Coming home

chapter 5

They didn’t exactly know what they were going to do when the urge to stop on the back side of the pasture hit only that time was needed to think about coming up with a plan. This had to be stopped, but it wasn’t going to be easy. They hadn’t expected Claire to be out riding around. They hadn’t been ready to see her just yet.

When they had learned that Claire had taken off and gone home, the impulse to throw some clothes in a vehicle and take off was just too strong to resist. This wasn’t the first time they had been here without anyone knowing and they weren’t even sure if they were going to make their presence known this time either. Well, not until there was a plan anyway.

If she only knew how much she could destroy everything that they had been working towards for all these years. The plotting and planning had almost been completed and within grasp until David had to do what he had done. Claire could ruin everything if she moved back home. No, that couldn’t happen. Something had to be done to stop it.

They had been contemplating this when they spotted her riding toward them. She hadn’t seen them yet, but if she had continued in this direction, then it would have just been a matter of time. It wasn’t time. Everything would be ruined if she saw them. They would have to explain what they were doing and why they were on her family’s property. That was one question they couldn’t give an answer to.

The truth would make them look like a psychopath, not exactly what was needed at this point. They would never be able to come up with a believable lie. Doing the only thing they could think of, they grabbed a big rock and snuck around through the woods. If she had been paying attention to her surroundings she would have caught them before they were able to lob the rock hitting her horse, but she seemed to be daydreaming.

They only meant to spook her horse into taking off in another direction. The thought was she could get control of the horse, would go back to the ranch, and count it as a close call. They hadn’t expected that she would be so caught off guard that the horse would have thrown her and take off without her. They stood there in complete shock, staring at her when they noticed she wasn’t moving. They had to go check to see if she was alright. If anything was to happen to her so close to her father's death, then there would surely be an investigation. Even though they hadn’t wanted to reveal themselves just yet, it had to be chanced. Her death would set them back at least a couple of years and time was running out.

Claire had been knocked out. A quick assessment of her injuries also revealed a gash to the back of her head and her shoulder seemed to be dislocated, but with no medical degree this couldn’t be told for sure. She was definitely going to need medical attention. The plan to stay in the shadows was quickly becoming unraveled. Even if anyone noticed her missing, then they would never find her in this wooded area and it would be dark soon. The only option was to get her some help. Trying to pick her up was becoming a struggle. Just when it became clear that she was going to have to be dragged to the vehicle, they heard Claire’s name being yelled in the distance.

At first, they weren’t sure they heard over their own labored breathing so they stopped and listened harder. It was coming closer and closer. They were already looking for her. Thinking quickly, they headed toward the clearing with the big oak tree. Claire had seemed to favor this certain spot and that was the whole reason they had stopped on the road behind the pasture to think. The thought that Claire almost ruined everything crossed their minds again.

They had decided to leave her under the tree. If anyone truly knew her, they would search the tree area first. They laid her down and she started stirring. They were sure she had seen them, but then she just let out a loud moan and pasted back out. They quickly moved back into the woods and blended into the shadows when it started to rain again. At least one thing was in their favor today. The rain would take away all evidence she was drugged here.

Now to wait and make sure she is discovered. There was no way they were going to leave without knowing she was safe. If she wasn’t found soon, they would have no idea what they were going to do. All they knew was that they weren’t ready to have to explain their presence. Everything wasn’t set up for that. Her trip back home wasn’t in the plans and now the plans were going to have to be changed.

The hooves were heard before the rider was seen. That’s just great, they thought as Luke came into view. Why did it have to be Luke? Now Claire was going to view Luke as her knight in shining armor. This wasn’t in the plan either. Would anything go right today?