Nubbin but Trouble by Ava Mallory Read Free Book Online Page A

current hog reports and soybean reports. Yep, this wasn't Califiornia anymore and I wasn't sitting in my nice, warm house, watching a movie while I caught up with all the Hollywood gossip in the magazines I had stacked up in my living room.
     
    "We have breaking news, folks," the announcer said.
     
    I scoffed, believing that he was about to enlighten the masses with another round of hog reports, but he didn't.
     
    After a round of rather nasty coughing and an apology or two, he said, "The news conference is about to begin. Scottsbluff County Sheriff Charlie Wagner will update us with the latest."
     
    The latest? Charlie? Now, he had my attention.
     
    The snow continued to pelt down as I drove. Another round of yellow flashing lights was outside my window. There had been warnings about continuing with caution, but I saw absolutely no reason to stop yet. I was a woman on a mission and I hoped that whatever this news conference was about would validate why it was so important to me to keep pushing forward, despite my questionable driving my skills and my tendency to forget that I was driving - snow or no snow.
     
    "Well?" The radio station went quiet. "That's all we get?"
     
    I turned my head for just a split second to see if my companion was paying any attention to me at all and the next thing I know the car began to spin out of control and I'm held on to the steering wheel for dear life.
     
    We made three revolutions, by my estimation, and landed facing the wrong way in a ditch run off to the side of Highway 71. My chest tightened, the death grip on the steering wheel still intact, I looked back at Barney again. His carrier had been secured correctly, so it didn't budge, but he sure did. He barked loudly, looking around the car and at me.
     
    "Sorry, buddy. I don't know what happened." I said, rubbing my neck.
     
    “It's okay. You're okay. I'm okay.” The sharp pain in my neck and my right leg said otherwise, but it was either lie or fall apart on the side of the road.
     
    I looked around and couldn't see anything but snow drifts. We were stuck. It was time to panic. The car sat with its nose in the snow and its tail hidden behind another drift. No one was ever going to find us. I had to get out of the car and do it quickly.
     
    “Okay, Barney. Let's get out of here. I'm sure someone will come by and give us a lift.” My voice shook. I couldn't remember the last time I'd seen a car. As soon as we left Colorado, visibility dropped to a mere few feet. Funny how no one – not one single highway patrolman or local police officers – were on the roads, at least not any I could see. Barney and I were completely alone, in the snow.
     
    I tried my door, but it wouldn't budge. Panicked, I moved from seat to seat, my leg burning in pain and tried the other doors. None of them would open.
     
    Barney continued to bark, shaking my resolve even more. He knew we were in trouble.
     
    I maneuvered back into the driver's seat and threw the car in reverse. My tires spun wildly, throwing snow in the air all around the car. My throat filled with fear. My heart pounded against my chest wall. This was it for us. This is where it would end.

Chapter Four
                  I woke up in a man's arms, my head dangling.
     
    “Who are you? Let me go!” I screamed.
     
    “Alright now, miss. I got you. Just stay still.” The man said as he carried me to the side of the road and laid me down on the cold, wet ground.
     
    “Who are you?” I forced myself up, my head spinning.
     
    The man smiled at me. “I'm the guy that saved your life. What are you doing out on the road? Don't you know the roads are closed? Can't you see that?”
     
    Honestly, I couldn't really see anything other than the glare from the snow.
     
    “My dog. Where's my dog?” I moved to go search my car, but the man put his arm out to stop me.
     
    “I have your dog. He's right there.” He pointed to a huge pickup truck that stood several feet