Page 27 of Big Daddy Mountain Man

If anything, it seemed the vehicle was picking up speed.

“What’s going on?” Amber cried, the terror and panic evident in her voice.

“I think the damn gas pedal is catching,” Sawyer said. “Hold on!”

He leaned down the best he could in the confined space, desperately grabbing for the pedal. All the while, the pace picked up and the world started flying by even faster.

“Sawyer!” Amber screamed.

Jerking his head up, he cursed bitterly as he saw the quickly approaching tree. He jerked the wheel and turned the pickup around. As fast as it was going now, the vehicle nearly went up on one side, causing Amber to scream.

“It’s okay. We’re going to be fine,” he yelled over the angrily growling engine.

The truck rocked violently as it went over several holes, slamming its occupants forward and then back several times. Sawyer stuck out his arm to act as a barrier, protecting Amber from hitting the windshield just in case the old seatbelt failed her.

Thankfully, it held.

That wouldn’t do much good if they crashed into a tree, though. Not at the rate of speed they were now going. He had to pry the gas pedal loose.

With a bit of space now before they got to more trees, he said, “If we’re going to crash, turn the wheel! I’ve got to get this pedal.”

Leaning down again, his fingers grasped the pedal and he began to pry it free. Grunting, he put some more strength behind it and finally got it.

“I’ve got a plan,” he said, sitting up again.

The truck was no longer gaining speed, but it was still traveling plenty fast and the brakes hadn’t changed their mind about not working. So, Sawyer aimed the vehicle toward the road, sending it past the cabin.

“But the road is this way!” Amber called.

“So is this big hill,” he replied, turning the wheel to the right.

The road veered up a steep slope and the truck went with it. For a few yards, anyway. Soon, the incline was more than the truck could take without getting fresh fuel injected into the motor. He put it in neutral. It was only a few seconds before it started sliding back down the hill, rolling backwards.

The pickup finally came back to where the ground leveled out and came to a gradual stop, signaling the harrowing ordeal was over.

“You did it!” Amber cheered while clapping her hands.

Sawyer breathed a sigh of relief and said, “Hop out before the demons infesting this thing decide to take us on another ride.”

Amber laughed. Sawyer didn’t find anything very funny. Not funny at all, actually.

And it was all he could do not to open the back tail gate, sit down, and pull the naughty Little over his knee for a good sound spanking.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Amber felt as if she might start crying at any moment.

“Do you even have a driver’s license?” Sawyer asked.

They were standing in front of the cabin now, the truck having been put back in the barn with Amber behind the wheel and Sawyer pushing it. That ride had been much more peaceful. For her, at least.

“Well, no, Sir. I don’t,” she replied.

“Do you know how to drive?” he continued.

She swallowed the lump in her throat, shifted on her feet, and said, “Sort of. I, eh, had driver’s ed back in high school.”

She watched as Sawyer ran a hand through his black hair and shook his head.

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