Rivers forced her heavy eyelids to open. The voices had pulled her from a heavy sleep. She looked up just as the doors above her were unlatched and light streamed into the cellar. There, peering down into the darkness, were Weston and Jolee. “Oh! My goodness!” Jolee exclaimed. “You’ve been down there all night?” Weston asked. Paxton pushed Rivers forward and stood up, stretching and groaning. “Dang, my rear-end is numb as a dead man’s,” he grumbled. Rivers struggled to her feet as well, shielding her eyes from the bright morning sun. “You two look purty beat up. But wait ’til ya see what’s gone on up here,” Weston sighed, his discouragement all too obvious. Paxton bolted up the stairs and through the cellar door as Jolee reached down and helped Rivers climb up. The sight that met them was horrifying.
