Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 57471 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 287(@200wpm)___ 230(@250wpm)___ 192(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57471 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 287(@200wpm)___ 230(@250wpm)___ 192(@300wpm)
His reply was to shove me into the passenger seat before he tied my hands with rope. “Yeah, well, I guess we’ll see about that. Won’t we?”
I said nothing as the car started to move, off the ranch property and onto the dusty service road that split miles upon miles of ranch and farmland, keeping my gaze focused out of the window at the scenery as it passed by.
“You’re just going to ignore me?”
I didn’t engage with Travis at all. Instead, I looked for a way out of this mess. I could just unlock the door and jump out; risking a few broken bones might be better than what Travis has planned for me. Broken bones healed; that kind of trauma did not.
“Molly.” His hand landed on my thigh, and he gripped it tight.
“Don’t. Touch. Me.” I flung his hand away with as much force as I could.
“You’re mine, and I’ll touch you however I damn well please!” He gripped the back of my neck and yanked down hard in an effort to bring his mouth to mine. I went slack at first, but as his mouth closed in on mine, the car swerved all over the road, and I saw my moment.
“Never!” I bit down on his lip and yanked the steering wheel as hard as I could to the right, slamming the truck—and us along with it—into a tree that was at least one hundred years old. My head smacked against the radio, and my vision blurred, but I knew this was my chance to make a run for it. I slid over, grunting in pain the entire way, and felt for the door until I found the handle.
“Molly,” he called after me, so angry his voice trembled.
I moved a little faster, shoving the door open and falling out right onto my hands and knees. “Ouch.” I scrambled to my feet and started to run while trying to loosen the rope with my teeth. It set an awkward pace, but I didn’t bother to look back; I just kept going forward.
Until a big, Travis-sized body slammed into the back of me and sent me falling to the hard dirt ground. “Mine,” he growled and pressed a kiss to my cheek.
“Help!” I shouted and tried to wriggle free, but Travis was heavier than I remembered. “Get off of me!”
A second later, the heavy weight was gone, but before I could celebrate, a hand wrapped around my hair and yanked hard, forcing me to stand or end up scalped. “The car is shit now.” He looked over his shoulder, and I followed his gaze to the truck with smoke coming out of the hood.
“Too bad,” I said with as much sarcasm as I could infuse into those two words.
“Come on,” he yanked. “There are tons of empty buildings where we can lay low until I can come up with a better plan.”
Another sarcastic comment was on the tip of my tongue, but then I thought better of it. Travis was more twisted than I realized, and his plans for me were ones I shuddered to think about. “I know a place.”
“Is this a trick?”
Absolutely. “Of course not. Do you know how cold it gets out here at night? I don’t want to freeze to death.” That was true, but not entirely.
“There’s a building just off of McCall Ranch property. Hunter and I found it when we were out exploring.” I looked around to get my bearings. “It shouldn’t be too far from here, a couple of miles.”
“If you try anything,” he began, but I stopped and glared at him.
“What is it, Travis? What will you do to me that’s worse than kidnapping me and forcing yourself on me? Please tell me!” My heart pounded as I glared at him, angry and scared all at once.
He froze, a look of shock written on his face.
“That’s just what I thought. Either come or don’t come; honestly, I would prefer it if you just went the hell away!” I marched in what I was pretty sure was the right direction, hoping he would get upset and realize I wasn’t worth the effort. But too soon, his footsteps sounded on the hard ground.
“Where did my sweet Molly go?”
“You killed her,” I growled. “First when you made me doubt myself, and then when you criticized my appearance. And finally now, kidnapping me and threatening that sweet little boy. Whatever you do to me, just know that I will never, ever feel anything but contempt for you.” That felt good, but his hand gripped my waist, and I knew that he would see his plan through no matter what.
It was that what that made my stomach flip with dread.
Chapter 28
Colton
“Now that your body is sufficiently tired, I hope your mind is as clear as a bell?” Wyatt flashed a knowing smile my way as we made our way back towards the barn. We’d spent most of the morning fixing up the last of the destroyed fencing at the edge of the property and the rest prepping the bison headed to auction.