by Jill Sanders
Chapter Sixteen
Lauren struggled to open her eyes. She heard familiar voices and couldn't place why it was important for her to wake up. Her stomach was refusing to settle down and she knew that if the motion didn't stop she was going to be sick. When the horse came to a stop with a jerk, she lifted her head and opened her eyes. It was dark and she didn't know why that seemed wrong.
She couldn’t remember where she was or what was going on. She tried desperately to remember what she'd been doing. Finally, it came back to her in a flash. She'd been shot at by the poachers. Looking up and around, she saw that she was on the back of a dark brown horse. She didn't think that it was one of hers, but she couldn’t be sure. The man who sat in front of her was wearing a dark jacket and hat, covering him almost completely from her view.
She could hear two other men talking in front of them, but couldn't look around and see who or where they were.
“You can't just leave her here,” someone said.
“Why not? She'll think the horse got spooked and ran off.”
“It's just ain’t right.” She couldn't place who was speaking, but knew the voices sounded familiar.
“Shut up, both of you,” the rider in front of her said. “Help me get her down. I've got a better plan.”
She had an easier time placing this voice. “Larry?” She looked up to the man who had worked for her and her father for years as he twisted around and stared at her.
“Damn it. It would have been better had you stayed under.” He leaned over and used his fist against her face, spiraling her into the darkness again.
When she woke next, she coughed and choked on smoke. Her hands were tied and when she tried to kick her feet, she found that they were tied as well. It was too dark to see where she was. Smoke filled the place, but so far she couldn't see any flames.
She twisted her wrists around, ripping the skin as she tried to break free. When she couldn't budge the rope, she tried to get her feet loose. The ropes didn't budge.
She closed her eyes and forced herself to think. An image of Chase popped into her head. She was going to die and she would never get to tell him how she felt. She'd never have the opportunity to apologize to her sisters about deceiving them for so long. Tears ran down her face as she started hyperventilating.
By the time the flames lit the room, she was on the verge of passing out from the smoke. When she opened her eyes, she realized she was in her father's cabin. The whole place was burning and there was nothing she could do about it. She was going to die here, alone.
“Get up!” she told herself.
She blinked a few times, trying to steady her head.
“Lauren, get up!” It was her father's voice. The memory of the first time she'd fallen off her pony when she was seven flashed vividly in her mind.
“If you don't get up and dust yourself off, the horse wins. And you're a lot stronger and smarter than that dumb old horse, aren't you?” Her father stood over her, his hand reaching out towards hers.
She nodded and let the tears stream down her face. Her little hand reached out towards his bigger, stronger one.
“That's my girl. Now, go right over to him and tell him how you feel. Then get right back on him and ride him.”
“But...”
“No, buts. You're a rancher. A dying breed. You're made of strong stuff, stronger then you will ever know. You have the power to do whatever you want in life. Don't ever let anyone tell you different. Now, walk right over, look that horse in the eyes, and tell him what you want.” Her father smiled down at her, the sun streaming through his dark hair so that his face was in shadows.
Lauren sat up in the cabin. Wiggling her feet, she looked down and realized that her boots could easily be removed if she had something to help. Seeing the bunk next to her, she scooted over until it was pulling on her boot, then she pulled her legs back, dislodging it. Doing the same for the next one, she freed her legs from the ropes.
Crawling on her elbows and knees, she made her way to the front door. When she got there, she noticed the door was locked from the outside. Looking around, she knew she had to get out fast.
Picking up the small stool, she crawled towards the front window and tossed it towards the glass. It missed. She picked it up and tried again. This time it hit, shattering glass all over her head and around her. When she crawled to the opening, glass shards embedded into her hands and arms, but she couldn't feel the pain.
All that ran through her mind was staying alive so she could tell her family how she felt. Using her tied wrists, she pulled herself up to the window and looked out, gulping in a large breath of the fresh air that streamed in. The smoke swirled around her and she felt the heat from the flames at the back of the cabin.
Just then, two large hands reached in and grabbed her under her arms, hoisting her over the windowsill. The smoke had caused her eyes to water so much that she couldn't make out who was attacking her. She kicked out blindly, hoping to escape the strong arms.
