Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 85569 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85569 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
She looked intensely at me for a few moments before she nodded. “Okay.”
“This also means then that you can never tell anybody about this room. It’s our secret. Okay?”
She nodded so hard, she looked like she was in danger of giving herself whiplash.
“No one can hurt you while you are in here. So if ever you have to run in here never open the door no matter what the person outside tries to tell you through the video feeds over there.” I pointed to the six screens on the wall.
“I understand, Daddy,” she said. “I will never tell anyone; it's our secret.”
I smiled and then leaned my forehead against hers.
“Okay, now it's time to go to the fun part,” I told her.
“What?” she asked eagerly.
I laughed. “This room is full to the brim of toys, snacks, food, drinks, clothes, actually everything you could possibly need. I pointed to all the drawers lining the other side of the wall. “You actually could live in here for two weeks if the need arises and not want for a single thing. And that’s why I told you that if you have to run in here, never bother to look for anything else. Just come straight in here to save time so no one has the time to follow you. The doors will automatically seal when you shut them and after that, nobody can get to you. When the danger has passed and you need to open it to go out, use your face once again. Do you understand?”
“Yes, I do,” she nodded again and smoothed her hair.
Then I showed her all the food and told her all of it was for emergency purposes only and that she wasn’t allowed to ever to come down here and eat them otherwise.
She nodded, and my heart for the very first time in a long while felt somewhat at peace.
“And now … how about we go get some ice cream from the Frozen Strawberry?” I asked.
Chapter 20
Montana
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQW7I62TNOw
-Islands in the Stream-
I was coming out of the bakery carrying a box full of mini cherry muffins when I ran into Jesse Craven.
“Hey, Jesse,” I greeted.
“Shall I help you with that?” he asked, moving forward to take the box out of my hand.
“Thanks, but it’s not heavy.”
“You alright?” he asked, shifting from one booted foot to another.
“Yeah, I’m alright. Send my regards to your ma,” I said and moved on.
“Montana,” he called.
I turned back. “Yeah?”
He adjusted his cowboy hat uncomfortably. “Will you be my date to the Summer Festival dance?”
The sun was in my eyes and my dad was waiting in the truck for me. “Sorry, Jesse, but I don’t think I’m going to the dance this year.”
“That’s a shame.”
“Look, I got to go. Dad’s waiting for me.”
“Let me know if you change your mind.”
“Yeah, sure.”
He tipped his hat at me. “See you around.”
“See ya.”
I walked back to the truck and Dad looked at me funny. “Why was that kid sniffing around you?”
I carefully balanced the box on my lap. “He wasn’t sniffing around me.”
“Well, what did he want?” he asked grumpily.
“He asked if he could take me to the Summer dance, okay?”
“What did you say?”
“I said I didn’t think I was going.”
“Good,” he replied heartily.
I turned to look at him curiously. “I thought you liked the Cravens and their boys. Don’t you like Jesse?”
He swung the truck out into the street. “I like him well enough. He’s just not good enough for you.”
I wound the window down and hot wind rushed into my face. “Apparently, no one’s ever going to be good enough according to you.”
“One day you’ll understand that being choosy isn’t a bad thing.” Dad switched on the radio and country music filled the air.
“Any news for the week?” I asked.
“We have a new student, a girl, coming in on Monday,” he replied.
“What? Why is she coming in halfway through the term?”
“Well, her dad paid for her to be in school from about three months ago, but talk is they only arrived in town two days ago. Single dad and very easy on the eye, I hear. Word has it, yesterday’s baking club meeting had to be terminated early because of spinsters and their mothers being catty to each other.”
I smiled. “To be expected, I suppose, when fresh meat is thrown into a pool full of piranhas.”
He glanced at me. “He’s not much older than you, I believe.”
I actually felt sick to my stomach at the thought of being with a man again. I just couldn’t. Not after that night with Cole. I stuck my palm out towards my father. “Oh no … don’t go there. Please Dad.”
Dad sighed elaborately, and on the radio, Dolly Parton started singing Islands in the Stream.
Chapter 21
Cole
“Why is everything made of wood?” Anya asked as we pulled up to her new survival school.