No Ordinary Day , Tate, Harley [ebook offline .TXT] 📗

and they had put the family and the compound far behind. As they crested a small embankment, John called out. “Tank, come.”

The dog trotted back to his side as he slid down the sloping earth to land hard on his butt in a dry creek bed. He sucked in a lungful of air. The trees spun. Don’t you pass out, you wimp.

He turned and gingerly lifted his sweater. With two fingers, he examined the wound. The bullet had entered from the rear, grazing at least one rib before exiting the front, no more than half an inch shy of his major abdominal muscles. He exhaled in relief and pain shot through his side. No major arteries or organs impacted.

John shrugged the sweater off, wincing at the pain before following up with his T-shirt. Using his teeth, he ripped the shirt into strips, tying each one together before wrapping the makeshift bandage around his middle. He tied as tight as he dared, impeding his breathing, but slowing down the blood loss.

It wasn’t perfect, but it might get him to a town and necessary supplies. He pulled the sweater back on and hoisted himself up to stand. His vision dimmed, but he stayed upright. “All right, Tank. Let’s find the closest town. We need to patch me up.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

Emma

Holly sobbed as Emma tore through the woods, the old Buick bottoming out in every divot.

“We have to go back for John,” Holly exclaimed, twisting around to stare out into the darkening forest.

“We can’t.” The revolver lay in Emma’s lap as she steered with two hands and an iron grip. Her heart refused to slow, no matter how much distance she put between them and the compound. “If we go back there, it’s suicide.”

Holly hugged her knees to her chest on the passenger seat. “I can’t believe they were going to shoot you. All we did was walk through the woods.”

Emma agreed. “At least we escaped.”

“What about Tank?”

Emma pressed her lips together. “I motioned to John, showed him where they took him. Let’s hope he can rescue him.”

“And then what? John doesn’t know where we’re going! John doesn’t know how to find us!” Holly’s voice edged into panic, but Emma pressed on.

“Maybe it’s for the best. John can have Tank and we can be safe.”

Holly turned on her, red eyes full of tears and anger. “How can you say that? John saved your life. And you want to leave him in the dust? Tank, too?” She fell back against the seat. “Maybe I should’ve stayed with Gil and Irma or on my own at home. Sure beats this.”

Emma winced. Holly was right. Making the decision to take Holly with her was naïve and premature. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know something like this would happen.”

Holly sniffed.

“As soon as we find a road, we can find out where we are. Try to make it to Gloria’s.”

They drove on, silence stretching out as Emma searched for evidence of civilization. After what seemed like forever, the trees thinned, revealing an asphalt road. Emma hesitated. The trees blocked the sky, and without the sun she couldn’t tell north from south. Emma turned left and hoped for the best. After half an hour of aimless driving, they entered what appeared to be a small town, unrecognizable in the dark. She turned to Holly.

“I can’t navigate from here. I think we need to find somewhere to hide the car and get some sleep.”

Holly rubbed her eyes. “Are you sure that’s the safest thing?”

“To be honest, I’m not sure of anything anymore, but what other choice do we have?” Emma drove through the quiet town and turned into a parking lot for a strip mall. She eased behind the building, taking up a space dedicated to deliveries. A dumpster shielded them from the road and any passersby. It was as good a place as any. Emma locked the doors and reclined the seat, ensuring the revolver stayed easily accessible beside her.

Unable to fully relax, she dozed throughout the night. Holly shifted in the passenger seat, moaning and mumbling before rolling over. The hours crawled. When enough daylight spread to read the road signs without headlights, Emma started the car.

Holly woke as they drove, running her hands over her face and pushing back her hair. “Any ideas where we are?”

Emma turned onto the next road and sat up straighter in the driver’s seat. She pointed at the grocery store. “I remember this place. Gloria shops here for the cabin.”

“Can you get us there from here?”

Emma thought it over. “I hope so.” She turned into the parking lot and stopped to get her bearings. “If we head east from here, into the wildlife management area, we should be able to pick up the forest road with any luck.” Emma navigated out of the parking lot and down the undivided, two-lane highway heading away from civilization and back into the forest. At an abandoned church building, she turned left onto a gravel road, excitement building in her chest. “Not long now.”

Holly shifted to stare out the windows as they bumped past a small cabin tucked into the trees and what appeared to be a shuttered barn and turned onto an unmarked dirt road. “Are you sure this is right? We’re in the middle of nowhere.”

Emma nodded, confidence building every mile. “Just up ahead.” Emma slowed again and turned onto a smaller, rutted dirt road. Holly grabbed the door to hold on as the car bounced and bumped over rocks and dips. Half a mile down, Emma stopped at a red metal gate. She motioned to Holly “Pop out and undo that chain, will you? This is it.” She grinned. “This is the start of Gloria’s property.”

Holly practically ran from the car, hurriedly moving the chain and swinging the gate wide before Emma drove through. She waited for Holly to close up the gate before heading up the steep gravel drive. They emerged on a plateau where a small cabin perched in a clearing.

Before