Page 50 of Pay Dirt

Chapter 23

I’d fallen asleep sometime watching him pace the room. When I’d woken up, I was leaning against his shoulder. He’d made a blanket out of winter coats and had covered my body.

I glanced up at him to find a look of defeat on his face.

“No luck finding us a way out?” I asked.

“I came up with a plan, but it could kill us,” he said deadpanned, as if he’d been debating on telling me.

“What do you have in mind?”

“We need someone to find us.” He glanced in the direction of the gas cans across the room. “We could start a fire with the money and wait until the cavalry arrives.

My mouth parted. “The smoke inhalation would kill us first, but you might be on to something. What if we set fire to one of the doors instead of the objects in this room?”

“It wouldn’t matter,” Nathan said, running his fingers over his head. “We’d still end up dead if the fire department didn’t get here in time.”

“Okay.” I sighed. “What if we pretended to still be tied up when they come back? What if we rushed them with a weapon?” I spotted the hammer across the room that I’d moved out of the way. The handle was partially sticking out from beneath a small dresser.

“What weapon?” he asked, rising and almost knocking me over. “I’ve looked through every box in here. I’ve torn this place apart.”

I made an O with my lips. “I almost tripped on it when I was following the crystal. I shoved it beneath that small table. Sorry.”

Nathan kissed my lips. A look of relief filled his eyes. “You’re beautiful and smart, and I love you, Cassie Bennett. If we get out of this, you’re going to be spending a lot more time with me.”

“Promises, promises.” I chuckled and watched Nathan pick up the hammer and head back up the stairs.

He slammed it against the door, over and over again. Each stroke sent shards of wood flying. The loud sound was deafening.

“Aren’t you afraid they’ll hear you?” I asked.

Nathan swung harder. “Nope, I don’t think anyone’s home. John will be at the rodeo competition. Dan will be at the bank, and even if Pete is home, I can take him, but I suspect he’s with my dad or Amanda.” Nathan swung harder and faster until he broke through. A gush of air rushed in, and the sun shined down. Nathan used the claw part of the hammer to tear a piece big enough for him to climb through.

“Wait here,” he said and grabbed the screwdriver, disappearing outside. Within seconds, the door was pulled off the hinges and freedom was in sight.

“Wait there, and I’ll carry you out,” he said.

I wobbled over to the money and shoved it into an empty gym bag lying nearby. I wrapped it around my neck when Nathan returned. His gaze fell on the empty kitchen stuff before returning to meet mine with a smile.

“They’re going to be so pissed.”

“I know.” I chuckled as Nathan swept me up into his arms and carried me out of the storm shelter and straight to Mrs. B’s house.

He knocked on the door, and she opened it. Her eyes widened. “What have you two been doing?”

“Mrs. B, I need to use your phone, please.”

“Come in. Come in.” The woman moved out of the way, and Nathan eased me down into a kitchen chair before disappearing to use the phone.

“Can I get you something?”

“Water and a gun would be great.” I coughed as I spoke. “Your neighborhood isn’t so safe, after all.”

She hurried to get water and returned with it a second later, along with a shotgun, and placed them both on the table.

I loved this woman. She was old enough to be my Grams and was filled with gumption too. She and my Grams would probably get along great if they didn’t kill each other first.

I ignored the water and checked the chamber on the gun first. My eyes closed as I downed the entire bottle of water, barely stopping for air.

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