travis.
64
BILLIE
I went out to see the ladies. Vicky’s car was here, so was the truck that Howard used, but the house was locked and their phones weren’t on. They only turned off their phones if they were in church or at some church-related event.
Brett would be okay. Travis reassured me, said the police probably got there before him. They’d secure the house. Brett would show up to be there if Callie needed anything, but Travis was also going to run over to double check as well.
I felt better hearing that, but I was hurting and my family wasn’t here. Plus, I had missed the ladies so much. I needed to hold Miss Sylvia Rivera in my arms. I needed all the hens around me. There was a flurry of activity when I opened the door, but I made sure to shut it quickly. I fumbled to pull out the light I’d brought, a solar flashlight. Vicky and Howard had a bunch sitting outside in case we needed them. I shook it and it lit up, and right at my feet was Miss Sylvia Rivera.
The rest were on the roosts they used for sleeping.
I made sure to hunch down and not hit my head on the nesting boxes or roosting bar.
In the far corner was just enough space for me.
I grabbed a broom from outside and got to cleaning that area, and when that was done, I laid a blanket out.