Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 100226 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100226 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
“Copy that,” I say into my radio. I’m relieved that the horse is fine, but what in the fucking hell is going on?
I’m riding along the east border and notice that there’s a spot in the fence that needs mending. She might have come through here. It’s not far from the creek, and it would make a good passageway from the Wild ranch onto mine.
Suddenly, something has the hairs on the back of my neck standing up, and I stop the horse, cocking my ear, listening.
The sound of the creek might have drowned it out, but then I hear…singing.
I’m off my horse in a flash. “Millie? MILLIE?”
“Holden!”
Relief like I’ve never felt washes through me, almost bringing me to my knees, but then she shouts something that sends a chill through me.
“BE CAREFUL! DON’T FALL!”
I stop moving, my hands out wide as I frantically search the ground.
“Fall where?”
“In this huge hole I’m in!”
With my heart in my throat, I turn in a circle, and then I see it. Over by an old fence, a big hole in the ground, and I sprint over to it and lie on my stomach, staring down, relieved to see my wife staring up at me with wide, wild eyes.
“Oh, thank God.” She starts to cry, and I’ve never felt so helpless in my life.
“Millie.” My voice is firm, and I don’t know how I’m keeping it together, except that I need her to focus so I can get her out of there. “Listen to me. Listen to me, baby girl.”
She gulps and swallows, her eyes never leaving my face.
“It’s getting dark,” she cries.
“I know, but I’m here now, and we’re going to get you out of there. Are you hurt?”
“My ankle.” She stands and winces. “I sprained my ankle. Otherwise, I’m just freaked out. Get me the hell out of this pit, husband.”
I unclip the radio from my belt and bring it to my mouth.
“Holden here. I have her, but she’s fallen into a hole, and I don’t think I can pull her out myself. It’s deep and muddy.”
The soft ground beneath me starts to shift, and I’m terrified that it’ll collapse onto her, so I scramble back.
“Don’t you dare leave me!”
“I’m right here,” I tell her. “I’m not leaving.”
I swallow hard and keep talking into the walkie.
“We’re just over the property line, about ten yards in, roughly a mile north of the old gold mine. Over.”
“Brady here,” the response comes. “Roger that. We saw her there earlier and know where you are. We’ll all meet you there. Over.”
“I need Blake for a sprained ankle. Over.”
“Blake here, I’m on my way. Over.”
“Everyone on the Lexington side is headed your way, too. Over.” That is Levi’s voice, and I’m relieved to know that the cavalry is coming our way.
I approach the hole from a different angle and look down.
“If I reach down, can you grab my hand?”
“I can’t jump,” she says, starting to look panicked. “Holden, I need you to get me out of here.”
“If you can’t jump, I can’t pull you out.” Jesus, she’s starting to shake even harder, and her face crumples. I need to get to her, to comfort her.
So, I do the only thing I can think of and jump down with her.
“Holy fuck.” She wraps herself around me, desperately shaking, unable to catch her breath. “I didn’t know you had booby traps set on this property, h-husband.”
“Neither did I.” Grimly, I take her dirty face in my hands and plant my lips on hers. I can’t stop touching her, running my hands over her to make sure she’s really okay. “Baby, listen to me.”
“Oh, my God.” She’s moving right into a panic attack, so I lean my forehead to hers.
“Millie. Look at me. I’m here, my love. I’m right here, and you’re okay. We’re gonna get out of here. Take a deep breath.”
With her eyes on mine, she pulls air into her lungs. Tears continue to fall down her cheeks, leaving trails in the dirt on her skin, and it’s enough to break my damn heart.
“But now we’re both stranded down here.”
“No, everyone’s coming. They’ll help me get you out of here. I just couldn’t stay up there while you had a meltdown. It’s better if we have a meltdown together.”
“Were you scared, too?”
“I’ve never been that terrified in my fucking life.” Wrapping my arms around her, I hold on tight. “I’ll never let you go again. Jesus, Millie.”
We’re ankle-deep in mud from the rain, and I don’t like the way the side leans in, as if it wants to give way at any moment.
If that happens, we’re fucked.
“How did you find me?” Her face is pressed to my chest, and she’s holding on to me desperately, as if I might disappear, leaving her down here to fend for herself.
“We spotted Betty wandering around.” I fill her in on the last two terrifying hours of my life, and when I’ve finished, she’s clinging to me even harder. “Betty’s safe in the barn. Jesus Christ, I’m so sorry, my love. I never should have let you go by yourself.”