"You never know Doc, it could happen yet. Now, if you are finished with me, I'd better head back. I have a ton of paperwork to do."
"Fine, just take it easy and rest up. I want to see you in two weeks to check your blood pressure."
Stacey smiled and walked out closing the door behind her. Passing the nurse's station she waved and headed out the front door.
From her bag she took a hat and sunglasses putting them on before she made her way toward the pub at a leisurely pace. Passing the old guesthouse Doc mentioned she was pleased to see the doors open and people milling around inside. Hopefully they would breathe life into the town and stay for the long term.
Stacey crossed the road and walked down the pathway next to the show grounds toward home. A car pulled along side her and stopped. Glancing over she noticed it was one of Morgan's work vehicles.
"Is everything alright?" She looked in at the man behind the wheel suddenly anxious.
"Yes miss. You are Stacey, right?"
"Yes, why?"
"Morgan asked me to pick you up. Said he had something to show you concerning the old guy Sid. Hop in and I'll give you a lift out to the mine office." He leaned over and opened her door.
"Really, couldn't he have just called me?" She climbed in the car and closed the door.
"Not sure what's going on. I just follow orders." He held out his hand to her. "Mike, nice to meet you."
"Hi Mike. Okay, let's see what he wants then."
Mike turned the car back toward the town and headed through without any more talk. They passed the turnoff to Sid's house and then the mine entrance before Stacey started to get worried.
"Where are we meeting Morgan?"
Mike looked over at her with a sneer on his face. "Little lady, just sit still and shut up. If you want to see that bastard again, you will do exactly as I say."
Cold fear washed over Stacey and she grabbed her belly. She suddenly knew who this was. "You can't do this. I have nothing to do with Morgan or the mine."
"Shut the hell up. Don't speak again until I tell you to." Spittle ran down the man's chin and a crazed look filled his eyes. She turned her head to look out the window and tried to hold it together.
Mike drove for another ten minutes before turning off on a track that led to some of the older gold mines. The whole area was dotted with deep shafts left over from the gold mining days of her grandfathers era. She had a terrifying thought that she would be down one of those mine shafts anytime soon and panic gripped her chest.
My phone, it is in my bag. Trying to slip her hand in casually Stacey hoped he wouldn't notice. As casual as she could, she slid her fingers around in the mess at the bottom until she found her phone. Leaving it under the cover of her bag she scrolled through the menu to find Morgan's number.
Quickly typing him a message she pushed send and groaned when the ping announce the text had been sent.
"What are you doing, you sneaky little bitch." He slammed on the brake and grabbed the bag from her grasp. He threw it out of the window before backhanding her across the cheek.
Stacey screamed as the tears of pain filled her eyes. Blood flowed over her tongue, sending her stomach into spasms. Try as she might, she could not hold back her breakfast as it purged from her belly. Gripping the door handle she threw it open and vomited on the dusty road.
Rough hands pulled her back into the car forcing her back against the seat.
"You bitch. Being full of his kid is going to get you no sympathy from me whatsoever. I suggest you sit back and enjoy the ride."
Mike floor the accelerator and the door slammed shut with the movement.
Tears ran unchecked down Stacey's cheeks and she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. The foul taste of vomit was still on her tongue and her stomach threatened to hurl again. Breathing through her mouth, she fought to suppress it.
The mad man threw the car around corners, sliding in the loose gravel. He was yelling loudly and for the first time Stacey realized he had been drinking. Lifting her hand she gripped the handle on the roof and held on.
When he pulled the car to a stop she knew where they were. At the back of the old mines. The noise of drillers at Morgan's mine sounded over the hills but they were out of sight.
He opened the car door and tried to drag her out, not giving her a chance to undo the seatbelt. It pulled on her belly and Stacey cried out.
"Undo it, now."
Mike held his hand up as though to slap her again and she released the seatbelt before he pulled her from the car. Stacey fell when he tugged her too hard, falling to the rough ground and bloodying her knees.
"Stop, please just stop a minute." She struggled to her feet trying to keep her skirt over her legs as he reached for her again. "Just let me get up."
Rough hands gripped her arm and dragged her to the mouth of an old mine shaft. The sound of water dripping into a pool below made her blood chill. Stacey knew some of tunnels went for miles and others were flooded. The majority of them were dangerous and she doubted Mike knew just how dangerous they were.
He flicked on a torch and grabbed a sack from the floor by the entrance before pushing her through the dark alley. Shining the light, he guided her down a series of bug infested hand dug tunnels until they came to a small cavern.
"Sit over there and don't try anything."
Stacey huddled against the wall as far away from him as she could.
