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Chapter Forty Six
 
 
 

Due to Natimka’s knowledge of the area and his way around danger, they made it back to the main encampment and to a jubilant Baturouh.  The man hugged his friend while telling him that he had been taken prisoner and had only recently escaped.  Though Sky was leery of the man’s words, she could see that Natimka was happy to see his friend.  The trip had been long and difficult, taking a toll on both people.  Skylar left Natimka at the jeep and made her way to the security of one of the houses that were in the fenced area.  Her first thoughts were on a hot bath and a long soak.

Tossing her many bags onto the wooden floor she removed the jacket, and quickly unbuckled the gun belt placing the holstered gun on the bed.  Removing the once shiny black boots, she walked toward the bathroom and a chance to feel clean once more.

Sky stopped as she stared at the tub of rusty brown water and the soap bubbles that floated on the rippling surface.  "How?"

"Thought you might like a hot bath when you got back."

It couldn’t be.   She had been out in the heat too long.  Her mind was working overtime as she shook her head, each movement trying to clear away the cobwebs.

"Skylar Richmond, I must say you look like you took on the entire jungle and most of it stuck to you."

Biting her lower lip, Sky slowly turned and grimaced when she came face to face with Tara Coltrane.   "What are you doing here?"

"Heard you had come out and thought you might need some help."

Sky brushed past the woman, eyes searching for her holstered gun.  "The day you come to help me will be a day of miracles.  Where’s my gun?"

Tara smiled and with a twinkle in her eye she replied,  "You’re not going to shoot little ol me now are you?  I did what I could to make sure a nice bath awaited, even with the primitive fixtures."

Sky grasped the front of her shirt and pulled it together as she glowered toward the woman.  "I wouldn’t think of shooting you, but a stake through the heart might be the ticket."

Moving her body in a sensual manner Tara made many suggestive sounds before she finally said,  "I’ve dreamed of us but not in this way.  I hope one day you will realize we make a much better team than enemies.  Have your bath, when you are through and have the time, I want to talk to you.  I won’t be hard to find."  In an instant she stepped close to Skylar, reached out and caressed the hand that was still clutching her shirt.   "Never known you to be so shy Skylar.  I promise I don’t bite . . . well maybe a little.  Your gun is still in its holster, by the door, just didn’t want you to shoot me.  Ciao."  Before Sky could say anything, the woman had turned and left the room.
 
 

She finally bathed after making sure Tara had not put a snake or worse in the water.  Once satisfied it was all right except for the color she eased her aching body into the water and upon feeling the hard bottom of the tub she rested pleasurably.

After bathing Skylar dangled her dripping feet over the rim leaned back and breathed a sigh of relief.  She had traveled a long way from Los Angeles only to find that Tara Coltrane had followed.   What was the woman up too?  Why now in this place?  She had to be on her toes, Tara was like a sudden wind, appearing out of nowhere spinning people around and then disappearing.  And once she had been in a place, nothing was ever the same.   Sky seemed to always get caught in the woman’s crosshair and in her unsavory plans.
 
 

The next morning, Sky stepped out into the early morning sun, she stretched, looked around the area before walking toward the mess tent.  The aroma of freshly brewed coffee was an incentive to take a look at the morning meal.  Hating to admit it she was hungry and looked forward to a nice quiet meal.

Finding a place to sit, she gazed at the center of the long table and the wild fruits and vegetables in decorative bowls.  The freshly made breads that had been pulled apart by hands she hoped were clean.  The men that were still eating seemed to be enjoying the meal. Lowering her gaze to the bowl of sorghum porridge that set in front of her, it smelled good and though hungry she was not sure this was exactly what she wanted to eat.

"Try it Miss, it is good."

Sky looked up to see Natimka’s smiling face.  He was once again wearing crisp fatigues, creases and all.   "Good Morning.  I didn’t see you when I came in."

He gazed toward the door way before replying,  "I have been working on some reports for the Chief.  Making sure that the area is strategically surrounded and safe.   I thought a nice cup of coffee would be a good thing."

She pointed to the bench and offered,  "Sit.  I would be happy to have the company."

The man’s face lit up as he quickly stepped over and plopped down.  "Eat, a person needs to get accustomed to the porridge but it is good.  Did your friend find you?"

Sky was moving her spoon around and around in the bowl of porridge.  "I’m trying to wait until it cools some.  Friend?"  She looked at the man and raised an eyebrow for effect.

"Yes, she is beautiful, are all the women in America like the two of you?"

