Read Online Home: A Stranded Novel by Theresa Shaver - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Theresa Shaver
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She made sure all of her hair was tucked up under it and checked Emily’s as well. Emily’s white blond and her bright red hair would be like a beacon if they left their heads uncovered. Satisfied that they were ready, the two girls headed towards the woodcutting area. They walked slowly and watched where they put their feet. They might be seen but they wouldn’t be heard. As they came closer to their objective, the noise of many axes filled the forest and they slowed even more. Using trees and bushes for cover, they inched their way closer to where the people were working.
Alex could see movement ahead so she crouched down and stayed low. Her heart was thundering in her ears and she paused for a minute to take some calming breaths before moving ahead. She settled behind a large tree and leaned slightly to the side so that only one of her eyes could see what was happening ahead of her. A man she didn’t recognize was standing twenty feet in front of her in profile. He had a rifle slung over his shoulder and his arms were crossed with a scowl on his face. He was watching something further away so Alex eased back behind the tree and leaned the other way to get a view of what he was watching.
Two men she vaguely recognized from town were working on a downed tree. Most of the branches had been cut off and they were tying rope around it. Once they had the rope secured they both took an end and started to pull it towards the tree line and out into the field. The guard turned and followed them without looking in Alex’s direction.
Alex pulled back behind the tree and looked back at where Emily was hiding. Her friend made eye contact and motioned for them to move on. Keeping low to the ground, Alex moved back and the two girls slinked further into the woods. Emily was in the lead and after a few minutes she used her hand behind her back to motion Alex to a stop. After a slight pause , Emily motioned Alex forward and down. They both settled behind a large bush and they carefully parted some of its lower branches to see what was ahead.
Both girls recognized the lone man working on stripping the branches of a downed tree. It was Dr. Mack. He had moved into their town five years ago and he had treated both girls over the years. Alex scanned all around the area he was working but couldn’t see anyone else around. She turned her head until she was looking at Emily and raised her eyebrows and made a talking motion and pointed back at the doctor. Emily frowned and shrugged. With this many people in the woods, it would be hard to get a good look at the farm, and they needed the information. Alex knew they had to be careful not to give themselves away but the desire to find out what was happening to her family outweighed her fear. Her heart was thundering in her chest so she took a few deep breaths and parted the branches again. Taking another good look around the area and finding it still clear, she called his name in a low voice.
Dr. Mack paused in mid -chop and his body froze for a second before he followed through with his cut. When he pulled his axe back, he casually looked around and then whispered,
“Who’s there?” while keeping his eyes on the tree he was stripping.
Alex was quick to respond. “Don’t whisper, it carries further. Just talk in a low voice.” At his nod, she went on. “It’s Alex Andrews and Emily Mather. How many guards are there?”
Dr. Mack took another swing at the tree be fore responding. “There are six guards but you can’t do anything. Our families are being held hostage.”
Alex was quick to reassure him. “We know the situation. We’re just scouting and getting info to make a plan. Doctor…where is my father? Is he ok ay?”
The doctor chopped at the tree a few more times with a frown on his face. Alex could tell he didn’t want to answer her and she went cold all over. Was she about to find out that her father was dead? Just when her anxiety reached its peak , he looked around
Alex could see movement ahead so she crouched down and stayed low. Her heart was thundering in her ears and she paused for a minute to take some calming breaths before moving ahead. She settled behind a large tree and leaned slightly to the side so that only one of her eyes could see what was happening ahead of her. A man she didn’t recognize was standing twenty feet in front of her in profile. He had a rifle slung over his shoulder and his arms were crossed with a scowl on his face. He was watching something further away so Alex eased back behind the tree and leaned the other way to get a view of what he was watching.
Two men she vaguely recognized from town were working on a downed tree. Most of the branches had been cut off and they were tying rope around it. Once they had the rope secured they both took an end and started to pull it towards the tree line and out into the field. The guard turned and followed them without looking in Alex’s direction.
Alex pulled back behind the tree and looked back at where Emily was hiding. Her friend made eye contact and motioned for them to move on. Keeping low to the ground, Alex moved back and the two girls slinked further into the woods. Emily was in the lead and after a few minutes she used her hand behind her back to motion Alex to a stop. After a slight pause , Emily motioned Alex forward and down. They both settled behind a large bush and they carefully parted some of its lower branches to see what was ahead.
Both girls recognized the lone man working on stripping the branches of a downed tree. It was Dr. Mack. He had moved into their town five years ago and he had treated both girls over the years. Alex scanned all around the area he was working but couldn’t see anyone else around. She turned her head until she was looking at Emily and raised her eyebrows and made a talking motion and pointed back at the doctor. Emily frowned and shrugged. With this many people in the woods, it would be hard to get a good look at the farm, and they needed the information. Alex knew they had to be careful not to give themselves away but the desire to find out what was happening to her family outweighed her fear. Her heart was thundering in her chest so she took a few deep breaths and parted the branches again. Taking another good look around the area and finding it still clear, she called his name in a low voice.
Dr. Mack paused in mid -chop and his body froze for a second before he followed through with his cut. When he pulled his axe back, he casually looked around and then whispered,
“Who’s there?” while keeping his eyes on the tree he was stripping.
Alex was quick to respond. “Don’t whisper, it carries further. Just talk in a low voice.” At his nod, she went on. “It’s Alex Andrews and Emily Mather. How many guards are there?”
Dr. Mack took another swing at the tree be fore responding. “There are six guards but you can’t do anything. Our families are being held hostage.”
Alex was quick to reassure him. “We know the situation. We’re just scouting and getting info to make a plan. Doctor…where is my father? Is he ok ay?”
The doctor chopped at the tree a few more times with a frown on his face. Alex could tell he didn’t want to answer her and she went cold all over. Was she about to find out that her father was dead? Just when her anxiety reached its peak , he looked around
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