Read Online Jumper by Michele Bossley - Free Book Online Page B

that purplish look, and he drew great gulping breaths of air. I scrambled to my feet, ignoring the ache in my arm, and rushed to his side.
    â€œAre you okay?” I asked.
    He nodded grimly. He still had the forms in his fist and he thrust them at me. “Run,” he whispered. “I’ll take care of him.” He nodded toward Bellamy, who was shaking his head, as though to dispel the ringing in his ears, but was also advancing on us.
    I wasn’t too sure about leaving Grandpa, but he shoved me away as Bellamy lunged for the papers in my hand. He ripped them away from me just as Grandpa stuck out a foot,tripped Bellamy and sent him sprawling. “Run!” Grandpa bellowed at me, his fists bunched, ready for Bellamy’s next attack.
    I had no choice. I ran.
    I dove into the bushes, where Kayla was still huddled. “Come on!” she urged, grabbing my sleeve. She tugged me through the trees at a dead run.
    â€œWe...need...to call...for help,”
    I gasped. “I know!” Kayla cried. “What do you think I’ve been doing in those bushes, knitting? My cell phone isn’t getting a signal. We need to get to higher ground.”
    I felt a surge of relief. I’d forgotten about Kayla’s cell phone. If Grandpa could just hold Bellamy off long enough for help to come...
    We dashed past the barn and corral, up a rocky incline.
    â€œKeep running!” Kayla panted.
    â€œCheck the signal,” I said.
    She flipped the phone open as we climbed and shook her head. “Not yet.” My breath caught in my side and my arm throbbed, but I ran harder, pulling Kayla with me. My leg muscles burned in protest as we reached thecrest. “Try again,” I wheezed, bending double, pressing my hand into the cramp under my ribs. If we didn’t get a signal here, I didn’t know what we’d do. This was the highest point on the ranch.
    Kayla hit the power button and was rewarded with a faint metallic beep. “Bingo!” she cried in triumph.
    â€œCall nine-one-one,” I said. “Get the police, tell them it’s an emergency, then meet me back at the barn.”
    Kayla was already dialing. She nodded and gave me a thumbs-up sign, then smacked the phone in frustration. “Darn it! It cut out!”
    â€œTry again!” I cried.
    I bounded back down the hill, taking care not to trip over rocks. Now that help was on the way for Grandpa, I had one thing I needed to do. I reached the corral a lot more quickly than I expected and searched for the gate that opened into the pasture. Bellamy’s ranch was big, and even though the land was fenced, it would take him a lot longer to load those horses if they weren’t in the corral.
    I spotted the gate at the far end andsprinted for it. It was chained, but fortunately not locked. As I wrestled with the chain, trying to undo the twisted knot it had been tied in, I saw Rosie among the other horses. She stood out, her bright chestnut coat a spot of red among the browns and grays. She came closer to the fence. I wouldn’t have expected her to come anywhere near me, but maybe she thought I had food, or maybe she anticipated escape. In any case, I got the chance to watch her for a moment, and I felt my heart contract.
    â€œNot today,” I told her in a whisper. “Whether you’re with me or running wild out there, I will not let him hurt you.” And I yanked the chain free.

chapter fifteen
    The racket from the chain startled Rosie. I swung the gate wide. The big mare hesitated, and in that split second I saw something on her flank—a rough, C-shaped arch, an old brand of some kind. It was small, with a blurred smudge of letters underneath, and the hair had grown into it, making it almost invisible. I got behind her and flapped my arms at her. “Go on!” I shouted. “Get going!”
    She shied, then bolted through the open gate, running out into the meadow. The rest of the horses,