“That’s right You wouldn’t mind partying a little with us, would you, ‘Ms Randall’? Just to be friendly?”
Joey listened to the chorus of comments and held back a shudder. “I’m sure you gentlemen understand, but I really have to be going. Maybe some other time.”
“Gentlemen! Well, I like the sound of that!” the blond man, Billy, commented with a broad gesture .”Too bad there aren’t any here, huh?”
This elicited more laughter, and Joey knew no amount of “reasoning” was going to get her a reprieve from whatever this bunch had in mind. Or would soon figure out.
As if on an unspoken cue, the men began moving toward her again, though one or two showed a little reluctance that might have been hopeful if there hadn’t been just enough of them to encourage a mob mentality. Joey saw that they had fanned out in a pattern that would block an escape to the left or right, and that left one direction—back, into the lake. She was considering how best to jump for it when Billy plunged forward. She staggered back, but he caught her arm and held her poised with one foot in water and the other still on dry land.
Joey put all her strength into trying to free her arm, but the man seemed determined to keep it. He chuckled and leaned over to pull her out of the water, his breath hot and foul on her face.
“Not so fast, city girl. Not very friendly at all, are you?” His watery eyes raked over her at close range, lingering on the front of her shirt. “But you sure are pretty. Very nice. Huh, boys?”
There was a chorus of agreement, and Billy tugged her back. Joey dug in her heels and resisted. With his free hand he grabbed the front of her shirt and pulled. Buttons popped free, and Billy was sufficiently distracted by what was revealed that he lost his momentum. His hand moved down to grab at her chest.
That was all the motive and opening Joey needed. She brought every bit of self-defense she had ever learned into play and threw her weight against Billy, using him for support as she brought her knee up against his groin. His reaction was instantaneous and very satisfying. With a grunt of agony he doubled over and dropped his hold on Joey. She was ready. While he struggled to right himself, she plunged backward into the lake. Joey was a strong swimmer, and she’d hoped to get a good lead on her tormentors. Floundering through the warm shallows, she made for deeper water, but even over her splashing she could hear pursuit. Her boots dragged her down, but she didn’t dare to take the time to remove them. Water soaked through her jeans, slowing her further.
With a final burst of despairing energy, Joey dived forward as the lake bottom dropped out from under her feet. Too late Something caught at her ankle, she tried to kick it free, but it clung stubbornly, and a moment later Billy’s head emerged from the water. Joey didn’t have to see his expression under the dripping blond hair.
She struggled fiercely as he clawed at her, winding his hands in her waterlogged clothing and catching her braid. She heard herself screaming in rage—a rage that totally eclipsed fear—and it took several violent moments before she realized the cries she heard were not hers alone.
Her captor realized it at the same moment. He froze, and Joey tensed for escape. But it soon became clear that Billy’s attention was no longer on her. She followed his gaze back to the shore as his grip loosened and his mouth dropped open in shock.
There was motion at the lake’s edge, frantic motion, signs of struggle and cries of anger and pain. The distance was too great for Joey to make out the words, but it was very clear that something had happened to distract her friends on shore—and Billy as well. She kicked free of him and swam a few yards away, but he did not pursue. He threw one threatening glance back at her, cursed viciously, and plunged back for shore.