by Sandy Nadeau
****
Nate drove the vehicle with Jon in the front seat, Rick in the back. They had decided the ranch’s smallest vehicle, a two-door Jeep, would be fast and small enough in any tight and rough areas.
They headed out to where the sheriff found Mandy’s phone.
Jon and Nate spread the map open, discussing possibilities.
“We need to check all these backwoods areas,” Jon pointed to the green area of the map. “There’s a ton of places that would still be empty since last fall. We must be overlooking the obvious. Let’s drive off to the right and see if we spot anything.”
Nate turned the Jeep onto the main road. He kept under the posted speed limit so they could look down side roads and pull over, if necessary.
They drove down driveways and old dirt roads but there was no sign anywhere.
****
At the hospital, the nurses prepped Mr. Shonee for the angioplasty in the cardiac catheterization lab.
“Anybody come in to see me yet?”
“Not that I know of, Mr. Shonee. You really can’t have visitors right now, anyway. The desk would have informed any visitors of that. They’re probably in the waiting room, as anxious to see you as you are to see them. We’ll take good care of you, not to worry.”
“Kind of funny they aren’t here. But maybe they got turned away.”
The nurse patted his arm. “Didn’t you say they run a tourist ranch or something?”
“Yeah. Some kind of four-wheelin’ ranch.”
“Well, maybe they had to organize other people to take care of their guests this morning and couldn’t get here in time to see you before you came in here.” She tried to ease his mind. “Don’t you be nervous, now. We know what we’re doing.”
“I guess I’ll have to trust ya.” The old man winked at her.
The doctor came in and explained that they were going to send the catheter in through his arm. “All your tests came back and this will be the easiest on you. Once we are done, you’ll need to be still for a while, but once everything seals up well, you’ll start to recover fast. You’ll probably be surprised how quickly you’ll be feeling better; more so than you have for a while. So as we give you this medicine, just relax. We’ll get this taken care of.”
“All right, doc. I reckon I’ll just lay here prayin’ while you do your thing. I sure wish Mandy were here, though.”
****
Kane went into the other room and when he came out, he was dressed in plain clothes. They were a little large, but the belt cinched the pants tight. He tucked the gun in the belt against his back. “Well, ladies, according to your car radio, they’re really lookin’ for us. So what are we gonna do about this?”
“Why don’t you just leave us here, take the car and make a run for it?” Mandy suggested.
“Maybe I’ll just hold you for ransom. How much money you worth to that man of yours?” Then he looked at Jenny. “How about you? Yer parents pay much to have you back?”
Jenny couldn’t look at him. She’d spent too many hours stuck in a dark cave with him, and now she was a prisoner again under his sneering looks. She hoped and prayed if she ever got out of this, that she would never have to see him again. Fear made her heart hammer so loud she was worried he’d hear it.
****
Mandy could see the building fear in Jenny and prayed for wisdom. “Kane, it isn’t going to do you any good to get a ransom. Didn’t you get enough out of the rhodochrosite? Can’t you just settle for that and leave?”
“It wasn’t enough.” He stomped close to Mandy. “I had a great thing going until that girl stumbled in on our claim. It’s your fault,” he roared in Jenny’s direction. “I could have had a lot more.”
Jenny was shaking so hard the cushions on the sofa vibrated under Mandy. She realized too late that she needed to use a different tack to keep him off balance. “Why don’t you check around outside to see if there’s another place to hide and give you time to figure out what you’re going to do?”
“I’m tired of listening to you, anyway.” He slammed the door as he marched out.
“Are you OK, Jenny?”
“I’m so scared, Mandy. I don’t want to be here anymore. I want to go home.” Tears ran down the young girl’s cheeks.
“I know, honey. We have to figure out what to do.”
“I think I’m ready to make a run out the window. But, where do I go?”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, I just don’t want him to hurt you.”
