SAGE
31
To keep up appearances, I’ve taken more time off from Boozin’ Boots. Billy has been very understanding, but then Brandy and Cassidy both called out sick this morning, and I found myself right back here. Are people talking? Sure as hell are. But most of the whispered comments have been about how sorry they are concerning the loss of my father. Oh, what a shame, how’s she gonna run that ranch on her own? Maybe she’ll sell the place and go live out her life elsewhere.
Every happy memory created in my childhood home has been overshadowed by the hellish nightmare that happened there, so I don’t think it’s crazy that there’s a part of me that wants to demolish the house and rebuild. Bulldoze every last reminder of the abuse and how my father met his end. Deep down, it’d make me sad, but I also don’t want to live with the ghosts of my family’s past who have taken up residence.
But… dammit. That ranch is mine now. I huff out a breath. It’s hard to make any concrete plans at all, knowing it’ll be a long while before we’re out of the woods. I had hoped the sheriff coming by last week to tell me about the discovery of my father’s truck would at least have calmed my nerves, but it hasn’t. There’s simply not a lot to be done to alleviate my anxiety. It’s a waiting game. The more time passes, the less likely any evidence will come to light.
With a heavy sigh, I hurry through my end–of-shift tasks. The crowd of thirsty bar patrons have long since departed for the night. The faster I get done, the faster I get home to Kade. I check my phone on my way out the door. It’s two in the morning.
Thumbing open my text messages, I find the exchange with Kade, smiling a bit as I remember how he had pouted like a big baby when I told him Billy needed help covering the Friday night shift.
We’ve gotten used to spending all our evenings together watching TV or playing cards or even just reading side by side. We’ve become accustomed to each other’s presence in such a short time, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Exiting the bar, the cool drizzle falling from the gray clouds above hits my face. The weather has been shit lately. Just as I get to my red Chevy, thunder rumbles overhead. I peer upward, noting the sky is pitch black, the moon hiding behind the storm clouds. The rain begins to pick up, and I race to the driver’s side of my truck, unlock the door, and scramble inside.
An involuntary shiver racks my body as I turn the key, firing up the engine. The downpour took all of three seconds to soak through the T-shirt I’d thrown on over my bikini top. It clings to me like a second skin and sends a chill down my spine. Quickly turning on the heat and the defroster, I glance down at my phone before I take off. A couple texts must have come in as I was getting ready to leave.
Wildflower, be careful driving.
It’s getting nasty out there.
Smiling at Kade’s characteristic show of protectiveness, I tap out a quick response.
I’m heading out now.
Be home soon.
I pull out of the parking lot, the gravel crunching under my tires as a bolt of lightning lights up the thick, oppressive dark blanketing the surrounding area. The flash gives everything an ominous glow. The crack of thunder accompanying it vibrates inside my chest, and then, the sky fully opens, a torrential downpour hammering hard against the truck. I grip the steering wheel tightly and sit up a bit straighter as I take off. Peering at the winding road in front of me as best I can, the windshield wipers make a squeaking noise with each pass before my eyes.
I make the turn that leads out of town toward Lilac Meadows, and the thunderstorm continues on as if some angry god above is pitching an epic temper tantrum. Shuddering hard, I note that a pair of fuck-bright headlights has appeared in my rearview. A hulking black truck. I squint as the beams bounce off the drops of rain cascading down the windshield, making it difficult to see much beyond the hood. “It must be Kade making sure I get home safely,” I mutter under my breath and slow down. As carefully as I can manage, I reach over to my phone in its holder on the dash and put a call through to him.
“Sage?” comes his rough voice. “You okay, darlin’?”
“Hey, could you turn your brights off? You’re blinding me up here.”
There’s an unexpected pause as he bites out what sounds like a curse. “Sage, I’m at your place. I’m not behind you.”
“Shit, okay.” My heart bucks around in my chest like a bronco. The dark monster behind me roars as it accelerates, coming in close until it’s nearly on my bumper. “Kade.” I wince as anxiety crawls over my skin and nervous words tumble from my lips. “Whoever this is won’t get off my ass.”
“Are you fucking kiddin’ me?” he bites out, disbelief lacing his words.
I glance at the rearview again, and all the breath rushes from me. Trying to keep the tremble out of my voice, I say, “No, I’m not. I think I’m in trouble.”
“Where are you?”
“I’m not far from the bridge.” And no sooner do the words leave my lips than the truck rams into me, sending me sliding off the road into the gravel alongside the Black River. I don’t have time to think, much less stop the scream that tears from my throat as I slam on the brakes, hoping to stop the skid before I end up in the ditch.
“Sage! What the fuck just happened?” Kade grits out, worry clear in every word. “Are you okay?”
