AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I rushed toward the sound, pausing at the doorway. “The rain stopped. The sun is even out in the sky.”
He was sitting on the couch, a random book from the shelf in his lap. Wade looked up at me, his gray eyes unbothered by my excitement. “And there’s a thunderstorm warning already issued starting in two hours, so I guess enjoy it while it lasts. It’ll be raining before you know it.”
“Okay, so?” I let out a sigh, sitting beside him on the tiny couch. “We can make it a long way in just a couple of hours. We could almost be in town or something. I could find a hotel. I think I have enough for—”
He cut me off by holding up his hand. “Right, but a couple of hours isn’t enough for the floodwaters to recede. We’re flooded in right now—and it’s an eight mile walk to the ranch house from here. I don’t know how the hell we can manage that. There’s no point in trying to make it to town. It’s even further to get there.”
“Two hours is plenty of time to make it eight miles. That’s only four miles an hour, and if we get stuck in a little rain, we’ll be fine.” My chest was bursting with hope, seeing a chance at getting out of the shitty situation. I still had to figure out what I was going to do about a vehicle, and there was a good chance that Leia was probably starting to worry about my well-being.
“I don’t think you understand,” he grimaced, his jaw tensing. “There’s no reason for us to leave right now. Besides, I’m sure that the power will be back on soon. We’ll be able to charge our phones, and make a proper fucking plan to get out of here.”
A frustrated grunt slipped from my throat. “That could bedaysfrom now. There’s no way that the downed power pole here at this cabin is going to be anyone’s concern. They’re not going to care.”
“Okay, so we’ll just wait.” He shrugged, picking his book back up and opening it. “There’s plenty of food in the pantry. We can last another couple of weeks if we have to.”
“You’re kidding, right?” I gasped, my mouth dropping open. “There’s no way inhellI am staying in this god-forsaken cabin with you for another two weeks. I can’t even shower.”
“I thought that you were fine with those kinds of primitive living conditions?” He chuckled, not looking up from the pages.
“Yeah, sure, but not withyou,” I groaned, my head falling to my hands. I sat there for a minute, thinking through what he was saying. He was seriously planning to wait until the power came back on...
And that wouldreallychange this bump in the road to a damn sinkhole.
There was no way that I could do it.
“Just relax and go find something to do,” he grunted, shaking his head. “We’re not going anywhere.”
My annoyance shifted to irritation. “Where is the closest house to here?” I demanded, standing to my feet. “There has to be somewhere not that far.”
“Uh, probably a solid five miles down the gravel road to the west. That’s the closest I know of.” He was still focused on his stupid book, hardly paying any attention to what I was saying.
“Perfect, I’ll go there.” I pushed myself to my feet, took a deep breath, and stepped toward the bedroom.
“I wouldn’t try it if I were you.” He chuckled, the tone of his voice grating my nerves even further—he was finding this whole thing to be humorous.
“And why not, Wade?” I snapped, folding my arms across my chest. “Why don’t you put that freaking book down and actually pay attention? I’m leaving today, whether you like it or not.”
He let out a groan, setting his book back down on his lap with athud.“Really, Cheyenne? The last time you had it in your head that you were leaving, it didn’t work out so great, and this time, if you go, I’m not going to come looking for you.”
I gritted my teeth, trying not to lose my shit right there on him. “Great observation, so tell me why it’s not a good idea to go to the house five miles down the gravel road.”
“Dakota Gilliam is not someone that you want to go barging in on. He’s a two time felon, and he just recently got out for second degree murder of his ex-wife. I don’t think I would go rattling that cage. Probably wouldn’t go over well.”
I cringed, the little hope I had draining from my chest. “Fair enough. Maybe that way isn’t the right one, but if I start walking to town, I’m bound to come acrosssomeonewho can give me a lift.”
“So you think being a random hitchhiker, and relying on a random stranger, is an alternate plan? You can’t seriously think that.” He was looking more and more irritated as the conversation continued.
But it wasn’t stopping me.
“I’m getting out of this fucking cabin today, Wade. There’s no point in staying here and being miserable until the power comes back on. We’re both capable adults, and you said there are no tornados in the forecast as of right now, so why wouldn’t we just go ahead and go?”
“Uh, did you not hear me mention theflooding?” he barked back at me, his eyes darkening with anger. “If we go strutting off through the damn pasture like this, I can’t guarantee that we aren’t going to get caught in hellacious, dangerous flood waters. I’m not going todiejust so you can get on the road sooner.”
“You’re just scared,” I shot back at him, my eyes narrowing. “I heard you on the phone the other day—there’s some sort of bridge. I mean, what’s the worst-case scenario? We have to turn around and come back? We get caught in a thunderstorm? It wouldn’t be the first time,butif we can make it, then you don’t have to deal with me anymore, and I don’t have to deal with you.”
“Ah, sothat’swhat it is, isn’t it, Cheyenne?” He threw his hands up into the air. “You just want to get away from me.”
“Ohplease.” I rolled my eyes. “You can’t seriously sit here and tell me that you want to spend another two weeks with me here. I do nothing but annoy you. You’ve made it perfectly clear. Now can youpleasereconsider leaving this miserable fucking cabin?”
