A Taste of Country Page 17

  Shiloh

  The guys have been gone all day. I’m glad Sadie’s been here to keep me company. I’ve taken hot coffee out to Riley several times now but still no sign of them. I finally talked Riley into coming inside. The weather is just too bad and he can keep an eye on things better in here anyway. Sadie ended up watching some TV then laid down for a nap for a while. In my nervousness, I ended up cleaning the house from top to bottom. I just can’t figure out how a place can catch on fire all of a sudden. A vacant place, no fire lit in the fireplace and nothing that would have started one. I know Colby suspects it’s Mikael’s doing and so do I. I’ve had an uneasy feeling ever since Riley showed up this morning.

  I start making dinner as Sadie walks into the kitchen, looking rested. “Hey, do you mind if I take Ditto out back? I think someone needs to use the bathroom.” She laughs. I shake my head, looking down at Ditto hopping around and wagging his tail wildly.

  “Are you sure? I can take him out. Maybe you shouldn’t be out there in the elements, in your condition.”

  She grabs her coat, sliding an arm into a sleeve and laughs. “Oh, please. I’m pregnant not disabled.” She walks over and kisses my cheek. “Besides. I could use some fresh air. I hope the guys get back soon. I hate to admit but I’m a little worried.” I totally understand how she feels but would rather try to keep it light. I watch her walk out, Ditto jumping in excitement then running down the steps in the deep snow. The contrast between his fur and the brightness of the white snow causing him to stand out. I smile at the sight, wrapping my arms around my waist. I love it here so much, my friends, furbaby, and my life. If only my nightmare would be over. Not having to worry if he’ll show up at any given time, the stress and tension it causes, the unknown. I want to have what she does, no worries, being with the man I love, having a baby. To create a life, carry it in my stomach, feel it grow inside me and then the day of the baby’s birth, to hold him in my arms. To look in his blue eyes, the same as his father’s. Sigh.

  I turn around and walk to the fridge, thinking I’ll make something for dinner. The guys will most likely be starving when they get home. I pull out some pork chops that I’d thawed earlier and coat them in flour then pour oil into the skillet to get it ready. Suddenly, I hear a loud whining outside. My head snaps to the back door, Sadie and Ditto nowhere in sight. My heart rate increases and I open the door. The freezing temperature hits me hard. I stand on the snow covered deck, the dim light of the evening and the heavy falling of the snow making it hard to see. The loud bellowing of Ditto sounding like he’s in great pain comes from the barn. My head turns quickly, the bright light radiating from inside shines, showing the white blanket of snow on the ground. I start running, the deepness of the snow making it hard to move very fast, the slickness on the steps almost making me fall.

  I make it to the ground, hearing Ditto cry out makes my heart hurt. What could he have gotten into in there, and I’m wondering why I don’t I hear anything from Sadie? Her silence causes me just as much alarm as Ditto’s yelping. It seems to take forever to reach the barn. I run inside, sliding on the hay trying to stop when I see what has been causing his distress. My eyes snap up. A rope winds around his neck, another around his body. His legs are swinging in the air, his tail wagging when he sees me. I follow the two ropes down and see they are tied onto hooks on the wall to the side of him. Flashes of that night enter my head quickly and dread fills me.

  “It’s about time you got here, Destiny.” Bile rises in my throat. My body begins to shake at the sound of his deep, rough voice. My eyes slowly move across the room until they land on him. Sadie is in front of his body. I gasp when I look into her wide eyes, his arm around her waist, the other holding a gun at her temple. I look down at her stomach, his arm tightening when she tries to squirm. I look back up into her eyes when I hear her muffled noises. A scarf is pushed into her mouth and tied around her head, her arms behind her, and I can only imagine they are bound. I slowly shake my head, trying to convey to her to keep still then I look up into his dark eyes.

  “Let her go, Mikael. Let them both go. It’s me you want. I’m right here,” I say as I spread out my arms, an invitation to take me.

