Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 85569 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85569 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
“You go ahead and report him, I need to go see if Cole and Anya are all right.”
“Don’t you dare leave this house. There’s something dangerous going on and you’re not going to get involved.”
I spotted my car keys on the table and grabbed them. “I won’t be long.”
“Montana Moore, I forbid you to leave this house!”
“I’ll phone you as soon as I get to his house,” I called and made for the back door.
“No, stay here, please, Montana,” he insisted desperately. “Please, for my peace of mind.”
“Dad, I have to go and make sure they are fine. I’ll be fine and I promise to call you as soon as I get there.”
I ran out of the door to my car. I would just check on them as best as I could, even if it's from a distance. I just needed to be sure that all was well, and I didn’t think I would truly be able to rest otherwise. It took me a bit of time because of the traffic from the festival which caused me to cuss and swear, but eventually, I arrived at Duck’s Pond. I parked on the side of the road, not exactly willing to announce my presence yet. However, after a few more minutes of being there, my frustration and worry got the better of me. I needed an explanation for several things, and I knew he held the answers so I refused to cower like a coward.
Getting out of the car, I locked it behind me and marched over to the house.
His car wasn’t parked in its usual place, which implied that they weren’t home. I wondered where they could have possibly gone. I headed up their porch toward the front door and wondered what to do. Should I go back and return at another time or call him and wait here until he got back?
The latter option was obviously a bit over the top, but I didn’t know if I would ever find the guts to return, or to ask him anything if I left now. Plus, I was so hyped up I would be driving my father up the wall if I returned to the ranch without knowing what was happening. I decided to wait on the porch.
It was at that point that I realized that the lock to the door was broken. The wood had been splintered, broken open by force, and the door was slightly parted. I was instantly on guard. Fear filled my heart as I wondered if they had been robbed, or maybe those men who had come for me had come after them too.
Slowly, I pushed open the door. The whole house was silent, and not in a good way. I went through the kitchen and grabbed a knife before creeping up the stairs. I went into the hallway and came upon an unbelievable sight.
Two dead men were lying in a pool of their own dark red blood. And one of the men had an axe in his face! I couldn’t help the scream of terror that rushed out of my mouth. Unable to process the grisly scene in front of me, I immediately turned around and ran down the stairs. The house seemed even more eerily quiet. I prayed with all of my heart and soul that Cole and Anya were safe. As I ran I pulled my phone out of my pocket. I had to call Cole to know he was safe. Then I would call 911.
My hands were trembling so much I could barely find his contact, but eventually, the call went through and began to ring, but before he could answer, a huge, heavy fist socked the side of my head.
The pain was excruciating.
It felt as though I had been struck by a hammer. It was so painful I collapsed to the ground with a cry of agony. There were men around me. Everything was blur and my ears were ringing with the blow, but I could see their shoes. What had happened? Who were these people? They didn’t even give me a minute to recover. I was roughly pulled up and forced to face the blazing, reddened eyes of a dark, bearded, bald man. He seemed so furious and terrifying. He yelled into my face, but I could barely hear what he was saying. He grabbed me by my arms and pushed me along. We were heading down the stairs into the basement. Immediately, I guessed there was nothing here except Anya's safe room, and I understood what was happening.
Were Anya and Cole hiding in their secret room? My heart started to pound and I felt sick to my stomach when I realized what was about to happen. These men were going to use my life to bargain for theirs. What a prize fool I’d been! I didn’t listen to those men who came to save me and told me in no uncertain terms to go to the ranch and stay there. I had no business coming here. I should never have come. Why didn’t I just call Sherriff Johnson as my father had suggested? I was full of bitter regret.