19

Blood oozed from Paul’s ankles now as well as from his wrists. He’d been struggling against the chains at every opportunity, hoping to loosen them in some way.

Time was running out.

When she’d decided he’d suffered enough, she’d probably kill him and nobody would ever know. It wasn’t just the dying that bothered him, it was leaving Maven and Vickie without them ever knowing what happened to him.

Not to mention he needed to protect his grandchild from that woman.

Exhausted, Paul stopped struggling. Those chains weren’t coming off, no matter what he did. Time to come up with a new plan.

His gaze moved around the room. A rake leaned against the wall. If he could get to it, then he might be able to use the tines as a key for the padlock on the chains. What a ridiculous idea. There must be more drugs in his system than he realized.

But he could use the rake as a weapon. He didn’t want to hurt her, but he would do what he had to do to get free. To see Maven again. To marry her.

His mouth was so dry. It was time to drink the water. Of course, maybe he could just take a sip. He lifted the bottle to his lips. The cool wetness was wonderful. When he moved it away, it was empty. It wouldn’t be long before the drugs took effect.

He crawled towards the rake. When the chains wouldn’t let him move any farther, he stretched out his arms. Not even close. He was so tired…he strained as he reached again. So tired…

A noise penetrated his drug-induced fog.

A car motor?

She was back. It seemed as if she’d just left. Maybe this was it? Time for her to get rid of him. He looked around for a weapon. He wouldn’t die without fighting. He looked at the crate she always placed his food and water on. Why hadn’t he thought of it as a weapon before? He might be able to…so tired…the drugs were…

Voices—as in plural. Who was she talking to?

He strained to make out the words. He wasn’t even sure if the other voice was a man or a woman. Was the other person part of Freda’s delusional plan to make him pay for being alive when her daughter was not?

Was it Alicia? Maybe he could make her understand what was going on. Talk her into going for help.

It didn’t matter who was out there.

He had to take the chance.

****

Maven was walking towards the barn when she heard a noise.

Freda on a golf cart. Waving, the woman shut off the motor. “My goodness, Maven. What are you doing here? Levi said some woman was looking for me. I can’t believe he sent you out here. No one ever comes out here anymore.”

“I was looking for you. And for a phone. I was talking with Vickie when mine went dead. She found Alicia, but I couldn’t get any details.”

Freda’s eyes widened in surprise and it took a moment for her to speak. “She did? Is she OK? Does she know anything about Paul?”

“I don’t know. That’s when my phone decided to die. I didn’t get any details.”

“My goodness, we better get back to the house and call her right away.”

“Yes, let’s do that. I thought if I tracked you down, you’d have a cell phone.” Maven’s voice lifted in inquiry.

“No, no, I left it on the counter at home.” Freda put a hand on Maven’s arm. “Let’s hurry.”

“What was that?” Maven turned, listening.

“What was what?”

“I thought I heard a voice yelling.”

“I didn’t hear anything.” She laughed. “Except a cow. They can be quite noisy at times. That must have been what you heard.”

“It didn’t sound like a cow. More like a person.”

“I suppose so to a layman. Well, let’s get up to the house and call Vickie. We need to know what she found out. If Alicia can help us find Paul, we don’t want to be dawdling down here. Listening to the cows.”

“Good idea. I’ll meet you there.” Maven walked back to her car.

Freda waved at her, but didn’t move towards her golf cart.

Maven slid into her car, then turned it around. The old, dilapidated barn was in front of her. It was still used for animals? Why else would there be cows in it? But the Amish man had said it was the old barn. Maven had thought that meant it wasn’t used anymore.

It sure didn’t look like it could be. It would be dangerous for animals to even be in it.

Maven drove down the dirt road.

In the rearview mirror, the golf cart took the shortcut to the house.

Cows had never sounded like a person’s voice.

Maven continued down the bumpy road.

Paul had been missing the past few weeks.

Freda had only been coming to the old barn for the past few weeks.

Vickie had admitted Freda had been upset Paul was remarrying. Freda had told her about a woman stalking Paul. To throw her off of the truth? It seemed crazy. Was Freda behind Paul’s disappearance? Why would she do something like that? Surely not.

Maven’s gaze flicked to the rearview mirror. No golf cart in sight. It was crazy to think that Paul’s mother-in-law had something to do with his disappearance. She put the car in reverse and backed up. She jumped out of the car and ran towards the barn. “Paul. Paul. Are you here?” Her heart thumped.

“In the milk house.”

Stunned, her feet stopped moving. She hadn’t actually expected an answer. She’d thought it was just her overactive imagination. She rushed towards the little concrete building and flung the door open.

Paul was sitting on the floor, chained and handcuffed.

“Paul. Thank You, God. Oh…Paul. ” She ran to him. “Are you OK?”

“The key to the handcuffs and chain…hanging on the door. Hurry. We need to get out of here. Before she comes back.”

His words propelled her forward. She grabbed the keys, then rushed back.”You’re bleeding.”

“Trying to get away. Doesn’t matter now. We need to hurry.”

After unlocking his chains and handcuffs, Paul stood up. Or tried to, but his legs collapsed. “You have to help me. I haven’t stood upright in a long time.”

“Put your arms around my shoulder. Let’s go.”

Maven ignored the pain in her back as the two made their way towards the door. Too slow, but she couldn’t hurry him. Paul could barely stand. Finally, they made it to the door. As she opened it, her heart skipped a beat.

Freda walked towards them with a shotgun in her hand. “Well, isn’t this a pretty picture.”