  He throws his head back in evil laughter. He looks back at me, a sinister grin spreading. “Ah! My whore. You know it’s not that simple, don’t you?” I take a step back, wondering if I can run for help, but who would hear me? My foot hits something, and I look down. Riley’s body lays off to my side, his lifeless eyes staring up at me. A chill runs through me. My hand covers my mouth when the bile moves up my throat. “You see what happens when you defy me? Do you see what you make me do?” I look away, my hand tightening over my mouth, hoping to keep what’s inside there. He sighs loudly, and I turn my head to him. “How does this end, Destiny?” He hesitates. “I think you know.”

  I swallow hard as I straighten. Anger swells within me. “You don’t get to decide my future, Mikael. Not anymore.” The sound of the gun clicks and Sadie cries out, struggling against his hold. Ditto whines to my right, and I can see him moving from the corner of my eye, too afraid to remove my eyes from him.

  “Don’t I?” His eyes widen, his mouth turns into a sneer.

  “No. You don’t. This must end, that much is true. Only I decide my future now,” I growl.

  He laughs. “Ah, but don’t you see? You don’t. This is our story, Destiny, only I’m writing it. You’ve never been given a choice.” He sighs loudly. “I had really hoped the knife I embedded in you had ended our little adventure but alas, you’re still alive. I’d really hoped once you saw your beloved dog hanging from the ceiling at your house it would have reminded you just how far I would go to punish you but then you ran again. This time the punishment will be more severe than ever, and then it will end. You – will end.” I look around, trying to see if I can find anything I can use as a weapon. A pitchfork hangs on the wall to my right. A knife sets on the counter. I look down to my left. Riley is laying there, his gun is laying on the ground beside him. How fast can I grab it? Would I have time to pick it up and aim it at him?

  My eyes snap back to him as he sighs again. “I’ve grown tired of this game, Destiny. I fear I must move on to my next victim, hoping for another game to begin. It is time.”

  Everything moves in slow motion, just like in a movie. I bend down and grab the gun. When I stand, holding it with both hands and aiming it at him, he moves his arm and points his gun towards Ditto. I pull the latch back, hearing it click. His eyes snap to mine. Quickly, he moves his arm towards me. The loud sound of a blast from his gun reverberates in the room as I hear movement behind me. I squint, pulling the trigger with my index fingers and am thrown backwards, flying in the air and landing hard onto what feels like a body. Immediately, I look up, correct my aim and fire multiple times. Sadie’s thrown to the side and onto the ground roughly. His eyes widen, the life being sucked from them. I look down and see blood seeping from several wounds all over his body.

  Pain seers through me but I look up at Ditto. He’s still hanging from the rafter, his legs flailing, the sounds of whining and crying filling the silent room. I try to move but pain hits me hard, making me lie back on the softness of who I suspect is Riley. I look down and see blood soaked through my shirt on my chest, shoulder, and down my arm. I startle when the body beneath me moves but can’t seem to move my head to see who in the hell it is. My body is moved, gently, and I look into the worried eyes of Colby. I open my mouth to speak but only a small gasp escapes when I see his blood drenched shirt. His breathing is labored. His hands cover the sides of my face, covered in blood. “Thank God,” he whispers.

  His eyes blink rapidly and then I watch them roll back into his head as his body lands on me hard. It’s so difficult to breathe, pain everywhere in my body. I try to push him off, but his weight is too heavy. I try to turn my head, looking around to see what I can use to help when movement catches my eye. Sadie kneels next to us, her hands still bound behind her. Where is Trevor? Why di
dn’t he hear the sounds of the shots firing? He’d be able to help free her, call an ambulance and get Colby some aid. She bends down, and I free the gag from her mouth then she sits back up, concern covering her face.

  “Don’t move, Shiloh. I’m gonna turn around. See if you can get my phone from my back pocket.” I nod, not able to speak from the lack of air in my lungs. She turns, backing up until I can reach her pocket. My hand is covered in blood, unsure if it’s mine or Colby’s or a combination of both. I struggle to pull it from her pocket but finally manage. She turns back around, moving on her knees. “If you can find Memphis in my contacts, hit call, I’ll bend down so you can hold it up to my ear.” I nod again and look down as I scroll through her contacts, finding Memphis easily and hit call. She lowers and I put it up to her ear. My eyes begin moving in and out of focus. The inability to get air to my lungs and the pain that’s now starting to make me feel numb, makes me afraid that I’ll lose consciousness soon.

