Page 44

Chapter forty-four

...the mice will play

Lorilei

My lower back is killing me. I don’t think I’ve ever been on a horse this long. All I can do is hold onto the saddle horn and watch Cash and Trevor lead us slowly through the trees.

Sophia was the first to drop something, and then I caught on.

Like a gingerbread trail of crumbs, we take turns letting something fall to mark our path. I just hope it works.

It hurts knowing we’re plodding further and further from home.

How will Mason ever find us? He’s hours away.

No one besides Trevor knew where we were going. And no one will know it was him that took us.

The bruise starting to swell on the side of Sophia’s face is a testament to that.

We’ve seen him. What is he going to do to us?

“I still don’t get why you’re doing this?” Sophia’s been questioning them constantly.

Even after Trevor slapped her again.

“You’re the one that told me I needed money to even talk to you,” Cash sneers. “Now, I’ll have enough that I don’t need you.”

“How? That contract isn’t worth anything. Just grass.” I can’t hold back my own inquiry.

The glare Trevor tosses back at me makes me wish I hadn’t.

“You don’t get it. There’s bigger fish out there.” Cash puffs up his thin chest and tilts his hat back.

Trevor turns towards him. “You should keep your mouth shut.”

Cash shrugs. “What does it matter? We’ll be long gone.” He drapes his foot over his saddle and leans on his calf as he rides. “Someone paid us good money to give y’all hell. Took every cow we could bring ‘em. Then said, keep you away long enough that the old man loses the contract. So, here we are. I’ll be too rich for you.” He reaches over and rubs his hand down Sophia’s healed thigh. “They didn’t say nothin’ about not taking a bonus though.” He grins at her, but jerks his arm back when she tries to slap it.

My heartbeat pounds wildly in my ears. Would he really do that?

“Kiss my ass, Cash. No one wants your creepy ass.” Sophia flips her middle finger up at him.

“Knock it the fuck off,” Trevor growls.

The canyon starts to shrink in on either side as we head to a narrow point in the trail. It feels like the trees are trying to suffocate us to pinch between the rocky walls.

Sounds from the hooves echo and ricochet around us making it sound like a thousand horses cutting through the narrow crevice.

Trevor leads Sophia through, while Cash follows her to lead me through.

I’m tempted to just jump off and try to run.

But I can’t go faster than a horse.

Or a bullet.

I’ve managed to sneak my phone out, and have tried to call Mason multiple times.

There’s no damn service.

The rapid texts I’ve sent show undelivered.

Will I ever get to see him again?

My palm rests over our baby. I’ve never been so scared for someone else.

Someone I’ve never met, but love more than my own life.

Please don’t let anything hurt my child.

I hit dial again.

It rings, sending a surge of hope through me.

Wait, is that his tone? It sounds like it’s coming from—

Two ropes fall from the cliffs above, one circles Trevor, the other Cash.

They both yell as they are ripped forward off their horses by an unseen force.

Cash screams, pulling the trigger on his pistol as he disappears over the ground ahead.

Clover tosses her head making a shrill cry, and throws her front hooves in the air.

She moves in slow motion as I cling to the saddle horn, she twists above me.

My fingers claw at the round leather, then try to tangle in her mane.

But she rolls away from me, and I’m reaching for nothing.

Air moves through my grasp and my feet fly free.

I’m floating—