Mystery Novel |
The sky was a deep blue, the kind of color manufacturers are always trying to imitate, but never quite get it right. Thick whipped-cream clouds hid the sun and the breeze was just chilled enough to effect me. I laid still hoping the goose bumps roving my flesh wouldnât give me away. I pretended to remain unconscious while Rafe rummaged through his army surplus pack. Heâd threatened to kill me more times that I could remember to count. The bruises, cuts and abrasions were nothing new in my life. Iâd endured them through childhood from my father and then it continued in my marriage. It was a life sentence. The familiarity of it was almost a kind of security. After so long, I guess I never really believed he would do it, end my life, that is. Yet, now that it faced me directly, with a dogged dare stare, it was nearly a relief. The crackle of water against the rocks and the feel of the cold, hard slab beneath my back told me where we were, Ash Creek, near Fallon, Nevada. Ironically, it was the same place heâd saved me so many year ago. I was thirteen. Kids always found a target, and I was an easy one with my worn clothes always slightly out of style. My father would bring home a paper bag full of mismatched items he found left at a charity site. I did what I could with them. I remember first hearing the skids and thumps of their shoes on the hard-clay. A pack of them, full of testosterone spiked blood, followed fifty or so yards behind and closing. âCommon Blue Baby, show us whatâs under that long skirt of yours.â So, theyâd spotted me. My father named me Bluebell after his hunting dog, a blue healer. It sounds funny, but made perfect sense as I always came second to the dog. I sped up my pace as much as I could without letting them know I was afraid. I knew about wild animals and the fear factor. After all, Iâd lived with two animals more ferocious than any in the wild. But, dogs on to the scent of a female in season arenât deterred easily. I didnât dare look back, but I could feel that theyâd almost caught up with me. Running wasnât an option, it was too far to make it to the road before they caught me. Besides thereâs no telling what theyâd do if I ran. At least I might have a chance to talk them down if, at some point, I just turned and confronted them. I felt something whip my skirt up. I turned. It was one of the Baldwin boys, two years ahead of me in school. Seven or eight more trailed him. I looked him straight in the eyes. âTeddy Baldwin, if you donât leave me alone my daddy and Blueâll be huntinâ you down. It wonât be good when they find you, neither.â âWe ainât afraid of your daddy nor his mangy mutt, are we boys?â They surrounded me now, cheering Teddy on. Iâd played my one trump card, but it hadnât been enough to bluff them. âWell, youâll be wishing you hadnât run into me today when your daddy hears the way you been actinâ.â âMy Daddyâll give me a high five and spot me a ten for being a man.â âBut, not your mama. I know your mama and she donât go for these kind of shanadagans.â For just a moment I thought I saw a flicker of fear in his eyes, but then a nasty sneer crossed his lips. He reached for me with both his hands tight at my upper arms. He pulled me close. My mouth was a full centimeter from his and my breath was stuck at the bottom of my lungs. âNow youâre gonna know what a real man feels like.â In an instant his mouth was hard against mine. My lips ached with bruising. âTurn around and weâll see what a real man you are Teddy boy.â Teddy dropped me. As I crumpled to the ground all the boys turned. There was total silence for thirty seconds or more. I couldnât see him, but I recognized Rafe Carlsonâs voice. âIâm every bit as much a man as you, maybe more.â The boys cheered Teddy on. âLetâs have at it then. Only the doinâ will tell whoâs the better.â I could see them both now as the boys circled the two. I wanted to get up and run but I felt frozen watching them spar and poke at each other. Rafe smacked Teddy square in the nose with one huge walloping punch that echoed. Teddy dropped to the ground. The blood poured from his crooked nose like a faucet on full blast. Teddy reached for his face, drawing back a hand full of crimson stickiness. âYou, you broke my nose,â Teddy whined. âYou boys better get him on home now. Unless, any of you want some of what he got.â |