Chapter 7
The following days came and went but this time without the people dressed in black, for some reason they had not been back. She was relieved of this and also for times the
door would open and the appearance of Sara Clemens would bring a smile to her face.
The young woman had been sneaking in food and water. Each day Bobie was feeling
stronger. Before this, she had been given barely enough to sustain life. Though her body
still pained her, she knew that with the renewed energy she would do what she needed to
escape this demonic lair.
Sarah gazed into the room and smiled when she saw Bobie sitting up, the color had come back to her face. "Morning, you look much better today."
"Thanks to you. I appreciate what you are doing, but I am worried you will get caught."
"Don't be. For some reason, many of the people have gone. There are one or two left to
my knowledge but they are mostly keeping check on the phone system and something else. I don't know when the others will be back. I am taking this time to try get you back on your feet."
Bobie took the small bowl of oatmeal from the woman and said, "Smells good, haven't had a hot meal in ages it seems."
Sarah opened a brown paper sack and removed two Styrofoam cups of coffee. "Also got us some coffee. Didn't know if you drank it or not but took the chance you did."
Bobie took the cup and said, "I could kiss you at this moment. Thank you. Have missed my morning cup of java."
Sarah's face turned beet red for a second as she stammered, "Glad you like it."
The two women sit in silence for a while and when Bobie finished off the oatmeal and drank the last drop of coffee she said, "My stomach thanks you. I noticed you got a little red when I said I could kiss you, and hope you know it was just my way of saying I really appreciated it."
"Su . . . sure I know that. You are welcome."
Leaning back against the wall, Bobie gazed at the woman and asked, "Where did the others go?"
Sarah shrugged. "Only know something big must have happened because after a phone call, many were up and out of here."
"Are you sure about the number left?"
Nodding she replied, "Yes, but they have guns and from what I have seen, are not afraid to use them. Why do you ask?"
"The first chance I get, I am going to do what I have to, in order to get out of this place."
The woman's eyes widened in terror as she exclaimed, "You can't!"
"Why?"
"Because, you will get hurt."
Shaking her head, Bobie said, "Maybe hurt but if I stay here like a rat in a trap, I will be dead."
Sarah stood, her body showing signs of Bobie's words, she was trembling. "I'm not a brave person, but if I can help you, I will."
"It's all right, you have been a good friend, I would not expect you to put yourself in jeopardy by helping me."
Sighing as she wrung her hands, Sarah replied, "Already did this by bringing you food.
And once you try to escape and succeed, who do you think they will look at? Me of course, no one else helped you. They left you a mess and I am sure when they return they
expect to see you in worse shape."
"Then this is the lull before the storm and I want to take advantage of it. Does anyone know where you are at this moment?"
"Think I am in the mess hall eating. No one pays much attention to me, unless they want something."
When Bobie saw the woman look away, she immediately knew what had been going on and said, "Forgive me for being so slow. Sarah, sit, talk to me. You don't have to spell it out, I realize what has been happening to you and how terrible this has to be. When I go,
I want you to come with me."
The woman collapsed sitting beside Bobie, as she reached out to hold Sarah in a comforting embrace. "It will be all right. I promise." She had no idea what was to come, all she knew at that moment was that this young woman was alone, hurting and feeling completely lost in a world she did not sign up for.
Tall, looking very formidable even though she was making a trail in the green carpet adorning Doc. Taylor's clinic floor, Tara Coltrane was a bundle of nerves. Doc. Taylor had been looking in on Skylar Richmond but when he walked into the receptionist area of his business he was amazed at the two women who stood as if mesmerized. Didn't take long to realize it was Skylar Richmond's friend, another tall Amazonian woman that held their attention.
Clearing his throat he said, "Don't the two of you have anything else to do besides stare at Miss. Richmond's friend?"
Both women turned almost bumping into each other as they mumbled, "Sorry." Then immediately disappeared into the file room.
Tara heard the ruckus as the two women dashed away and turned to see the kindly man heading her direction. Doc. Taylor looked like he could be a next door neighbor, the man had a kindly face, his snow-white hair, goatee to match as well as the spectacles that perched on his nose gave him the appearance of a trustworthy person. He wore a gray suit that had seen its share of wear but what set the outfit off was the dark-blue vest he
wore over the white, and black pin-stripped shirt. Hanging from a small pocket in the vest was a gold chain, he never went anywhere without his grandfather's gold watch and chain.
