Chapter 18 #3
Shayne follows my directions. Minutes later, we’re crossing the river, the water barely coming up to the middle of Duke’s forelegs.
It’s still early enough that the morning mist has yet to fully burn off.
Parts of the trail feel like we’re walking through a cloud.
The ground begins to slope upwards as the trail winds up the mountain, but Duke’s gait remains constant.
I have a feeling he could run up this trail with the two of us riding him and barely break a sweat.
We sit in a comfortable silence. I’m happy to take in the views around us, doing my best to ignore that these may very well be my last moments with Shayne.
Ever. Even though he’s said numerous times that he plans on coming back to Silvercreek, I refuse to get my hopes up.
It’s better to let this thing between us die gracefully than indulge in a distance-caused death rattle.
“What are you thinking of, Banshee?” Shayne asks.
“How much I love it here,” I say quickly.
It’s hardly a lie, but I won’t spend our last minutes together whining.
“Sometimes I have to pinch myself to remind myself this is my home.” I sweep my arm out, indicating the sky stretching endlessly off to our left over a sea of gold and green grasses and then the rocky mountain face to our right, a stark contrast of gray and brown hued rocks.
Shayne murmurs his agreement, planting a kiss on my neck just below my ear. “Not going to argue with that. Silvercreek houses an incredible amount of beauty.”
It takes us another fifteen minutes until we reach the top of the mesa.
From up here, you can see the valley stretch and undulate for miles, the river sparkles as it bends and twists through the landscape.
Silvercreek proper rises up from the far edge of the valley, the hillside dotted with homes and clusters of buildings.
If I’d been smart enough to bring binoculars, I could probably suss out Pages from here.
Duke stomps his feet, eager to get moving again. Shayne turns him away from the edge of the trail towards the wide-open space of the mesa top. If we were to ride straight at a decent clip, we would arrive at the back end of Jo’s property in no time.
“You mind if he canters a bit?” Shayne asks.
I nod and he kicks Duke into a canter. I do my best to hold my seat, but after a couple of minutes I’m bouncing around like a popcorn kernel.
Laughing, Shayne directs me with his hands on my hips until I’m able to settle more comfortably into the motion.
Duke’s gait is so long that it doesn’t take us long at all to arrive at the fence that separates the public trail area from Rock Salt Ranch.
Shayne slows Duke down gradually as we near the fence, pulling to a stop several feet away.
Duke ducks his head to nibble the ground, and I take advantage of the pause to slide down and stretch my legs.
I grunt when my feet hit the ground, nearly stumbling. “Good lord, that horse is girthy. I feel like I’ve been straddling an elephant.”
“Don’t listen to her, Duke. You’re perfect.” Shayne leans forward and rubs the hell horse’s neck like he’s a puppy and not a fourteen-hundred-pound beast. I smile at the incongruous image the two of them make.
My phone buzzes in the pocket of my hoodie. I grab it, joy pulsing through me when I see Jo’s name flash across the screen. I answer the video call, but instead of Jo, it’s Kody’s face that fills the screen.
I can’t help but snort. Kody’s mouth fogs the camera, making it next to impossible to make out much of her features, but I can tell from the way she’s lit that she’s sitting in the dark.
“Hi Sweets, what’s up? Are you playing hide and seek?”
“Auntie Paige,” Kody whispers. Her voice is wobbly and tear soaked.
“Kody, what’s wrong? Where’s your mom?”
“I need you. There’s a lady here who is yelling at my mom and dad. She’s really mean,” Kody’s voice catches in a hiccup. “I don’t like her at all. Can you come pick me up?”
“Kody, who is this lady? Does your mommy or daddy know her?”
“No, but I think she’s really bad. I think she wants to hurt—” Kody’s face disappears as the screen suddenly goes black.
Shayne takes one look at me then hops down from Duke and rushes to me. “What’s wrong? What happened?”
“Oh my god, Shayne, I think something terrible is happening. I have to call the police.” I fumble dumbly at my phone screen, trying to bring up the keypad but end up dropping my phone on the ground.
“It’s ok. It’s going be ok. What did she say?” Shayne asks, bending down to pick up my phone.
“Some woman is at the ranch. Right before the video cut off Kody said the woman wants to hurt them. She would never joke about something like that.”
Shayne takes the phone from me and keys in 9-1-1. He puts the phone on speaker
“Hello,” I say when the operator answers .“I’m calling about a break-in at Rock Salt Ranch. The family is being held hostage.” My voice is shaking so badly I can barely get the words out.
The operator’s voice fills my head. I do my best to answer their questions, and they promise that police units are on their way.
“The officers should be there in less than twenty minutes.” I end the call and race back to Shayne on shaking legs.
I manage to haul myself back into the saddle, and seconds later Shayne is behind me.
“We’ve got to go. Isn’t there a gate in the fence near here?” I say, pointing towards the fence line. Shayne nudges Duke into a gallop, and I hold on for dear life. Precious minutes tick by and tears stream from my eyes as I scan the never ending fence line for signs of an entrance.
“Not too much farther,” Shayne assures me. Finally, we see the gate and I’m able to breathe again. I drop to the ground and yank at the chain wrapped around the gate and the wooden fence post.
“Fuck. It’s locked,” I swear. I start climbing over the fence but stop when Shayne puts a hand on my back. He’s unlocked the gate. Of course he knows the combo, he was Jo’s employee until last night. I’m so desperate to get to Jo and Kody that I can’t think rationally.
Shayne quickly maneuvers Duke through the narrow gate. He reaches an arm down and hauls me back into the saddle. I’ve barely situated myself against the pommel again before Duke leaps forward, tearing us across the plain.
My butt and thighs feel like they’re being pummeled by a professional boxer, but I swallow down the pain.
The only thing that matters is getting there.
A torrent of ‘what-ifs’ surge through my mind.
What if we’re too late? What if Kody is hurt?
How will I ever live with myself if something happens to Jo?
Our fight on the deck can’t possibly be the last time we were ever together.
Suddenly, Shayne points to the road that leads up to the ranch house.
Squinting, I can just make out the flashing lights of a row of cop cars.
We’re still too far out to hear the sirens, but the fear gripping my heart lessens slightly knowing that help is near.
After what feels like ages, we arrive at the base of the path that leads up to the house.
Duke’s sides are heaving, his glossy black coat covered in a sheen of sweat.
I jump down from Duke and scramble up the path.
Shayne ties Duke to the corral railing and then follows me up the path.
I reach the top of the path and skid to a stop.
There are five cop cars in a semi-circle, lights flashing.
The sight of an ambulance parked in the center with its doors open sends my heart straight up into my throat, but I can’t see an EMT or a person being treated.
My eyes dart everywhere, but there’s no sign of Jo or Kody.
Fear has gripped me so tightly that I feel lightheaded, and the edges of my vision begin to darken. Please, please let them be alright.