~ Captive Hearts ~
by Anita Louise
Copyright Anita Louise
spoonisle@yahoo.com

See Chapter 1 for author's notes.



Chapter 11

The two women stood side by side staring up at the slide that had carried them to where they stood at that moment. Sarah had a death grip on Bobie's right hand and the look on her face was one of amazement. Bobie turned to gaze at the woman and said, "We made it."

"We did. My body is still feeling many things. Mostly a deep feeling of awe, I think my knees are going to give, legs are weak."

Reaching out, Bobie patted the hand that held her right one so tightly. "You can let go now. We are on solid ground. Your knees will not collapse."

Realizing she was still holding Bobie's hand, she released it and said, "Sorry."

Reaching out, Bobie placed her right arm around the young Woman's waist. "Lean on me. I know it has been a harrowing journey and the last leg of it was not for the faint of heart. Still, we are here and alive."

"You were right; the slide did not go as fast as I feared. And when we neared the bottom, it really held back."

"Allowing us to make a very easy landing."

Sarah mumbled, "Thank goodness. But, I'm not sure this isn't a dream."

Sky pinched Sarah's side lightly and said, "If one is to thank someone, guess goodness is one thing."

Stepping back, pulling away from Bobie's hold, Sarah's face took on a different appearance as she said, "Thankful for you too. If not for you, things would not be going well for me at this moment"

"It's all right Sarah, I understand. I too am thankful and however we made it, I am happy. Just wanted you to know it is not a dream."

"If it is, I am very happy you are in it with me Bobie Parker."

Pointing to the stream that was running not far from where they were, Bobie asked, "Shall we head to the stream? See if we can find some drinking water."

"Good Idea. First let me take these things out from under my top and put them back in the knapsack. Hope we do not run into anyone until we get these back where they belong and look more presentable."

Bobie reached out and traced a line on Sarah's forehead saying, "If you look anything like I feel, then what is in our tops is nothing to what is on our bodies."

"I know, must look like I have eaten a big part of the dirt from our journey."

Smiling, Bobie said, "Well, at least it didn't just settle on one of us. We both are wearing enough dirt and the quicker I can get it off, the better. What do you say we make it over to the creek?"

Sarah nodded and followed Bobie but with each step she was also removing articles from
under her top and putting them into her knapsack. When she had finished she ran to catch up to the blonde who was making fast time and nearing the water.

Dropping her knapsack Bobie un-tucked her top allowing the hidden articles to plummet to the ground. She dropped to her knees and began to pick them up and then put then into her knapsack.

Sarah fell to her knees beside Bobie and said, "Tops are a bit stretched but at least we still
have a little food, and some other things left."

Sitting, Barbara held the knapsack in one hand as she brushed back wisps of blond hair that had fallen onto her forehead. "If we don't find some sort of food source in here, we both will be tightening our belts."

Chuckling Sarah said, "We don't have any belts on."

Reaching out, Bobie gave the woman a push, sending her onto her back. "Do you have to take everything I say as Gospel?"

Laying and not moving, Sarah replied, "Well not like we are in church."

"Geez', woman I am not sure you really understand the predicament we are in. Tightening our belts just means if we don't find some other food source, we will be losing weight. And not the way I would want to lose weight."

Placing her right forearm over her eyes, Sarah didn't move but said, "I think you are tired.
I know I am. My head is buzzing, so much has been happening, guess I just don't want to really face the dire predicament we are in. So don't blame me."

"Sorry. I didn't mean to push you, like you said, we are both tired and pushing you will not help the predicament we are in. I shouldn't have done it. Hope you do know though, it was not meant to hurt you. More like two sisters or good friends--" Before she could finish her sentence, Bobie found herself hitting the ground, and looking up she saw Sarah Clemens quickly straddling her stomach. "Now I have you Bobie Parker, how does it feel?"