"Sky! How is she?"
He removed the glasses holding them in one hand as he pointed to a chair and said, "Let's sit."
The second Tara was sitting, she asked, "Tell me, please she has regained consciousness."
He sighed took a deep breath before he replied, "I don't know exactly what went on at the Trenton house or how your friend happened to catch Sheriff Burgess's bullet, but I have no-good news to tell you at this time."
Tara sprang to her feet. "I want to go see her!"
"You need to contact the sheriff's office and fill out a report. And of course you need to release Sheriff Burgess from the handcuffs you still have on her wrists. Not sure my exam room is a good place to decide to keep an official of the law under arrest."
Tara began to walk back and forth once again making a trail in the carpet. "Woman is the least of my worries at this minute."
The man stood, reached out and touched Tara's right arm. "I would suggest you think long and hard about this. Getting on the wrong side of the law is not a good way to
make friends or influence people around here."
"Doctor Taylor, Sky and Bobie speak highly of you, that is why I brought her here.
There was no reason to pull a gun on Sky and there was no reason to go off and shoot
her either. Yes, I made a citizen's arrest, surely this place is not so backward they do not
know about things like this."
"Nope, we are not as naïve as some city folks might think. Still, there is the ring. Meaning, most people know each other around here and most will take the word of
someone they know over a stranger. Just trying to give you the heads up.
Tara tried to read the doctor's mind or so it seemed before she said, "My friend is laying on one of your examining tables, she is not moving. This morning she was fine, your sheriff did this and I want to see her pay."
"I will keep an eye on Miss. Richmond but you need to handle things with the sheriff. I will not be a party to keeping her hostage in my clinic."
"I read you loud and clear Doc. Ok, fine, first let me see Sky and I will take care of things with the sheriff."
He pointed down the hallway and said, "She is in the second room."
When Tara opened the door and walked into the room, the first thing that hit her was the
hospital smell, even if it was not a hospital, the smell could not be missed. She always hated that smell, and immediately looked for Sky, stopping when she saw the woman laying on a Gurney. Skylar Richmond lay very still, blood stains still were seen on the left side of her face. Doc. Taylor had cleaned the wound, closed it the best he could, then bandaged over the wounded area. He tried to tell Tara that Sky was lucky she could have been killed instantly. He tried to explain just how close it was but Tara was not really listening to the man, instead all she could think about was Skylar.
For the first time, Tara Coltrane was feeling loss, something she tried never to do. It had all been a game between her and Skylar, a game that sometimes came to blows, still the two had a strong connection. The tall woman she knew with flowing red hair, and a body that sometimes even had her a bit jealous, was now laying so still, it was chilling. Sky was beautiful, though the woman always acted like she was ordinary, saying she was just lucky to have a few special talents, Tara knew better.
She pulled a chair up close to the Gurney, sat and tried to remain calm. It was not an easy thing to do since her body was feeling so many sensations at that moment she felt as if she had been run over by a steam engine.
The intravenous tubes, the medical equipment all hooked up to the woman she stood beside as well as tried to outfox so many times, and in her mind, nothing could ever
have taken down this amazing woman. At least not for long, Skylar Richmond seemed
to lead a charmed life. Yet, a bullet, fired from some idiotic sheriff's gun did the job so many had been trying to do for so long.
For the first time, Tara Coltrane was feeling loss, and didn't really know how to cope with these new feelings. She closed her eyes and shook her head, hoping to bring things back to this morning when the two were going at one another by the lake. But when she opened them, Sky still lay, eyes closed as if she was sleeping. Doc. Taylor didn't know how long Sky would be out. He was concerned if she did not regain consciousness soon she would slip into coma. Tara would have none of that, instead she chose to believe Sky would wake soon and they could get on with the job of finding Bobie Parker.
Tara placed her right hand on Sky's, at that moment she wished the woman would haul off and hit her a good one. "Sky, please wake up. I'm so sorry for what happened, please don't hate me. It was my fault. I stepped on the board, it squeaked and the woman went nuts. I wish I could have taken the bullet, not you."
