Cody has never been lucky in love. In fact, he isn’t feeling very lucky at all. Losing his job and all his money means he has to sell his home. He feels overwhelmed at having to start from scratch again.<br><br>Cody decides to get away from it all, and retreats to a secluded forest for some peace and quiet. But two days into his journey, he’s hit over the head as he’s emerging from his tent. When he wakes up, he discovers he’s tied to a chair in a dark room. He struggles against his bonds, and when he hears someone approaching, he begins to panic.<br><br>Who kidnapped him? What do they want from a man who has nothing left?

Tied Up In Knots

Baz walked to the water bucket and washed the blood and guts off his hands. He collected an old cloth bag from a hook in the corner by the wood stove and stuffed in the downy feathers. Cody could only assume he was going to make himself a new pillow. After putting the bag to one side, Baz placed the birds on a baking tray. He smeared each of them with some of the white grease he had used on Cody’s arse the night before, something Cody suspected might have been duck fat, then the tray went into the oven of the wood stove.


Baz turned around. “How are your arms?”


Baz untied the ropes around Cody’s ankles. Then, surprisingly, he untied the ropes around Cody’s wrists. When Cody stepped into the lantern light, he saw small red impressions where the weave of the rope had left marks.


“Thank you,” said Cody, rubbing his wrists.


“Don’t get too excited,” said Baz. “They’ll be back on tonight.” 7


Chapter 17