Within seconds, Bobie moved her body with such speed, it was like watching a flashing whirl and soon Sarah lay on the ground with Bobie straddling the woman, penning her wrists to the ground, Bobie's blue eyes sparkled. "What's that you say Clemens?"

Wigging under the woman, Sarah tried in vain to unseat Bobie. "Get off me!"

Bobie shook her head. "You started it. Tell me Clemens if you were to get me down and I couldn't get up, just what did you have in mind to do with me?"

Sarah's face was turning red as she grunted, and fumed, "Can't breathe, get off me!"

"I don't weigh that much. Have to think of something else."

Sarah turned her head from side to side and tried to move her arms. Bobie leaned over further to do her best to keep the woman's hands confined. It was at this time; Sarah opened her mouth and with her teeth got a grip on some of Bobie's lustrous hair that had fallen forward. She jerked to the left as Bobie yelped; releasing the hold she had on Sarah's wrists. Before Bobie knew what was happening, Sarah had brought her legs up; locking her feet around Bobie's throat she pulled the woman backwards, and she landed with a thud.

Sarah had grabbed a small branch, stood and began to strike at Bobie who was rolling doing her best to miss each strike. "Have you gone mad?" Bobie bellowed at Sarah.

If one was watching from afar it would look like the woman was swatting at flies on the ground and missing. Dust was flying, and Sarah missed each strike. Bobie was wearing down and hoped that Sarah was too. Finally not moving, she lay and gazed up at the woman walking toward her. Perspiration gleaming on the young woman's face and from her stance, she too was wearing down. Approaching, Sarah brought the branch down only to have Bobie reach up allowing it to fall between the palms of her hands as she caught it and jerked.

Suddenly Sarah Clemens felt herself falling forward and before she could do anything about it, she fell on top of Bobie. Grasping Sarah's wrists, Bobie rolled over, and once again Sarah found herself trapped. "All right, I give. Would never have hurt you. Always knew you would win. Guess I wanted you to beat me."

Releasing her hold on the woman, Bobie fell off to the side and lay looking at Sarah Clemens. "After all we have been through, you wanted me to beat you?"

"I wanted to feel something."

Standing, Bobie reached out and said, "Take my hand. Come on let's get to the stream, put up some sort of camp for tonight."

As they walked toward what was supposed to be a stream, it grew wider. The two stood gazing at the water for a few minutes. Finally Sarah asked, "Do you think--?"

"We could but that might spoil the water for drinking. Let's test it, if it is drinkable, then we can go further down and see if we can find some sort of hole."

"Hole"

"Swimming hole. You know a nice pool of water. One where we can perhaps clean up sooner or later."

"I go for that. Body aches like crazy."

"Join the club, mine is not happy with me either. What in the world got into you back there?"

"Blame it on this place. Blame it on how taxed I feel. I meant it; at least if you were fighting with me, I would feel something."

"Yeah, but you could have gotten hurt and so could I. By the way, where did you learn that move?"

"What move?"

"The one that caught me off guard and pulled me backwards."

"Saw someone do this on televisions, thought I would try it."

"Come on, you don't expect me to believe that do you?"

She walked toward the water and said, "It's the truth. Guess it was a good thing I tried to do this on you. At least you would not have killed me."

"Right now I'd like to take you over my lap."

"Sorry for disappointing you and being just me. But no one is taking me over their lap, not in the way you are meaning anyway."

"Do tell Sarah Clemens, have I missed something?"

Tossing her head and reaching up to run fingers through her hair she said, "Nope, just that no one is going to spank me, at least not without a fight. And you must know I will fight."

"Peace, can we just smoke the peace pipe?" The second the words were out of her mouth, Bobie wished she had not said them.

"I didn't bring a pipe and I know you don't have one."

There it was, Sarah Clemens once more taking words an entirely different way than she had meant them to be. "Not a real pipe, just meant can we be friends and stop with the fighting.

"Oh. All right, but I think it did us both good to let off a little steam. No one got hurt."

"Thank heavens. Have to stop and think, if one of us did, there is no one out here that I can see, and we need our wits about us as well as our bodies to be well. God only knows how long we will be here."

