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Chapter Thirteen

“You can’t just leave me here.” I have no clue how far we’ve traveled or where we are.

I only know that we’ve stopped, and she’s pushed me onto the rocky terrain.

I think she may have cracked one of my ribs.

I don’t know what she’s planning. She could shoot me and blame it on the cartel and Woods would have no choice but to believe her.

I don’t know why she’s doing this. He said she’s not happy and was the first to admit that their marriage is failure. She doesn’t love him.

Maybe he lied to me to get into my pants again. Not that I made it hard for him. All he has to do is look at me and I’m putty in his hands.

“Don’t tell me what I can and can’t do, whore.”

“At least untie me and take this hood off so I can see. You aren’t a killer, Faye.”

“How would you know? You don’t know shit, bitch. You think because he fucked you, he’s going to leave me for you? You’re not the first to try.” She yanks the black fabric from my head.

Blinking my eyes slowly, I allow my eyes to readjust to the sunlight. Thankfully, it’s cloudy, but unfortunately the sky is turning a dark shade of blue. I glance around at my surroundings. She’s brought me deeper into the woods to kill me.

Faye stands over me holding a serrated edged hunting knife.

I flinch when she presses the tip under my chin, slightly nicking my skin.

There’s pure hatred in her eyes. “Killing you would be too easy.” She flings the knife somewhere between the ATV and the trees.

“Good luck getting out of here. You better pray you get loose before the bears find you. I hear there’s a vicious momma bear nearby. ”

She climbs back on her four-wheeler, and says, “maybe you shouldn’t fuck other people’s husbands,” and speeds away, throwing dirt and debris all over me. She’s right. I shouldn’t have fucked Woods but I did. This is the consequences of my own actions.

I deserve this and worse.

I’d hate me, too.

I’d want me dead.

The moment she disappears in the distance, I wiggle toward the direction she threw the knife.

I roll around for what feels like hours, but could be mere minutes.

Thunder booms in the distance, signaling a storm is brewing, and it’s growing closer.

I’m trying not to panic, but desperation is settling in my bones.

I’m tired and thirsty. I close my eyes and suck in a deep breath, followed by another. Bugs are biting me and crawling on me.

Faye’s psychotic ass is probably hiding in the bushes somewhere, having a good laugh at my expense. Who would blame her? Maybe her and Woods fight like this all the time.

Does Woods know that I’m missing, or will he think I simply ran away given the opportunity? Tears roll down my cheeks, but I can’t give up. I’m not going to be bear chow.

I’m going to make it out of this alive.

I survived Thad. I can survive this bitch.

I can survive anything life throws at me.

Light rain pelts against my skin. Great. Now I’m going to be muddy too.

I must have someone up above watching over me because, by some miracle, I spot the knife not far from where I’ve wiggled to.

It takes some time and not without rocks and twigs digging into my skin.

I’ve probably got pebbles embedded in my ass, but eventually I’m able to get hold of the knife.

I cut my palm and one of my fingers, but I manage to free my hands, then my ankles.

I use the fabric from the black bag she had over my head to bandage my finger.

I must’ve gashed it open deeper than I thought, because the wound won’t stop bleeding.

When I was a kid, when my dad was still in the picture, he’d take me camping and he always said if I ever got lost to find water and follow the direction it flows.

I could try going the direction Faye went, but I don’t want to risk another confrontation if she’s still out there. I’m weak from blood loss and need to find a way out of here.

I walk a little way and come across a stream where some white-tailed deer are drinking. They make a huffing noise and bound off into the trees. Too bad I can’t wrangle one and ride it like a horse.

Everything aches as I continue following the water until it eventually runs into the lake. Hope blooms in my chest, because maybe it’s the same lake Woods brought me too.

I walk along the bank, hoping to spot a boat or someone camping. I’m not sure how far I’ve gone when I trip over a piece of driftwood and cry out when I hit my knee hard on a large rock.

“Are you okay, dear?” A gentle female voice questions so soft and low I think I’m imagining the sweet grandma looking woman who is walking up on me.

“I’m lost, and I’m injured.”

“Frank,” she calls over her shoulder. “Get help.”

“Your vitals all look good. Nothing is broken. The baby is doing fine, too,” the nurse tells me and my stomach drops to my feet.

Did she just say what I think she did? “Baby?” I can’t be hearing her correctly. I can’t be pregnant. Or I should say I don’t want to be pregnant.

“You didn’t know?” She shoots me a sympathetic smile.

I must look like horror movie creature. I’d hate to see my reflection in a mirror.

I shake my head. I’m pregnant by Thad. My husband who wishes I was dead. There’s no way it could be Woods’ baby.

This changes everything.

I think I’m going to be sick.

“We’ll treat you for dehydration, clean up those cuts and get some stitches for that finger. You’re lucky that couple found you. Some people get lost out there and are never found.”

I give her a weak smile of my own. How sad am I? I got beat up and dumped in the forest by a crazy woman because I fucked her husband, and now I find out I’m pregnant by my wife beating husband.

Life really loves to kick me when I’m down.

To remind me of my place in this world.

The nurse leaves me alone for a few minutes but quickly returns to do my IV and ask more questions.

I told them I went hiking and ended up lost. Ratting out Faye would only draw more attention to me, and the last thing I need is anyone knowing I’m here.

“The sheriff is here. He’d like to ask you a few questions.”

“Yeah. Sure.” The last thing I want to do is answer more questions.

A dark-haired man dressed in full uniform stands at the door of the room I’m in of the emergency room of this urgent care clinic. Devil’s Creek is so small they don’t have a proper hospital.

I can tell right away they he’s related to Low and Woods. He’s got those same dark eyes and that facial expression that says I’d burn the world down.

“Hello, Jessika. I’m Sherriff Woods, but everyone calls me Fletcher. Do you remember what the name of the trail was that you set out on?”

“Everything is so fuzzy. I’m not sure.”

“Were you hiking alone?”

“I was with my friend Gabbie.”

“What’s her last name?”

“I’m not sure.” They say if you’re going to lie, to stick as close to the truth as possible.

“Was she with you when you got lost?”

“No. We had a misunderstanding, and I told her to leave.”

“You told your ride to leave you out in the woods?”

“I know it was irresponsible. I figured she’d wait in her car and give me a minute to cool off, but then I got lost and now I’m here.”

“She’s not reported you missing.”

“Maybe she’s still waiting for me, or maybe she grew tired of waiting and figured I’d call her or someone else to pick me up.”

“Fair enough. Do you have her number?”

“I don’t.”

“How do you know this friend?”

“I don’t know her well. I’m friends with your sister. Willow. You can call her and I’m sure she can get Gabbie’s number for you.”

“My sister. Huh. You live in California. Long way to be from home with people you don’t know the phone number of.” He pulls out his cell phone and I hope it’s to call Willow.

Fletcher hangs around until Willow shows up and shoos him away, but I have an inkling this won’t be the last time I see him or that he has questions for me.

“Shit, babes. What happened to you? You look like you got into a fight with a tree and the tree won.”

“Something like that.”

If the tree is a pissed of wife named Faye.