  “Memphis. Thank God! Come quick, Colby’s barn. Call an ambulance. Please hurry. Okay. Yes, I’m ok.” She looks at me and Colby. “Shiloh and Colby are both hurt bad, baby. And I think…. I think Riley’s dead. Please. Please hurry.” She nods. Worry fills her face, and I drop the phone, my arm falling onto the ground. “Hang in there, Shiloh. Help is on the way.”

  I nod and close my eyes, tears streaming down the sides of my face and into my hair. My mind becomes hazy. My breathing labored. I see Colby’s face and the blood on his shirt, and I start to panic. Is he dead? I can’t tell if it’s my chest moving slightly or his. There’s no warmth, my body numb. This is it. I’m dying, and my love is dead. Mikael won in the end. I won’t be alive to finish the book with the outcome. I can feel myself fading, cold sweeping through me. There’s so much of my life I wish that wouldn’t have happened but then if it hadn’t, I never would have met the man I gave my heart to. But if I hadn’t come here, he would still be alive. I moan loudly as sounds echo around me, but I can’t open my eyes. They begin to fade with me, and I long to be able to get up when I hear Ditto barking, whining. Then everything stops.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Colby

  I can’t believe my eyes when I reach the barn. Shiloh’s nightmare came to life. The wind practically pushed me through the door. When I saw him holding a gun at her, my heart lodged in my throat. I saw her holding a gun aimed at him then I didn’t have time to think but to react as shots fired. I pushed her down, fallin’ on top of her. Pain hit me hard in my back as I was going down, the fall knocking the breath outta me. I turn my head and watch him die. Several bullet holes all over his body. If I would have had a gun, I would have added more. However, I would have rather done something to make him die a slower death. He deserved no less. Once he finally dropped to the ground, I turn my attention back to Shiloh. Pain stabs me from my back clear through my chest, but I’m only concerned for her as I look down and see her shirt and sleeve is soaked with blood. Her eyes are closed, and I know I’m crushing her with my weight but can’t seem to move. Even though the pain is making my eyes go in and out of focus, I fight to stay conscious to make sure she’s alive.

  I reach down and put my hands on the sides of her face. Her eyes begin to roll around under their lids then open and stare into mine. “Thank God,” I whisper. I watch her eyes widen but then I only see darkness as pain stabs me continually. I can feel it overtaking me until I fall on her again.

  “Don’t move, Colby.”

  Shiloh. I need to get her out of here. She’s hurt badly. Someone needs to help her. I hate this feelin’ of helplessness. I’m supposed to take care of her, protect her.

  “I mean it, man. Quit movin’.”

  Trevor’s voice penetrates my mind. “Shi…. Loh.” I choke.

  “Sadie’s got a shirt on her wounds, tryin’ to stop the bleedin’. She’s gonna be fine, Colby. The ambulance is on its way and Memphis, Mac and Dallis are here.”

  I swallow and jump when pain shoots through me. “Need to be….With her.” I wince, my face contorting with the shooting pain that racks my body. I’ve never felt anythin’ like this. It’s like someone’s got a knife in me, twistin’ it.

  I feel a hand on my shoulder and finally open my eyes a slit. “You need to let us help you. We got her. Don’t fret,” Memphis’ low voice makes me look up and into his concerned eyes. “You’ve lost a ton of blood. Stay still until help is here. You’re not gonna do Shiloh any good if you’re dead.”

  I look over at Shiloh. Her body lifeless, blood seeping from the shirt that covers her chest. I try to rise. The pain and Trevor’s hand knock me back down. Spots form in my eyes. I need to stay awake, alert. I need to know that’s she’s okay, that she stays alive. All of the horrific things that have terrorized her for most of her young life are finally over. She can now finish the ending to her book and say how she’s won, how she is free, that she defeated the monster. But what if she dies? The madman will have won. He would have done what he set out to do, creating a different ending. Fear envelopes me. No! It can’t end this way. I can’t let it.

  The sounds of sirens shrilling are loud outside the barn. I look up at Trevor. He’s lookin’ out the door and then he looks down at me. “Help’s here, Colby. Hang on.” I look at Shiloh, her face so pale. I try to get up again but the pain and pressure of his hand on the shirt covering my chest keeps me down. “No. Don’t try.”

