Promise Me Forever by Cyndi Raye Read Free Book Online Page B

Penny’s nose again. “I know you can do this,” she told her pet. “Find him.” Penny sniffed the cape and then the ground for a bit before heading in the opposite direction of where they walked. “Come on, this way,” Abby directed to the others as she followed Penny. “I think she’s got a lead on him.”
     
    After several minutes they came to a series of trails. Penny stopped and sniffed around but seemed confused at first until she ran down one trail and then back to Abby. So they followed along, stepping through burma reed, its linear leaf blades drifting over the half cleared trail. Dark green leathery clusters from the chicle-gum tree hung down and hit Abby in the face. She pushed the twigs back and followed Penny through the brush.
     
    Elvin spoke up. “We’re getting near the Blue Hole. There’s alligators there,” he said in a shaky voice.
     
    “Elvin, there’s alligators everywhere. They won’t bother us if we don’t mess with them. Concentrate on the job at hand,” Abby warned him. That’s all she needed, an Elvis imposter terrified of alligators right now. She did look back a few times since he mentioned the dreaded word, in case he was right.
     
    Margie piped up. “What’s the Blue Hole?”
     
    “It used to be a quarry or something, abandoned years ago and filled with fresh water, wildlife and alligators now,” Elvin said.
     
    Abby smiled to herself. There were trails all along with postings from time to time. If the alligators over ran the area, they wouldn’t let people run around here, would they? They came to a small bridge with wooden slats across, a fence of sorts to keep a person from walking straight in to the Blue Hole. A bird flew by Abby’s face and she jumped. Penny began to growl.
     
    “Penny, hush. It’s okay.” Her hair stood up and she didn’t listen. Penny moved closer to Abby, alert. Mother nature seemed to get quiet all of a sudden in the immediate area.
     
    The cock of a gun’s hammer filtered through the air, reaching Abby’s ears like a firecracker on the fourth of July. The others heard it as well because they all turned around at the same time to find Zorro a few feet away holding a gun in front of him.
     
    “Dang it!” Margie cried out. “Don’t shoot! We’re tourists.”
     
    His head moved back and forth. “No, I doubt you’re tourists. I saw you on stage at the campground.” He turned to Abby. “I saw you up close and personal. What are you following me for?”
     
    “I said we’re tourists and campers,” Margie tried to convince him. She raised her hand in the air to realize she held on to the dark cape he wore earlier.
     
    “Oh, is that so? What are you doing with my cape?” He turned the gun towards Margie and reached behind him with his other hand. He probably never realized he lost it.
     
    “Don’t!” Abby said, her voice steady and strong. “We mean no harm. How about we give you the cape you dropped and be on our way. We were enjoying the trails here but we better get back, it’s almost dark.”
     
    “I no longer need the cape.” He turned to Abby, looked at Penny, then back at her. She had to act nonchalant, as if they were out and about, but she doubted he would believe her at this point. She could see it in his face, the way a muscle twitched at the corner of his eye. He was serious and dangerous. “I suggest you tell me before I put a bullet in the dog’s fur.”
     
    When he spoke she wanted to jump on him and gouge his eyes out. Anger flashed across Abby’s face and she knew he saw it, knew her vulnerable spot. She stared at him hard. The eyes told the truth and she knew without a doubt he would kill her dog. She looked at Margie and Alvin. She winked at them both and then looked back at the dark figure. “Okay, I’ll tell you the truth. Don’t hurt my dog.”
     
    He flicked his wrist as the gun wobbled back and forth, his patience at an end. “Tell me now,” he ordered. He seemed nervous but with