Love Inspired Suspense December 2015, Box Set 2 of 2 by Margaret Daley Read Free Book Online

muster.
    * * *
    Rachel had tried several more times with the flashlight, then discarded it. Needing something else she climbed down from the toilet. Fingers of smoke crept into the room.
    Coughing, her aunt scurried into the bathroom with a shotgun and gave it to Rachel. Then Aunt Linda closed the door and stuffed some towels under it. “We don’t have much time. Maybe we could use the gun like a bat or shoot at the glass.”
    Rachel checked to see if the weapon was loaded. “If shooting doesn’t work, we can try the other way.” She lifted the shotgun and aimed. Her ears pounded with the beating of her heart. With the noise of the crackling fire coming down the hallway, she put her finger on the trigger.
    â€œWait. Listen.” Aunt Linda grabbed Rachel’s arm. “That sounds like Jake.”
    Something slammed into the window. Her aunt shoved her into the bathtub as the glass exploded into the room. The backs of her legs hit the edge of the tub, and Rachel tumbled backward, her aunt following her. A few shards pierced Rachel’s arm as she put it up to block her face. Her body crashed against the hard white acrylic, knocking the breath from her.
    â€œRachel. Linda,” Jake shouted as he appeared in the smashed window.
    Aunt Linda rolled off Rachel and replied, “We’re okay.”
    With a sledgehammer, Jake began knocking the rest of the glass out of the frame. “Grab some towels to lay on the ledge. You need to hurry. The fire is working its way to this side.”
    Her aunt scrambled from the bathtub and held her hand out for Rachel to take. Still trying to catch a decent breath, she gripped her aunt’s hand and let her haul her to her feet. Aunt Linda helped her out of the tub and removed the towels from under the door. Smoke poured into the room from every crack around the door seal. It tickled Rachel’s throat, and she coughed. She pulled her turtleneck over her month again, but the smoke stung her watering eyes.
    â€œReady?” Jake took the towels that Aunt Linda gave him and placed them on the ledge. “I’ll help you from this side.”
    â€œYou go first.” Rachel helped her aunt up onto the closed toilet seat. She couldn’t lose her other aunt. Please, Lord.
    The cuts on Rachel’s arms hurt, and blood dripped onto the tile floor. She took a washcloth to help stem the flow while Aunt Linda leaned into the window. Rachel helped her out the hole. Her aunt was petite, and she barely made it.
    A loud boom shook the house. Rachel glanced back at the door.
    â€œHurry, Rachel. The fire is spreading over the roof.” Urgency filled Jake’s voice.
    The sound of his voice calmed the fear rising in her even as she climbed onto her perch, leaped to the window and grabbed Jake’s hands to hold tight. Her legs dangled in midair in the bathroom. She wriggled her body, trying to move forward, while Jake pulled her toward him. Her side rubbed against the frame, and something sharp scraped her.
    She groaned.
    â€œOkay?”
    â€œThere must be some glass on my right, but don’t stop.”
    â€œSorry, I thought I got all the glass out of the frame.”
    â€œPull harder. My shoulders are barely through, but my hips are bigger.”
    â€œScoot as much to the left as you can. I’ll find something to put between you and the frame on the right.”
    Another crash sounded behind her. Time was running out.
    Rachel managed to shift a tad bit while Jake said, “I’ll be right back. I remember a piece of flashing in the shed.” Jake raced toward the small building.
    Without Jake to block the wind, it bombarded Rachel with cold and the scent of smoke and burning wood. Coughs racked her while Jake rushed back. He took the flashing and put it between her and the window frame.
    â€œThis should help you move easier.” Then he grabbed her arms and yanked.
    â€œJust get me out.” She imagined the flames