Chapter Twenty-Seven – Mallory #2
Krista put the butt of the gun up to her shoulder and looked through it, then nodded. “Got it.”
I was positive my mouth was on the floor. “You’re pregnant, Krista!”
She winked at me. “Makes no difference. Just now I have more to fight for. Besides, I can still kick ass.”
Yeah, my mouth was definitely on the ground.
Then MaryAnne appeared. She held a handgun in her hand and started to motion for us to get out of the living room. “Too many open windows, let’s get into the pantry.”
Krista grabbed my hand and started toward the kitchen. I looked back at the four men ready to leave the house and head into danger. They were going to leave us alone in the house.
“Wait! We’ll be alone if they all leave. You don’t think that is what they want?”
“We don’t know what they want right now. The best thing for us is to get in the pantry and wait.”
I nodded and followed both women into the large room. MaryAnne shut the door and looked around. “I don’t know what we can use to wedge the door shut.”
Krista and I both started to look around and found nothing.
“We’ll just have to hope we won’t need to keep the door locked,” I said with a shrug.
We waited for a few minutes in silence before I said, “Billy said it was a trap. If it was, why did they all rush out there?”
MaryAnne was pacing as she replied, “Most likely to stop the barn from burning.”
“Mallory!”
The sound of Liam’s voice caused me to fly up and run out to the kitchen. “Liam!”
I ran to him and threw my body into his. “Is everyone okay? Is the barn okay?”
“The fire was outside the barn, and Bubba got it put out.”
“What happened? Did someone set it?” MaryAnne asked, relieved to see Billy and the others walk through the front door. Krista rushed to Chad and hugged him.
“There were some rags on the side of the barn that must have spontaneously combusted. I totally forgot they were there. They ignited, and the heat from the small fire caused a lid to blow off something, and that was the loud noise everyone heard.”
I put my hand to my chest and sagged in relief. “I thought maybe Jonathon had started the fire to draw everyone out.”
Liam shook his head. “No. The fire is out, and I think we’re all beyond exhausted. Randy said they aren’t going to start searching the property until morning when they can see, so I say we all go to bed and try to get some sleep.”
MaryAnne and Krista both started for the steps.
“Sounds good to me. I can hardly keep my eyes open.”
“I’m with Krista,” MaryAnne stated. “I think I’m mentally and physically exhausted.”
Once everyone headed upstairs, I turned to Liam. “This may sound crazy, but I feel like someone is out there, watching us.”
Liam drew me in and hugged me. “I feel the same way. Trust me, Mallory, everything will be fine.”
My eyes went to the window, and I stared out into the blackness. Everything inside of me was screaming Liam was wrong.
“I hope you’re right.”
He kissed me on the mouth, then guided me to our bedroom. I waited for him to take a shower, and once he got into bed, I started to tell him how I couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was out there, watching us.
“Liam?”
“Mm?” he whispered.
“I know you don’t think anyone is out there, but I have a feeling someone is. They’re watching us.”
“The guys are taking turns watching the house, Mal. Everything is going to be okay, I promise.”
Two seconds later, Liam was snoring. Poor guy was so tired. I pushed the covers off me and walked to the bedroom window. Lifting the blinds, I tried to look out, but I couldn’t see anything. Maybe Liam was right, no one was out there, and I was overreacting.
Jonathon wasn’t there—if he’d been out there at all—and was most likely long gone.
Peering down the driveway I swore I saw a shadow.
My mind was in overdrive and exhausted. I had to get some rest. Turning, I walked back to bed and climbed in.
Then forced myself to breathe deeply until exhaustion finally took over.
##
Liam’s phone rang and we both quickly sat up in bed. “What time is it?” he asked as he searched for his phone, then tumbled out of the bed.
I glanced at the clock. “It’s just before seven.”
“Hello?” Liam said as he fumbled with the sheet that was wrapped around his ankle. “No, you didn’t wake me up, Randy.”
After getting the sheet off his feet, he sat down on the bed. I got up and pulled his shirt over my head and went to sit next to him. Liam took my hand in his as he listened to Randy.
“Okay. I understand. I won’t. You’ll keep me posted.”
I was dying to hear the conversation. What was going on? Had they found the ranch? What about Jonathon.
When he pulled the phone away from him and sighed, I squeezed his hand. “What’s happening?”
He looked at me, and I could see it on his face. “They found it. The barn.”
My heart sank. “Is anyone in there?”
“No, but they got there right in time. Our friend Donald York or Henly, whatever the heck his name is, was about to set the whole place on fire.”
My eyes widened. “What?”
“Mallory, I need you to stay here.”
I quickly stood. “Where are you going?”
“I need to see it.”
“Why?”
He started for the bathroom. “I can’t explain it. I just need to see it. Randy said they’re searching it now. He told me that I can come, but I have to stay back a certain distance.”