My hands shake and my breath comes in rapid-fire pants as dread fills me. I sneak a glance into the rearview. Oh fuck. The other truck has pulled up directly behind me. Creeping fingers of terror crawl up my spine, and anxiety twists itself into pretzel-like knots in my gut. Something tells me they didn’t stop to make sure I’m okay.
“Sage!” Kade shouts, his voice ricocheting around the cab of the truck.
I exhale hard, finally stuttering out, “I-I’m sorry. Whoever that asshole is played a seriously sick game of bumper cars with me, ran me off the road, and now they’ve pulled up behind me.”
“Fuck! I’m leaving now. Don’t hang up.”
I press my palm to my chest and listen with my eyes squeezed shut. I just want Kade. Need him here with me. I glance over my shoulder, wishing the driver of the other truck would just go.
A moment later, I come out of my skin as a dark figure appears at the window. I gasp aloud, the sound of my own fear like something jagged and broken. “Kade.” I blink, trying to make out their features hidden in the shadows. Lightning crashes. The face it illuminates is from my nightmares. My voice shaky, I whisper, “Kade, it’s Samuel.”
“Fuck,” he growls. “Don’t talk to him, Sage. Don’t put the window down. Nothing.”
But before I can acknowledge what he’s said, the lock pops up. My heart jumps into my throat as I whirl to the side to slam my fist down to relock it. I’m too late. The door opens with a screeching creak, a blast of rain and wind hitting me, full force.
“No! Leave me the fuck alone, Samuel!” I scramble, lunging for the door so I can yank it shut again, but all at once, the sick pervert clamps one hand on my bicep and unclips my seat belt. A shriek rips free from my throat as he yanks me from the cab.
It’s clear he doesn’t care that I fall to my knees. “Get up,” he growls as he roughly jerks me back to my feet .
“Stop! Get your hands off me!” It’s then that I catch a glimpse of the crazy in his wicked gaze. He continues to wrench me along with him, and I purposely don’t make it easy on him. I tug and twist, trying my best to escape his clutches. I drag in a breath before shouting, “Let me go, you psycho!” as the rain soaks us, pelting down like needles hitting my skin.
“You’re comin’ with me, girlie. I’ll make sure your pretty mouth stays shut.” It’s then, looking into his wild eyes, that it becomes clear he means to hurt me.
Motherfucker. I haven’t survived everything I have just to be taken out by the likes of this smarmy, disgusting old man. I go limp, but he half-drags me toward his truck, the skin of my knees scraping along the road, forcing me to wince.
Adrenaline kicks in, and I scream, throwing my body weight around in his hold. I claw at him, anything to make whatever this fucker has planned more difficult.
Faintly—or maybe it’s wishful thinking—I hear Kade shouting my name.
When we reach Samuel’s truck, he treats me like nothing more than a rag doll, pulling me up and ramming me into the rear door. He’s breathing hard, like a rabid animal. Ruthless intent is clear in his cold-blooded stare. Despite my efforts to get away, he overpowers me and manages to grab both of my wrists with one hand. He pins them over my head, pressing his full weight against me while the other closes around my neck. His palm pushes down, cutting off my airway. And even in this hellish storm, I can tell that darkness is closing in at the edges of my vision as if it’s enveloping me.
Sage, don’t give up. You can’t give up. Not when everything you want is within reach. Thoughts of Kade and the love he’s shown me flick through my mind. You deserve every bit of it. You’re a survivor. Now, fight for it!
Scared to death and unwilling to allow this piece of shit to take everything from me, I call on the last bit of my strength that remains. And as the bastard shifts back so he can laugh in my face, I slam my knee upward with as much force as I can summon until it meets his sorry excuse for a dick and his wrinkly old ball sac.
He howls like I’ve mortally wounded him. I hope I have. His grip loosens on me, and I tear away before scrambling through the sheets of rain back to my truck and climb inside, the sounds of Samuel’s outraged pain carrying to me through the storm. And then, I slam the door, shutting it out.
“Sage!”
The frantic tone of Kade’s voice cuts me to the quick. Air gusting from my lungs in heavy breaths, I manage to pant, “Kade! I’m here. I’m okay.”
“Where. Is. He?” Kade bites out.
The soaked skin of my thighs squeaks on the seat as I shift to look behind me. “He’s on the road near his truck. ”
“Good. I’m coming. I think I see your headlights in the distance.”
But then, my worst fear is realized. As I watch, Samuel slowly begins to move, climbing to his feet, his hands cupped over his dick as he gets back inside his truck. “Kade. He’s coming.”
“Hold tight, Wildflower. I’m almost there. Put your seat belt on and your foot on the gas. Go . And Sage, whatever happens… wait in the fuckin’ truck .”