Sarah walked a tight circle as she took in the massive area and when she stopped and gazed toward Bobie she uttered, "We are in trouble, I see it on your face. The cliffs, the steep canyon walls, it is like we have walked into a land eons ago. I expect to see a Tyrannosaurus Rex come charging around the bend anytime."

Crinkling up her nose, Bobie teased, "You better hope not. Because at this moment neither of us is in shape to try and outrun one."

The look on Sarah's face was one of fear and she searched the ground for a largerstick, finding one she held it tightly and softly said, "Better find something for a weapon."

Chuckling, Bobie reached in the knapsack and withdrew the knife she had used to whittle
with before. "Guess you could run around and distract it and I could jab it in the toe."

Sarah wrinkled her brow as if she was in deep thought, took a few minutes before she replied, Ha! Thought you could fool me. There is no way, me running around distracting a monster like that and you jabbing its toe would make any difference. You must think I am some sort of imbecile."

"No. But I do think you are a very tired young lady. This canyon probably holds many things but in the dinosaur species it would be a lizard. We are both tired; it has been a long journey. Why don't you set up camp here, I will do a bit of reconnaissance before it gets to dark." The last words had barely passed her lips when Bobie noticed Sarah's chin begin to quiver. "No, no, don't cry. I hate when people cry."

Within seconds, tears were running rampant down Sarah's cheeks. "Sor--sorry, can't help it."

Dropping the knife to the ground, Bobie moved quickly to be at Sarah's side. "The worst is past for now, we are here, we are both fine, let's look at this like a new adventure. Our own special world. Please, no more tears."

"Easy for you to say, you have Skylar Richmond and so many others, I have no one. Now I am also hunted."

Bobie reached out and drew the woman to her in a close embrace. She held Sarah, comforted her and said, "It will be all right, we have each other, look how much we have accomplished, this canyon hasn't a chance against us. And you have me in your life now, and given the chance I know you will have more friends. Come on Sarah, stand tall, I am proud of you and without your assistance I probably would be dead. So regardless what you say, I will be in your life from now on. After all, I owe my life to you."

Sarah had laid her head on Bobie's shoulder, and hugged the woman tighter, saying, "Don't leave. I am afraid if you leave I will never see you again."

Bobie could feel the wetness of the tears on what was once a white tank top, she wished there was something she could do to help Sarah Clemens but at that moment all she seemed to want to do was hold onto her. "Sarah, what say we try to find enough rocks to build a small fire pit? This way we can keep a small fire going all night, take shifts. Do our best to just rest this evening and then tomorrow scout. And if you do not feel safe being alone, come with me."

Sniffling and pulling away from the hug, Sarah muttered, "All right. Sounds like a good idea." She looked at Bobie's shoulder and added, "Sorry, I got you wet."

"It's all right; my shoulders are always here for you if you need them. Who knows it may be my turn tomorrow to tear up on yours. Let's get the rocks and find some wood."

As the two women went about gathering rocks and placing them strategically, they were not aware of the two eyes that watched their every move.



When the two women strode into the parking area they could see Bern and Tara standing near the water. Both seemed to be in deep conversation.

"Talking about me guys?" Sky playfully asked.

The two turned to see Sky and Barbara approaching. It was Bern that spoke first as he walked to meet the two. "No, just talking about the area and the many things that have happened here. Like Tara's recent bout with the new sheriff."

"Oh. From all I hear it was a terrible bout. I missed all the excitement."

Tara was approaching them now and she spoke in a quiet tone, as if to escape the ears of perhaps the rabbits that were feeding on a patch of grass not far away. "It was good you did not see what took place or how evil Deanna Burgess can be. Took me by surprise. Hate that you missed the excitement but as it was, you needed all your energy to come back to us. That bullet almost took you away Sky; you really need to think about this."

Sky folded her arms across her chest, took a stance and scowled at Tara. "I need to really think about this, being what?"

