Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 63956 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 320(@200wpm)___ 256(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63956 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 320(@200wpm)___ 256(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
“I can’t run anymore!”
“If you don’t be quiet, I’m going to strangle you,” Cade threatened.
Bending over, he tossed her over his shoulder and kept running. Jane ignored her own exhaustion, trying to keep up as best she could.
She didn’t know how long they ran before they stopped to rest. Jane was relieved, uncertain how much farther she could have gone.
“We’ll rest here for a few minutes then leave. We need to get as far as we can while it’s dark.
Jane took a drink from the bottled water she had in her backpack. Thank God she had been smart enough to pick it up before running away from the soldier she had stabbed. She then passed it to Bailey who took deep gulps of the precious liquid.
“Don’t drink it all,” Cade said, taking the water away.
“I’m still thirsty,” she complained.
“This water may have to last us awhile.” He took a small sip for himself before closing it.
“That’s not enough,” Jane protested.
“It’s enough for now.” He got back to his feet. “Let’s get going.”
This time, Bailey walked. She was slower, but at least she was carrying her own weight.
It was still dark when they found an abandoned RV riddled with bullet holes next to a small pond.
“Am I dreaming?” Jane asked as Cade cautiously scouted out the deserted area.
“No. It must have belonged to someone transporting illegals or drugs. They used it because of the water”—he pointed to the pond—“and it’s secluded. We should be able to hide out here for the day. It doesn’t look like anyone’s been here for a while.”
Jane investigated the RV. It had been ransacked, with nothing left behind. There was a thin mattress lying on the floor. Jane was forgetting what it was like to sleep in a normal bed.
She turned the mattress over, seeing it looked somewhat cleaner on that side.
“Go ahead and lie down, Bailey.”
Her sister lay down without offering her thanks. She didn’t even move over so Jane could lie down, even though there was room. Jane’s shoulders sank as she turned away, laying down her backpack on the floor and using it as a pillow.
When Cade returned, he paused in the doorway, taking in the difference in the girls’ positions. Jane saw his lips tighten.
“Come lie next to me,” Bailey offered Cade the spot next to her.
“Jane, go lie down with your sister. I’ll take the floor.”
As Jane got off the floor and went to lie uncomfortably next to her sister while Cade lay on the floor, she felt Bailey’s anger through the darkness. Jane didn’t have time to wonder at her sister’s behavior, though. She was too tired. She fell asleep, clinging to the side of the mattress to give Bailey more room.
* * *
Bright sunlight woke her. Jane’s aching fingers released her grip on the mattress. As she looked around the small trailer, she saw she was alone. Jane was frightened until she heard her sister’s voice from outside. Stiffly, she climbed off the mattress and went to the door of the trailer.
Cade and Bailey were sitting next to each other by the pond talking. Jane had seen that look on women’s faces too many times not to know what it meant. Her sister was attracted to Cade. She was looking up at him beneath lowered lashes, smiling at him flirtatiously.
Jane felt her stomach sink. Her sister always managed to snare any man she wanted, and now she had definitely picked Cade as her replacement for Raul now that she realized the chances of them getting back together were nil.
Jane walked forward, hearing them talk about Bailey’s visit to Europe.
“You’ll have to visit when we get out of here,” she was saying.
“I’ll think about it,” Cade answered noncommittally.
“I thought we would have left by now,” Jane interrupted.
Cade shrugged. “If we move out in the open, they’ll see us for sure. If we wait here, we can leave when it gets dark. We’re close enough to the boarder to make a run for it if we hear any vehicles approaching.”
Bailey jumped to her feet. “Do you think it would be possible to take a quick dip if I hurry? I feel filthy in these clothes.”
“Go ahead. I’ll keep an eye out. Just don’t take long.” Cade stood up, brushing the dirt off his pants.
Jane was shocked at her sister’s behavior when she didn’t wait for Cade to turn his back before she started stripping off her clothes. She wanted to smack her sister as she waded in naked, taking her time before lowering her body into the water.
Cade made no pretense of not watching, and Jane couldn’t blame him. Her sister had large breasts and a small waist that flared out to curvy hips. She had shaved her pussy, which highlighted her long, golden legs. Bailey had not had anything to do for the last few weeks except sunbathe while her family worried about her.