“Eddie, please don’t do this!”
“I can’t have you going to the police.”
“The police have already been contacted.” Amy bit back the desperation that choked her.
Hopefully, Ben had called Robert, but he’d hardly been able to hear her. Would they even be able to figure out where she was?
Eddie’s face paled.
“You’ve got a cell phone?” Swearing again, he knelt and checked her jacket pockets, then her jeans.
Nausea filled her from his proximity and body odor. He hesitated a moment before checking her bra for her cell phone. His hands on her body brought back all the fear and revulsion she’d lived with as a teenager. She was completely at this man’s mercy. If he wanted to do something unthinkable to her, she was powerless to stop him.
He pulled the cell phone from inside her shirt and grabbed the rifle before standing.
“I told Clara to pack some bags. We’ll be long gone before the police find this place.” He spun and exited the barn.
Amy let out a long sigh. Her relief was short-lived, however. The temperature would likely drop below freezing tonight. She wouldn’t survive out here. She pulled at the rope around her wrists, but quickly realized it was futile. Eddie had tied the rope tight, with the knot on the other side of the beam. No matter how she tried, she couldn’t reach the knot. Her struggles only succeeded in tightening the rope, causing her fingers to tingle. Her gaze darted around, searching for something to cut the rope.
Nothing.
Pressure built behind her eyes as hopelessness swept over her.
Hope’s words filled her mind.Sometimes,the only thing you can do is pray.Feeling the slightest glimmer of hope, Amy put her small, newfound faith to the test. “Please God, don’t let them get away with Cassey. And please, take care of my sweet Kallie.”
Would the police, or anyone, ever find her? If Ben and Robert couldn’t figure out where she was, would help ever come?
The door to the house banged closed, followed by muffled voices. Then the van doors slammed with an air of victory and the engine roared to life.
A vice tightened around Amy’s chest. She’d found Ben’s daughter, but the kidnappers were getting away, taking Cassey with them. She leaned her head back against the beam and allowed hot tears to spill onto her cheeks. What would happen to Kallie if she died in this barn?
When she didn’t come home, would Kallie be given to her mother to raise, since Lance wouldn’t want her? She refused to think about the things she’d learned about him today. And her mom was the last person Amy wanted raising her daughter.
Without a doubt, she knew she wanted Ben to raise Kallie, especially since she’d failed to bring Cassey home. He and Kallie had formed a special bond over the last six weeks, but he would never be allowed to have Kallie.
She was supposed to go out with him tonight. She’d anticipated their date all week. More tears flowed down her cheeks.I’ll never see him again.A sharp pain filled her chest, making it difficult to breathe.
Ben may have been the first man to come along after she left Lance, but he was the right man. She knew that now, and she was never going to get the chance to tell him.
The screaming sound of sirens pierced the silence in the barn.
Amy gasped, her tears turning to tears of Joy.“Thank you, Lord!”
* * *
Ben caughtthe glance Robert tossed his direction. Though Robert kept a close eye on the road—he was driving too fast to be distracted. Ben could see the worry etched in his cousin’s face.
Was he worried about Amy, like Ben was? Or was Robert worried about him?
His behavior since getting in the Tahoe had been erratic, but he couldn’t help it. His chest had grown tight, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t seem to catch his breath. He’d loosened his tie and unbuttoned his top button, but it hadn’t helped. Opening his window for the second time, he leaned his head out and sucked in deep gulps of air. But the wind resistance was too strong and made it harder to breathe, so he closed the window again.
Bouncing his knee, Ben raked his fingers through his hair. He closed his eyes and recalled the way his insides had churned when Amy went after Lance last Saturday. He replayed her conversation with her ex-boyfriend in his head, focusing on the tension and excitement in Amy’s voice. A bitter taste filled his mouth as he recalled Lance’s questioning of Amy’s fidelity.
I should have punched the jerk when I had the chance.
Robert reached over and squeezed his shoulder. “You okay, Bro?”
He stared at his balled fists. “I don’t know, man.” It came out a groan. “I can’t do this again.”
