Chapter Eight
Jayla woke the next morning achy and still tired. Slowly, last night started to come back to her. She lay still and listened to the men’s conversation in the kitchen.
Beau was going into town for supplies while Diego stayed back with her. Diego talked about scouting the area around the cabin while he was gone. Her name was brought up a few times, but she couldn’t make out what they were saying.
This was her chance. She’d wait until they both left and pack the few things she had here and hightail it out the other way. She’d be gone before they knew anything had happened.
She pretended to still be asleep when one of them came to check on her.
It seemed like forever before the cabin was quiet.
She slowly looked around and then rolled off the bed, grimacing when she put pressure on her ribs.
She rushed to get dressed and found a large camouflage coat she thought would help her blend into the forest. She also packed a few of the kitchen knives as weapons if she needed them.
She had no idea where they were and what kind of animals roamed the area.
She took a look around the cabin, feeling strangely sad that she would never see them again. At the last minute, she grabbed a piece of paper and a pencil.
Guys,
I wanted to thank you for taking care of me the last few days.
I have no hard feelings against you. It’s just something in me that drives people away. Tell the director I will be in touch with him in the next few weeks. I’m sorry you were put in this predicament, and I hope you both have wonderful lives.
Thanks again, Jayla
Jayla laid the note on the table and walked out the back door. She’d watched Diego go left, so she was headed right. She wished now she’d been awake for the drive, so she knew approximately how long she would have to walk.
She hadn’t gone a mile before she swallowed the scream that filled her lungs.
Three very large men with guns cradled against their chests stood in her path.
She’d only walked for a little more than half an hour, and already she was in trouble.
The three men stood silent and stared like they’d never seen a woman before.
Jayla cleared her throat. “Hi, my name’s Jayla.”
The older man in the middle spoke for all of them. “I’m Rey, and these here are my sons, Johnny and Jacky.” He paused for a moment. “Now, why is a little girl like you out in these woods all alone?”
Jayla tried hard to stay calm. “I was put here in a cabin a mile back, and I don’t want to be there. Is there a chance you can show me the way out? I’d appreciate it. I have a little money to offer.”
“You were kidnapped?”
“No. I came willingly, but I’d rather be on my own.”
“I want to keep her, Pa.”
Jayla gasped and took a step back.
Rey scowled at his son. “You’re scaring her, now hush.” He turned back to Jayla. “He doesn’t mean any harm. Where do you think you’re headed, Miss?”
“Please call me Jayla. I’m headed to a place where I have friends.” She hoped he couldn’t tell she was lying.
Rey’s head cocked to the side. “Where’s your family?”
“My mom and dad died when I was young. I don’t have any other relatives. I’ve been an orphan practically my whole life.”
“That’s a damn shame, girl. We’d be happy to take you in with us.”
Jayla’s heart about stopped. So far, it had been cordial, but she suspected at any second it could turn ugly. “That’s a kind offer, but I really have to move on.” She kept her voice even and pointed over their shoulders. “If I keep heading that way, will I be out of the forest soon?”
All three chuckled. “No, Miss. You won’t be out of our woods here for many miles.” Rey scratched his chin, then turned his head and spat a stream of tobacco spit on the ground.
Jayla swallowed back her disgust and fear as the grip on her bag tightened. Did she have any chance of getting away from them if she ran? Not a chance in hell. “That’s okay. If you’d just point me in the right direction, I’d appreciate it.”
“We can’t let a woman walk alone through our woods. Do you have any idea how many things can hurt you out here?”
Jayla shivered at the lust-filled expressions on all their faces. She had a good idea. Three were standing in front of her now.
“But she’s not alone.”
All three men stiffened and jerked, bringing up their guns when Diego stepped out of the trees to the left of them. He slowly walked to Jayla and took her hand, squeezing it when he felt her shaking.
Oh, my God. Where had he come from? She’d never been so happy to see anyone in her life.
“I’m Diego, and this here’s my woman. Now, is there going to be any trouble?”
Rey spat a stream of tobacco out of his mouth. “Why exactly are you in our woods? And why did she say she was alone when her man was nearby?”
“We are visiting the cabin a mile back,” Beau said from the other side of the path.
Everyone but Diego jerked when Beau stepped out of the woods and moved to the other side of Jayla.
“There’s a party, and no one invited me?” Beau commented sarcastically.
After the tension settled a bit and they relaxed, Rey and his boys laughed.
Rey watched as Beau’s arm curved around her waist. “Oh, you’re one of them families?”
Jayla looked confused. “What families?”
“The families with one woman and two men.”
Both men nodded as Jayla shook her head, prompting Rey and the boys to laugh again.
“Which is it?” Rey asked and then spat again.
Diego and Beau knew the boys were getting restless, and it was only a matter of time before more of the family showed up.
“She’s pissed at us right now. You know how that goes?” Diego said and squeezed her hand to keep her quiet.
Rey studied them for a bit. “Yeah, I do. My misses gets scary when she’s angry, so we don’t like to piss her off too much.” The comment made the boys chuckle.
Beau’s gaze remained on Rey. “You wouldn’t happen to be Father Time, would you?”
Rey looked shocked for a moment and then bent as he rolled with laughter until tears ran down his face. “Oh, so it’s like that, is it?”
Diego nodded. “Yes, it is, Sir.”
Jayla looked at all the men. “What’s going on?”
Beau bent and whispered in her ear. “We’ll talk about it later.”
Rey wiped his eyes as his chuckles died away.
“I owe the man who calls me Father Time. He saved one of his sons, and I will never forget it. We’ll watch out.
You take care of the little miss. She sure is a pretty one.
I’ve seen those eyes before, and I can’t recollect where. Oh, well. Tell Joey I said howdy.”
Diego nodded. “Will do. Have a nice day.”
Rey started laughing again, and the boys on either side of him stared like he’d gone mad. The three waited until the men walked around the bend. Jayla immediately pushed their hands off her.
“Do you know how lucky you are?” Diego growled.
Jayla lost what little control she had. “Lucky? Fuck you. I want out of here, and if you won’t take me, I’ll continue walking, and what about you two? Those men had rifles. They could have killed you two.”
“We have a hell of a lot more firepower on us than they did.” Beau studied her. “You would rather take a chance with a forest full of guys like that over us?”
“Pretty much.”
A muscle ticked in Diego’s jaw. “You would rather be raped than be with us?”
“No, I’d kill myself before that happened.”
Beau stepped between them when Diego growled and took a menacing step toward her.
“Don’t you ever say that shit again,” Diego spat out.
Jayla’s eyes widened, and she put a little distance between them. She’d never seen anger like that in a man this close. She’d definitely pushed one of his buttons.
Beau sighed. “Man, you need to calm down. Let’s get her back to the cabin.”
Diego nodded but kept his eyes glued to Jayla for a long moment. He pushed Beau to the side and raised his hand, palm up, out to her, and waited.
Jayla was confused at first. He didn’t actually want to hold her hand? The seconds slipped by until, with a sigh, she laid her hand in his. Her heart tripped in her chest at the look of relief on his face. She looked over at Beau and saw the same kind of look. It couldn’t be. Relief over what?
She didn’t understand men at all, and she didn’t even want to try at this point. She just wanted out of there.