Doc. Taylor peeked into the room and said, "Perhaps you should think about . . ."
Tara stood, walked over to the door, gazed at the man and said, "No, I will not contact anyone about this, not yet. I will consider taking her some place for help if she does not wake in the next two hours though."
After the doctor left, she went back to Sky. Leaned over and pressed her lips
lightly on the woman's then said, "I will be back, you hang in there Richmond,
we have a lot of things to do in this world and without you, I would be lost."
Turning she left the room, tears running down her cheeks, stopping at the door to the exam room she wiped the tears away, scolded herself before entering the room. Deanna Burgess was sitting on the floor, legs spread out in a v position. The woman looked up as
Tara walked into the area.
"Bout time you showed up. Now get these cuffs off me!"
"You'd like that wouldn't you? I will take them from the cabinet but I will not take them off you. Before you say anything else, you are coming with me, we need to have a heart to heart talk."
Tara took Deanna Burgess out the back door and to her car. Once inside she blindfolded the woman, then secured her to one of the door handles. Though Deanna kept threatening her with jail time, and wanting to know where they were going, she ignored the woman. That is until the car pulled off the well-traveled road onto a dirt road and soon stopped.
"Where are we?" Deanna Burgess asked only to be pulled from the car and pushed forward. She stumbled several times only to be caught by Tara who kept pushing the woman forward. When they finally stopped, Tara removed the blindfold and said, "Thought this would be a good place to get rid of a lot of my frustrations."
Gazing around the area, Deanna smirked, "Looks like an area out by or near Willow Lake to me. Anyone pulling off the road will spot us."
"Nope, wrong time of day, see, the sun is shining this direction and it is blinding. People will not come out here while the sun is doing this. And if they do, well it will just be too bad for you."
"Ewww you scare me." The woman was being facetious as she held out her wrists and said, "Surely you are going to give me a fighting chance. Take off the cuffs. Make it a fair fight and I remove my badge."
"Then we are even, for you scare, the you know what out of me, at times. I'll give you a better chance than you did Skylar Richmond." She stepped up, took the key from her pocket and proceeded to remove the handcuffs. Tara was looking down and it was at this time, Deanna Burgess brought both hands up under the woman's chin, snapping her head back.
As Tara stumbled to get her balance she snarled, "You fight dirty."
"I fight to win, if it has to be dirty than so be it." She was holding the stance of a boxer in the ring, arms, and fists at ready.
Checking her jaw, Tara frowned at the woman. "Boxing? If you think I am going to box you, you got me all wrong."
"I think I have you just right. So come and get it lover."
The woman's last word brought ire to her face. "There is a lot I want to do here today, but anything having to do with love or lover is not one of them."
"I see I got to you. However you want it, come and get it, I am ready to show you just how a sheriff takes down a criminal."
"Not a criminal and you are a poor excuse for a sheriff. Let's stop jabbering and get on with it. The sooner I knock you down to size the better."
"Many have tried but few have succeeded, give it your best shot, Coltrane, but it will be me standing when we finish."
The flying fists, the karate chops and high kicks were happening fast and furious. Both women were making contact and both were showing signs of the strikes.
The two women circled each other like tigers in the attack mode, each looking for the moment when the opponent would be open. Deanna stepped back, her eyes fully aware of Tara's stance. Tara stayed where she was, wanting to keep the sun's rays behind her, to both keep Deanna in sight and force her to fight with the brightness burning in her eyes, distracting and blinding the woman. Each moment in such a fight was precious for at any second things could change. Tara hoped to make every one count in her favor.
Deanna began to approach Tara, each step calculated and slow. She had found an old thick piece of wood, it was the size of a baton, she held it at the ready, clearly taking in Tara's measure. She moved with care, not rushing in to attack at times looking like a jungle cat ready to pounce. And Tara could only admire the tactic. Whoever had trained the woman did it well.
Her opponent circled to one side, trying to force Tara to circle as well so that their positions would be reversed and Tara would be the one to suffer the sun's glare, but Tara merely continued to step before Deana, following the plan. Next Deanna attempted to push Tara back into a thick line of trees each spiked by dry and broken branches. She tried to make her approach more direct, but to this Tara merely held her ground, inviting a charge that would be easily sidestepped.
