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Chapter Forty Eight
 
 

It didn’t take Skylar long to retrieve the knife from Tara’s boot, cut the ropes that bound her wrists and make sure Tara was also freed.  She smiled toward the woman before saying,  "Hate that you always carry that, this time I’m grateful you did."

Tara stood and tried to get the feeling back into her hands.  "You’re welcome Richmond.  Now that we are free, I don’t know about you but I’m for getting out of this place."

"Right with you on this.  I don’t know how many men he has out there, but from what I have been hearing, they seem to be celebrating some sort of victory.  Best time to surprise someone is when they think they have nothing to worry about.  Natimka is feeling too confident, I think it is time someone takes the man down a peg or two."

Tara had retrieved her knife and slid it into the hiding place inside her boot.  "Uh huh and while you are doing that what do you think his men are going to be doing?"

"Maybe they will be sleeping, hopefully have drunk enough to lull them into a false security."

Tara reached out placing a hand on Sky’s forehead.  Sky reached up and took the woman’s hand down.  "What do you think you are doing?"

Tara’s eyes were like steel as they gazed at the woman.  "Seeing if you have a temperature.  In case you are a bit confused, there is you and there is me.  "Two women, against heaven knows how many men.  Men ready to fight and kill for their
leader."

Sky placed her hands on Tara’s shoulders, emerald green eyes meeting the woman’s gaze.  "A cinch Coltrane.  Don’t tell me this has you frightened?"

Pulling away from the woman, Tara walked toward the door.  "N . . . no, bring ‘em on.  Just want a fighting chance that’s all."

Sky walked around the room and kept looking until she found several pieces of the broken chair she liked.  Picking these up, she moved her arms in circular motions at the same time there was just a blur as her hands controlled the wood.

"Bravo.  I think you could make a weapon out of just about anything Richmond.  Looks good, sure hope they work as well."

Sky nodded, then asked,  "Who is going to go out the door first?"

"Not me.  Whoever is out there, will shoot before they ask what I am doing untied."

"Then you stay back and once I’m out and the coast is clear, I’ll whistle once."

Tara reached out and grasped Ann’s right arm.  "No way, I’m not a coward.  Just don’t fancy walking into the arms of who knows what and we both have a good idea what may be there."

"Kay, how about you go pretend to be tied up.  I will make a loud noise, just enough to get someone’s attention.  When they come through the door, the first thing in their eyesight will be you, before they know what is going on, I will step from my hiding place behind the open door and bam."

Tipping her head to the left, the woman surveyed Skylar and the stance the woman was in as she twirled the thick round sticks as if they were batons.  "Don’t tell me you were a majorette too?"

"I have many skills, Coltrane.  Now what do you think of my plan?"

Tara walked to the door, she looked at it, then the wall.  "You are going to stand here, against the wall?"

Sky nodded.  "Small room, not many places for a person to hide."

"Don’t you think they might suspect you behind the door when they open it?"

"It will happen so fast, I don’t think there will be time to really think this out.  I hope to have disabled whoever comes through the door before they can get a shot off."

Tara scrunched up her nose.  "Since I will be sight of the first bullet, I think I will have my trusty knife handy."

"Then the plan is all right?"  Sky asked at the same time trying to see if she could read the woman’s actions.

"Fine.  Just promise me if the bastard shoots me, you will finish him?"

"I will.  Now get into position and ready or not the time is now."

The man on guard duty had been nodding off then waking.  He knew if Natimka caught him sleeping on duty, he would have his head.  When he heard the racket coming from inside the building, he dashed for the door, rifle in hand.  One woman was still tied to the wall, but the redhead was gone.  He cursed and started to step toward Tara.  "Where is she?"  Those were the last words he spoke because Sky silenced him with one blow to the head.

Tara stood and stared at the stillness of the man.  "Did you kill him?"

Sky crouched down, her fingers searching for a pulse in his neck.  "No.  He is still breathing.  I think he will have a huge headache when he wakes though.  Come on, help me get him to the wall and let’s tie him up."

Tara was finishing tying the man’s ankles together and Sky  made sure his wrists were bound.  "Woman, you do swing a mean club."