“And you don’t think I want to come.”
Turning, he took my hand in his. “Sweetheart, do you truly want to go back there?”
I thought about it for a moment and finally replied, “No, you’re right…I don’t.”
He leaned down and kissed me. “I’m going to see if Chad wants to come with me. He and Krista might want to head home, though.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I’ll get dressed and head on downstairs and start breakfast.”
“Not for me, I’m going to leave as soon as I can.”
All I could do was stand there, frozen in place. I couldn’t make my legs move. “Where do you think Jonathon is?”
Liam was brushing his teeth and met my gaze in the mirror. He leaned down and rinsed his mouth out. “I’m not sure. I’m hoping he fled, but with David still hanging around, I’m not sure. Don’t worry, the guys will all be here, I promise you’re safe.”
Nodding, I turned and quickly got myself dressed, then headed downstairs. Krista was already in the kitchen. Bacon was cooking and she was putting biscuits into the oven.
“Good morning,” I said with a smile, or at least a half-hearted smile. Krista looked up and blushed.
“I hope you don’t mind me taking over your kitchen. I got up earlier, and with everyone still sleeping, I got bored.”
“Don’t mind one bit.” I glanced around. “What do you need me to do?”
“I was thinking scrambled eggs to make things easy.”
Heading to the refrigerator, I took out the eggs. “Where is Chad?”
“He got up earlier and headed home to grab us some things. I think he wants to stay here a few more days, or at least until they find Jonathon. He’s worried about me, I think.”
I got a bowl out and a fork. “You’re more than welcome to stay here as long as you want. I feel better with us all together.”
She chewed nervously on her lower lip. “He used to stay at the house sometimes, you know. When Chad was out of town, Jonathon would come over to check up on me. That could have been me…he could have taken me.”
I quickly made my way over to her and pulled her into my arms. “Shh, it wasn’t you, though. You’re safe and the baby is safe.”
She drew back and wiped furiously at her tears. “Look at me acting like this. You’re the one who was kidnapped and taken from your home.”
“You have every right to feel the way you’re feeling, Krista.
Every right. I can’t imagine knowing how close he was to you both, and then learning what a monster he was.
He had been in this house a few times and I never even knew it was him!
I think he knew he couldn’t laugh, or I would know. He never laughed.”
The sound of a vehicle pulling up had me walking into the living room. Jimmy was sitting up on the sofa, stretching. “It’s Chad. He left about an hour or so ago to run home.”
“That’s what Krista said. She’s started breakfast and I smelled coffee.”
He stood and stretched more. “Thanks, I fell asleep around four this morning.”
I walked up and hugged him, catching him by surprise. “Thank you so much for being here. It means the world to me, Jimmy.”
When I stepped away, he was blushing. “Anything for Liam, and for you now. You’re all family to me.”
I felt my eyes fill with tears. Chad walked into the house with Bubba following him. They both looked concerned.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
They both attempted to clear their face of any worry.
“Nothing, just talking is all,” Chad said with a forced smile. He looked through the house and smiled when he saw his wife.
“I was just about to call you,” Liam said as he walked up to his brother. “They found it. I’m heading there now.”
“What?” a chorus of voices said at the same time. Billy and MaryAnne were walking down the steps, with Howdy and Larson following. We really did have a full house.
“They found the barn?” Krista asked as she walked into the living room to join everyone else.
Liam nodded. “I’m heading that way, if you guys wouldn’t mind hanging here and making sure…um…just watching the place.”
“Of course,” Billy stated.
“I’m going with you,” Chad stated as he put down the bags he had carried in.
“What do you mean, you’re going?” Krista asked in a panicked voice. “Why?”
He walked over to her and placed his hands on her shoulders. “I need to be there for Liam, babe. With Mallory and Emily being involved, I need to be there because he’s my brother.”
Krista nodded and hugged Chad. “Please be careful.”
He brushed her hair back and my heart swelled as I looked at the two of them. “It will be fine. Don’t leave, okay? Stay here, the guys will watch over everyone.”
“Okay.”
Chad turned and looked at Liam. “Let’s go.”
Liam pulled me to the side and leaned down so only I could hear him. “I want you to be careful. Don’t go outside alone. I don’t think Jonathon would be stupid enough to come after you, but I don’t want to let my guard down. Not until we find him.”
I nodded. “Liam, I love you.”
He smiled. “I love you, too, Mallory. I’ll keep you updated.”
Tears pricked at the back of my eyes as I watched him and Chad leave. Krista went to pick up the bags, but Billy got them and carried them upstairs for her.
“I’ll finish up breakfast,” I called out to her.
“I’ll help finish up in the kitchen,” MaryAnne stated as she wrapped her arm in mine.
I nodded and exhaled. “Let’s get these men fed!”