Carl had entangled herself in his life, and he’d never forgive himself if anything happened to her.
Chapter Ten
Carly turned toward the loft door slowly. Two barrel-chested men stood framed in the silvery light. One of them chuckled. The other threw an empty bottle to the floor. Simultaneously they started toward her.
Panic seized her. She couldn’t move, couldn’t scream, couldn’t believe she’d been so very close to freedom—and now this.
“Well, Fletcher, did you make a wish on a fallin’ star, or am I seein’ things?”
The pair lumbered closer. Their heavy steps shook the boards below Carly’s feet—or was she the one shaking? She willed her legs to move. Her throat seemed to close, depriving her of fresh air.
“Maybe we’re both seein’ things, Buck. Maybe she is a vision. Maybe she ain’t. I do aim to find out.”
His fat lips spread to a toothless grin. He chuckled. The sound echoed from the rafters and rolled through Carly’s stomach. Revulsion motivated her to flee. Her gaze darted from the men to the ladder; then she bolted.
But they were too close. One dived at her with an animal-like growl. His beefy hand closed around her ankle as he landed with a thud on the loft floor. Falling, she reached for the top of the ladder. Air whooshed from her lungs. Her chin struck hard wood. Light exploded behind her eyelids.
A heavy cloud enveloped Carly’s head. Lightning bolts shot from her jaw to her temples. Someone pulled at her leg, and her hand raked free from the splintered railing. Like a rag doll, she was flopped over onto her back. The action started a new wave of pain and nausea.
“Bring her to the light, Buck. Let’s have us a good look.”
Carly tried to raise her head off the uneven planks as they dragged her closer to the loft door. She fought the dark ring threatening to choke out consciousness. The men squatted down beside her, each firmly holding an ankle.
“Oooh-weee! Will you take a gander at her?”
“Where’d she come from, Fletcher?”
“Maybe she’s with that stranger.”
“Then what’s she doin’ in the loft, all alone?”
“Don’t know. Don’t care. Don’t really matter. She’s young and purty. And here.”
The man reached for Carly. She swung at him with a balled fist. During his moment of surprise, she twisted and turned, breaking free of their hold. Scrambling to her hands and knees, she crawled toward the ladder. She reached for the top rung, only to grasp a handful of hay as she was pulled backward once more.
“She’s a feisty one, Buck. Yer gonna hafta hold her.”
Rough hands rolled Carly to her back again. She summoned every ounce of remaining strength. Ignoring the painful throb in her head, she lashed out with arms and legs. Her fists and feet connected time and again, but the men were so much stronger. In less than a minute, they had her ankles pinned to the floor and her wrists clasped above her head.
The one called Fletcher drooled over her. Buck grinned stupidly from her feet. She drew in short, ragged breaths, mentally groping for a feasible plan of escape.
“Now, now, little lady. No need to carry on so. You just might enjoy this as much as I’m a gonna.” Fletcher chuckled deeply and reached for her shirt.
With a jerk, he sent buttons flying in every direction. Carly squeezed her eyes closed. With all her might, she prayed for a miracle.
#
A shrill scream ripped the still night air. Kade froze. He’d been making his way up the street, stopping occasionally to check dark passageways and hiding places. His blood ran cold as his gaze settled on the large building that loomed near the edge of town.
The door banged loudly when he threw it open. He scanned the dim interior. At first glance, nothing seemed amiss. Someone had left a lantern burning—stupid but not ominous. The horses tittered a bit, but Kade likely spooked them busting in the way he did.
“Carl? You in here?” Kade wondered if he’d misjudged the direction of
Chapter Ten
Carly turned toward the loft door slowly. Two barrel-chested men stood framed in the silvery light. One of them chuckled. The other threw an empty bottle to the floor. Simultaneously they started toward her.
Panic seized her. She couldn’t move, couldn’t scream, couldn’t believe she’d been so very close to freedom—and now this.
“Well, Fletcher, did you make a wish on a fallin’ star, or am I seein’ things?”
The pair lumbered closer. Their heavy steps shook the boards below Carly’s feet—or was she the one shaking? She willed her legs to move. Her throat seemed to close, depriving her of fresh air.
“Maybe we’re both seein’ things, Buck. Maybe she is a vision. Maybe she ain’t. I do aim to find out.”
His fat lips spread to a toothless grin. He chuckled. The sound echoed from the rafters and rolled through Carly’s stomach. Revulsion motivated her to flee. Her gaze darted from the men to the ladder; then she bolted.
But they were too close. One dived at her with an animal-like growl. His beefy hand closed around her ankle as he landed with a thud on the loft floor. Falling, she reached for the top of the ladder. Air whooshed from her lungs. Her chin struck hard wood. Light exploded behind her eyelids.
A heavy cloud enveloped Carly’s head. Lightning bolts shot from her jaw to her temples. Someone pulled at her leg, and her hand raked free from the splintered railing. Like a rag doll, she was flopped over onto her back. The action started a new wave of pain and nausea.
“Bring her to the light, Buck. Let’s have us a good look.”
Carly tried to raise her head off the uneven planks as they dragged her closer to the loft door. She fought the dark ring threatening to choke out consciousness. The men squatted down beside her, each firmly holding an ankle.
“Oooh-weee! Will you take a gander at her?”
“Where’d she come from, Fletcher?”
“Maybe she’s with that stranger.”
“Then what’s she doin’ in the loft, all alone?”
“Don’t know. Don’t care. Don’t really matter. She’s young and purty. And here.”
The man reached for Carly. She swung at him with a balled fist. During his moment of surprise, she twisted and turned, breaking free of their hold. Scrambling to her hands and knees, she crawled toward the ladder. She reached for the top rung, only to grasp a handful of hay as she was pulled backward once more.
“She’s a feisty one, Buck. Yer gonna hafta hold her.”
Rough hands rolled Carly to her back again. She summoned every ounce of remaining strength. Ignoring the painful throb in her head, she lashed out with arms and legs. Her fists and feet connected time and again, but the men were so much stronger. In less than a minute, they had her ankles pinned to the floor and her wrists clasped above her head.
The one called Fletcher drooled over her. Buck grinned stupidly from her feet. She drew in short, ragged breaths, mentally groping for a feasible plan of escape.
“Now, now, little lady. No need to carry on so. You just might enjoy this as much as I’m a gonna.” Fletcher chuckled deeply and reached for her shirt.
With a jerk, he sent buttons flying in every direction. Carly squeezed her eyes closed. With all her might, she prayed for a miracle.
#
A shrill scream ripped the still night air. Kade froze. He’d been making his way up the street, stopping occasionally to check dark passageways and hiding places. His blood ran cold as his gaze settled on the large building that loomed near the edge of town.
The door banged loudly when he threw it open. He scanned the dim interior. At first glance, nothing seemed amiss. Someone had left a lantern burning—stupid but not ominous. The horses tittered a bit, but Kade likely spooked them busting in the way he did.
“Carl? You in here?” Kade wondered if he’d misjudged the direction of
Similar Books
