Serial Novel: Falling in Public, Ch. 55
This serial novel is posted in draft form every Friday.
Ch.1|Ch. 2|Ch. 3|Ch. 4|Ch. 5|Ch. 6|Ch. 7|Ch. 8|Ch. 9|Ch. 10|Ch. 11|Ch. 12|Ch.13|Ch. 14|Ch. 15| Ch. 16| Ch. 17|Ch. 18| Ch. 19 | Ch. 20 | Ch. 21 | Ch. 22 | Ch. 23 | Ch. 24 | Ch. 25 | Ch. 26 | Ch. 27 | Ch. 28 | Ch. 29 | Ch. 30 | Ch. 31 | Ch. 32 | Ch. 33 | Ch. 34 | Ch. 35 | Ch. 36 | Ch. 37 | Ch. 38 | Ch. 39 | Ch. 40 | Ch. 41 | Ch. 42 | Ch. 43 | Ch. 44 | Ch. 45 | Ch. 46 | Ch. 47 | Ch. 48 | Ch. 49 | Ch. 50 | Ch. 51 | Ch. 52 | Ch. 53 | Ch. 54 |
Falling in Public
Chapter 55
Eddie struggled to maintain control, forcing a terse nod at Holly. No, it wasn't okay. He didn't want her anywhere near Winston, but at this moment, it didn't seem like there was any other way. Winston was getting more unstable by the moment, and Holly was clearly trying to diffuse the situation and get them back to civilization. As much as he hated to admit it, this was probably their best chance.
"It's fine," he said, trying not to growl the words. Her eyes glittered in the moonlight, fear and resolution shining in their depths before she turned back to face her stalker.
"So it's settled then," she said, her voice slightly higher than normal. "Why don't you show us the way?" She went to him, and Winston threw an arm around her shoulders, glancing back once at Eddie before they walked away. Eddie followed, making sure he stayed within tackling distance, just in case.
When the truck came into view, Sean pulled Holly over to the driver's side with him, pointing casually to the back with the gun.
"Make yourself comfortable," he said, his tone saying otherwise. "And I expect you to stay down and quiet. No making noise or trying to attract attention. Got it?"
Eddie hoisted himself up on the tailgate and stepped into the bed. "Fine. Whatever. You hurt her, I'll kill you."
Sean laughed. "Yeah, whatever man." He opened the door and gestured for Holly to climb in, but she hesitated.
"You know, it's tricky driving through this soft topsoil. I grew up on a farm...maybe you should let me drive, just until we get to the highway. Then we can trade places. What do you say?"
"Nice try, that's what I say. Get in and shut up, woman. I've driven through fields too, just probably not the kind of stuff you grow up there." He chuckled and slid in beside her.
The door slammed shut and Eddie sat sideways near the front, so he could keep an eye on things. The vehicle started to move, and he grabbed the thick chain that spanned the width of the bed to keep his balance as they bounced slowly along the rows.
It seemed like forever until they finally reached the asphalt, and Eddie was sure he was just one giant black and blue bruise from all the jostling he'd endured. The truck stopped, and the window at the back of the cab slid open.
"Are you okay?" Holly asked, her voice weary.
Eddie nodded, then remembered she couldn't see him. "I'm fine. Are you? He hasn't touched you or anything, right?"
"She's fine," Winston called out. Impatience laced his voice. "Now shut that window and let's go. I want to ditch this guy as soon as possible. The next town should do."
The window closed and the old truck picked up speed, rattling on its frame as Winston gunned the engine. Eddie held on tight, thankful that at least the road was relatively smooth. The sky was beginning to lighten, and he could make out dim shapes lying on the other side of the bed. Some small tools, more chain, some rope and a shovel. He'd need to take Winston out at the next stop, and a few options flitted through his head. All of them required some risk, but anything was better than letting him take Holly with him again. And he had the advantage being higher than Winston would be when he got out of the truck. He'd just have to make every second count.
Moving slowly, he inched his way to the center of the bed and pulled the shovel closer to his side. Retrieving the rope with a toe, he positioned it near the front left corner of the bed, closest to the driver's side door. Leaning his head back against the cold metal, he settled in to wait.