After a few minutes of this, Deanna clearly began to realize the difficulty of trying to engage an opponent who was so cagey. The only option left to her, just as Tara meant it to be, was to charge, and this she finally did. Wood baton held high, she ran toward Tara at an angle--a wise decision, Tara thought, as she had no choice but to leap forward, to avoid being struck. She whirled about at once in an attempt to regain the advantage, but Deanna had already realized her purpose and charged again, driving Tara farther from the sunlight and into the shadows.
Several frantic minutes followed as Tara both avoided and tried to disarm Deanna, though with little success. The woman was an admirable opponent.
All of a sudden, Deanna stopped, straightened and uttered angrily, "Enough of this!" she tossed her wood baton aside and withdrew a sharp dagger from her left boot.
It was exactly what Tara would have done in a like situation, for it was the only manner in which her attacker could now come close enough to keep Tara from leaping aside.
Deanna twisted as Tara charged, jumping just in time back toward the open ground and sunlight. But she had misjudged her opponent's quickness. Less than the beating of a heart passed before the gap between them closed. Hard fingers closed on Tara's shoulder, and the gleaming blade of the knife flashed as it was thrust toward her heart. Tara's own hands shot out to halt its progress, gripping Deanna by both arms and wrists to toss her to the ground, the woman landed on her back with a loud thud.
Tara was upon her at once, taking hold of the hand that bore the dagger and squeezing the wrist and fingers with all the strength she possessed. The woman tried to throw her off, bucking and striking Tara about the head and neck with fisted blows from her other fist. Gritting her teeth against the pain of each strike, Tara continued to squeeze until at last the hand under her grip gave way, releasing the dagger so that it slid to the ground.
The woman beneath her made a furious roar of noise, and with one mighty shove tossed Tara off and over onto the ground. Tara could feel the flatness of the knife beneath her as Deanna straddled her waist, one hand holding Tara down by the throat and the other frantically searching the dirt for the fallen weapon.
"Now we'll have an end of it," Deanna vowed tautly, breathing harshly from the fight. "Even if I must kill you with my bare hands." Not finding the knife, she put the deed to work and soon her other hand was at Tara's neck, leaning down to gaze into her face. "I vow that I'll--" Her voice died away when Tara brought her two fists up to meet the woman's face. As Deanna reeled backwards from the blow, Tara took no time to wonder what Deanna Burgess was about, Instead she reached back found the knife and leapt from the ground, immediately holding it at the woman's throat.
"Tell me, do you prefer to be taken rough or easy?"
Deanna stepped back, unsteadily, both her mind and heart was racing.
Her dark eyes narrowed, dizzy from the blow, she gazed at the steel blade and said, "Can't think of anything yourself Coltrane, have to steal my show."
Tara tossed the knife into the bushes, and said, "Come and get me if you can."
Within seconds, Deanna Burgess swung at the woman. Tara felt the air on her right cheek as the woman's fist passed. It was then Deanna had a look of surprise because Tara had grabbed her arm, forced it back, bending it at the elbow in such a way it caused excruciating pain to Deanna. "I let you have your little charade, now, it is my turn. I won't kill you but you will wish you were dead."
Deanna had fallen to her knees, the woman had her in a lock that brought about more pain than she had ever experienced. "Don't. Remember, I'm the sheriff and--"
"And nothing. When you took off your badge it became just the two of us, no sheriff."
The woman huffed before saying, "I give, you win. Let me go."
Tara thought over the woman's words before she finally said, "All right, enough then."
As she released her hold on the woman, Deanna Burgess attacked her ankles causing her to fall and fall Hard. Before she could get her bearing, she felt the pain of the woman's fist coming down on her face, once then twice. Trying to move she could taste blood in her mouth, her head was reeling as she sit, placing one hand on the cool ground, trying to push herself up, blinking to clear her blurred vision as a booted foot caught her in the stomach, kicking her over unto her back, where she lay, gasping. Two more kicks followed hard and savage. Somewhere overhead in the haze Tara heard the sound of laugher. This woman was enjoying what she was doing and she knew Deanna Burgess would also laugh as she killed her.