Blowing on the porridge, Skylar slowly dabbed at the full spoon.  She finally took a spoonful and began to roll it around in her mouth.  It had a taste all of its own and one she felt a person had to get used to.  Setting the spoon down, she turned to gaze at the man.  "America is a big country, diverse and there are many different people.  Not everyone is beautiful as you say.  Personally I don’t think of myself as beautiful.  Tell me Natimka, what did this friend look like?"

After the man finished describing the friend she knew it was Tara.  Heaven only knew what she had told this man.  Sky found out that it was Natimka that gave the woman directions to her place.  She didn’t want to hurt his feelings and thanking him asked,  "Have you seen her this morning?"
 
 

It didn’t take long to make her way to the entrance to the encampment.  Sky stopped when she caught sight of Tara talking to a man dressed in Khaki shorts, a white T-shirt, black boots and wearing a late-model colt .45 sagging the belt that was around his hips.  He must have come with her, she thought.  The man was not dressed like anyone from the area.

Tara Coltrane was born in an area of Jordan but would never admit this.  She preferred to tell people she was born in France.  Mother of Jordanian descent and her father American.   Her father had been in the Mideast on business and when it was finished he brought his wife and daughter to the United States.  The family business was one similar to Bengal, though they did not have the connection that Bengal had, they did have the money.

For as long as she could remember, Tara had become someone that would pop up wherever she went.  Usually the woman was after something and never walked away with empty hands.  The woman kept in excellent shape, she was tall, almost as tall as Skylar.  Her abdomen tight, it was obvious she worked out.

Tara heard the woman approach and turned to wave, smile and dismiss the man.  "Skylar, good to see you out and about this morning.   Looking for me?"  The woman was radiant and looked like she might have stepped off the covers of a fashion magazine.

Sky grinned, it was obvious the woman knew she was looking for her.  "Not everyone is looking for you Tara.  But actually I heard you were asking about me last night.  Friend.  Not nice to fool people here."

"Come now, Sky it’s not like we are strangers.  I was looking for you and this man was kind enough to point me in the right direction.  Surely you can’t blame me for that?"

Emerald green eyes traveled the woman, they took in the tight jeans, slick knee-high leather boots and halter top that exposed her abdomen and pierced belly button.  "Going to get hot in those pants.  Gods, woman, give your skin a chance to breathe it gets really hot here."

Tara looked disgusted before muttering,  "Didn’t bring many clothes.  At least not the kind a person wears here.  Maybe I could borrow some of yours?"

Sky shook her head then replied,  "You can talk to that nice man that pointed me out to you.  I think he would be happy to fit you with some fatigues."

"Yuck.  Fatigues?   Not very flattering."

"Out here they cover you up, and that is the most important thing.  I have my safari clothes but do not like the idea of us looking like the Bobsie Twins."

"Que?  Who are these Bobsie Twins?"

Smiling, Sky stared into the woman’s dark eyes.  "Not important.  Now want to come clean and tell me just what you are doing here?"

"Our company is trying to expand to Africa.  There are many mines around here.  Maybe I just wanted to see what you were doing in the God forsaken country."

"Knowing that you are interested in what I am doing does not make me all warm inside.  And if I’m right, the reason you are here has to do with a certain necklace that disappeared.  One that is made of precious jewels and in the center a very large diamond."

"You must think so little of me Skylar Richmond.  It is not only you that can do humanitarian work."

Digging at the dirt with her right boot, Sky gazed away.  "I know that if you let yourself you can become a really giving person.  Sad thing is usually you are the one taking.  I think it would be best for everyone if you took the first plane back."

"Ooooo . . . you scare me Richmond.  Do you really think that you telling me to leave is going to work?"

"No, but I thought I would give it a try.  If you are bound and determined to stay here, then you need to listen and learn.  There is no time for taking, these people here are angry.  They have lost so much.  Now with the militants causing problems here and there, this area is like dynamite just waiting for someone to light the fuse. You need to be aware of what is happening and make sure you do not end in some sort of blood bath."

Tara’s dark eyes almost seemed to warm for an instant.  "You care, you really care."

"Don’t go get your panties in a twist Coltrane.  I feel the same way when I see a wounded animal."

"Ouch.  That hurt."

"Better me than some warrior’s machete.  Tell me, do you still carry the dagger hidden in the boot?"

The woman smiled replying,  "You do have a good memory."

"Kinda hard to forget, I was almost the recipient of one of your daggers once."

"Gee, you really hold a grudge."

"Nope.  If you are going to be here, I need all the backup I can get.  So welcome Tara Coltrane."  Reaching out, Sky waited to see if Tara would shake her hand.  The woman hesitated for a few minutes then grasped Sky’s hand firmly and shook it.