"Thanks, I tried to hold back, didn’t want to kill him, just render him unconscious."

"Where did you learn to use nunchaku?"

"Not important.  This is a makeshift version but these will do.  I have his knife, his .45 and you have the rifle.  Let’s go."

Tara reached out and grasped Sky’s right arm.  "Wait.  Once we are out of this building, do we run?"

Sky patted the woman’s hand then replied,  We do not run.  It is dark and even if we steal a vehicle, they will catch up to us.  Our best bet is to take them down.  Leave the camp in an upheaval then be on our way."

"You may be right but I have a feeling that staying around is more about wanting to get your pretty hands on the necklace.
Am I right?"

"Woman, would you stop with this necklace stuff.  If we want to live to see tomorrow, we have to defeat these men tonight.   The necklace be damned."

"All right.  Tara shrugged adding,  But somehow, someway the necklace is going to come into this.  Let’s go partner. And I mean that in the fifty-fifty split what you find way."

"Well let’s go partner.  And I mean it in I’ll watch your back, you watch mine way."  Sky smiled as she walked toward the door.

In the darkness of the night the two women moved keeping to the shadows of the buildings.  A glowing campfire sent warmth and light within its circle.  Both were thankful this did not reach the outskirts of the camp.

Several men were easily taken out, they were shocked to see the two women.  The fact that they had been drinking was an added benefit for Sky and Tara.  As they finished binding the men together, Tara stood, looked at Sky then asked,  "What now?"

Sky approached the men, their eyes were moving back and forth between the women.  "We find out just where Natimka is and exactly where they keep the weapons, and powder."

Tara stared down, her eyes taking in each of the men before she dropped to her knees, brought out the hidden knife from her boot and held it close to one man’s throat.  "You heard her, talk.  We have nothing to lose here.  So talk and talk softly."

Fear shown in the man’s eyes as he gazed past Tara toward Sky asking,   "Will she?"

Nodding, Sky replied,  "In a heartbeat.  I need to talk to Natimka and my friend needs to know where the weapons are stored.  While you are at it, exactly how many men are here?"

He tried to move away from the cold steel blade that Tara held with such precision.  "Tell her not to cut me and I will talk."

Sky reached out, placing a hand on Tara’s shoulder.  "Let’s give the man a chance to talk."

She stood, the knife in her hand looking right at home as it moved back and forth in her grip.  "All right.  Talk, we don’t have all night."

When the man had finished, he smirked,  "The two of you, women, against all of these men will soon end up dead."

Sky winked toward Tara before replying,  "We know, you far out number us . . . hardly seems fair, does it?"

He wasn’t sure what the woman was inferring.  "That is right, we outnumber you, give me your knife and I will be gentle with you."

Holding back a giggle, Tara leaned down and whispered in the man’s right ear,  "I think she meant we were too much for your group.  You may outnumber us but there is nothing like a woman or two women mad."   She reached out and quickly placed two fingers on his neck.  It cut off the circulation and he passed out.  Turning to gaze at Sky, she muttered,   "Your turn Richmond."

Tara barely got the words out before Sky’s left foot struck out knocking the other man to the ground and unconscious in an instance.  "How’s that?  Oh and the pinch thing, I can do that too."

Tara shook her head in amazement.  "I think you have many hidden talents.  Perhaps one day I will be privy to the softer, more gentle of them."

"Dream on Coltrane.  Let’s get busy.  I will take care of Natimka while you take care of the weapons and all of Natimka’s little cache of explosives."

With hands on her hips, Tara stared at Sky.  "Why do you get to go to Natimka?"

"Don’t worry, I won’t keep the necklace if I find it.  If you want to go take the man down, be my guest.  I’d just as soon make sure this place is soon filled with loud explosions."

"All right, you go take care of Natimka and I will do my best to set off the explosions.  Oh and be careful."

Tossing her head back letting her flaming hair fall about her shoulders, Sky nodded, reached out and grasped Tara’s right hand.  "You too.  If we make it through this night, it will be a miracle."

Tara placed her other hand over Sky’s and smiled.  "We will, we are both too ornery to end it here.  Sides, I have plans for you, Richmond."  She winked, pulled away from Sky’s grip and disappeared into the darkness.

