Page 27 of Saddles

“Where is he? It’s important I talk to him.” I need him to help me.

“He’s in the hospital recovering from the heart attackyougave him,” she snaps.

My knees tighten to my chest as a new wave of panic arcs through me. “Which hospital?” I barely choke out.

“It doesn’t matter. What are you going to do, finish the job? Leave him alone.” She ends the call with a click.

What the fuck?

I need to get out of here.

Punching in three more numbers, the line picks up right away.

“911, state your emergency.” A woman’s voice comes through, cold, almost clinical.

“I need help. I’ve been taken, and…and…attacked.” I can’t utter the words.

If I do, that makes it true.

“Are you still with your attacker?” Her tone softens. “Where are you?”

“No, I got away. But I don’t know where I am. I’m in a cabin?” I glance around, but there’s no identifying marks.

Oh, shit. The GPS would tell me. I didn’t get that far last night.

“What state? Your phone isn’t giving me a tower.” She sounds distracted, with keys clicking in the background.

“Um, Montana?” How can I not be sure? That’s where I was last. Could those two asshole brothers have taken me out of state?

“Okay, I think I have you narrowed down into Jackson County. I’m contacting the local law enforcement. Can they call you back on this line?” She rattles off a series of numbers that don’t mean anything to me.

“Yea, I think so. I borrowed this. I just, um, I really need to get home.” I can feel the burn of tears boiling down my cheeks.

“I understand. I’m going to have the local sheriff call you, okay? What’s your name, sweetie?” Her soothing words make me feel slightly better.

So does this blanket. Groggy almost.

Maybe it’s because I haven’t eaten in days. I’m not even hungry.

“April Nelson.” I can feel myself fading.

Am I really safe here? I guess I don’t have much of a choice than to trust the stranger whose bed I’m in.

“Okay, April. I’ll have them call you back right away.” Her words sound faint.

“Thank you.” I’m so sleepy, I don’t hear the line fall dead.

I’ll just rest for a minute until it rings.

Chapter 9

Ford

Pepper’s fine.

I don’t have to do a damn thing. Her water and feeder are both full.

So why am I standing out here in the fucking cold, squeezing the fence rail so hard my knuckles are white?

---