"Your ankle is not back to the way it was, now you have a head wound, maybe think about going back with Barbara and Bern, keep the fires burning at Global and let me--"

Sky's nostrils were flaring as she tossed her head to the left and to the right, "In your dreams, Coltrane!"

"Just trying to help."

"The sheriff almost did you in, got me too, yet you expect me to go back to LA, and leave you with all this. I say no. If someone is to find Bobie it will be me and the way things have been going, even I am not doing much good in the matter. But I think we have caught a break."

Eyes perked up as Bern and Tara stared at each other then Sky and in unison asked, "What?"

"Bern you and Barbara came all the way out here to help and you have. Barbara brought me the information that was sent to the sheriff's office for me and that the sheriff send back. I have it now."

Tara smiled, and jumped in the air clicking her heels together before she landed once more. "Hallelujah! The Gods are shining our way now!"

Barbara was still trying to figure out how such a tall woman could have made the jump she just did. Bern had tipped his head to the side and winked at Barbara and Sky just shook her head in amazement at Tara's actions.

"What? Haven't any of you seen a person jump in the air before?"

Sky was the first to reply, "Yes, Olympic athletics, kangaroos, but a person as tall as you to jump that high and click their heels together before coming back down, is quite a feat."

Tara replied, "I'm happy that we have something solid to go on now. Tell me, what is it?"

"Let's go back to the cabin, I'll show you."



Barbara and Bernie agreed to fly back that day but not without the two women promising to keep in touch daily. They agreed one or the other would do this.

Tara was watching Sky ready a backpack, strap on a holstered gun, then make sure she had also strapped a knife in a sheath to her left leg. She had just finished making sure the knife was seated safely and that the sheath was holding when she noticed Tara deep in
thought. "What gives? Do you think I missed something?"

Tara raised her eyebrows, shook her head and replied, "Nope, looks like you could take on an entire army with all--"

"Not an army, just one man, and then Coltrane, an army if it has to be."

"It is good to see the color in your cheeks again, the spirit, and the determination return. Just try to remember, you are not in the best of health."

"I know. I promise to stay away from sheriffs with loaded guns. Now can we go?

"I am at your command. And ready for action." Tara picked up her backpack and headed for the front door, followed closely by Sky.

Once they were in the car and backpacks on the rear seat, Sky got in the car and watched Tara walk around checking the tires before getting in and starting the car. "Here we go, let's hope that Max Fletcher is at the stables."

"Max is almost always there, he doesn't trust many with his animals. Hold on Bobie we are getting close."



When they could see the outline of Fletcher's stables coming into view, Sky began to fidget, and tap the fingers of her right hand on the window sill.
Tara had kept her eyes on the road until that moment; she glanced toward Sky and said, "You know this could be a wild goose chase. I think you should be prepared."

If looks could kill, the look that Sky gave Tara was enough to freeze the woman on the spot as she replied, "I feel it in my bones, this is right. It has to be." She looked out the side window and never said another word.

When the car was pulling into the drive way, Tara said, "You know I don't see the pickup that Max Fletcher drives."

"Been awhile, maybe he traded it or got another car or who knows, just hurry up, let's get this done."

Once parked, Tara reached over and touched Sky's left arm. "Sky, this has to be hard on you, last time you were out here--"

"I know. Doing the best I can to forget but not all of it was bad. I'm all right."

When the two women, dressed alike, except for the weapons each carried on their bodies as well as in hand, walked up to the door and knocked, the curtain covering the small window in the door moved as someone peeked out for a second then a timid voice called out asking, "Who is it and what do you want?"

"Max Fletcher, is he here?" Sky asked as she held a rifle in her right hand at ready.

"No. He is not here."

Tara said, "We need to talk to him or to you."

"I don't open the door to people carrying guns. All ready called the sheriff's office so you had best be on you way before they arrive."

