I do, but I don’t really feel like using my diaper, so I shake my head. “No, Daddy.”
“Are you sure? You haven’t gone since this morning.”
“Nope, I’m good.”
“Hmm.” Rising from the glider with me still in his arms, Daddy strides toward the nursery door. “You must not be drinking enough water, then. I want you to drink at least two more bottles before dinner.”
“Could it be one bottle of water and one bottle of soda?” I ask hopefully.
“No. Little girls don’t need that much caffeine. And the sugar isn’t good for you, either.”
“Coming from the man who drinks ten gallons of hot chocolate a day.”
“It’s not nearly that much, and I stand by my point. You don’t need soda on top of everything else.”
“Well I needsomeform of caffeine. Writers run on caffeine and swear words, don’t you know that?”
His laughter rings out in the soaring entryway as he carries me down the stairs. “Then I suppose we’re going to have to find you some different fuel because both those things are off limits to you from now on.”
“Candy, then. Lots and lots of candy.”
“Areasonableamount of candy, as long as you have some protein and veggies first.”
“Worst writing retreat ever,” I mumble as he settles me in one of the dining room chairs.
Chuckling again, he kisses my head. “Daddy’s going to make you a healthy snack. If you eat all of it, I will see if I can sweet talk your Uncle Eli into cutting you a small slice of the cake he made for dessert. Deal?”
It’s probably the best I’m going to get for now, though I find myself missing my stash of snacks from the cabin. Maybe they’re hidden around here somewhere…
But I’ll never have a chance to find them if Daddy’s watching me like a hawk, so I smile sweetly up at him. “Yes, Daddy.”
“Good girl. I’ll be back in a bit. You don’t leave this spot until I come get you. Understood?”
“Yes, Daddy.”
As soon as he leaves the room, I open my laptop and pull up my email, scanning through to make sure there’s nothing too urgent that needs my attention.
A message from my assistant catches my eye and my heart slams against my ribs.
Holy crap. This is it. How could I have not thought of this before? It’s so fuckingsimple.
Fingers trembling, I open a new outgoing email and put my assistant’s address in the “To” section.
Vanessa,
I need you to send help. It’s a very long story I don’t have time to explain, but I am trapped in a cabin with six lumberjacks and a lumberjane who have decided to keep me hostage.
No, this is not a pitch for my next book series (though maybe it should be once I get out of here… but I’m getting off track).
Please send help, but be careful. The sheriff here is close friends and maybe more with the lumberjane so I don’t know how compromised she may be. I don’t have an exact location, but I’m with the Thorne siblings in Forbidden Pines, CO.
I’m trusting you to be discreet and handle this with care. I don’t know what they’ll do if they discover I’ve called in the cavalry.
All my love,
Marjorie
My finger hovers over the button to send the email. It feels unfair to imply Daddy and his siblings will actuallyhurtme if anyone tries to come rescue me when I’m pretty sure the worst punishment I’ll suffer is a welted bottom.