"This is a good feeling.  To know that we can work together and not against one another."

Sky reached out and placed her other hand on the woman’s.  "We will see.  I think that your small razor sharp discs might come in handy."

"I am deeply touched to know you remember all of my tricks.  Maybe I have more now and one that you may not know of."

Sky ignored her words and asked,  "I saw you out here talking to that man, is he with you?"

"Brad, he is the pilot of the plane that brought me here.  No one for you to get all inquisitive about."

"I do have a question though."

Tara stepped close, gazed at the woman then replied,  "I am always ready for that.  In fact I keep hoping one day you will actually accept my offers."
 

Sky took several steps back, a disgusted look on her face as she muttered,  "Is that all you think about Coltrane.  Get over it.  There will never be a you and I in this way.  I was just wanting to know what happened to all of that long flowing chestnut hair?"

Reaching up, Tara finger-combed her short hair as if to make sure it was in place.    "Heard it was going to be warm, and didn’t want the hair to get all tangled.  It was time I changed my look.  You might do the same.  That head of red hair has to be a problem."

"I’ll deal with it.  Now want to really tell me what you and your pilot are doing here?"
 
 

The days seemed longer than ever the heat affecting  everyone in the campsite.  When the plane arrived from Bengal Corporation.  Tara and Skylar stood side to side with the men in making sure the supplies were given out fairly.   Many villagers had made their way to receive the supplies and some on just a prayer it seemed.

Skylar was on her knees, in her hand was a bottle of shipped Evian water.  Holding the little girl’s head on her left arm she gently let the water drip onto dry swollen lips.  Dark eyes stared up at the woman, shaky hands grasped the bottle and tried to hold it.  Sky did not release the water but whispered, "It’s all right.  You are safe now.  Drink, slowly."

Tara had been handing out heavy sacks marked "flour," her face showing a white dusting of the contents in spots.  She leaned back against some large boxes and sighed.   This was becoming more work than she had planned.  In the large amount of villagers that had arrived that morning, she lost sight of Skylar.  Now that she was trying to catch her breath, she surveyed the area.

"Looking for someone, Miss?"

Tara held a hand up to shade her eyes and could make out the form of Natimka.   "Just trying to see if I could spot Skylar."

The man pointed to a throng of people standing in a circle, all staring downward.  "She is over there."

"Is she all right?"   Tara’s voice fell as she stepped forward.

"Fine.  Last I saw her, she was on her knees helping some of the children."

Quickly turning on her heels, Tara headed toward a jeep.  "Might have known.  Once again trying to be the Florence Nightingale."

Natimka called out,  "Want me to deliver Miss Richmond a message?"

Stepping into the driver’s seat, Tara turned the key and started the jeep.  "I’ll tell her myself, later!"

"You shouldn’t leave the area!"  Natimka called out, a look of  distress crossing his face as Tara drove the jeep out of the compound.  He gazed toward Skylar and then at the dust cloud the jeep was leaving and muttered,  "Women."  It was obvious he was trying to figure out the connection between Skylar Richmond and her friend, Tara Coltrane.

Sky was just finishing tending to several of the children when she heard the loud sound of the jeep passing as villagers scrambled to get out of the way.  Standing she gazed toward the dust spirals and the vanishing vehicle.  Turning, dusting off her pants, she headed to the hangar and the men that were busily talking among themselves.

Natimka was walking toward the opening of the hangar, he was carrying a  sack of flour on each shoulder.   Quickly walking toward the man, Sky reached out to give him a hand.  "Shouldn’t be doing that, those are heavy.   Let me have one of them."

He shook his head replying, "It is good for a person to feel pain when doing a good job."

"Maybe for you but not for everyone.  Tell me, who was in the jeep that just left?"

He leaned over and dropped the flour sacks to the ground.  "Your friend, Miss. Coltrane."

Raising an eyebrow and scowling some, Sky remarked,  "From the way the jeep was moving, something must have come up suddenly."

He looked at the woman as if trying to figure her out.  "Not sure about that but I do think she was upset."

"Where was she going?  It is not safe for a person to be out there unguarded."

"Told her that, but she just tore off anyway.   Guess she needed to get away and do some thinking."

Taking several steps toward the hangar opening, then turning to gaze at the man, Sky asked,  "Did you say something to her?  Have you any idea where she went?"

Natimka smiled, glanced at several of the men that had stopped working to listen to what was going on between them.   "I think she may be upset at you, Miss. Richmond. "

"What!?  I have been busy, haven’t even seen much of her this morning.  Why do you think that?"

Natimka pointed outside the hangar and replied,  "Let’s go to the mess tent.  I will tell you when we are away from here.  Not good for my men to hear some things."

