“Now, Cal.Or make a run for it.See what happens then.”
There’d be no running.Not on his end.He glanced at the porch and saw the bag Everly must be referring to.He grabbed it and turned back to face the man.
“So youcanfollow instructions,” Mr.Everly said bitterly.Then he dragged Jill to one of the kitchen chairs, shoved her into it, but he still held that gun pointed at her head.“Get the wire and tie her up.”
Cal sucked in a careful breath and opened the backpack.There seemed to be supplies for a backpacking trip.Was that the plan?Disappear into the wilderness with Glenda?
But why?
Well, nothing good.
Was going to Kalispell just a distraction?But Everly had to have known Jill would be here, so why would he involve her?
Cal didn’t have time to work it out.If Everly got impatient… well, Cal had to get that gun away from Jill and then maybe he could concern himself with why any of this was happening.
He got the wire out then moved to the chair.He didn’t want to look at Jill, so he kept his gaze on Everly.Who never once dropped the gun from her head.
Nate would probably know how to knock that gun out of his hand without risking Jill, but unfortunately, Cal didn’t have that kind of skill, and he was too terrified of hurting her to try.
He knelt in front of her on the chair and worked to gently and carefully tie her to the seat with the wire, hopefully without hurting her, or doingtoogood of a job she couldn’t get out of given the chance.
Sam was out there.Maybe she’d wait longer than would help Cal, but surely she’d come in eventually.She wouldn’t wait forever.
Even if they’d agreed for her to wait.Sam was impatient.
God, he hoped.
Once he was done tying her up, he met Jill’s gaze.Wide, wild, terrified.He tried to smile reassuringly.He didn’t dare reassure her with words—Everly might hear, might worry someone would come, might change his mind about leaving her here.
He hoped the leg pat as he stood was promise enough.
She’d be okay, and nothing was going to happen to Glenda on his watch.He’d do whatever he had to.
And they were finally going to get to the truth.
“Now, Glenda.Tie his wrists together.We’ll leave the feet free for now.”Everly ordered, gesturing at Glenda with his free hand.
The gun still on Jill.
So Cal turned to Glenda with the wire.He did the only thing he could think to do.Held the wire so she could fasten it around his wrists.She took it without resistance or complaint or fear.
He couldn’t understandherin all this.Her granddaughter had a gun to her head and she was just… acquiescing.Just tying Cal up.
To get Everly away.Just like you.
Glenda focused on fastening the wire, but when she was done, she glanced up, light green eyes meeting Cal’s with a steady gaze.Maybe fear lurked in there.Maybe it didn’t.Cal, for a moment, just froze.
In those eyes, he’d often found himself remembering.Bits and pieces.Something.
But he didn’t feel the way he’d felt over remembering his mother’s death.Sure, something was off and weird and wrong, but it wasn’t the same.
So what the hell was it?
“Now, we’re going out the back,” Everly said.“Glenda first.You know where we’re going.I’ll follow with the gun on you, Cal.Because if anyone tries anything, you’re going to die.Like you should have back then.”
Chapter Thirty-One
Outside the Harrington Cabin