Sighing, Sky waited for a few minutes before picking up  two revolvers and one submachine gun.  "Ready or not, Richmond, it’s time to do it."
 
 

Approaching the building where Natimka was supposed to be, she stepped out of the darkness and surprised the guard.  He didn’t even have time to lift his rifle, her fist struck out so fast, all he saw was the blur.  Crouching, she checked the man’s pulse then took his weapons and softly entered the building.  A candle flickered near the far wall, it set on a small wooden table.  Before long she spied Natimka laying on a cot, he looked to be asleep.

Carefully setting down the weapons she had confiscated she made her way toward the sleeping man.  It didn’t take her long to get a good choke hold and within seconds Natimka’s eyes flew open as he tried to remove her hand from his neck.  Sky had placed one over his mouth and the other strategically on the man’s throat.  "If I were you, I’d be still.  Believe me when I say, I can kill you in a second.  Now, where is the necklace?  I will remove my hand but you call out, I swear I will kill you."

He tried to move, finally giving up, he lay back.  She removed the hand as he took a deep breath of air before asking,  "How?  How did you get away?"

Sky shook her head in frustration.  "I am here that is what had best concern you.  Now the necklace, where is it?"

He gasped for air,   "You’re . . . stopping . . . my . . .  breathing."

"I’ll stop more than that if you don’t talk."  She removed her hand from his throat and stood.  "There, feel better?  Don’t go getting any bright ideas, the gun under your pillow, I took care of it.  Time to fess up, where did you put the necklace?"

His eyes darted to the wooden table as he muttered,  "Don’t have it, here."

"Oh really."   Sky ordered,  "Get up  and walk slowly toward the table."

He stood but immediately made a run for the table only to find Skylar standing, waiting for him.  She had somersaulted through the air and the only thing he found when he got there was her fist.  As the man hit the floor, Sky walked to the table and began to check the drawers.  She was just about to give up when she stepped on a floor board that creaked.

Smiling she leaned down and began to remove it.  Once she pushed it aside, her eyes gazed at two identical leather pouches sitting side by side.  Reaching in she grasped both and brought them to the table.  Quickly opening each, she was surprised to see that there was an identical necklace wrapped inside each one.

Stepping back, she bit at her lower lip, then looked down at the man.  "Pretty crafty, two, one must be a fake, the question is which one."   After examining the two, Sky was sure which was the fake.  Her time studying gemology was now going to pay off.   She tied one pouch to her belt and put one in her pocket, then proceeded to bind the man.   She had just finished this when a loud explosion rocked the building.  Sky knew that Tara had succeeded and hoped that they could soon take down the remaining men.

When she stepped outside, pandemonium was taking place.  Men were running, and yelling, amidst a huge blaze that also had several adjoining roofs burning.  They were hauling water in buckets trying to douse the flames.  It was at this time that rapid gunfire sounded.  In the light from the fire, she could see Tara, standing tall, her right hand was working the crank of an old Gatling gun.   And as the barrels revolved the spray of bullets were sending men running in all directions.

She quickly took the opportunity to step among the men that had given up and remove their weapons.  Tara smiled toward her.  "What took you so long Richmond?"

Sky approached the woman.  "You can stop shooting, I think the ones that are still alive have given up.  Let’s get them secured."
 
 

The people were standing, their mouths open in astonishment when the two women each driving a truck with prisoners in the back drove onto the compound.  The President sent his personal guard to greet them and to bring them to the palace.

Tara stepped to the ground, her eyes catching the swinging leather pouch on Sky’s belt.  She stepped toward the woman.   "Looks like we made it."

Sky nodded and moved slowly, there wasn’t a part of her body that didn’t cry out in agony.  "We did.  Thank you for your help."

Tara reached out and shook Sky’s hand.  "We make a great team.  Perhaps one day you will see this for yourself Richmond.  And you’re welcome.  I couldn’t have done it without you.  Do you think I could get a hug? "

Sky leaned forward, as the two women embraced.  They were like that for a few moments before Tara stepped back.  "I think I will go splash some water on my face before going up to the palace.  Meet you there?"

