Chapter 25

They had ridden for hours around the area and had found nothing. The tracks had led to the lake farther south and then ended. They crossed the water, hoping to pick up the tracks again, but hadn't been able to. Jarrod suggested they stop and give the horses a bit of rest. Heath nodded in agreement, an unspoken message passing between the brothers that the rest was more for Nick than the horses. Night was falling and it would be dark soon, making it harder to find any clues as to where David had taken Emma.

Nick sat down heavily on a fallen log, rubbing his head. He was trying to calm himself down but knew something terrible was happening to Emma. He could feel it. He refused to believe the unthinkable: that she was dead. He knew she wasn't. She couldn't be. Heath pulled out some jerky and passed it over to Jarrod and Nick. They ate it and then Nick stood. He was ready to move on again.

They continued to search around the lake for a while, trying to pick up some tracks, but there was nothing. Nick was becoming increasingly frustrated. They rode on, staying near the shore of the lake and finally Jarrod spotted them. Horse tracks. They were recent and were leading toward the old Kyles place. It was really nothing more than a rundown shack anymore. No one had lived in it for years. Nick led the way, a determined look on his face. When he got his hands on David Myers, he would kill him with his bare hands.

Emma sat up in bed, rubbing her stinging cheek. She didn't need a mirror to see that her eye was almost swollen shut. David had hit her pretty hard. How long had she been unconscious? she wondered. When she looked down, she noticed that her pants were unbuttoned and pulled down slightly, her shirt was open and her camisole pulled up, partially exposing her chest. She closed her eyes, refusing to believe anything had happened. She would have known. She wasn't out for that long. Panic was starting to seize her, and she felt as though she was going to be ill. She refused to give David the pleasure of seeing her react that way.

Emma got up from the bed quietly and fixed her clothes. She hoped he wouldn't know she was awake yet. She looked out the window and saw that the sun had set, and it was dark outside. The moon was only a quarter full so there wasn't much light.

Emma closed her eyes and thought of Nick. She prayed that he was well. She also prayed that he would find her. She had no idea where she was or how far from the ranch she had been taken.

"Oh, Nick. Please find me. Save me. Please be okay."

Nick looked at the moon, not for the first time tonight wishing it were full. His heart beat faster as they neared the run down shack.

Jarrod, Heath, and Nick watched the small cabin from some distance away. There was a light burning in the one window in the front of the cabin. Heath quietly made his way around to the back and saw another window. There was a light on there as well but he couldn't see in as it was covered with grime. He was making his way around to the other side when he spotted Coco. The horse had been tied up near a tree. Heath whispered to him and the horse nuzzled his nose against Heath's hand. He untied him as quietly as possible and led him away.

Nick saw his horse, thankful that he was alive and unharmed, but seeing him also meant his wife was nearby.

"Did you see anything?" Nick whispered.

"Just Coco. There's a light on in the room toward the back too."

"You know, we don't have any proof that they're in there," Jarrod said.

Heath and Nick looked at him like he was crazy.

"What about Coco?!" Nick said in frustration.

"Nick, I agree that it is likely David and Emma are in that cabin, but we don't have proof."

Heath hated to admit it, but Jarrod could be right. Nick was about to argue further when the front door opened. Out stepped David Myers, himself. Nick was seething with anger and it took all his self-control to keep from charging the man. Jarrod and Heath both felt the way Nick tensed up at seeing the man who was smoking on the front porch and knew in an instant it was David.

Heath leaned over and whispered to Jarrod, "Need any more proof?"

Jarrod shook his head. Nick's response was proof enough for him. Now they needed a plan.

Emma pushed on the window, seeing if it would open. It was stuck from not having been used in who knew how long, but it was starting to give a little. As she had examined it further, she decided she might be able to squeeze through. It would be difficult, but she had to try. She heard the front door open and stopped what she was doing. Had David walked outside or was he coming inside? She waited a moment and then began working on the window again. It refused to budge any further. She wanted to cry but wouldn't allow the tears to come. If she started crying, she wouldn't be able to stop.

When David had walked outside, he couldn't help but think everything was going according to plan. He was glad he had found this cabin. He thought back on his time spent with Emma. It was definitely time well spent. She was as beautiful as he had imagined. He wondered what she would think when she awoke and noticed her clothing. He smiled sadistically and flicked the cigarette away. By now they should have found the horse and be searching frantically for Emma. He loved imagining Nick Barkley sick with worry. Unless the hit on his head had been too much for him and he'd died. No, David made sure he didn't hit him that hard. Killing Nick wasn't part of his plans...yet.

Nick watched David go back inside. Heath had gone around back again to try and get a look in the window. Jarrod had taken a position near where Heath had found Coco in case David tried to make an escape.

Nick laid his hand on his gun, ready to move in. It killed him to not know what was going on inside, but Heath promised if he saw Emma in there in immediate danger, he would fire off a shot and Nick would go in. Nick inched closer, moving slowly. His head pounded but he refused to acknowledge the pain. He ran to hide behind the well and waited a moment to get his bearings. Then, he eased his way onto the small porch. He knew this shack was not in the best of conditions and hoped he wouldn't hit a squeaky board. He heard a noise inside, like a door opening and then he heard someone talking. He stopped for a moment to hear if he could make out what was being said.

"Well, well, my love. Are you feeling okay? What a nasty bruise," Emma listened as David said all of this sarcastically. She stood up and moved away from the bed. She didn't want to be anywhere near it with David in the room.

"Not speaking to me? Well, we'll change that," David grabbed for Emma and she tried to move out of his way. He caught hold of her hair and dragged her toward the bed, her head hitting the bedpost. The next thing she knew, David was on top of her and he was holding her hands up above her head. Things began to go black again when she heard a gunshot. Her last memory was of Nick charging into the room.