(Psst: The FTC desires me to remind you that this web site accommodates affiliate hyperlinks. Meaning for those who make a purchase order from a hyperlink you click on on, I would obtain a small fee. This doesn’t enhance the value you will pay for that merchandise nor does it lower the awesomeness of the merchandise. ~ Daisy)
by the Creator of The Widow within the Woods
Right here’s the place the story left off final time.
Whereas the day dragged alongside for Ariel and Kate, Logan gave the impression to be having the time of his life. Again was the charming man who Kate had initially fallen for and Ariel had accepted as a part of the household. They performed some board video games and ate snacks that Kate had stashed on the cabin.
To anybody who didn’t know their background, they regarded like a cheerful household.
After lunch, Logan stated, “I must go get my truck and my private provides. Ariel, let’s go for a hike.”
The woman froze, all makes an attempt at masking her concern gone. She shook her head and backed away. Kate put herself in between Logan and her daughter.
“Completely not,” Kate advised him firmly. “You need me to belief you, however you need to take my little one such as you did as soon as earlier than? There’s no means, Logan. We’ll wait right here whilst you go get your issues. You’ll be able to lock us within the basement once more. You’ll be able to zip tie us. No matter it’s worthwhile to do, however you might be NOT taking Ariel with you.”
Logan’s face immediately darkened with rage, however he lined it shortly. He chuckled dryly. “If that’s the story you’re telling your self about what occurred, I can see why Ari is so frightened of me.”
Kate glared again at him stubbornly, refusing to offer an inch.
“You understand I may simply make her include me, proper?” Logan identified.
“You could possibly, however you’d undo all of the work you’ve completed to get us to belief you once more,” Kate countered.
Logan gave the impression to be misplaced in thought. Lastly, after an extended few moments, he spoke.
“Give me your sneakers and get within the basement, Ari,” he ordered. “Katie, you’re coming with me. I don’t belief the 2 of you alone right here. I’m sorry, however I simply don’t.”
Kate turned and regarded on the daughter she adored. “It’s okay, Ariel. Do what he says. I promise I’ll be okay.”
“You’ll be able to’t promise that,” Ariel disagreed, fats tears rolling down her cheeks. “I need to be with you, Mother.”
“I’m solely taking one in every of you with me,” acknowledged Logan firmly. “You two can thrash it out however I’m not within the temper to have you ever plotting towards me once more.”
Kate went to Ariel and hugged her, whispering, “That is how we get out tonight. Belief me.”
Ariel’s slender physique was wracked with sobs, however to her credit score she did as she was advised. She switched out her boots for the Yeti slippers, went to the restroom, grabbed her guide, and headed downstairs. She paused and regarded again at her mom longingly. “I really like you, Mother.” Her voice broke, and he or she went downstairs.
Logan barred the basement door, and it was time to go. Kate completed lacing up her climbing boots, grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge, shoved it into her backpack, and strode off into the forest with Logan.
…
Kate was stunned when Logan headed proper down the driveway towards the gravel highway that led to their cabin. As soon as on the backside, as an alternative of taking a overlooked towards the primary highway, they took a proper and the highway narrowed to at least one lane. It wasn’t far till Logan veered off the facet of the highway to the place his truck sat. It has been loosely lined with a tarp and a few fallen branches and for those who didn’t understand it was there, you’d by no means discover it.
Kate stood apart whereas Logan cleared off the truck and unlocked it together with his key fob. “Get in,” he ordered.
She climbed into the passenger facet the place she discovered the again of the cab was jampacked with totes, backpacks, and grocery luggage. He had been in it for the lengthy haul.
“Don’t get mad at me, however I’ve a query,” Kate ventured.
Logan glared, already irritated, however shortly wiped the expression off his face and changed it with a extra impartial one. “Shoot.”
I want, thought Kate. “Aren’t you on parole or one thing? Don’t you must test in and keep within the county and away from us?”
“They took three years of my life,” Logan replied. “I’m not giving them another day.”
“However received’t you find yourself again in jail for those who don’t –“
“No,” Logan interrupted angrily, jamming his key into the ignition. “I’m not going again. Q&A time is over.”
Kate stopped talking. If she antagonized him now, he wouldn’t be as able to let his guard down later, she recommended herself correctly.
With a roar, the diesel engine began, and Logan backed out onto the highway. He drove again to the cabin in full silence, with no radio or dialog to interrupt the stress.
…
After they took the brief drive again to the cabin, Logan’s good temper gave the impression to be restored. “Assist me convey these things in,” he demanded as he shouldered a duffel bag and grabbed a case of beer.
Kate regarded away when she noticed the beer, as a result of the spark of sunshine in her eyes may give her away.
Now, she had a plan.
…
When the bar was lifted and the basement door opened, Ariel rushed to her mom and the 2 embraced as if they’d been aside for years as an alternative of lower than an hour.
Logan shook his head and started to inventory the fridge with beer. Then, he dug in his backpack and pulled out a bottle in a brown paper bag – some sort of booze, Kate famous, although she wasn’t positive what. She pressured herself to not smile in satisfaction and excused herself to the toilet.
As soon as Kate had locked the door behind her, she painstakingly opened the mirrored door to the drugs cupboard. She stopped it earlier than it started to squeal in protest, reaching up alongside the highest shelf for a small bottle of drugs.
“Alprazolam,” the bottle learn. “Alcohol could intensify the consequences of this treatment.”
Thanks for the serving suggestion, Kate thought, as she stuffed a number of drugs into the pocket of her sweatpants.
These drugs had been within the cupboard for fairly a while. They’d been prescribed when Ariel was struggling frequently from uncontrollable panic assaults. She not often used the drugs anymore, since she had discovered to regulate her respiration and handle her fears higher, however Kate saved them readily available, simply in case they had been wanted.
And at the moment, they had been positively wanted.
For good measure, she added a few Benadryl tablets to her pocket. She rigorously, quietly, closed the door to the drugs cupboard, washed her arms within the sink, and emerged from the toilet, hoping that she regarded harmless.
About Daisy
Daisy Luther is a coffee-swigging creator and blogger who’s traded her air miles for a display screen porch, having embraced a extra homebody life-style after a critical damage. She’s the guts and thoughts behind The Natural Prepper, a top-tier web site the place she shares what she’s discovered about preparedness, self-reliance, and the pursuit of liberty. With 17 books underneath her belt, Daisy’s insights on dwelling frugally, surviving robust occasions, discovering some happiness in probably the most tough conditions, and embracing independence have touched many lives. Her work doesn’t simply keep on her website; it’s shared far and broad throughout different media, making her a well-known voice locally.
Recognized for her adventurous spirit, she’s lived in 5 totally different nations and raised two great daughters as a single mother. Now living within the lovely state of North Carolina, Daisy has been spreading her information by way of running a blog for 15 years now.
She is the best-selling creator of 5 historically printed books, 12 self-published books, and runs a small digital publishing firm with PDF guides, printables, and programs at SelfRelianceand Survival.com You will discover her on Fb, Pinterest, and X.
