Page 107 of Cavern of Silence

She cuddles closer, and I close my eyes, thinking I won't fall asleep, but for the first time in years, I'm happy and comfortable. And maybe I need the extra rest so my body can repair, but both of us are passed out until the sun is up. When I wake up the next morning, Julieta's shaking, whispering my name, and the barrel of a gun is pointing in my face.

17

Julieta

For the firsttime in years, I sleep without having a nightmare and straight through the night. I turn farther into Ryker's warm body, and he tightens his arm around me. I open my eyes to find his lips, and I gasp.

Brown, muddy boots and jeans-clad legs stand next to the bales of hay.

I slowly tilt my head up, and a leather-skinned man with black hair and a long matching beard, sun wrinkles, and a cowboy hat points a gun at us.

My chest tightens, and it becomes harder to breathe. "Ryker," I whisper, not taking my eyes off the man.

"Mmm," Ryker responds, palming the back of my head and kissing my cheek, then neck.

"Ryker," I whisper louder, still not breaking my gaze with the older man's.

He pulls my naked body on top of his and grabs my hips, moving me onto his hard erection.

Thank God we have a blanket over us.

"Ryker!" I cry out.

He opens his eyes, freezes, and mumbles, "Oh, shit."

The man speaks in Spanish. "What are you doing on my property?"

I reply, "Our vehicle broke down. It was raining, and we only stayed here. We haven't taken anything, I promise."

"What's he saying?" Ryker asks in a panicky voice.

"Do you know what I do to trespassers?" the man continues.

"I'm sorry. Let us get our clothes on, and we'll leave right away."

"Put your hands up," he growls.

I tell Ryker, and we both raise our hands.

The man reaches for Ryker's backpack, and the earth shakes. He goes flying backward, part of the loft busts, and he falls through.

I scream, and Ryker holds me tight as one of the barn walls collapses. Light fills the room, and the horses and cows loudly protest, competing with the rumbling sound of the earth.

Ryker flips me onto my back and rolls over me, pulling the blanket over him. "Don't move, Julieta." His heart beats hard against my chest.

"What's happening?"

"Earthquake."

It seems to go on forever, and when it finally comes to an end, the animals don't stop their unhappy noises. But the man below us is also moaning.

Ryker slowly removes the blanket. "Baby, you okay?"

"Yeah."

He moves off me, and we survey the damage. The barn only has two walls remaining. Two horses run out to the pasture, one is in its stall, jumping, and three lay on the ground. Broken metal pieces from the roof are stuck in one horse's back. Another horse has a large piece of wood on top of him. Crumpled bits of the ceiling surround the third. Blood oozes out of all of them.

The cows moo loudly and run out of what's left of the structure.