Move. I have to get out of sight. Did it really matter if Statler learned she’d seen him shoot the General in cold blood? With his nemesis gone, he’d kill her now for sure.
“Thought you could kill me with that pea shooter?” the General said just as Sarah managed to move out of sight.
What? The General was alive? She’d seen Statler shoot him in the chest. As much as she wanted to peek again, she didn’t dare.
“Why aren’t you dead?” Statler asked. Sarah had never heard the man sound so shocked or fearful before.
“Two can play at your game.”
She didn’t know what that meant, but seconds later, claws scraped against the dirt floor and growls emitted.
Wanting to watch the death match, she twisted her head to the side and looked under the cart. Crap. She couldn’t tell which wolf was which, though it seemed as if the wolf with gray sprinkled throughout his fur was winning. Could that be the General? In his human form, he had gray hair.
A yelp came from one of them and the darker of the two wolves lifted his front paw. As she waited to see the next attack, the strong odor of sulfur forced her to find its source. Holy shit. A flame was traveling along a straight path toward her. Her stomach churned and bile race up her mouth.
With Statler busy fighting the General, Sarah had to chance escaping, though how she’d make it past them and out the door was anyone’s guess, especially with her ankles tied together. She might not be able to walk, but perhaps she could hop, assuming she could keep her balance. She rose to her knees, but without the use of her hands, standing would be a challenge. Needing support, she leaned her back against the barn wall. With her shoulder, she inched her way upward. About three feet above the ground, the slat she was pressing against cracked and moved. She stilled.
Then an idea surfaced. Sarah dropped to the ground again and kicked the broken slat hard. It splintered. Yes!
As she lifted her legs to kick again, a stream of fire slid under the cart a few feet from the wall. Hurry!
Smoke billowed around the edges and her throat clogged. With the gag in her mouth, she was losing strength fast.
Keep kicking the wall.
Sarah’s vision blurred and her head swam, but she pictured her two men, and a trickle of strength returned. She jammed her feet against the weak board again, and the slat broke free. Just as she flipped over to assess the size of the hole, more wood cracked and her heart sputtered. The growls and cries from the fight going on behind her would hopefully cover the ripping of the boards.
Suddenly, Riley’s face peered in at her through the broken wall, and tears of joy streamed down her face. The large gash at his throat had her sobering. As much as she wanted him to seek some first aid, knowing him, Riley wouldn’t until she was free. Her love bloomed.
A second set of hands belonging to Jay tore off another board. They were both there. This was too good to be true.
Riley held up a finger to his lips as if to tell her not to make any noise. She nodded as he half-lifted, half-dragged her through the hole in the wall. Seconds later the gag disappeared as did all of the restraints. She wanted to hug both of them and kiss them everywhere, but they’d insist they needed to get out of there. Smoke poured from the hole and flames licked their way a few feet away.
“Can you walk?” Jay whispered.
“I’ll try.” The men helped her up. She’d taken no more than two steps when the scrambling and growls disappeared from around front. “What happened?”
Riley wrapped an arm around her waist. “I think Statler’s men lost.”
She hoped that was true.
“I’ll check around front to be sure,” Jay said. He then took off.
Sarah faced Riley. “Statler shot the General in the heart, but he continued to fight. How was that possible?” The drugs must have made her see things.
“I don’t know. Maybe he wore a vest.”
She’d seen blood—or had it come from a packet? Now wasn’t the time to discuss theatrics. Riley led her farther away from the building.
Just as they rounded the corner, Jay returned. “It’s safe. Our men are heading into the barn.”
She grabbed his hand. “I know how much taking down Statler means to you. Do you want to go in and help?”
He smiled. “You are an amazing women, but you’re more important to me than a grudge. If the General needs help, I’m sure Ford and Tyson will lend a hand.”
Her knees buckled and she sagged against Riley. A second later, he swooped her up in his arms. “Let’s get you home.”
* * *
Statler was a better fighter than Armand had expected, but he wasn’t good enough to win this fight. The shot to the chest had taken its toll and had given Statler the advantage, but only until Armand had time to recover. It didn’t help that he was worried about Sarah. The flames were licking their way up the cart and the air was making it hard to breathe. When he’d heard the boards crack, he glanced over. That moment of distraction allowed Statler to gouge out a huge chunk from his leg.