Ch.1|Ch. 2|Ch. 3|Ch. 4|Ch. 5|Ch. 6|Ch. 7|Ch. 8|Ch. 9|Ch. 10|Ch. 11|Ch. 12|Ch.13|Ch. 14|Ch. 15| Ch. 16| Ch. 17|Ch. 18| Ch. 19 | Ch. 20 | Ch. 21 | Ch. 22 | Ch. 23 | Ch. 24 | Ch. 25 | Ch. 26 | Ch. 27 | Ch. 28 | Ch. 29 | Ch. 30 | Ch. 31 | Ch. 32 | Ch. 33 | Ch. 34 | Ch. 35 | Ch. 36 | Ch. 37 | Ch. 38 | Ch. 39 | Ch. 40 | Ch. 41 | Ch. 42 | Ch. 43 | Ch. 44 | Ch. 45 | Ch. 46 | Ch. 47 | Ch. 48 | Ch. 49 | Ch. 50 | Ch. 51 | Ch. 52 | Ch. 53 | Ch. 54 |
Falling in Public
Chapter 55
Eddie struggled to maintain control, forcing a terse nod at Holly. No, it wasn't okay. He didn't want her anywhere near Winston, but at this moment, it didn't seem like there was any other way. Winston was getting more unstable by the moment, and Holly was clearly trying to diffuse the situation and get them back to civilization. As much as he hated to admit it, this was probably their best chance.
"It's fine," he said, trying not to growl the words. Her eyes glittered in the moonlight, fear and resolution shining in their depths before she turned back to face her stalker.
"So it's settled then," she said, her voice slightly higher than normal. "Why don't you show us the way?" She went to him, and Winston threw an arm around her shoulders, glancing back once at Eddie before they walked away. Eddie followed, making sure he stayed within tackling distance, just in case.
When the truck came into view, Sean pulled Holly over to the driver's side with him, pointing casually to the back with the gun.
"Make yourself comfortable," he said, his tone saying otherwise. "And I expect you to stay down and quiet. No making noise or trying to attract attention. Got it?"
Eddie hoisted himself up on the tailgate and stepped into the bed. "Fine. Whatever. You hurt her, I'll kill you."
Sean laughed. "Yeah, whatever man." He opened the door and gestured for Holly to climb in, but she hesitated.
"You know, it's tricky driving through this soft topsoil. I grew up on a farm...maybe you should let me drive, just until we get to the highway. Then we can trade places. What do you say?"
"Nice try, that's what I say. Get in and shut up, woman. I've driven through fields too, just probably not the kind of stuff you grow up there." He chuckled and slid in beside her.
The door slammed shut and Eddie sat sideways near the front, so he could keep an eye on things. The vehicle started to move, and he grabbed the thick chain that spanned the width of the bed to keep his balance as they bounced slowly along the rows.
It seemed like forever until they finally reached the asphalt, and Eddie was sure he was just one giant black and blue bruise from all the jostling he'd endured. The truck stopped, and the window at the back of the cab slid open.
"Are you okay?" Holly asked, her voice weary.
Eddie nodded, then remembered she couldn't see him. "I'm fine. Are you? He hasn't touched you or anything, right?"
"She's fine," Winston called out. Impatience laced his voice. "Now shut that window and let's go. I want to ditch this guy as soon as possible. The next town should do."
The window closed and the old truck picked up speed, rattling on its frame as Winston gunned the engine. Eddie held on tight, thankful that at least the road was relatively smooth. The sky was beginning to lighten, and he could make out dim shapes lying on the other side of the bed. Some small tools, more chain, some rope and a shovel. He'd need to take Winston out at the next stop, and a few options flitted through his head. All of them required some risk, but anything was better than letting him take Holly with him again. And he had the advantage being higher than Winston would be when he got out of the truck. He'd just have to make every second count.
Moving slowly, he inched his way to the center of the bed and pulled the shovel closer to his side. Retrieving the rope with a toe, he positioned it near the front left corner of the bed, closest to the driver's side door. Leaning his head back against the cold metal, he settled in to wait.
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