“Don’t worry about me. We have to get you out of here to get some help. You’ll have to stay off the road that we came in on, so run through the woods as fast as you can. If you veer off at an angle to the right, I know you’ll run into the property with the lodge on it. You just have to do your best to stay on a straight course in that direction.” Mandy nodded her head, unable to point with her hands.
“What about wild animals though, Mandy? What will I do?”
“It’s daylight hours, Jenny. You won’t even see anything.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. You can do this. Just get to the lodge and get help. Flag someone down if you have to.”
“OK, Mandy. I’ll do it. Please don’t let him hurt you, though.” Her pleading gaze broke Mandy’s heart.
“I’ll be fine,” she whispered as she heard his footsteps coming up the steps outside.
Again, he burst through the door.
Mandy had prepared for it this time. “Jenny needs her bag out of the car, and then use the bathroom.”
“Tough.”
“Come on, Kane. She’s a girl.” She hoped Kane would get what she was implying.
He stood there for a moment glaring, and then went back out the door. She heard him slam the tailgate of her Jeep Cherokee and come back in with the bag. He tossed it on the sofa between them and went to untie Jenny’s hands.
The girl cringed being so near him. Once her hands were free, she rubbed her wrists, looked at Mandy, grabbed her bag, and went into the bathroom.
Mandy struck up a conversation so he wouldn’t hear Jenny open the window. She prayed in her mind even as she spoke. “Kane, seriously, we can’t just stay here indefinitely. What if you just drove away? They’re going to be looking for all three of us in a vehicle. You won’t draw so much attention if you go alone.”
“I haven’t decided yet.” He began to look through all the cupboards in the kitchenette. Owners knew mice would tear into anything left behind in a cabin over winter so they didn’t leave much.
Mandy worked the knife against the ropes since his back was to her.
“There isn’t enough food for us to stay here long, is there? You need to make a decision.”
He slammed the cupboard doors, then walked over and slumped down into the chair.
“Just make a run for it in the car. Leave us here so we don’t slow you down. You know the area. You can get out of here. Head for the old mill road. You could make your way out over the trails in that direction. My car can handle it.”
“Will you quit talkin’? Geez, woman. Shut up for a while. What’s takin’ that girl so long?”
“Leave her be. She has to take care of things.”
Silence.
Mandy kept her gaze on the man and prayed for the Lord to guide Jenny to safety. She prayed for wisdom, strength, and courage. Her heart pounded. She shook deep inside, and her palms began to sweat.
Kane cocked his head to the side listening for Jenny in the other room. When he realized there was no sound in there, he jumped up and pounded on the bathroom door. “Answer me, girl!” he yelled. “What are you doing in there?”
“Kane…” Mandy tried to distract him.
He ignored her and continued pounding.
She kept cutting at the ropes on her wrists.
Kane backed up and kicked at the door, slamming it open. He looked inside and must have seen the window open. He turned, cussed, and ran for the door.
Mandy�
�s ropes came free. She stuck out her leg and braced herself.
He tripped over her shin and flew face first into the hard wood door. He staggered, holding his head.
Mandy gathered every bit of courage she had and sailed, shoulder first, into his mid-section. She knocked him off balance and caused him to fall backward.
His head made direct contact with the small table next to the chair he had slept in. He went limp and didn’t move. The man was breathing, but he was unconscious.
Mandy got the rope, rolled him on his side, and grabbed the gun from his waistband. She tossed it over to the sofa and tied his hands and feet to the sofa.
She picked up the gun and flew out the door. “Jenny.” Running towards her Jeep, she hollered again, “Jenny!” She hopped in, set the gun on the floor of the passenger’s side, but the key wasn’t in the ignition. She frantically searched the floor and checked the visor. It had to be in his pocket. She groaned and ran back to the cabin. Cautiously, she opened the door.
He was still out cold. A red bump rose on the center of his forehead, and his nose bled.
She rummaged through his pockets, found the keys, and ran back out the door.
