Page 45 of Captive at Rescue Ridge

Annalee stopped.A clearing was ahead. A farm road. If she kept going, Russ would stuff her in the trunk of a vehicle or some awful thing like that, along with Becca. Her mother had called a halt to the scheme she’d hatched with Russ, but he wasn’t giving an inch. In fact, he seemed to view Becca as the enemy at this point. Could Annalee use this to her advantage?

Annalee sat down. “I need a break.”

“Get up, bitch,” came the low growl.

“Shoot me like you did my mother, and you’ll be locked away for life,” she argued.

“You can rest in the car,” he said, kicking her in the back.

“No, Russ,” Becca said. The bullet had grazed her shoulder. She was bleeding despite Russ letting them stop long enough to wrap a makeshift bandage around it using his undershirt. “Stop it. Let her rest. Please.”

The sound of an engine came from the road ahead.

Could she make a mad dash? Yell for help?

What if the vehicle didn’t stop? What if Russ shot her or her mother as punishment for what he would see as a stunt?

Russ watched through the trees as a truck slowly approached.

“Fine,” he conceded. “Take a break. But don’t get too comfortable. The car isn’t far and we need to get the hell out of here.”

Annalee needed to stall for time. “Is that your best idea?”

He spit, the gunk landed next to her foot. “No one asked you, smart ass.”

“Russ, don’t talk to her like that,” Becca whined, holding onto her shoulder as she winced in pain.

Annalee shrugged. “I’m just thinking the surest way to get caught is to get out on the roads right now.” She picked at pretend lint on her shirt, acting like it was no skin off her nose what he chose to do.

“She makes a good point,” Becca said.

“She’s trying to get us caught is what she’s doing.” His face muscles tensed. She was planting seeds of doubt.

“You’re right if you think I don’t care what happens to you.” Annalee seized the opportunity. “However, I love my mother, and I don’t want her to end up in jail for your stupidity.”

If she could get her mother alone, she might be able to talk some sense into the woman. These men she chose were akin to cult leaders when it came to a relationship with Becca. The woman lost all sense of individuality once they got their claws in her. It was awful to sit by and watch it happen.

Annelee never in a million years imagined something this horrific could happen. How could her mother hatch a plot against the Sturgess family?

Had she no conscience left?

Annalee wanted to throttle her mother and hug her in equal measure. There were going to be consequences this time. Consequences that were bigger than Becca’s credit card being maxed out. Consequences that were bigger than a man emptying out Becca’s bank account. Consequences that Annalee couldn’t stop even if she wanted to.

She issued a sharp sigh.

Mother, what have you gotten yourself into?

Annalee wished their relationship was enough, but she’d given up on that hope by her early teens.

Speaking of relationships… Her mind shifted to Archer. Would she ever see him again? Because the thought of dying in these woods only made her realize how much she’d missed him.

If she survived, could she talk to him about her feelings? Could she open up and risk falling in love again?

A laugh almost slipped past her lips. Risk falling in love?

She was already hook, line, and sinker in love with the man. Always had been. And probably always would be.

Would he be able to open up and risk it all one more time? Would there always be a piece of him that couldn’t trust her?

---