Sky nodded and followed the man to the tent.  Once inside and seated she leaned forward and asked, " Tell me?"

Skylar sipped a cool bottle of Evian as she listened to the man recount the woman’s activities and her words before taking off.  When he was finished, she stood, gazed down at the man and said,  "You must think that we Americans are touched in the head."

He stood, reached out and patted her shoulder.  "No, but sometimes I do wonder about some of the women.  Who is this Florence Nighengale?"

"It isn’t important.  Tara Coltrane and I are not friends in the way most people are.  We are business acquaintances that is all.   I will take a jeep, go look for her.  If I’m not back before sunlight begins to fade.  I will be back tomorrow."

"You mustn’t go out there alone.  Let me go with you or send one of my men."

"You have things to do here.  I will be fine, take some water, something to eat, and my gun along with a few other necessities with me."

"The Chief would be upset if I let anything happen to you."

"Your Chief needs to understand that women where I come are stronger than he might think.  It is all right, go about your business, I take full responsibility for my actions."

The man watched the woman drive from the compound and after the jeep was out of sight he sent two men to follow with orders to stay out of sight.   Walking back to the hangar and the work that was still waiting for him, his thoughts went to the tall red head and the woman that seemed to light her fire.
 
 

Sky hoped to catch up to the woman sooner than later.  Natimka was right, it was not safe to be alone in this land at this time.  There was only one recent sign of tire tracks in the dirt road as she shifted gears and pressed the gas pedal.   Traveling the unpaved road was like riding a roller coaster, lots of ups and downs as well as sharp curves cut into the mountain side.  When someone else had been driving she spent a good deal of the time gazing at the magnificent landscape.  Jostling was something she had gotten used to.

Shifting down, she slowed the vehicle and gazed ahead.  There in a ditch set the jeep that Tara had left in.  She was sure of this and stopped, gazing around she stepped to the ground.  Right hand on the handle of her gun, she cautiously crept forward.   Heaving a sigh of relief when she did not see Tara unconscious, she scanned the area for any signs of the woman.

Tara was nowhere in sight, and she walked back to her jeep, called Natimka and told him where the jeep was, then informed the man she was going into the bush looking for Tara.  Though the man insisted she wait for help to arrive she grabbed a few items and headed toward the thick bushes that were growing abundantly not far away.

It was easy to follow Tara’s foot prints they made good impressions.  Sky could tell by the way the woman walked she may have injured her ankle or leg in some way.  Picking up her step and hurrying to an area that appeared to be a good way to enter the deep brush, Skylar reached out to move several branches.

The underbrush soon gave way to taller growth cutting off any way of knowing just where she was going.  It didn’t take long for an overpowering sense of isolation to envelop her, it was as if she had passed into a different world.   Crouching down, she surveyed the area, finally finding several broken branches she hoped that Tara had caused these, not some hungry animal.

A labyrinth of old animal trails had branched off on all sides of her, in places she had to stoop and lift aside sagging branches until she found footprints made by boots.  The hiss of a branch whipping over clothing came from behind.  Sky’s head snapped up, body instinctively crouched as she forced herself into the brush.  Someone was coming, she listened for a moment, her heart pounding madly in her chest as she waited to see who it was.  Feeling the tension subside when she spied Tara Coltrane walk into view.   Sky watched intently as Tara stopped, looked around then ran her fingers threw her short hairdo, from the way she hobbled to a rock and sat, Sky felt the woman had indeed injured her leg in some way.

Trying to figure out how to let the woman know she was there without throwing her into combat mode, Sky decided to watch for a few minutes.  Tara was trying to remove her boot, stopping when the pain got bad.  She looked lost and in need of a good stiff drink at that moment.  In the isolation both women instinctually felt the presence of someone approaching before they even heard the sound of the men’s voices.  Without thinking, Tara dove into the underbrush, landing at Sky’s feet.  She was just getting ready to let out a tirade of words when Sky reached out and placed a hand over the woman’s mouth.

The men were not far from where they were, and before they let them know they were there, Sky thought it was best to stay hidden and wait.  Tara got the message and kept quiet but if looks could kill, Sky would have left the world that day.  It was a scouting party for a militant group that had recently destroyed a railroad not far from there.

The voices and movement had both women prepared to put up a fight if they should be found.  When the men decided to move on, they let out a heavy sigh and slowly made their way out of the brush.  "Thanks you saved me back there."   Tara hobbled past the woman, her words floating back.

"Where do you think you are going now?"  Sky asked, hurrying to keep up with Tara.  "For a person with an injured foot, you sure do move."