“Jenny!” she screamed. “Jenny, I got away!”
No one replied.
The Jeep started right up. Mandy slammed it into gear and pushed the gas pedal all the way to the floor. The tires spun in the dirt, kicking up rocks.
“Oh Lord, please. Show me where Jenny is, and help me get out of here.” Mandy scanned the woods anticipating where Jenny might run. Nothing. She honked the horn several times hoping Jenny would hear it. The Jeep bounced on the ruts in the dirt lane as she drove for all she was worth.
****
Jenny dropped out of the window scratching her left leg as she slid down. She landed with a muffled thud and froze. Not hearing anything, she took off running.
She ran in the direction where he wouldn’t see her if he looked out the window. Again, she found herself running through the uneven, slippery, dry pine needles of a Colorado forest. Fearful of falling into another hole, she dodged around bushes and kept to open ground. “God, I need you, again. More than ever.” She gasped the words out as she ran. “Please help me find someone. Please keep Mandy safe.” Tears blurred her vision as she ran. Jenny ran for her life, and that of her friend.
30
Mandy saw the main road up ahead. She slid to a stop at the end of the lane. No traffic. She peeled out onto the pavement. She had to find Jenny. She slowed, keeping a closer eye on the woods. Where could that child be? If she ran, she should be near the road by now. She looked in her rear view mirror and saw another car approaching. She veered onto the shoulder to let the car pass. Did they know her? They drove past oblivious to her dilemma. Another one approached so she waited for it to pass.
****
Nate squinted and leaned over the top of the steering wheel. “Jon, isn’t that Mandy’s car?”
Jon looked up from the map, put his hand on the dash and yelled, “Pull over, pull over. That’s Mandy.”
The Jeep slid on the dirt shoulder behind the Cherokee.
Jon was out of the vehicle before Nate brought it to a complete stop.
Nate whipped out his phone to call 911.
****
Mandy watched in her mirror as the car screeched to a stop behind her. Fear gripped her at first, but then she saw Jon. She opened the door and ran back towards him.
“Mandy. Dear Lord. Are you all right?” They slammed into each other.
Tears and deep sobs poured out of Mandy.
Jon held her and ran his hand over her hair on the back of her head.
“Where’s Jenny?” Rick’s voice cracked with emotion.
“She got away. She has to be out there,” she pointed to the woods. “I told her to run in this direction. Kane had us in the O’Neil’s cabins. He’s tied up down there. We have to find her, I’ve been calling and calling but I haven’t seen her or heard her.”
Sirens echoed in the canyon heading in their direction.
“Jenny!” Rick called as he scrambled into the ditch to get in the woods.
Jon called to him. “Let’s get back in the vehicles to search for her. There’s a road up ahead we can turn in and look.”
“I told her to head for the lodge.”
“Nate, you and Rick head for the lodge, we’ll take the road down into the woods in case she hasn’t gotten that far yet.”
“Right.” Rick and Nate hopped back into the Jeep.
Jon looked over at his wife as they buckled up. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine, now. Oh Jon, she was so afraid. We have to find her. I convinced her to escape out the bathroom window and go find help.” Mandy started crying again. “She has to be safe.”
“How did you get away?”
“I found a small knife when he made me cook breakfast. By the time he realized Jenny was gone, I had managed to cut through my ropes, so I tripped him. Then I pushed him and he got knocked out.”
“That’s my girl.” Jon smiled and cocked his head. “Don’t worry, Mandy. We’ll find Jenny and this will be all over with.”
The helicopter was overhead. It flew over the surrounding forest.
Someone was bound to spot Jenny.
****
“Help me, Jesus,” Jenny cried as she ran around trees and hopped over small bushes and rocks. Her strength was giving out. She came to a stop, panting, and leaned hands on her knees to catch her breath. She looked in every direction for any sign of humans. She took off running again.
