Page 69 of Gotta Dig Deep
It had been a crazy, busy night and morning, but throughout all of it Horse had been a constant comfort. He’d alternately praised her and argued with Gunny, something she’d found amusing. When they’d gone outside to meet with Moorcock, she’d felt a wave of unease, something not sitting right in her gut.
I have to trust him. If I don’t, then he’ll not trust himself.
Keeping one eye towards the men out by the road, she’d ignored the sounds from the driveway, putting that trust into action as she left Horse to handle the challenge there.
The men by the road had finally figured out how to cross through the fence, and the length of time it took didn’t speak to the level of intelligence in the group.How hard is it to put one foot on the bottom strand and lift the one above?They were taking their time moving through the front pasture, though, keeping a wary eye on the cattle in the next paddock, and stepping carefully around cow pies in their way.
Night and day between them and Horse. Jesus.
She moved to the door to let Horse and Gunny know the group was on the move, albeit slowly. Shamu turned and barked down the hallway to the bedrooms and Glenna paused a moment, listening hard.
“You’re as spooked as I am, buddy.” She fondled his ears as she talked to him. “It’s okay. Horse won’t let it be anything but.”
Update delivered, she took a moment to survey the men on the driveway, relaxing minutely when she saw Horse’s open pleasure upon hearing motorcycles in the distance.
A sound behind her had her turning, lifting her gun, then she recognized Jackson standing in the doorway. He grappled for her and Shamu lunged at him, barking, as Glenna screamed. His heavy hand landed on her mouth and lower jaw, wrenching it painfully to the side.
“Shut the fuck up, bitch.” His voice was high pitched, sounding terrified. She gagged at his touch. His hands stunk of chemicals, the scent burning her nose and sinuses. “Shut up. Just shut up. You shoulda taken what I offered.”
He shoved her into the hallway and Glenna pinwheeled her arms, trying to keep her balance. Shamu yelped sharply, his snarls increasing in volume but farther away; he was no longer beside her. She fell and landed on her hip hard, eyes blurry from the fumes. Shamu crouched a few feet beyond Jackson, who’d drawn his foot back for what was obviously another kick.
Gunfire from outside told her that help wouldn’t be coming immediately. She didn’t even know if Horse had noticed Jackson’s presence.
Means it’s up to me.
She rose to her feet and withdrew another couple of feet to the linen closet, opening the door and taking out a broom. The door was forced out of her hands, slamming closed on her fingers. She screamed as she dropped the improvised weapon, the throbbing roaring through her hands as she fought to get away from Jackson.
He pulled his arm across his body to casually backhand her. Glenna tasted blood as her nose exploded in agony. It overrode anything else that came before it, and Glenna forgot about her fingers as she brought her hands to her face. That double serving of pain drove her to her knees.
Searing pain ripped at her scalp and she toppled over backwards, then was dragged the remaining few feet to her bedroom door.
Shamu darted in and out around her, snapping at Jackson’s hand and arm. The dog’s teeth connected a few times, Jackson shouting angrily with every hard bite.
He swung her into the bedroom, slinging her across the floor so she fetched up against the foot of the bed. Jackson was on her in an instant, before Glenna had regained her bearings. Ripping at her clothing, his hips were already thrusting at nothing but air, like a dog humping something that excited him. He forced her to the ground as he tore at her jeans, one knee on her chest effectively immobilizing her.
Glenna panicked as she realized she’d lost the ability to breathe. His weight was forcing the air out of her lungs, and when his hand landed on her throat and tightened, she saw stars.
Just as blackness threatened, a square of light appeared behind him.
Horse stepped from the darkness, anger making a mask of his face.
Chapter Eighteen
Horse
He watched helplessly as Glenna’s movement to go for her gun was aborted. Snyder struck in that moment, and then they were gone out of sight.
“Fuck,” he screamed, whirling to drill three holes into the truck door. Moorcock had moved, but Horse adjusted his aim and didn’t even wait for the man to fall.
“Go, brother,” Gunny called as he fired again as the bikes Horse had heard coming turned into the driveway.
He heard Moorcock from behind him yelling, “Stop, I yield. I give up.” Then everything fell silent, even the roar of bikes fading away.
He hit the kitchen doorway at a full run, yanking the screen nearly off its hinges. A quick glance was all he gave the front of the house, because Shamu’s barking was a siren call pulling him to the back bedroom.
He slipped as he came around the doorframe into the bedroom, and on one knee he registered that Glenna was quiet on the floor, frighteningly still. Snyder had one hand on her throat, the other lodged between Glenna’s jeans-clad thighs. Blood had formed a red curtain covering the lower half of her face.
Shamu was noisily worrying at the man’s back, dodging half-hearted kicks from Snyder. The dog fell back as Horse approached, going around to stand over Glenna’s head, foamy saliva flinging from his mouth with every deafening bark.