Strong hands grabbed her, steely fingers dug into her skin, and dragged her along the rough ground. Before long, Deanna stopped, bend over and tried to catch her breath. It was at this time, Tara was able to reach inside one of her boots and remove the small knife she kept there, quickly running it into the woman's leg. The scream was so loud, it caused birds to leave their nests, other creatures scurrying away as quickly as they could.
Deanna fell clutching her leg, completely forgetting the woman that had just caused the injury. She was trying to stop the bleeding and it was then that Tara cold-cocked Deanna Burgess and she went out like a light. Tara checked the woman's vitals then took out her handcuffs, turning the woman onto her side, she handcuffed her wrists, then took off her belt and placed a tourniquet around the woman's leg. It was not that deep of a cut, it was just enough to cause pain and throw the woman off balance for a few seconds, and that was all it took.
When Deanna Burgess woke, she found herself handcuffed again, part of her shirt had been cut off and was now wrapped around her leg where the knife penetrated. She eyed her belt and the loose way it was wrapped around the leg before she gazed around for the woman, Tara Coltrane.
Tara was leaning back against the trunk of a tree, she looked like she had been through a world war. Her eyes were closed, her head laying back against the tree. Deanna assumed Tara Coltrane had taken care of her after she caused the problem, for this, she was thankful, because where they were, she could have died.
What was she thinking? That was exactly what she had in mind for that uppity woman that walked into her town thinking she was so special.
"Go ahead say it, it is obvious the cat does not have your tongue."
Deanna squinted to see Tara who had one eye open and was looking at her. "You, you give me a migraine."
Managing to smile, Tara replied, "And a few other things too. Shouldn't have done that, make a deal then renege on it like you did. I really should have let you die out here, but you are so ornery, even the bear would chew you up and spit you out."
"Not funny Coltrane. How was I to know you really were going to keep your word. Look, I'm sorry about your friend, Richmond, it was an accident and neither of you had any business at the Trenton house to begin with."
"From the way I see it, neither did you. Tell me, why did you send the file back that was sent to Skylar Richmond?"
"Not her messenger and neither am I yours."
"Maybe not, but at this moment you are my prisoner, looks like the tables have been turned. Did you have anything to do with the disappearance of Bobie Parker?"
"No."
"And I am supposed to believe that?"
"It's the truth. Woman has just disappeared. I may be a lot of things but a kidnapper is not one of them."
"Back to the file you sent back, supposedly. What information was in it?"
"I never looked, it was sent back just like it came."
"Sure, and my name is Deanna Burgess too."
Deanna made a face and said, "If you are tying to be cute, your not. Whether you
Believe me or not, I did not open the file. Just didn't think it was my job to be Richmond's lackey or yours for that fact."
"I don't have the energy to fight with you over it. I need to get back and check on Skylar."
"And I need to get back to town, I am the sheriff after all, I'm sure they are looking for me as we speak."
"Not going to spend another night in your jail so forget about it. Either you figure out some way to tell your deputies how your leg got cut and how you got scrapped up, or I take you to the State Police headquarters."
"Sure, how are you planning to get me there, carry me over your shoulder? It will be a long long walk and from the looks of you, not sure you will make it that far."
"Better hope I stay cognizant because if I don't, you just may end up here for bear food. Do you think you can walk? I found some dry wood, think you might be able to use it to lean on."
"The second I step on this foot, besides the pain my leg will start the bleeding again. "
"Then I guess I will have to carry you."
Deanna slowly went from a sitting position to laying back on the ground. "Why don't you build a fire, surely you were in the girl scouts, you seem to know how to do just about everything."
"I could make a fire, but we need to get back to civilization. You need to have the leg looked at and I need to see my friend."
"You don't look all that well, yourself, so tell me how do you think you are going to manage getting me to the car?"
"Stronger than I look. Can't stand thinking about spending anymore time with you. Have to admit, you took me by surprise, it will never happen again, I promise you that. Now shut up, sit up, behave and let me do my thing."
Deanna watched the woman limp toward her as she sat and said, "Woman, we will both end up on the ground. If you don't mind, I would rather stay here, since I am already here."
Bending over and smarting from the kicks to her stomach, Tara bit her lower lip, doing her best not to show the pain that shot through her like a lightning bolt. "Shut your mouth, cooperate and maybe we will both make it to the car."
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Continued