Sky nodded, her mind was on all the activity that was taking place around them.  "Sure."  She turned to help the men in taking control of Natimka and the others.  When she was finished, she headed toward the palace.

Once inside she was taken to the President’s suite.  The man smiled when she entered the room.  He began to walk toward her.  "Thank you so much.  I don’t know how you did it but that is quite a feat you just pulled off."

Looking around the room Sky shook the man’s outstretched hand before she replied,  "I had help, Tara Coltrane.  Has she already been here?"

He called one of his men and talked with him for several minutes before walking back to her.  "My man tells me that Miss. Coltrane and her pilot left."

"What . . ."   Sky instinctively reached for the pouch she had tied to her belt but what she grasped was air.  She had to admit she was a bit surprised.  When she tied the leather pouch to her belt, she hoped this time to see Tara Coltrane had changed.  Sadly, she was the same conniving woman she had always been.   It was a test, and one that Tara had failed miserably.

He eyed the woman and her movements then asked,  "What is wrong?"

Pointing to a lounge Sky replied,  "Nothing for you to be concerned about.  I am still feeling the stress of what happened, that is all.  Can we sit?  I need to tell you something."
 
 

When she had finished telling the President  what had happened and that she had retrieved the sacred necklace, he wanted to see it immediately.  The man examined every stone, and when finished he smiled broadly.  "It is a good feeling to know this will be back in its rightful place.  I am sorry your friend had to leave so soon."

Sky had been watching the man and knew this necklace meant a great deal to him and to his people.  She was happy to have found it and that it was now back where it belonged.  Natimka got away with so much, the terror, the opportunities to ravage the area and all because once the necklace was no longer in its rightful place, things started happening.

Whether these were occurring because of the sacred feeling the people had for this exquisite piece or it just happened, made no difference.  She had seen things that made her a true believer in this necklace and the good things it could do.

"I am sure she had something important come up."  Sky muttered, then smiled.

"When you see her again, would you thank her for me?"

Nodding she replied,  "I will do that and a lot more."

Sky’s condition had not gone unnoticed by the man who spoke with authority,  "Now,  you must be tired.  Please let me have a room prepared for you, my personal massager to tend to you after you have a long bath in our healing spring.  Again, thank you for bringing an end to this coup and all the devastation it has caused my people."

Sky feigned a smile then said,  "Thank you. I could use a relaxing rest.  About Natimka?"

"He is my problem now.  And he will be dealt with swiftly, no one will think of doing this again once they see his execution."

Sky walked away from the President that night all the while her mind was on Tara Coltrane.  The woman had a light touch, lifting the bait while so much was going on.  She wondered how Tara was going to take it when she found out that what she had was indeed the fake.  She knew one day the two would meet again and sparks would probably fly.
 
 

The sound seemed to be getting clearer and much louder . . .    "Miss Richmond   Miss. Richmond are you in there?"

It was Anthony’s voice and it was coming from the patio.  Sky shook her head, her hand still holding the picture of the two women.  She set it down, and turned to leave the room.  Once outside she walked toward the young man.  "Anthony, what is the matter?"

He shifted back and forth on the balls of his feet, seemed a bit nervous before he answered,  "I thought I should tell you that a man has been looking for you.  He seems to be persistent and from all I could gather he has followed you here.  I told him you were in the lobby but I don’t think this is where he went."

Sky reached out and placed her hand on Anthony’s shoulder.  "Tell me, just what does this man look like?  Do you think it is someone that wants to do me harm?"

He quickly described the man to her finishing with,  "He seems to be a nice man.  I think he wants to hire you for a job.  Thought I should warn you before he approaches you.  Give you the heads up."

"Thanks.  I have a few things to do, important things.  You get his name and number and I will give the gentleman a call."

"He said his name is Denny White, that you knew him."

Sky thought for a few minutes then replied,  "I can't recall a Denny White.  I will be gone for awhile, no way to contact me, so be a dear and watch my bike?"
 
He smiled ear to ear as he replied,  "Oh yes.  I will.  You take care Miss Richmond."

Sky’s green eyes warmly melded with his as she whispered,  "Sky.  Not Miss Richmond."   With those words she started to make her way up a back path to the hotel.

Continued . . .