What if?

Running from the past

The smell of alcohol filled my nose. My eyes opened, I was no longer in my nice comfy bed, I was back on the streets of New York. A man held me firmly around the waist and his giant hand covered my mouth and fumbled with a knife in his hand. He pressed the cold blade to my neck. I could feel the serrated edge of the knife digging deeper and deeper into my neck. He slurred his words and laughed to himself as tears ran down my face. Another man approached, his face covered by a shadow, he looked familiar but I couldn't pinpoint where I knew this stranger from. The man holding me loosened his grip on my mouth and I let out a blood-curdling scream.

I felt a warm hand on my shoulder and I sat up terrified. Amy sat on the edge of the bed; a worried expression occupied her face. Sweat ran down my face and I was shaking uncontrollably.

"Are you okay?" Amy asked,

I just shook my head yes, but inside I wanted to scream no. I wanted that night to disappear and never come back. I wanted to be Samantha Anderson again. Amy removed her hand from my shoulder and I moved to the side of the bed.

"I think I'm going to go for a walk to clear my head." I said as I threw a pair of jeans on and my shirt from earlier in the day. I stormed by Amy and darted down the stairs. I ran out the front door and plowed into George, knocking him and myself to the ground. I jumped off him and started apologizing. He sat up slowly and picked his ball cap off the ground and dusted it off. I felt horrible; I had tackled his guy to the ground. Emotions started over coming me, tears started to form. Not from tackling George but from everything that was swimming around in my head. He looked at me worried and noticed the single tear escaping my eye.

"Miss, Hart no need to cry, I've taken worse hits." He said trying to console me.

I got to my feet and wiped the tears from my eyes and took off again heading toward the barn. I looked over my shoulder and George stood where we had collided. He looked hurt and confused. I felt bad, I didn't mean to be that rude to not say a word to him but I sure didn't want him to see me cry.

I made it to the barn and climbed a ladder and collapsed in the sweet smelling hay. I let the tears stream down my face. George came into the barn and I could see him below me. He was searching for me but I was pretty well hidden A few farm hands called his name and he was forced to leave. I sat in the corner of the barn and let myself cry and listen to the horses munching on their hay and rustling around in their stalls. The smell and darkness of the barn soothed me. Suddenly the barn door opened and the man from the round up walked in. He walk with the same limp and his hair stuck out in every direction. The hair on my arms stood on end and goose bumps appeared on my arms. I tried getting to my feet but bumped one of the bales of hay and send a loud thud through the silent barn. Imminently my eyes searched from the man but he had disappeared. I though the coast was clear so I climbed down the ladder. I felt a hand firmly grasp my shoulder I let out a scream. The barn lights came on and the man with the icy blue eyes was the owner to the hand. Amy and Ty came running into the barn.

"What is going on?" Ty exclaimed, "We heard a scream. Is everyone okay?"

"I heard a sound from the hay loft and found this person trying to escape." The man with the blue eyes said.

"You caught our guest Miss Sam Hart, David." Ty said to the man.

He released my shoulder and tilted his hat to hide his eyes. "Sorry ma'am" David said.

"Its okay, It was my fault anyways I shouldn't have been sneaking around." I said apologetic

He huffed and started walking in the direction of the bunkhouse. Ty, Amy, and I all walked back to the house.