Cherise moaned and dropped her head. “It’s all right, we’ve got you. Can you stand on your own?” Scarlett asked. The older woman wobbled but tried helping.
They rounded the doors to the barn when Maria let out a blood-curdling scream. “He’s coming,” she cried.
A gun fired, startling her.
Maria and Harlow screamed.
“Get in your car and leave, keep your head down. Get help. Ty’s at the restaurant,” she yelled, shoving Cherise inside the barn and closing the door.
She barred it shut as Hank nickered and pranced in his stall nervously. The coppery scent of blood filled her nostrils as she bent to Ty’s mother.
“Cherise, help me,” she pleaded as she heard Maria spin her tires. Gunshots sounded, yet the car flew down the driveway. She heard the two women screaming as they escaped.
Hank nickered again, voicing his displeasure.
Scarlett reached out her hands, searching for anything to use as a weapon. The open stall nearly sent her toppling to the floor. Ty always shut the doors as he cleaned them. The coppery scent smelled stronger, and her heart raced as she knelt on the ground. Her attacker yanked at the doors, trying to get in, but she needed something to deter him. She felt along the wall and, as she moved toward the corner, felt a boot.
She swallowed as her hand moved up the leg and removed hunks of straw from the body. Scarlett knew the form of the man who dragged her from the fires of hell. Rocker’s chest barely moved. Scarlett’s heart pounded in her ears. Determined to rescue him, she moved faster.
“Rocker,” she whispered his name.
She patted him down, and he took her handand placed it on his belt. His weapon stayed in its holster. “Don’t you dare give up, do you hear me?” She heard the raspy sound coming from his chest, temporarily paralyzing her.
The door felt like it’d fly off the hinges at any moment. Scarlett reached out for Ice, and he led her to Cherise. Hank kept kicking his stall, demanding attention. Cherise held her hand to her head and moaned. Any minute, their intruder would manage to loosen the temporary solution barring the door. The wood jolted against the door every time he yanked on it.
Scarlett jumped up and entered Hank’s stall. She pulled him out with the rope attached to his neck.
“Easy, boy,” she soothed. Seemingly pacified, Hank let her lead him out.
She held on to his rope and walked around his front. “Cherise. We need to get on Hank. He’s shot Rocker, and I can’t move him. We have to lead Jeremy away from him,” she said, pulling on her arm. Understanding how dire their situation appeared, Cherise pulled herself up. She helped Scarlett onto the horse with a step stool and then climbed on.
“How much longer will the wooden bar hold?” she asked Cherise.
“He’s almost got it loose,” the older woman cried, panicked.
“Listen to me. As soon as he opens the door, we’re taking Hank and running out of here. I’ve never steered a horse and have only commanded Hank to go to the lake,” Scarlett told her. She heard Jeremy beating the door and swearing, knowing he didn’t plan on leaving until he killed them.
Cherise clung to her waist. “Scarlett, grab hold of the reins and don’t let go. Tuck your knees around him and hold on. When this crazy man opens the door, we’ll fly like the wind. My head’s pounding like the dickens. I don’t knowhow long I can hang on, but I’m counting on you. Whatever happens, you don’t stop. You keep going.”
“I’m not leaving you, so don’t let go,” Scarlett growled.
“I don’t plan to. If I don’t make it, you tell my son I love him very much,” Cherise whispered desperately. “The bar will drop any moment. Hang on.”
A minute later, Scarlett heard the sound of the wood falling to the floor. Cherise kicked Hank’s side, and Scarlett clung for dear life. As if sensing the danger, Hank bolted toward the door. Jeremy waved his arms, startling the animal, and he reared up on his hind legs before bolting like the wind.
Shots were fired as they tore through the field at a breakneck pace.
“Ice,” she screamed as Hank tore down the field. Not wanting to give away their position, Scarlett leaned in. “Hank, take us to the lake,” she ordered.
Cherise gripped her waist, and she felt the woman’s hold slacken as Hank turned around and ran in the opposite direction. She heard the familiar sounds of the old dirt road as she held on for dear life.
“Don’t let go, Cherise. We’re almost there. Do you see Ice?”
“He’s on your left,” she said shakily.
“We need to take cover by the trees. Which way do I tell Hank to go?”
“We’ll want to go left. It’s denser there. Pull the reins to the left,” Cherise instructed as her whole body slackened against Scarlett’s back.
