Mad Delights (23 page)
In her mind, she ran through the plan. She hooked her foot under the door latch. She’d flip it up, the door would open then she would roll head first out of the car, taking the brunt of the impact to her shoulder.
Merrie took a deep breath and mentally counted, psyching herself up. She could do this. She
could
do this!
One…two…three…
It happened just as she’d imagined it would. The door flew open and she crunched her tummy as she forced herself upward enough to sail out of the back seat. She dimly heard the driver curse as she experienced the sensation of freefalling. Down she fell, but instead of asphalt tearing her up, she landed on compact ground and tumbled through tall weeds. Momentum accelerated her along the steep hill. She couldn’t stop herself and tried her damnedest to keep her arms tucked against her sides, but it was almost impossible as instinct made her want to use her arms to slow her wild descent, even as gravity propelled her down the embankment. Her right wrist snapped and unimaginable pain forced a scream from her throat. Just as she thought she’d never stop tumbling, she started sliding in the dirt then finally came to a halt as the ground leveled out. She’d reached the bottom.
Merrie lay there crying. She couldn’t seem to move as the planet righted itself and vertigo halted. In so much pain she thought she’d pass out, she cradled her wrist. Shouts snapped her out of her haze and she gingerly sat up, looking at the ridge she’d just tumbled down. The road loomed high and the incline appeared sheer. She couldn’t count on those bikers to simply ride on and let her go. Regardless, Merrie knew they would be coming for her—and soon.
Tears coursed down her cheeks as she managed to get to her feet and look around. She’d landed in a ravine and the moonlight highlighted the forest that started at its mouth, so she darted into the black glen. She had no idea what to do other than to run as far as possible. Pain ravaged every inch of her body and she knew her wrist was broken, but she didn’t feel any other bones poking out from it or anywhere else and for that, she was grateful.
She pushed onward, deeper and deeper into the woods. The only thought in her mind was to keep moving as the need to survive drove her onward. Many times she stumbled but she got right back up, putting one foot in front of the other.
Soon, she didn’t hear any more shouts but she refused to relax. Once daylight hit, her pursuers might be able to track her and if she sat to rest, it was possible she’d never be able to get back up. Of course, she had no idea how they’d track her. Did they have dogs? ATVs? What if they had guns? If so, she needed to disappear before they got her in their sights.
Sometime later, she arrived at a small river. It wasn’t wide or deep, but the current moved swiftly. A memory filtered through her mind, a television show where the man had used a river to find a farmhouse after being thrown from his horse and breaking an ankle. Sure, it was a TV show, but it was the only thing her brain locked on.
Merrie walked into the river, gasping at the cold, even though it was mid-June. She’d walk for a time in the water to hide her scent, just in case. She put her broken wrist in the water and the cold eased the pain a bit.
Putting one foot in front of the other became her sole focus—her mantra. She blocked out all the hidden dangers of a thick forest. She didn’t worry about bears, or wolves, snakes or bugs. Time had no meaning in her little world. She walked in the river until her teeth began to chatter then she sloshed along the bank, stumbling over rocks and terrain. Once she’d warmed up some from her exertion, she stepped back into the river. On and on she went until the sunrise. As light spilled over the forest, nothing else penetrated except for her mantra to take one more step.
The pain in her wrist had long since elevated into nothingness and a tiny voice warned her that she was going into shock, but she didn’t have a clue what to do about it, so she kept going. By the time morning had fully dawned—bringing with it some warmth from the sun—she’d left the river somewhere long ago, although she didn’t remember when.
Instead, she found herself delirious and on a dirt road, because she thought she saw a rumbling dragon chasing her down. She took off, trying to move away, yet knowing that she wouldn’t be able to outrun the beast. She’d come too far to give up now so she pushed on until her body suddenly gave out and she collapsed.
She tried to cry. However, everything she’d used up everything she had in her. She had no tears left. With her good arm, she tried to propel herself along, dragging her limp, useless body until her strength disappeared and she lay face down in the dirt road. If the dragon was going to kill her, she’d rather not see it coming.
As the world began to tilt and fade, she thought she heard the screech of brakes and the slamming of doors. She heard shouts. Someone touched her, turned her over. She stared up into the blue sky, dotted with clouds and thought how pretty the day seemed.
A man’s face came into her line of view—different than the bikers—and wearing a cowboy hat. She met his shocked, concerned eyes. A rational part of her brain told her that the stranger would help her. The fear driving her held fast to her mind and she tried to push him away. It didn’t work. Her body no longer cooperated.
“P-please don’t hurt…me,” she begged in a whisper.
“I’m going to help you,” the man told her, his voice deep and soothing.
“I…won’t tell…w-what I saw.”
“Shh. I’m going to call the police—”
Terror engulfed her. No police!
He
would know!
He
would find her! With her last bit of strength, she grabbed his collar and pulled herself up until she was nose to nose.
“No! He’ll find me. He’ll kill me. He said…the cops are bad. Please…help me!”
The small tether on consciousness she’d clung to snapped. Once again, darkness claimed her.
About the Author
I like writing about the very ordinary girl thrust into extraordinary circumstances, so my heroines will probably never be lawyers, doctors or corporate high rollers. I try to write characters who aren't cookie cutters and push myself to write complicated situations that I have no idea how to resolve, forcing me to think outside the box. I love writing characters who are real, complex and full of flaws, heroes and heroines who find redemption through love.
I’ve been pretty fortunate in life to experience some amazing things. I’ve lived in France, traveled throughout Europe, Australia and New Zealand. I am a mom to an amazing little boy. I’m surrounded by friends and family. And although I love holding a book in my hand, I absolutely adore my e-reader, which I’ve named Ruby. I love to hear from readers so I’ve made it really easy to find me on the web.
Email:
[email protected]
Beth loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website and author biography at
http://www.totallybound.com
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Also by Beth D. Carter
Red Wolves Motorcycle Club: Along Came Merrie
Red Wolves Motorcycle Club: True North
Red Wolves Motorcycle Club: When Dove Cries
Red Wolves Motorcycle Club: Lily Roar