Tara glanced at Sky, then with a one two three count the two women kicked the door with a strength that even surprised them. Wood splintered, glass shattered and the door went crashing inward. Once inside they immediately spotted the woman lying under all the remnants of the door on the floor.

Sky tossed her rifle to Tara who caught it with the one free hand she had. Standing holding both rifles she watched Sky reach down and pick the woman up, brush her off then ask, "Once again, where is Max Fletcher?"

She was of small frame, grey hair pulled back into a bun on her head, Steele grey eyes, and skin that was splotchy, red, and blue veins spidered here and there. The woman looked like her bones would break like a twig, she wore a homespun looking dress, and it even had small pictures of kitchen items on it. The color, sunshine yellow, was the only bright thing they had seen all day.

"Who are you? Why did you do that?" She pointed to where there was once a door.

"We need to talk to Max Fletcher, it is important, life and death important. The sooner you tell us where he is, the better."

"He is not here. Mr. Fletcher left last Wednesday. I think he was going on some sort of sabbatical."

Tara tossed the rifle to Sky and asked, "You buying any of that Richmond?"

"Nope. But if she did indeed call the sheriff, we need to get some information pronto."

Tara tossed her rifle toward Sky this time and said, "Hold this, and let me show you how it is done Richmond."

The second the woman saw the tall woman coming toward her, mouth set, eyes cold, she began to back up and stammered, "You, You, Your not going to let her hurt me are you?"

Sky looked like someone out of the movie, Searchers, two rifles, gun on hip, knife and other assorted artillery at ready. "Can't stop her. If I was you, I would talk, it will be less painful."

As Tara reached out to grasp the woman's right arm, she screamed, "Stop! I'll tell you!"

Winking toward Sky, Tara said, "Good that is much better, all right, where is Max Fletcher?"

"Like I said, he has gone."

Throwing up her hands in a futile gesture, eyes rolling back in her head Tara said, "Not what we want to hear. One more time, where can we find Max Fletcher?"

"Perhaps his nephew, can help you?" She quivered, and pleaded, "Please don't hurt me."

Sky gazed around the room and asked, "Where is the nephew?"

She took a deep breath and replied, "He went out to the Trenton home."

Motioning to Tara with a jerk of her head, Sky said, "Tara, show the woman the picture, then we have to go."

Tara reached into the pocket of her vest and held it out asking, "This, the nephew?"

Her eyes grew wide as she stuttered, "How did you get a picture of him?"

"Not important. Come on Sky, we need to get our man. Oh, you too." Tara grabbed the woman's left hand and began to pull her toward the doorway.

She pulled back like a mule glued to the floor. "I told you what you wanted. Please don't kill me."

Tara ran her tongue across the front of her teeth and said, "Calm down, no one is killing anyone, just can't leave you here to tell the sheriff about us."

Sky raised an eyebrow and said, "Just taking you for a ride, don't worry, we are not out to harm anyone. At least not you."



By the time the two arrived within walking distance of the Trenton home, it was getting late in the day. Sky stretched back against the seat and then turned to look at Tara. "You were pretty scary back there."

"Got the job done."

"Sure did. Woman will be fine. She liked the money we gave her, hope it is enough to keep her from yapping to Burgess. Should give us a head start. Seems we just can't get away from this sheriff."

"Sadly you are right and if she gets hold of us now, there will be more charges. Seems we are like two bulls in a China Shop the way things get messed up when we are around."

Laughing, Tara pulled the car into an off road area and turned the engine off. "Have to admit we make a hell of a team. Just hope the man is in there and he can tell us why he drugged Bobie and where she is."

Digging her fingers into the side of the car seat, Skylar growled, "He had better, I can't wait to get my hands on him."

"How do you want to handle this?" Tara asked reaching out to touch Sky's hand.

"We go up the arroyo, up the bank, then slither like a snake to the back of the house, find a window that is open and if we can't find one, we'll use the--"

"Gotcha, let's go partner." Tara stepped out of the car and then retrieved her rifle from the back seat. "Locked and loaded. Time to find out where Bobie Parker is."

