Alexander Ranch by Marla Josephs Page B

me by my hair. I instinctively kicked out with a leg sweep and knocked him off balance. As soon as he released me I was both gasping for air and trying to run. He tackled me this time before it seemed I’d gotten three steps and I hit the ground with a bone shaking thud.
    I lay there crushed under his weight one moment and then the weight was suddenly gone. There was a great crash that sounded like it came from the back of the barn. I turned my head automatically to see what had hit the wall as I began to try and crawl away. I’d almost made it to the entrance of the barn. If I could crawl out someone might see me. Through the haze of pain and tears I saw what looked like Kevin in a heap at the back of the barn. There also appeared to be a big crack in the barn wall.
    Swiftly , in a movement I wasn’t able to follow, Kevin was on his feet. I tried to blink away the tears and debris from my eyes to see if what I was seeing was correct. One moment he was lying on the ground, the next he was standing on his feet. I whimpered and tried to crawl faster knowing my efforts were futile. Then, something shot over my head and crashed into Kevin. Kevin and the mass rolled around on the floor and then someone was squatting next to me. I yelped in fright as tears streamed down my face blurring my vision. I turned my head to see Grace. She was picking me up and Daisy and Logan were standing in the doorway.
    The brawling mass on the floor separated and Jordan was suddenly standing in front of me. His back was to me and he held a defensive posture. I was struggling to breath , and feebly but desperately trying to keep my eyes clear, when Kevin leaped, flew through the air and straight through a glass side window in the tack area which was in the barn loft. I stared in incomprehensible confusion. That window was two stories up. He had literally jumped up and flew through the air through a tiny window on the second floor. I concluded that my mind must be playing tricks on me. What I’d just seen wasn’t humanly possible.
    The throbbing in my head had lessened considerably to a dull ache and I was so weak I couldn’t even seem to form words or keep my eyes open. I wasn’t able to get any answers to my questions regarding what had just happened before the blackness took me.
     
    Chapter 16
    I don’t know how long I slept. Was I asleep? I assumed I must have slept because I dreamed. In my dreams crazy monsters that looked like men were chasing me around trying to kill me. And no matter where I ran they kept finding me. Gradually, I became aware of a hushed conversation. At first, I couldn’t make out the words. It seemed more a murmur. Slowly, however, the sounds became words and I was able to understand them.
    “Stop pacing, Jordan. She’s fine,” came a soothing, whispered voice.
    “She’s not fine. If she were fine she wouldn’t be in that bed unconscious!” another voice hissed back. I belatedly realized it was Jordan’s. But, it barely sounded like him. It sounded strained and hoarse.
    “She’s only sleeping now,” came the first voice.
    “You’re sure her life force wasn’t weakened?” This was a new voice and the tone was anxious.
    “I don’t know how, but yes. Somehow, he wasn’t able to weaken it. Her only wounds are physical bumps and bruises. Well, maybe some mental ones too after this ordeal. Jordan, Please,” came the first voice again.
    Jordan? Suddenly everything came back to me with consciousness and my eyes flew open. I remembered the way Jordan had gone flying through the air like no human could and had tackled Kevin. What were these people? I looked around the room to see Grace, Logan, Daisy and Jordan staring anxiously back at me. With an energy that came from nowhere I sprang to my feet. They all sprang to their feet in response and the mob surged forward to attack me.
    “No!” I screamed and flung a pillow at them I didn’t even know I had. Logan caught it and they all froze. “Stay