Page 21 of The Mountain Man's Curvy Bride

"You're mine," Steven growls darkly, his words sharp and possessive. "And you'll learn never to defy me again."

My heart shatters silently within my chest, my mind screaming Wes’s name, desperately hoping he’ll somehow find me before it’s too late.

15

Wes

The chicken sizzles softly in the oven, its comforting aroma wafting through the cabin, but even its familiar warmth isn't enough to dispel the nagging feeling of unease that's begun to settle in the pit of my stomach. I glance again toward the back porch door, expecting Daisy to reappear at any moment with the blankets she'd stepped outside to retrieve. But minutes tick by, each feeling longer and more oppressive than the last.

“Daisy?” I call out gently, my voice slicing through the silence of the kitchen. When there’s no response, the vague unease blooms into something sharper. I wipe my hands hurriedly on a kitchen towel, stepping toward the door as worry claws at my chest.

Just as I reach for the door handle, a faint sound drifts in from outside—a muffled cry that could almost be mistaken for the wind. My heart skips a beat, and I freeze, straining my ears. Was that Daisy's voice? My heart rate accelerates, a spike of adrenaline shooting through my veins, sharpening my senses.

“Daisy!” I call again, louder this time, the urgency unmistakable in my voice. Silence stretches back to me, mocking and cruel.Without hesitation, I yank open the door, stepping onto the back porch. My eyes sweep quickly across the wooden deck, noting the blankets Daisy had come out to retrieve are scattered haphazardly across the ground, one corner dangling off the porch railing.

The sight sends a cold jolt of panic through my chest. “Daisy, where are you?” I shout, stepping rapidly toward the edge of the porch. My breath clouds in front of me as I scan the growing darkness, heart hammering violently against my ribcage. Only the whisper of leaves and distant birdsong reply, the serenity feeling impossibly sinister now.

My gut twists painfully, fear driving me off the porch and into the yard, eyes frantically searching for any trace of Daisy. "Daisy, answer me!" My voice rings out louder, sharp with panic. The lack of response sends a deeper surge of dread coursing through my veins, urging me forward into the shadowed edges of the woods.

With every step I take into the darkness, memories of Steven’s unsettling presence in town flicker through my mind, filling me with a fiery mixture of fear and rage. The thought of him laying his hands on Daisy makes my blood boil with a fury I've never known.

I pause momentarily, forcing myself to calm my breathing, to focus. I strain to hear any sound—footsteps, voices, anything—but all that greets me is silence, thick and oppressive. The twilight shadows deepen around me, trees casting eerie shapes, each rustling leaf making my pulse race faster.

I press on, desperation propelling me forward, my eyes keenly attuned to any small sign of Daisy’s passage. Just beyond the treeline, something catches my eye—a small piece of fabricsnagged on a thorny branch. I reach out with trembling fingers, recognizing the soft texture instantly. It's a torn piece from Daisy's favorite sweater, one she wore earlier today.

My stomach knots violently, nausea twisting through me as reality crashes down hard. Daisy has been taken—abducted right from our home, from under my nose. Rage floods through me, mixing with a profound sense of guilt. How could I have let this happen? How could I have failed to protect her?

“Daisy, hold on!” I roar into the darkness, desperation fueling every word. “I'm coming for you!”

Driven by fierce determination, I push deeper into the woods, branches clawing at my clothes, my boots slipping slightly on damp leaves and uneven terrain. Each step feels too slow, every second passing by like a cruel, ticking clock.

My mind races wildly, envisioning all the terrible things Steven could be capable of. The images threaten to break me, but I grit my teeth, using the anger to keep myself moving forward, more resolved than ever to save Daisy. She's become my everything—the light in my life, the reason I finally opened up my heart again. I won’t lose her.

The forest grows thicker, darker around me, but my senses sharpen, honed by desperation. I stop suddenly, kneeling down to examine the disturbed earth—a clear sign of struggle. Fear pulses sharply through me once more as I trace the faint tracks through the trees. Steven has taken Daisy deeper into the wilderness.

Cold determination surges within me. I won't rest until Daisy is safe, until Steven faces justice. He'll regret the day he ever laid eyes on her again, and nothing will stop me from bringing herhome. My heart thunders with fierce resolve, every beat echoing a promise that Daisy will be safe again, no matter the cost.

16

Daisy

The rough rope binding my wrists cuts painfully into my skin, each bump and sharp turn of the SUV causing me to jostle helplessly on the cold leather seats. My heart pounds relentlessly in my chest, a frantic rhythm of fear and desperation. Tears blur my vision, but I blink rapidly, trying to keep my wits about me. Panicking won't help, but it's nearly impossible to keep calm.

From the driver's seat, Steven’s voice is sharp and bitter, slicing through the suffocating silence of the vehicle. "You thought you could just run from me, Daisy? Did you really think I wouldn't find you?"

I swallow the lump of fear in my throat, attempting to steady my trembling voice. “Steven, please. You have to let me go. This isn't right."

He scoffs harshly, his fingers gripping the steering wheel tighter, knuckles turning white. "Isn't right? You think leaving me—after everything I did for you—is right?"

My stomach churns violently, dread pooling heavily inside me. "You didn't give me a choice," I whisper, my voice cracking despite my efforts to sound strong. "I couldn't live like that anymore."

"You belong to me," he spits, his voice low and dangerous, his gaze shooting daggers at me through the rearview mirror. "You don't get to decide when you leave."

I twist my bound wrists, the ropes biting deeper, sending sharp jolts of pain radiating up my arms. "I’m married now, Steven. Wes is my husband. He'll be looking for me."

The SUV swerves slightly, Steven’s sudden anger causing him to jerk the wheel harshly. He turns his head sharply, his eyes narrowed in fury. "Married? You married someone else?" His voice rises, filled with incredulous rage.

"Yes," I whisper, tears slipping down my cheeks as I force myself to hold his gaze defiantly. "And he loves me."

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