Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 93284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
I leapt for my cell phone on the end of my bed tripping over Chewy who was at my feet. I quickly held the 3 down and it dialed Sam's number that I had programmed into my speed dial so I could reach him easily and quickly. While doing this I headed into the direction of Janie's room.
Ringing two times he answered with a gruff sounding "Yeah?"
My breath hitched a little when I whispered, "Sam, someone's trying to get into the house."
Sam immediately said, "Grab Janie, furthest bedroom from entry, closet. Cover yourselves with what's already in there. I’ll be there in five."
I opened Janie's door quietly, went to her crib and carefully lifted her trying not to wake her. She curled her little body into mine and stayed fast asleep. My heart pounded as I walked back to my room and into the closet. I laid her down and covered her with one of the sheets that I stored on the floor. Pushing her as far back as I could between the clothes hanging in the closet, I did the same with myself protecting her with my body. I left chewy on the floor by my bed and closed the closet door. My shotgun was in a safe in my mom’s room so it wouldn't be accessible by Janie who had begun to be curious about everything. I was rethinking that move as I put the phone back up to my ear and whispered, "Here" And waited.
I could hear the roar of an engine in the background of the phone when he said, "Two more minutes." And hung up.
I couldn't hear anything over the storm, so I just stayed as still as I could and prayed. A little while later I heard Chewy's dog tags jingle and a low menacing growl sound from his throat.
I was about to hyperventilate from holding my breath when I heard Sam say, "It's me. You can come out. "
I launched myself out of the closet and threw myself at him. He wrapped his arms around me and ran his 5 o'clock shadow over my hair. I quivered in his arms and he just held me until I got some control back.
Walking back to the closet, I bent down and picked Janie up and held her to me.
Sam watched silently, and finally said "No one here. Back door was breeched, but other than that no signs of anyone being in the house. I made a lap around the house also, but didn't see anything. I called max and asked him to come help me check out everything. We are going to wait for him to get here so he can stay with you while I check a little more thoroughly."
At that my body simply deflated. I collapsed onto the bed and let out a relieved sigh. Sam took Janie from me and cradled her in his big strong arms.
You would never know by the ease at which he held her that she weighed nearly thirty five pounds. He held her with such little effort you would think she weighed next to nothing. Thankfully she was still blissfully unaware of anything that was going on around her.
Max called to let us know that he was outside. Sam laid Janie down on my bed, and walked out of the room. He came back a little later with Sam, and they started talking in gibberish, something that sounded like military speak, but went right over the top of my head.
Max left the room, and Sam came up to me.
“You need to pack a bag for you and Janie. Enough for a couple of days.” Sam said distractedly
“Ummm, that’s harder than it looks. Janie requires a bunch of shit: diapers, wipes, toys, clothes, shoes, bath stuff, a play pen for her to sleep in, and a lot more that I probably haven’t even thought about.” I said “You’ve never been around kids before have you?”
He looked at me for a long moment, and then nodded. “Okay, I’ll move over here until we can get it to my place. We will have an alarm put in tomorrow. I know a guy who owes me a favor.”
He pulled out his phone, and went about setting up a time for the guy to come install an alarm.
“Can I put her back to bed?”
“Yes, Max will stay over here too. Where can he sleep?”
“There is James’ bed in with Janie, or there is my Mom’s room.”
“He can sleep with Janie, which would solve the immediate problem of making sure everyone was safe.”
I got Janie settled in bed, and then got ready for bed myself while Max and Sam were busy discussing logistics. I settled into bed, got my pillows situated and Mr. Bear in the crook of my arm. It was then what happened finally settled in and I started to shake, shortly after starting to cry.
It was during my crying jag that Sam slipped into bed behind me, pulling me into his warm body. I turned still clutching my bear and buried my face into his neck.
“Are you done?” I asked, still crying, but trying to get it under control.
“I am now; I heard you crying and came to you.”
“Thank you. I can’t get over the fact that Janie was in danger. I have no way to protect her. I was frozen; if it wasn’t for you telling me what to do I don’t know what would have happened!” I said crying myself into exhaustion.
“Shhhh, I’m here now. Nothing will hurt y’all.” Sam said quietly, running his hands through my hair.
I stopped crying shortly after, falling into a restless sleep, snuggled into Sam’s warmth and his arms wrapped around me.
SAM
“What’d you find?” I asked Max. There wasn’t a question of if, it was what. Max was good at his job.
“Jack was able to get him. Little shit doesn’t know anything though. Some guy paid him to put a note on her kitchen table. He was told that no one was here and he would have to pick the lock. Jack took him to Cooper. ”