The Simsville Inheritance
Copyright ©2006 Elizabeth G. Cox. All rights reserved.

Chapter 12 - Charlotte Has Plans of Her Own

It was late afternoon when Jamie returned to check on the girl. He didn't want her to die of starvation or dehydration or something. He brought her a Big Mac and a Coke but she didn't seem too happy to see them.

"You skunk, you low-down, lying weasel," she sputtered, trying to think of something bad enough to express how she felt. "You know what's going to happen to you? You'll never get away with this! Untie me, my foot's hurt and besides, I've got to go to the bathroom, you stupid cretin."

The GPS in Charlotte's boot was beyond her ability to turn back on, with her hands taped up behind her. Maybe if he would let her take the boot off...

"Don't move if you know what's good for you," Jamie replied calmly, smiling. "Let's see what's wrong with that pretty little foot of yours." He pulled out a pocket knife and cut the tape from around her feet, gently tugged on the boot until it came off and then pulled the boot sock off her foot.

"Looks okay to me." He tossed her boot and sock out of her reach, then helped her stand up. "Bathroom privileges over there," he pointed out one of the stalls in the main stable, freeing her hands. "Don't take too long or I'll have to come looking." He smiled again, standing at the outer door as she limped toward the stall, one boot on, the other off.

When she returned, Jamie made her sit back down on the floor, then handed her the sandwich and soft drink. "It might be a while before you get anything else, better eat." Still furious, Charlie took the sandwich. She finally washed down about half of it with swallows of the Coke.

"What now?" Her voice still had an angry edge.

"Now we wait and see if your daddy comes through, shouldn't be too long. Hands in back," Jamie instructed, pulling the roll of duct tape several times around her ankles and wrists. "I'll be back with breakfast." He turned to leave the room, his hand on the door.

"Wait, wait, you're not leaving me here all night?" Charlie's anger was turning into nervous fear.

"Oh, you'll be okay, there's no snakes out here, far as I can tell. Sleep tight." And he was gone.

Charlotte waited until she was sure he was gone. The daylight had faded but she could still make out the features of the room. She needed to get to her boot. It took a few minutes to maneuver herself to within reach of it and get it behind her body. Fumbling with the heel, it took a few more minutes before she was sure she'd switched the GPS unit back on. Wriggling herself back to her original position, she lay on her side and tried to think of something else to do. How long would it take before somebody noticed her GPS signal and came to find her?

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14 | Chapter 14 | Chapter 15 | Chapter 16 | Chapter 17 |