The trip to the house was one of run, crawl, stop, and hide, both were happy to finally make it to the back of the house. Before long, they did find a window that was not locked from the inside and deftly opened it, then climbed into the house. As tall as they were, with all the fire power they had, the two still glided through the different rooms silently. They had just walked into the hallway when a man's voice could be heard. Both leaned against the wall, eyes darting to one another then toward the room where the sound was coming from.

Rifle ready, Sky whispered in Tara's left ear, "Let's make like a shadow, never let him see us coming."

"Got that, when did it happen? Max had to go some place on business, I am supposed to be taking care of the place."

Stepping into the room, the two women cocked the rifles and pointed them at the man, who stood mouth wide open with a very shocked look on his face. "Now, now ladies--"

Tara reached out and took the cell phone from the man, held it to her ear and heard a woman's voice, asking, Dete, are you still there?" She whispered in the man's ear, "Tell her you have to go." He hesitated and she bit his ear lobe quickly changing his mind, he took the phone from her and said, "Got to go, talk later."

Sky glanced around the room then asked, "Are you alone?"

He smirked, "Kind of late asking that aren't you?"

"Not really. We have canvassed the house and found no one. Just wanted to make sure."

Tara took the cell, and put it in her pocket, then set the rifle barrel so it touched the man's stomach. "We didn't come to say, howdy neighbor, we have come for answers and I swear you had better have them if you want to see tomorrow!"

He glanced toward Sky who was staring at him so hard, he felt like she was burning holes in his skin. "YOU! I'd know you anywhere, all she ever talked about! Do you no good to try and intimidate me."

Tara shoved the barrel into the fat of his stomach causing him to groan and fall over as his knees touched the floor, she brought the butt of the rifle up against his chin, sending
blood spurting from his mouth.

""My teeth, you broke my teeth!" He reached up to touch his face and spit out several teeth along with the blood.

Sky motioned for Tara to back away and she did. But still kept the rifle in her hand ready. Took her but two steps and she was standing in front of the man. Reaching down she placed the middle finger of her right hand under his chin and brought him off the floor to a standing position, never losing her hold under the chin. He looked like a Marlin that had been spiked and ready to be taken. "We've been gentle so far but it is time to see if you are a man or a mouse. Makes no difference to me which, for I'd as soon skin you and leave you out for the wild animals to dine on. So think long and hard about your next answer to my question."

He tried to speak but could not, he was standing on his tip toes and it was obvious the man was in pain as he spouted, "Let me go, I'll tell you anything."

"Not anything we want, we only want to know where Bobie Parker is."

His light blue eyes seemed to glaze over for a second, as he sputtered, "Let me go, I'll tell you."

She released the hold under his chin as he coughed and coughed, then reached up to rub the area she had been holding and said, "She said I would be sorry, said you would come for me, didn't believe her."

Tara tossed her head back and laughed, "Bet you do now!"

"She's gone."

The two women hearing his words both looked shocked but it was Sky whose facial appearance was filled with remorse, sadness and hatred as she asked, "What do you mean gone?"

He replied, "I did my part, got her to trust me, easy thing since all I had to do was mention Max, he is like a father to her. Then all I did was have someone call and pretend to be him so she would leave the table and take the call."

"That how you drugged her?" Sky asked, her emerald green eyes turned a darkened shade of jade.

He nodded. "I didn't know her; I didn't know you and sure wish I didn't know you at this moment."

"I'll bet. Well Dete, why don't you think long and hard about this and tell me where we can find Bobie?"

"Not sure. I was only to drug her, then call a contact, they took her from there."

Tara had been watching the man, he reminded her of a snake oil salesman the way he talked. "We are not fools Dete. When we came in just now you were on the phone with a woman that is connected with this, so don't go give us the I don't know, because you do. If you think what Sky just did was bad, wait till I get out my blades."

"I give, it's not worth it. She is at what was an abandoned military base near Rattle Snake Basin. That's all I can tell you."

