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“Fuck you, Garrison. You’ll never get her back.”

The three other prisoners were awake and out of their bunks trying to see what was going on at the opposite end of the run.

When the coffee was ready, Glenda filled cardboard containers and we gave a cup to each of the prisoners. “Y’all lucked out with late night coffee. See y’all in the morning.”

I locked the run, then locked the building when Glenda and I left.

“I’m so glad that maniac is locked up, Travis. What the hell was he thinking, cutting you like he did?”

“He was thinking of killing me, Glen. That’s all he was thinking.”

Wild Stallion Ranch.

Glenda drove to the ranch following my directions and when we got there the house was frigid and the dogs hadn’t been fed.

“This was more than you signed on for, Glen.” I flicked on the lights and walked into the kitchen with her following me.

Glenda glanced around and then she looked at me. “Sit down, Travis. You’re all pale and shaky. Got any liquor?”

“Tequila.” I pointed with my working arm. “In the cupboard.”

Glenda poured me a stiff shot of Patron and shivered. “It’s cold in here. Drink that down and you should go straight to bed.”

“Believe me. I want to lie down. I feel like shit.”

“You lost an unbelievable amount of blood. I thought the doctor should’ve given you a transfusion.”

“Guess I should’ve lost a bit more and he might have.” I chuckled.

“Why is it so cold in here?”

“Gone too long. Stove in the living room went out.”

“You get into bed and I’ll get the stove going. By morning this place is going to be an ice palace.”

On my way to bed, I fed the dogs and that was all she wrote. I hit the bed and it was lights out.

Don’t know what time it was when I woke up, but Glenda was snuggled up against me keeping me warm and it was a good feeling just knowing she was there.

I turned over and went back to sleep.

Chapter Eight

Monday, October 15th.

Wild Stallion Ranch.

When I woke in the morning, my head was pounding and the throbbing in my arm was so intense it was all I could do not to yell out loud. A deep groan escaped from my throat and I sounded like a wounded bear.

The dogs jumped off their beds and ran over to me whining.

“You awake?” asked Glenda.

“Any idea where the pain meds are?”

“I’ll find them.” She hopped out of bed, pulled her jeans on and Max and Sarge were right behind her as she ran out of the room. “Can I let the dogs out?”

“Yeah, they’re fine on their own.”