Chapter 16 #3
And because I love him, I have to go now.
I can't make him choose between his family and me if he even has that choice in front of him.
What if he let his own feelings get in the way?
What if he thinks that I'm the one that he needs.
Even though I want that so badly, it would make him choose between two things that he loves and I can't do that to the person I truly love.
The hail lightens as I pull into the town.
I look about me, afraid that someone is going to see me.
What if his sisters do? What if Leith is around here?
I don't know where he's gone or why, but I know that he's probably not anywhere near the Cathedral.
At least I hope not. The Cathedral is easy to see because of the large cross at the very top that points to the sky like a beacon in the night. I follow it.
The car gives a great lurch, and I look about me as if I struck something.
But a car doesn't lurch if you strike something, there's a crash and bang.
There's nothing in front of me, though. But as I stare at the dash, I realize that something’s wrong.
The needle that's supposed to be in the center, telling me the temperature of the engine, is deeply buried in the red zone.
The car is overheating? I don't know enough about cars to find out what's going on.
It comes to a halt and I hit the brake. I turn the key in the ignition again, but this time it does nothing.
I look wildly about me. What am I going to do now? How am I going to get out of this? God, I have Bailey, and all he has is Islan’s rope, not even a leash. I’m several blocks away from the Cathedral. I think I can make it.
My phone is buzzing with message after message.
I look at the screen and see Leith’s name over and over again.
I shake my head and shut it off. I almost throw it out the window, consider throwing it into a trash bin, but I can't. I shove it in my pocket in case of an emergency, but I don't read his messages. If I do, I might lose my resolve.
I take the thin rope around Bailey’s neck, and we quickly head to the Cathedral.
What if they’re looking for me right now? What if they do go to the Cathedral after all? I don’t know what I’ll do with myself. I don’t know how to get away. And with that knowledge, I quicken my pace. I’m running all the way to the Cathedral, my trainers slapping on the ground in front of me.
The bells chime. Is it time for mass? What will I do if Father MacGowen isn't there? What will I do if he can't help me? I have no idea.
Bailey instinctively knows that I'm on the run, for he doesn't slow but keeps pace beside me, and somehow the sound of his little paws slapping the pavement beside me comforts me. Maybe I'm not alone. Maybe I can find a place for the two of us.
There are cars in front of the Cathedral when I arrive, but I don't look at them. I go back to the cemetery.
Where it all began.
But I quickly realize I'm not alone.
These men look vaguely familiar. Who are they? And then it hits me with a sudden, sickening realization. These are some of the men that attacked that first night. When Leith came.
One turns to the other. "You find the body?"
“No luck. I don't know who is responsible for this, but I know we were witnessed. And if we find the girl, we’ll kill her before they do. We could prevent her from repeating anything."
Bailey begins to whine beside me. I hold my finger to my lips. And I'm so afraid that they will hear him.
I wish I could convince him to be quiet, but instead I put my hands around his mouth like a muzzle, even though it hurts me to do it.
I can't risk either one of us being hurt.
I'm so focused on keeping Bailey quiet, that I missed where the conversation was going.
I pick up when I hear the name Paisley. No.
“They fell for it." And then laugh at each other. "The Cowen family is on its way, I know it. Earlier today they sent a spy out to the empty house. And you know they won't let this lie. They have no idea we're behind the attack. I know exactly where the girls are, where we can find them.”
I have no choice. With a grimace, I turn on my phone and go to send Leith a text. His come flooding in before I can send my own.
Where are you? Mum texted. Are you all right? She said she can't find you. Cairstina, where are you?
My heart aches reading the words, and I wish I could let myself reply, but I can't. It's too dangerous. Instead of answering any of his texts, I send one of my own to him.
The Aitkens men are in town. They were behind Paisley's attack. It was a set up. They are going after your sisters. Your sisters are at their friend’s house. You have to go get them. You have to make sure they're okay.
But the texts don't go through. I can see they’re hung up because I'm in the cemetery with little signal.
I have to go save them myself.
Go, go, go, I plead at my phone. I need to reach him.
The only way for me to get away from them is to go through the church, the closest door is right here.
I sneak as quietly as I can, careful not to make a noise.
I hear a shout, and I think they’ve heard me and freeze, but they aren't coming after me.
They're running to the other end of the cemetery.
I take this opportunity to open the door to the parsonage.
And run smack dab into my brother.