Slaughtered in the Sand by Judith A. Barrett

Author:Judith A. Barrett [Judith A. Barrett]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wobbly Creek, LLC
Published: 2024-01-24T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Rascal whined; Wren opened one eye and peeked at her phone. “It’s only five thirty, Rascal, and it’s still dark.”

Wren covered her head with her pillow, but Rascal whined louder and higher in pitch.

“Okay, boy; we’ll go outside.” Wren moaned as she climbed out of bed. “I hurt all over.”

Rascal stood at the door and whined again.

She yawned as she threw on her jacket over her pajamas and put on a pair of socks and her boots. After she picked up her stick, she stuck her pistol into her jacket pocket; Rascal stared at her.

“You didn’t give me time to get dressed; my pistol’s too heavy for my pajama bottoms.” Wren pulled out her flashlight from her backpack.

“Okay, I’m ready.” She opened the door, and they went outside. Rascal barked, and Wren heard a muffled bark in return; Wren watched as April’s fifth wheel rounded a corner and headed toward the driveway.

“We came outside to tell Jolie and April safe travels, didn’t we? I’m glad we did.”

Wren sighed as she stared at the stars that twinkled against the backdrop of the dark sky before she examined the area around the van then turned on her flashlight. After Rascal disappeared into the darkness, she listened to the katydids and tree frogs.

When Rascal reappeared, Wren said, “I’d like to take a shower; maybe that will help my achy muscles.”

After she gathered her shower gear, towel, and clean clothes, Wren hobbled to the rest room while Rascal investigated their surroundings as he darted around her.

Rascal lay across the door while Wren showered. When she was dry and dressed, Wren examined her face in the mirror and groaned. “The swelling is mostly gone, but now I have a black eye in addition to a scraped chin, nose, and forehead. It’s Florida; I’ll wear my sunglasses to hide my eye.”

On the way back to her van, Wren smelled the familiar, now-welcome odor that came with Captain X.

“Lassie, the pirate’s princess needs help.” Captain X blocked her way to the van; he pointed at the office.

Wren turned to glance at the office. “The lights are on, and Taliyah’s car is still there. Do you suppose she was up all night packing?”

“Go,” he ordered.

Wren changed direction to go to the office. Rascal whined then raced ahead and waited for her on the porch.

“Door’s probably locked,” Wren mumbled.

“It isn’t,” Captain X bellowed. “Go inside.”

When she joined Rascal, Wren tried the door handle; she raised her eyebrows when the door opened.

“Taliyah?” Wren and Rascal went inside.

Wren heard a moan from the breakroom; she dropped her shower bag, dirty clothes, and stick and raced across the room. She tripped when she reached the doorway; when she grabbed onto the door jamb to keep from falling, Wren twisted her knee.

Taliyah was sprawled on the floor, and her legs were entangled in a broken chair.

“What happened?” Wren limped to Taliyah’s side.

Taliyah struggled to get up. “I wanted to take down Dad’s handmade sign he put over the doorway, but the chair shook and moved when the earthquake hit and I fell.

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