Tara stopped, turned and gazed into Sky’s emerald green eyes.  "It’s the ankle and just what are you doing out here?"

"Came to see if you were all right, Natimka said you left upset."

"Man has a mouth he should keep shut.  Can’t believe it!  You were worried?"

Sky gazed at the woman who was now standing on one foot, holding the other off the ground.   "Don’t think this is anything big, my coming after you.  I would do the same for anyone that pulled off the same stunt."

"Gotcha Skylar Richmond, you are not as hard as you pretend."

"There is a stream back away, let me help you there and then take a look at your ankle."

"Can do it myself.   Where is your transportation?"

"Not far from where you left yours.  Both in plain sight and there for anyone to see if they happen to come along.  You are in no condition to make it back there today.  I could go and take a look."

"No!  I will not be left here.  If you go, I go too."

"Then we stay at least until tomorrow morning.  Maybe your ankle will feel better and we can make it to the jeep.  Maybe something is still working."

"Out here, people taking things every chance they get, yeah, probably the chassis and this only because it is too heavy to carry.  Then there is probably nothing left for us to even go back to check on."  It was at this time, the blood seemed to drain from Tara’s face.  "We are stuck out here, alone.  We will die out here."

Sky reached out, put an arm around the women’s waist and said, "Well at least we will not die alone.  Come on, lean on me, let’s get you to that stream. Then, we can decide on what to do next."

Tara did exactly that and grimaced with every step they took.  Once at the stream, Sky helped the woman to the ground then sat and handed her a bottle of water.  "Drink, you look like you didn’t bring any water with you."

"Didn’t.   But then I didn’t plan on being left out in this godforsaken place either."

Sky looked at the woman’s ankle and from the look of the boot, it had swollen.  "Have to cut the boot off."

Tara had just finished taking a long satisfying drink when she heard Sky’s words.  Eyes flashed as she snapped,  "No one is cutting my boot off.   I had to pay too much for it.  My ankle feels better, a little rest and we can . . ."

"We can what?   We are stuck here, and if that ankle swells any more it will cut the blood circulation to your leg. Boot is constricting the foot.   Course you could just sit there and die from a blood clot."

All the fight had gone out of the woman as she mustered,  "Go ahead, do it."

"No knife."

"Other boot, I have a knife inside.  It will do the job."  She reached down, pulled out a knife and handed it to the woman.
 
 

Sky had removed the boot and tended to the woman’s bruised and swollen ankle.  She was now laying on the ground staring upward.  "If help doesn’t come soon, we need to get up in a tree."

Tara was dozing off and on when she heard the woman’s words.  "Tree?   Now you are some sort of Jane, is there a Tarzan hiding somewhere?"

"No, but if we stay on the ground we will need to light a fire, and a fire may bring back the militants.  No fire on the ground and we will be fair game for any predator at night.   At least in a tree, it is safer."

"Learn that in Survival 101?   Or have you been watching too many Tarzan episodes on television?  Trees seem to hold crawly things as I recall hearing once."

"Guess a person has to decide just what they are willing to perhaps run into. You are something else, Tara Coltrane.  You come out here, no preparation it seems and now all you can do is make wise cracks at my suggestions.  All right, you don’t like my suggestions then let me hear what you think."

There was silence then Tara looked very serious and asked,  "Use the cell phone and call Natuma or whatever he is called.  A nice ride back, a soak in the tub, your gentle hands on my ankle and things will get a whole lot better."

"Ah good idea, ‘cept’ no cell phone.  And his name is Natimka.  We are going to be here for a while so what say we try to get along.  By the way, Florence Nightingale I am not."

"He told you that too?   Gee, a person can’t even let off steam.  You are always doing, doing . . .   All they talk about is the tall red head, the woman that can do miracles.  Well, it gets sickening after awhile."

Sky made her way closer to Tara, reached out and lightly touched the woman’s right hand.  "Sorry.  I have no control over what they think.  But I happen to know that many have also mentioned you and your help."

The woman’s eyes grew wide and a delightful smile crossed her lips.  "They, they did?"

"Yes.  And from me to you, I think you have done an amazing job since you have been here.  It has made it much easier on me.  If I haven’t said it before, thank you."

Tara was thrown back by the woman’s words and for once in her life, she was speechless.

Natimka did find the women several hours later.   Sky was happy to see the man who then informed her that his men had lost track of the two women.   Sky was upset that the man had sent people after she asked him not too, but at the same time she was glad that they did not have to spend a night in the jungle.   The animals were enough to worry about, but adding Tara to the mix would have made it an unbearable night.

Continued in Part 25