Page 46 of Declan's Hope

9

Hope peeredout the bus’s window at the familiar landscape flashing by. This long, private road off the highway had been one she’d travelled more times than she could count. But of all the destinations she had imagined they might end up, the Sheppard’s house wouldn’t have been one of her choices. She checked her watch, then let her gaze roam over the children—some with their heads down, while others quietly talked to their seat-mates.

What must the other teachers and principal be thinking right now? They should have been back at the school with the other two buses more than forty minutes before, and their lack of arrival would have raised an alarm.

Did the parents know yet? If they did, they had to be sick with worry.

She stuck one hand inside her dress pocket and clutched at her phone, while rubbing her free hand over the side of her face where the man had slapped her. She hadn’t checked to see if she still had the connection to her friend. There hadn’t been a good opportunity. But if Destiny had heard her being hit, she had probably come unglued.

The EPA had to know what had happened by now. Which meant Declan would know too. Not that it would do anyone any good. No one could possibly know where they were headed.

"We’re almost at Mr. Sheppard’s house," she whispered. Maybe someone would hear her.

She dropped her hand and peered out the window again. The bus had made good time—if there could be such a thing in this situation—and now they were topping the rise that would lead them to the small valley and the white house sitting in the midst of it.

What waited on them—on her—with this Salazar person when they finally arrived remained a mystery. She glanced toward the front of the bus, then back out at the house growing closer. Their hosts hadn’t shared. Not knowing what awaited them sent tendrils of fear creeping up her spine. Because whatever it was, she had no illusions it would be anything she would survive. She wasn’t sure how she knew that. She just did. But her fate wasn’t her greatest concern at the moment.

What would happen to the children?

She strained her neck over the tops of the seats to the front window as the bus slowed to a stop beside several vehicles. It looked like she was about to find out.

"You."

Hope took in a shuddering breath and stood at the man’s harshly spoken word.

"Come with me."

Her frantic gaze went over the faces of her class staring at her over the backs of their seats. "Then you’ll let them go? Please?"

The man snarled his nose, then gave her a lascivious grin. "You beg so pretty. Salazar will like hearing you beg." He raked his gaze over the full seats, then she jerked when he yelled, "Get up."

Whimpers and quiet crying filled the bus as she swallowed hard and nodded, then gave the best version of a smile she could. "Okay, class." She cleared her throat. "Everyone stay in your seats. I’ll be back soon."

"Ms. Danford?"

"Yes, Evelyn." The little girl’s face crumpled.

"I want my mommy."

Hope left her place and rushed to the middle of the bus to pull her student from her seat and into her arms. She soon found herself surrounded by more children as they pressed against her as much as the aisle would allow. Her eyes burned with tears as those close enough wrapped their arms around her waist.

"You are all so brave," she whispered on a sniffle, casting her gaze around her at all those sweet, innocent faces.

"So are you," Toby said, as she felt a tug on the back of her dress. She turned her body as much as she could with all the arms keeping her in place. Toby—her most mischievous of students—gave her a look filled with such trust it nearly brought her to her knees.

I’m going to get them out of this. Somehow.

"Suficiente! Move. Now."

Hope gently pulled away from the small hands and arms, then carefully maneuvered through her students and went to the front of the bus, turning to look into each of the twenty-one sets of eyes. "I love all of you." Then she tried to settle her racing heart as she faced the man holding a gun on her. "I’m ready."

"Not yet," the man said on a low chuckle. "But you will be." His features hardened as he motioned with the barrel of his gun for her to depart the bus.

She took one last look at her kids, her heart breaking at the sight of them huddling together—some holding hands while others had their arms around each other in the aisle. Then a bruising grip grabbed her bicep, and her gaze flew up to a different man than before.

"Ven conmigo."

"What?"

---