Page 56 of Big Daddy Mountain Man

“The only thing left to do is mop,” she said to the stuffies. “But we don’t do that until closing time.” She hopped up onto the stool behind the register and stared at the door. It was times like this she wished she had a smartphone. Everyone else seemed to scroll social media or text people when they were bored. That might be fun.

Of course, there were advantages to not having one, she thought.

And she’d gotten by just fine all those years. It had been a little inconvenient going to the library anytime she needed to use the internet. But she’d met some cool people that way. That was how she’d even found out about Big Cedar and the Collier place.

Life worked out the way it was supposed to, even without a smartphone, she supposed.

The jingling bell on the door pulled her from her thoughts. “Hello. Welcome,” she said eagerly, ready to make a good impression on whoever the customer was. “Just sit wherever and—” She gasped.

The overhead lights shone off of Donnie’s jagged, wolfish fangs. Standing a bit behind him was T-Rex.

It had been him she’d seen the other day!

Amber opened her mouth to scream. That was the best option. It was a small town. Someone would hear. Right?

But Donnie shook his head as his arm moved. Amber couldn’t see what he was holding until he lifted his hand above the counter and cash register, revealing a small revolver.

“No one runs out on me.”

“How did you?—”

His words were mixed with his arrogant laughter. “You forgot to empty your trashcan.”

Then it hit Amber: she’d left some of the pages she’d printed out from the library.

Not that it mattered now.

Her mind was reeling. Where was Daddy? What about Sheriff Quinn? Screaming might be her best option. Donnie wouldn’t really shoot her. At least, she didn’t think he would.

Yet he had that deranged look in his eyes. She’d personally seen him unhinged one time, beating a guy’s car with a baseball bat. She had no idea what it had been about, but the commotion had taken place in the parking lot as she’d stared down helplessly from her window.

Beating a car was different than shooting a person. Could he stoop to that level?

That look in his eyes told her he could.

“You’re going to come with me,” he continued. “Your home is in Oklahoma City. And you’ll never fucking run out on me again, bitch. Do you understand me?”

Amber tried hard not to break down. She couldn’t stand the thought of leaving her new life in Big Cedar after working so hard to get there. Plus, she couldn’t just leave Sawyer! Daddy was her… everything.

He’d come for her. There was no way on earth he’d just let her go. Sawyer would find her and rescue her from whatever hell Donnie had planned.

Without being too obvious, her hand reached for Honey. She worked quickly under the counter, saying a silent apology she hoped her stuffie could hear.

I’m sorry, Honey. Daddy will fix you again and we’ll be reunited.

She tore the bear’s head off and tossed the two pieces to the floor.

“Get moving, bitch,” Donnie growled.

“I’m… c-coming.”

Donnie and T-Rex both laughed, apparently finding it comical that she was so scared her voice was trembling.

We’ll see how funny you find it when Daddy kicks your asses,she thought.

She walked around the counter, praying the entire time that someone would come in the diner.

But the door stayed closed.

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