Page 90 of Tempting Fate
The only person she knew for sure was searching for her was Gabe. He was the light at the end of the darkest tunnel she’d ever been forced to walk through. It was odd how the universe worked. She’d come here never expecting more than to celebrate her brother’s wedding, to make amends to the people she’d hurt, and to shut the book on her past. And in walked Gabe Moretti. Even now, she could hear his New Jersey accent.Cawfee. That deep laugh that seemed to reverberate from the bottom of his stomach. And the way he looked at her, really looked. Like she was special, instead of head case Raylene Rosser: self-indulged, backstabbing bitch.
“I say we take one more crack at her,” Stringy said. “If she doesn’t give it up, we move to plan B.”
No one had to tell Raylene what plan B was.
“We don’t have time,” Tiny said. “I say we cut our losses and get the hell out of here.”
In their debate over what to do next, they’d forgotten Raylene, who sat propped up in the folding chair like a punching bag. She moved her legs, an experiment to see if they still worked. Then she tried her arms. The movement made her chest ache something fierce, but she still had a little life left in her and she didn’t want to die. She wanted to welcome Logan and Annie’s baby into the world. She wanted to raise the best cutting horses in California. But most of all, she wanted to tell Gabe that she’d fallen for him. Even if he hadn’t fallen for her, she wanted him to know how she felt. How amazing he was.
While Tiny and the boys continued to fight, Raylene made her move. The gun, which sat on the windowsill across the room, was too far away. But the pickax was within reach, just a few stretches in front of her. All she had to do was lean forward and grab it with both hands.Stretch, she told herself.Stretch.
With her eyes swollen and her head muzzy, it took all her focus and strength to wrap her hands around the wooden shaft, stand up, and swing the pick with all her might. She heard herself let out a primal scream and, like a deranged animal, began launching her attack. Hacking and hammering in wild strokes, blindly bludgeoning anyone in her way. The only goal was to get out. She ran to the door, made it outside and into the sunshine.
Lake. Houses. People. Gabe.
Those were her only thoughts as she stumbled past the brambles that hid the cabin from view. She followed the crude road they’d driven from Dover Trail and ran toward the water.
Lake. Houses. People. Gabe.
It became a silent mantra as she tore through the woods, her body protesting at every step. Her lungs devoid of air, gulping oxygen like it was water to a person dying of thirst. But she could hear them, yelling, chasing after her. They were so close she considered falling on the ground and begging for mercy. No, she wouldn’t let them kill her while she pleaded for her life. Gabe would tell her to keep running…to keep fighting.
She pushed forward, envisioning Harper. Sweet little Harper. Raylene wanted to teach her how to ride. And Lucky and Tawny’s girl, Katie. She wanted to make that donation to Children’s Hospital in their name. And Donna Thurston…she’d miss the witch. What about Cecilia? Raylene would never get to tell her she was sorry face-to-face. Or Jake, for getting up in his grill while she was drunk. And what about one hundred and twenty days sober? She’d never make that milestone.
She heard a twig snap, heavy breathing, and sneakers beating the ground behind her. They were closing in and she had nowhere to go, nowhere to hide. Her lungs felt ready to collapse and her legs were caving beneath her. Dizzy, she was so dizzy. But Gabe was in her head, telling her to keep going.
Go, go, go!
Where was the lake? She couldn’t find the lake. Just lots and lots of trees. And snow and dirt. And then the earth was pulling her down, her body so light it was like floating.
Boom. Boom. Boom, boom, boom.
The blood, there was so much blood. And sleep, blessed sleep.
Chapter 22
Gabe hated hospitals. The smells, the waiting, the sadness. He shifted in his seat, anxious for an update. Four people had had to pull him off that son of a bitch who’d fired at Raylene. The others…all three of them were lucky to be alive. If Rhys hadn’t gotten there when he had, they wouldn’t be.
He wanted them to pay for what they’d done to Raylene. The fact that she’d been able to get away under that kind of duress was nothing short of a miracle.
“She’s going to be fine,” said Clay, who’d been good enough to sit vigil with him while the doctors gave Raylene an MRI and a battery of other tests. “Logan and Annie are on their way home. They’re at the airport, waiting to catch a plane to Reno.”
“Does Rhys know anything about these jokers yet?”
Clay hitched his shoulders. “He’ll get whatever he can.”
A couple came into the waiting room, and Clay got to his feet and introduced Drew and Kristy Matthews. Gabe had maybe met them in passing once or twice, but he didn’t recognize them. Truthfully, all his energy was focused on Raylene.
Drew pumped Gabe’s hand. “How is she?”
“Beat up, but okay. How’s Harper?”
“Better now that she knows Raylene’s safe. We’re deeply indebted to her. What she did for Harper…” He paused, too emotional to continue.
“Ray’s tough.” And she was good as gold. Better than anyone gave her credit for.
“Is there anything we can do?” Kristy took Gabe’s hand in hers. “You name it and we’ll do it. Contact relatives…friends. Anything at all.”
“Her brother and his wife are on their way. I think we’ve got everything covered for now, but thank you.”