  Running footsteps sound in the deep snow coming closer. Men are suddenly all over the barn, two squattin’ down by Shiloh, and one of them is blockin’ my view. “Hey, look at me, Colby. Let me see those eyes.” A hand grasps my chin pullin’ my eyes away from Shiloh. I look up at Max, one of the paramedics we have in town. “Good. There you are. Now, hold steady for me and let me take a look.” My eyes shift over towards Shiloh. “Don’t worry. They’re takin’ good care of her.” I swallow hard when he removes the shirt that Trevor had been usin’ to try to stop the bleedin’ on my chest, then Max pokes and prods, my eyes closin’ as I groan with pain. “Terry! Get that kit over here stat!” he yells. He releases my chin, and I turn my head back towards Shiloh. I feel a needle prick the skin of my arm. The man blockin’ my view moves and her head is turned my way. She’s as white as a sheet, her body still as they work on her. I look up and see Alan, another paramedic next to her. He looks at the other paramedic and shakes his head.

  Suddenly, I feel light, weightless, the pain subsidin’ a bit. I begin to blink rapidly, tryin’ to clear the haziness from my eyes. “No. Shiloh.” Tears fill my eyes, and I try to get up. Trevor and Max both have hands on me, preventin’ me from rising. “Shiloh!” I yell as I lay my head back and squeeze my eyes tight. “God! No!”

  “Terry, now! Ready? Lift.” I feel them liftin’ me and setting me on a thin mattress then coverin’ me with blankets. I don’t want to leave her. I can’t leave her. Quickly I look up at Max.

  “Please, don’t take me from her. Please,” I beg.

  His eyes are full of worry. He looks over at Shiloh and then back at me. “Terry. Let’s just step over here until they have her ready to leave.” Panic leaves me as I watch them lift her onto another gurney. They cover her with blankets and lay an IV bag on her lap. They start to move out and I reach my arm towards her. Alan looks at me and then at the other paramedic. They walk towards me until I put my hand on her arm. Her skin is cold and clammy. I feel the tears fall from my eyes as I rub my thumb across her arm.

  “They need to take her, Colby. You’ll see her in the ambulance,” Trevor’s voice is low. I shift my eyes to him and see the wetness in them then I look back at Shiloh.

  “We gotta go, Colby.” I look up at Alan and lower my brows at the look of worry in his eyes. I nod slowly, not wantin’ to remove my hand but finally let go and watch them take the only woman I’ve ever loved away from me.

  I’m jolted as they start carryin’ me outta the barn. I watch Trevor walk past me on his way to catch up with Shiloh. Sadie walks up beside me and lifts my arm, placin’ it under t
he blanket. “It’s freezing out here,” she says, a sad smile on her pretty face. I notice the marks the scarf that had been tied around her had made from the tip of her mouth on each side and goin’ across her face. Memphis walks up next to her and looks down at me.

  “I’ll close everythin’ up here tight, make sure the animals are all okay.”

  “Ditto.” My voice is rough, my throat dry, and I sound sluggish.

  “He’s okay,” Sadie says quietly. “He’s shaken up but Mac and Dallis got him down and took him to the house. They’ll stay with him.” I breathe a sigh of relief and nod. She places her hand on my arm and squeezes gently. “You just take care of you.” She leans down and kisses my cheek. The guys carryin’ me stop. “We’ll be up in a bit.” She looks into my eyes. “She’s gonna make it, Colby. We just have to believe that and pray.” I swallow hard, my mouth so dry it hurts.

  She and Memphis step back, and I’m jolted again as the guys set me in the back of an ambulance, pushin’ the gurney until it locks into place. I turn my head to my right and see Shiloh already there. My eyes become heavy, but I don’t want to take them off her. I’m afraid when I awaken she’ll be gone. My eyes close and then I open them quickly but they keep doin’ that on their own and I know I’m not gonna last much longer. “We’re gonna take great care of her, Colby. Let the meds do their job and go to sleep,” Max’s voice sounds garbled and strange. I take one last long look, feelin’ like it could be the last time and allow my eyes to close, hopin’ her beautiful face will come into my dreams.