“Easy, Lauren. It's me.” Hearing Chase's voice, she threw her arms around his neck and helped pull her legs out of the window.
He lifted her and carried her a few yards away, where Buster stood tied to a low branch.
“Are you okay?” He ran his hands over her, checking every inch of her.
“I think so.” Her eyes were fixed on the cabin. Just then half the roof caved in. Chase jumped a little then looked down at her.
“My god. I thought I'd lost you.” He pulled her close and kissed her forehead.
She couldn't stop shaking. Even though the night air was warm and the heat from the fire had caused her skin to blister, her hands shook and her teeth chattered.
She pulled back and looked up at him. “It was Larry and Hewitt. I don't know who the third man was, but they shot at me.” She frowned and reached for her head. “Why were they shooting at me?”
“I don't know, but let's get you back to the house so we can have you checked out.” He pulled out his pocketknife and began slicing through the ropes around her wrists with a quick motion. “I'll kill them for this,” he mumbled as he cut through the thick ropes.
“If I don't get to them first.” She pushed her hands free and stood when he helped her. Her head spun quickly and she reached out to grab Chase, but it was too late, the darkness had taken her again.
The next time she woke, it was to light streaming in her window. When she opened her eyes, she saw Haley and Alex staring down at her, smiling.
“You scared us to death.” They both looked like they'd been crying. She sat up and opened her arms so they could both engulf her together.
“I'm so sorry,” she cried as they held onto her. “I should have told you about marrying Chase.” She cried as they held her tight. “I should have let you guys help out more. I didn't mean to be such a…such a…”
“Control freak?” Alex pulled back and smiled down at her as tears streamed down her face.
“Well, yes.” She laughed. “I'm sorry.”
“We're sorry,” Haley said as she sat next to her on the bed. “We should have carried more weight around here. We didn't know that you had such a large debt to repay. We would have—”
“Don't.” She shook her head. “Let's not regret anything anymore.” She reached up and wiped her sister's tear from her cheek. “I love you two so much, and I'd gladly do it all again to protect this place and you.” She blinked a few times and looked around. “Where is Chase?”
Her sisters stilled and looked at each other.
“Alex?”
“He disappeared shortly after the doctor came and told us that you were okay. The sheriff and deputies went with him. They took a couple horses and men.”
“Jimmy stayed behind,” Haley said, looking down at her hands.
She closed her eyes and when she took a deep breath, she started coughing.
“The doctor says that's normal after inhaling all that smoke. The cabin is gone, but the fire was contained. Here
.” Alex held up a glass of water. Lauren took a large drink and felt the icy coolness soothing her sore throat.
“Any chance I can get a shower?” She looked down at herself. They'd pulled off her ruined clothes, but the grime and smoke was still embedded in her skin and hair.
“Sure, but I think a bath would be better. You've got a twisted ankle.” Haley pulled back the covers to reveal a large white wrap on her left ankle.
An hour later, she felt more alive. Her sisters had propped her up on the front porch with a glass of lemonade and her cell phone. She'd tried calling Chase five times and had text him several times. So far, she hadn't heard anything back. Even the sheriff’s office hadn't heard anything yet.
Alex sat with her while Haley cooked dinner.
“You know, I've given a lot of thought to what you said about Travis. I don't know if he's right for me, but I do know that I want to try and make our relationship work. It's the only thing I have going for myself at the moment.”
“Alex…” She didn't know what to say. Then the memory came back to her.
“Alex, you're a rancher. We're a dying breed. We're made of strong stuff, stronger then you will ever know. You have the power to do whatever you want in life and don't ever let anyone tell you different.” She took her sister’s hand and watched a tear escape her eyes. “All I ever wanted, all our parents ever wanted for us was the same happiness that they felt. If Travis gives you that happiness, then I will welcome him into this family with open arms. But don't settle for anything or anyone less than you deserve. Just remember that.”
“Does Chase make you feel like that?”
“Yes,” she said without hesitation. “There is no doubt in my mind that I married the right man seven years ago. And as soon as he gets back here, I plan on telling him and showing him for the rest of our lives.” She smiled at her sister, then pulled her close for a hug.
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