Page 25 of Saddles

The least I can do is keep her alive long enough to have her point me in their direction.

“I’m sorry for what they did. You’re safe with me.” My muscles try to shiver as they soak in the cold, but I grit my teeth and force myself still.

Closing my eyes, I curl around her, willing her to keep breathing.

All I can see behind my lids is Sarah.

Broken, bleeding, and shuddering through her last breath in my arms.

Chapter 8

April

I feel…comfortable.

Warm, cozy even.

Held.

Wait.

My breath catches in my throat when I realize there’s an arm wrapping my waist.

Did they catch me again?

Oh, please, no.

I can’t do that again.

Letting one eye crack open, I get a glimpse of the hint of a dull morning sun lighting a foreign room.

Where the hell am I?

Andwhois touching me?

Panic rises, making my heart hammer in my ears.

Did I leave one den of monsters for another?

But I’m not tied.

Jumping up, I leap across the cold room, fighting down the scream that’s clawing out.

A merle colored dog raises its head, startling a squeak out of me.

That’s when I hear the man rustle the covers.

“Who are you?” The chill hits me. Why am I only wearing my t-shirt and panties? Where are my pants?

He pushes himself up, his bare tattooed chest appearing above the blankets. Running his fingers through his wild sandy hair, he cracks one gray eye at me.

“I’m Ford. I saved you last night, remember?” He glances at me, then quickly turns towards the window.

“No, I don’t.” I know that I escaped from the hell hole. And it was so damn cold.

It’s like he doesn’t want to look at me.

“I’m sorry I had to—” His finger moves in a circle between us. “—my buddy is a doctor and he said the only way to warm you up was like that.”

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