Chapter Twenty-Eight
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
With her heart still soaring Katy rolled to a stop outside the cabin. Knowing she’d only be a minute she’d left the gate open, and wanting to hurry back to Doug she quickly jumped from the truck and walked inside—only to stop and stare at a big, black lump on the couch. Confused, she started to step towards it, but it moved. Startled, she ran back outside, but someone suddenly grabbed her arm.
“Let me go!”
To her surprise the hand fell away, and spinning around she found herself staring at the man claiming to be Craig Bradley. Up close he was even more handsome than he was at a distance, and she understood why women fell for him. But wearing a long, black wool coat, he looked more like a menacing stalker than a ladies man.
“I’m really sorry about that,” he exclaimed earnestly. “I didn’t mean to scare you. My name’s Craig.”
“Uh…Katy. What are you doing here?”
“I had a fall and banged up my leg. When I came down off the trail and saw this cabin I was hoping to use the phone…I guess I lost mine when I fell…but there isn’t one in there. When I sat down to catch my breath I must’ve passed out. Do you have a phone I could use?”
“Sure,” she replied, not knowing what else to say and lifting it from her pocket.
“My leg is killing me,” he continued, moving aside the coat to expose the nasty gash. “Is it okay if we go back inside. I really need to sit down?”
Don’t do it! He poisoned Jim! He’s a conman! Don’t go in there!
Her instincts were screaming at her.
But if she refused he could get suspicious.
Her eyes fell to the gruesome wound on his leg.
If she ran he wouldn’t be able to chase her.
She could take off across the field and race back to the ranch, or run through the thicket behind the cabin to the road.
Then she realized the key fob was still in the truck.
He’d be able to drive away.
“One-second,” she said with a smile, glancing at her phone. “I have a text. It’s my boyfriend. I promised to let him know when I arrived. He worries. It’s annoying but it’s so sweet.”
She felt as if she was babbling, but her nerves were starting to get the better of her.
“If I had a girlfriend as pretty as you, I’d worry too,” he said, lowering his voice and moving towards her.
Afraid he’d look at her text as she typed it out, she tried frantically to think of something to say that would alert Doug but not seem suspicious to the evil man drawing ever closer.
I’ve arrived, but I don’t see the sack of sand anywhere. Is Billy still coming to help me load it? He’s not here either.
“There. Done. Have you seen a young cowboy around?” she asked innocently.
“No, why?”
“A ranch hand was supposed to meet me here. Never mind, I’m sure he’ll be here any minute. It’s easy to get caught up at a barn. There’s always so much to do and time just slips away. There was also supposed to be a sack full of sand waiting, but I don’t see it. Maybe it’s around the other side.”
“Ah, I see.”
“Sorry, my phone, here you go,” she said offering it to him.
“Thanks, but like I said, I need to sit down,” he replied, then slowly turned and limped to the door.
“Just bring it back when you’re done,” she called after him.
“Is something wrong, Katy?” he asked, looking at her over his shoulder. “You seem a bit rattled.”
“I’m just a bit confused because the bag of sand doesn’t appear to be here and neither is Billy. Maybe I got it wrong. Regardless, I want to stay and watch for him.”
“Didn’t I see you at the Moonshine Campground restaurant?” he asked, slowly moving back towards her.
“Maybe. I eat there quite often. Is that where you’re staying?”
“Is there anywhere else?”
“Just the hotel in town. But of course, if you were staying there you probably wouldn’t be out here hiking in the woods.”
“Katy…am I making you nervous?”
“Not really. It’s just weird to run into a stranger here, that’s all.”
“I see. Here’s the thing. I have a very keen sixth sense. You are nervous, and I have to ask myself, why? I have an injured leg and can barely walk.”
“I told you. It’s—”
“But I don’t believe you,” he said with a frown, cutting her off. “Perhaps we should go somewhere else. A place where we can have a proper chat.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Get in the truck, Katy. We’re going for a drive.”
“No, that won’t happen.”
“Fair warning. I’m a Jujitsu Master. I can be impervious to pain when necessary and a sore leg doesn’t impair me. I’ll give you an example.”
In mere seconds his coat was on the ground, his feet were spread, his hands were stiffened, and his arms were in front of him in the classic martial arts stance. The speed with which he’d moved took her breath away.
“I can snap your neck in a second,” he growled, “or perhaps I’ll just break your arm. Upper or lower? Your choice. Why aren’t you running away? I can’t run after you.”
“I—uh—I” she stammered, now panic-stricken and at a loss.
“Do you think I was born yesterday? You’re not running because the key is still in the truck and I’ll just climb in and drive it away. I’ll only say this once. Step aside or I’ll snap one of your bones in half.”