Page 94 of Legacy of Lies
Chapter 22
Hank had left her to die.
After he had tied her arms up and left her to stand on tiptoes, dangling by the hook in the middle of the shack, Sara had expected horrible things to occur. She had a good idea what he was capable of as she watched Zach stumble away.
So when he secured her to the roof beam, she anticipated his next move. Would he beat her up? Gut her with a knife? Rape her?
Then he’d left.
Every so often, she caught his muffled voice and crunching footsteps as he paced near the cabin. Each time his voice rose, her heart thudded faster and harder.
Okay, so Hank had lost his mind. Sure, a year ago he’d had an edge to him, but he had acted like a generally decent guy right up until they broke up. Today’s Hank barely resembled that man.
She caught a few muttered words. “Great One” and “make the blade,” but she had no idea what that meant.
Might never know.
Poor Zach. Anything could happen to an eight-year-old. Animals could attack him, leaving him bleeding in the wilderness. What if he fell and broke a leg? To say nothing of hypothermia. Did he lie in the snow now, lost and frozen?
She had to figure out how to get out of here or at least get a message to Garrison.
Or die trying.
Anyone searching wouldn’t know where to look and wouldn’t easily find the trapper shack, especially with the small forest roads quickly becoming impassable in the early winter storm. No one would get to her location until spring.
No need to worry about spring. No way would she last that long.
Garrison would be sick with worry. He’d tear up the countryside looking for his son, but by the time anyone found Zach, it would be too late.
What about her? No one knew that she had gone missing. No one would check up on her tonight.
Her eyes burned. No. She would not break down.
Why not? What would it matter if she lost it and started crying?
It wouldn’t.
God, her arms burned. Her hands had lost circulation a while ago, and her legs quivered with the effort to remain upright. Her cold, numb feet barely touched the ground, and to take pressure off her arms, she had to stand on tiptoes. When her calves cramped and she lowered her heels, her shoulders and arms ached, bearing most of her weight.
Hank might be outside talking and taking a stroll now, but at some point, that would change. She twisted her wrists, trying anything to free herself from the ropes. The cords didn’t budge. Damn.
The muttering outside stopped. Silence.
Footsteps crunched close by, then stopped at the door.
Her heart leapt. Maybe someone had come to get her out of here. Maybe it wasn’t Hank.
The door creaked open.
“Time for some fun.”
His leer lit up his entire face in a sick glow.
• • •
“Come on, Shel. We’ve got to move faster.” When Garrison tensed, his horse shied sideways.
“Lay off, man,” Eric said from the horse behind him. “Whatever she’s doing is hurting her. I can’t believe you’re making your own sister do this.”