Then she heard the helicopter. They wouldn’t be able to see her with the dense tree tops. She searched for any opening in the pine canopy above. She ran back and forth hoping that they would see her through the trees. The copter flew directly overhead.
Jenny waved her arms and screamed.
The chopper vanished. Silence filled the forest.
Jenny fell to the ground on her knees, gasping for breath, and cried. “Help me, Jesus. Please? I need help. I’m scared.”
I am with you.
Puzzled, she looked up. Tears streamed down her face.
Trust in Me. Do not fear.
“Lord?”
Suddenly a feeling of great peace filled her entire being as if arms of warmth and comfort enveloped her. The tears continued to run down her cheeks, but she felt safe. She raised her head and dried her tears on her sleeve.
Was that a road? She stood and started to run. Then she saw it.
Mandy’s Cherokee.
Was it Kane?
“Oh, my gosh!” She watched as it approached, trying to stay hidden by the girth of the ponderosa pine.
There were two people in the car. Relief flooded Jenny’s soul when she saw that Jon was driving and Mandy sat in the passenger’s seat.
Jenny ran out into the open screaming for them.
****
“Jon, stop!” Mandy screamed. She unclipped her seat belt and almost fell out the door. Running, she caught Jenny up into a bear hug, clutching the girl like she’d never let go.
“Mandy, you’re safe. How did you get away?” Jenny held on to her tight, shaking, crying, and breathless.
Jon put his hand on Jenny’s shoulder and held out a phone. “You need to say hi to someone.”
Mandy released her hold on the girl.
Jenny took the phone and said through her tears, “Dad? Oh, Dad! Yeah, I’m here with Mandy and Jon. OK. See you in a minute. Hurry, Daddy.” She handed the phone back to Jon and flung her arms around Mandy again. “Are you really here?”
Relief filled Mandy’s heart and she thanked God, but she couldn’t answer through the tears.
The helicopter hovered over them. Jon gave a thumbs up signal. The pilot waved back, understanding. The chopper banked and flew away.
Jon put his arm on Mandy’s shoulder. “Let’s head back out towards the main road.
“How did you get away?” Jenny asked in the car as she wiped at her tea
r streaked face.
Mandy had her arm hanging between the bucket seats to hold hands with the girl.
Jon laughed. “She knocked him out!”
“What?”
“I finally cut through my ropes as Kane tried to figure out why you wouldn’t answer the bathroom door. When he ran for the front door to go after you, I sort of…tripped him.” She gave Jenny a rueful grin. “He fell into the door, but then he backed up holding his head. I knew I better do something fast so I jumped up and slammed my shoulder into his belly. He fell backward and hit his head on the table so hard it knocked him out.”
“Where was the gun? Why didn’t he try to shoot you?”
Mandy grinned, reached down and picked up the gun. “You mean this?”
“How did you manage that?”
Jon had a huge smile on his face while he drove. “He apparently didn’t have time to get it while he was getting beat up by a girl.”
They all laughed.
31
Nate and Rick met them on the road.
Rick grabbed his daughter and enveloped her into his arms, squeezing her so tight that Jenny protested.
“Dad, I need to breathe.”
He let her go, unashamed of the tears running down his face. He kept stroking her hair, and took her hand as if he never wanted to let her go.
Mandy understood exactly how he felt.
The sheriff also pulled up. “Well, ladies. I can’t tell you how happy we are to see you alive and unharmed.” He paused for a moment, blinking his eyes. And then he hugged Mandy, released her, and patted Jenny’s shoulder. “We were right scared for you two.” He looked down, brushed unnecessary wrinkles in his uniform, and then turned professional. “I need to talk with both of you. The police are on the way to the cabin to capture Kane.”
“I have the gun he used.” Mandy told him. “It’s in the Jeep.”
“I’ll take that, then.” Ed accompanied her over to the vehicle and pulled out a plastic evidence bag. After he took it, he waved to the men, got in his car, and headed to the cabin.