slipped off her high heels and put on her tennis shoes. She put Beau on a leash and took him out for a walk. All the built up sexual energy on top of a crazy couple of days, she needed to get out and connect with her dog. Just as it happened the other night, the sound of a motorcycle cut the air. Savannah’s first thought was Foley. But that made no sense. If it was a major fire like he said, would he be back so soon?
And it wasn’t just one motorcycle. It was a pack of bikers. Riggers. She moved to the side of the road and did her best to control the dog that was freaking out from all the noise. She thought she would just wait until they passed, but then they raced and made circles. They weren’t driving on.
She knew she must be the target.
Fuck!
Finally, they were coming for her, rushing all around her. Savannah was petrified. Beau was trying to run away. He reared and barked as the bikers antagonized them. Finally, Savannah and Beau darted across the prairie grass toward her lot. The bikers chased them, herded them toward the lake.
Savannah hollered for Trenton. She hoped and prayed he was awake. Or still there. The shore of the lake was fast approaching. In late September, the water of Devil’s Lake was going to be cold.
“What the fuck do you want?” she shouted.
One of the men got off his bike and started to walk toward her.
He had a mask like he was an assassin. And that’s what really triggered her panic. Were they plotting her murder? As she went to run, he wrapped strong arms around her waist and dragged her into the water. She thrashed and flailed, but he was rough and controlled her easily. He put her head under the water and held it there, then lifted it up so she could breath.
Fuck!
She watched as they put Beau underwater.
“Don’t kill my dog!” she shouted.
“I’ve got a message for you,” the man said. “Get the fuck out of town!”
“Who wants me to leave?”
“Just know this, bitch! We will break your spirit until you leave. And if that means killing your animals and destroying your property, then that’s what we will do.”
He dunked her underneath the water again.
Just as she and the dog came up for another breath, Trenton came out onto the dock with a gun. A shot cracked the air, and quickly the bikers retreated.
Savannah waded out of the water as quickly as she could, furious. She hugged Beau. He was fine. Just a little shaken up. Anger flooded over her. She and the dog walked to her back door; Trenton called after her as he tried to catch up. She felt for the house key she kept underneath the pillows on the chaise on the back porch of the house.
“Hey,” he said. “I’m calling the sheriff. They tried to fucking drown you!”
“They weren’t trying to kill me. It was a warning that I should leave town.”
“Who wants you to leave town?”
“I’m guessing it’s revenge from Carolyn, my stepmom. I guess she wants me to sell the house, pack up, and leave. Looks like she hired some muscle.”
Savannah dashed to her room and stripped off her wet clothes. As she changed, she tried to calm down but it was hard when her heart was racing so fast. She grabbed a towel for the dog.
Trenton ordered calmly, “Tell me what happened.”
“We were walking. We got chased. They pushed us down to the lake shore,” she said. “Then try to scare us by drowning us. I was scared shitless!”
“The cops are fucking coming,” he said.
“Oh, gosh!” exclaimed Savannah. “I am so done with this crap! I don’t want the cops here again.”
Trenton put a quiet hand on her. “So am I honey,” he said. “Let’s put one foot in front of the other and take care of this thing.”
“Carolyn is such a bitch to harass a lady and her dog.”
“How can she afford to pay for them?” Trenton asked. “I thought she was poor.”
“She’s probably sleeping with the captain, knowing her. She can seduce anyone and get them to do her bidding. Trust me, she’s