River Lane

Chapter 36 pt 2

Garrett

            Darting straight towards the door, Garrett threw it open and ran outside. Brady was right on his heels, already dreading what they would find. Pace’s truck was gone.

            Turning their heads toward the sound of screeching tires and gravel flying, they watched a pair of tail lights pull onto the road and speed away. Though it was dark outside, Garrett didn’t need the light to recognize the truck. He only needed to glance at it for a moment before he  high tailed it to his truck. Brady barely had time to jump in before Garrett thrust the truck in gear and took off, the passenger door slamming shut with the momentum.

            “Where would he take her?” Brady half mumbled to himself. Garrett didn’t comment for a moment. He was running different ideas through his head like a spinning wheel. He knew exactly who it was he was following, because of the considerable speed and erratic driving. He only hoped that he would control him self enough to keep Nayvee safe. What he didn’t understand, however, was the fact that Pace was driving in what he assumed to be the wrong direction. He was heading directly back towards the ranch. He would find no safety there.
            He followed them for a few miles, hanging back far enough that he could see Pace’s tail lights, without Pace realize he was being followed. When Pace turned off the main highway, Garrett knew exactly where he was headed.

            “He’s taking her to her family cabin.” Brady’s head whipped around to face him. 

            “What the hell would posses him to take her there? So close to home? Surely she isn’t doing this willingly.” He was flabbergasted. Garrett clenched his teeth.

            “No! She would not go with him willingly. He’s probably thinking no one would look for them there.”

            “Where did they go?” Brady said, starting to panic. In their brief conversation, the truck had disappeared around a bend and then the lights were gone.

            “Shit!” Garrett cursed to himself.

            “Wait! Over there!” Garrett was sickened by what he saw. As he drew closer, he noticed the rough tire tacks swerving across the road. The bushes were shattered to the sides, and his heart dropped to his stomach as he slammed the truck to a stop and barely put it in park before jumping out, the door still swinging open behind him.

            Off the side of the road, the ground led to a large hill, dropping down into the river. The large black truck was wedged between two trees, hood down, and three feet in the air. One tire was still spinning and the lights illuminated the close area around it. Broken glass littered the ground, and the silence was deafening. Seeing a tangled pair of boots poking out from behind one of the trees that supported the weight of the truck, Garrett nearly lost his mind. Running faster than he thought his feet could carry him, he launched himself through the debris to the body connected to the boots. His relief sickened him as he realized it was Pace lying on the ground, blood poring from his wounds as he lay lifeless. The faint moaning sound he heard gave him hope. Turning his head to the sound, he noticed Brady’s panicked face as he looked at the wreckage. Sliding down the hill, he stumbled to the other side of the truck and pulled open the passenger side door.

            “She’s here! She’s ok!” Garrett left Pace where he was and ran towards Nayvee, not believing anything until he could see for himself. The loud groan of metal nearly stopped him in his tracks as he realized the truck was sliding.

            “Get her out! Hurry!” He continued to stumble his way to Nayvee, finally breathing again as he watched Brady pick her up from the floor of the truck and pull her out onto the damp ground. Dropping down beside her, he took her head in his lap and began to check for serious injuries. He clutched her to him as the groaning became a horrible screeching sound, and the truck slid from the tree’s, crashing down towards the cliff and toppling over the edge into the river.