"Sky looked at the man and asked, "Is she all right?"

He shrugged and said, "Last I heard she was."

Tara could see that Sky was about to blow and said, "Sky, we should go, take care of him and get out of Dodge."

Sky looked at her friend and replied, "I think some of the laid back atmosphere is getting to you. Either that or you have been watching too many westerns."

"What--What are you going to do with me?" The man pleaded.

The two looked at one another then Tara pulled a quarter out of her front pant pocket and said, "How about we flip, heads I get him, tails you do the deed."

"You can't just kill me! Put people in jail for that."

Both women laughed as Sky glared at the man and said, "What you did to Bobie and God knows what she has been put through, it would be the only way to even scores."

"But but she is not dead."

"How do you know that?"

Tara looked deep in thought then said, "What was the woman calling you about or you calling her about?"

He gazed at the woman. "My business, none of yours."

Sky reached out, her right hand grasping his neck as she pushed him back until he hit the wall. Then she began to squeeze. "Just don't know how bad the situation is for you at this time, maybe I need to show you again."

He reached up and tried to remove her hand but her strength was too much for him as he choked out the words, "I killed Parker. But before I did, she knew what heaven was."

Tara made a face that said, you just had to go and do it, didn't you? She walked over to retrieve Sky's hand from the man's neck as he crumbled to the floor in a heap. "What are we going to do with him now?"

Sky walked toward the couch, sit, laid her rifle on the floor and then lowered her head as tears began to stream down her face.

Tara knew there would not be any consoling the woman not for awhile. So she decided to do something about Dete Fletcher, if that was his name. Placing her rifle against the wall, she leaned over and picked the man up, tossing him over her right shoulder she walked out of the house.



An hour later she made it back to the house and was happy to see that Sky was still there,
She was lying back on the couch eyes closed and from the looks of her face she had been crying a long time. Walking into the room she began to study it, seeing a drawer not quite closed in a filing cabinet, she walked to it and began to sift through the papers and
files. "Bingo," she whispered to herself as she read the file. It was a shipping and ordering file, filled with all sorts of information. Taking the file she placed it near where Sky was laying, took her back pack and headed to another part of the house.

When Sky felt the hands gently tap her shoulder she slapped at them and grumbled, "Go way." But the hands kept at it and she soon opened her blood shot eyes to gaze into the face of Tara Coltrane. "What do you want?"

"Time to get up and get on with our business."

Sky shook her head, and then implored, "Didn't you hear the man? He said he killed Bobie. I could have killed him."

"Heard him, and Sky, I saw you choke the life out of him."

"I--I did?"

"Sure did. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone and he sure won't. Now get up, go toss some water on your face we have ten minutes to get out of here."

"Ten minutes, why?"

"No questions go."



The two women had barely made it to the arroyo when a loud explosion took place; it was strong enough to toss both of them into the arroyo head first.

Sky was trying to figure out what was going on as she got to her knees and began to hunt for her rifle while Tara was trying to stand and dust herself off. The woman never lost her
rifle she was still holding it like it was a safety net.

Holding out her hand she said, "Grab my hand, let's get out of here that explosion will bring every Tom, Dick and Harry from miles around."

Sky looked at her friend, and asked, "While I was resting my eyes, you set up an explosive device?"

"Actually several, thought it was time this creepy place was taken off the map. Now come on, let's get out of here and on to Bobie."

Sky had hold of Tara's hand but released it. "How could you mention her after what--"

"After what he said. Easy, the man was trying to goad you, he did but not like he wanted. Instead of seeing you cry or just plain give up, you took it further and killed him. I would have done the same thing."

"Where is he?"

Approaching the car, Tara placed her rifle on the back seat, took Sky's and placed it near hers then said, "Best you don't know. Get in; we have a way to go to get to this base. I prefer to think that Bobie Parker is still alive but even if she is not we need to bring her home."



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Continued




Anita Louise's Scrolls
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