by Arow Jones
Lily: where r u?
JT: back on the bluff, meet me
I can’t help but smile. There is at least an hour before dark. Clouds are slowly filling the sky. The sunset will be beautiful. I dress in a pair of jeans, pulling a sweater over a t-shirt. I stick my feet into my boots then shove my phone into the side of one of my boots.
Five whinnies when she sees me. I give her a carrot and brush her down. Forgoing a saddle I strap on a bareback pad. Five has been my one constant since my parent’s deaths. Whenever I am sad or frustrated I know she will always be there for me. I laugh at the memory of riding to the pond with JT. He mentioned breeding her to with Lucky Shot. She would be a good mom.
We take our time walking the path to the ridge. I’m glad I wore a sweatshirt, it’s getting chilly. My rain jacket is in the pack, attached to the saddle I hadn’t put on Five. I cast aside my worry. We’ll be back just after dark anyhow and I won’t be alone.
When I get to the bluff I don’t see Lucky Shot. He wasn’t at the barn when I left. Maybe JT took a different route. I hop off, leaving Five to graze. I take in the view and clean crisp air. I can already see the shades of gold and yellow peeking through the horizon.
I turn when I hear a rustle in the bushes. Expecting to see JT I turn with a smile on my face. Instead, blue eyes are staring back at me with malice and hatred. Nick.
“What are you doing here?” I take a step back. Did he follow JT?
“I want to make you a deal darlin’.” His face is hard. The lines of his jaw are tense but the scariest part of him is his eyes. The sinister look he gives me fills me with dread.
“What kind of deal?”
“The kind of deal you can’t refuse. You walk away. I’ll claim the ranch, sell it back to the Tanner’s and give you a cut of the profit.”
“If I don’t?”
“You don’t want to know what happens if you don’t take the deal.” He’s stepping closer to me. The wind is whipping my hair into my face. I brush it aside, pulling up the sweatshirt hood. The light is dimming. Drops of rain begin to fall.
“It already belongs to JT. You have no rights to claim.”
“No. He has to marry you to keep his claim.” He looks at my hand. His face contorts when he sees the wedding set glimmering in the waning sunlight. “You stupid bitch! All you had to do was walk away!” He stalks towards me. I try back away. My feet are at the precipice of a steep decline in the bluff, too far from the trails for safety. My eyes are on Nick when I see another glint, a hunting knife appears in his hand.
I can either jump or face Nick with the knife. JT’s face flashes before me.
“Where’s JT?”
“With that slut Blanche, of course. I got there just in time to relieve him of his phone.” He taps a few buttons on the phone. He hands me the phone with a picture on the screen of a half-naked Blanche on top of JT. I recognize the truck they are in. She’s straddling him with her face in his neck. Ugh!
“That’s not possible. He would never do that to me!” The wind is kicking up, blowing my tears into streaks down my face. Then it hits me. Nick and Blanche are in this together, trying to break us apart. With me out of the way Blanche could have JT to herself and Nick would get the land. The acid in my stomach churns. I look at the picture again. “No! What happened to JT?”
“Look at the picture darlin’. He’s shit faced, all because of you. You! You wrecked the man, pushing him away.” I look at the picture. JT’s eyes are closed, his hands are loose, like he’s asleep. I breathe a sigh of relief. Just drunk. He must hate me right now. Then I realize I have his phone. He will wake up without his phone and no one knows where I am. My thoughts darken. I slip the phone into my pocket and turn to Nick.
“You will never get the land!” I lunge at him.
Just then, Lucky Shot barrels by us, bucking and kicking. Five Alive joins in the commotion, upset at whatever is behind Lucky Shot.
A low growl fills the air.
“Oh shit.” Nick and I freeze. Standing on a boulder, twenty yards from us a large yellow cougar eyes us like a juicy steak. He languidly licks his frothy lips. My hands reach behind me looking for anything I can use as a weapon. With his ears pinned back he crouches down like he’s going to pounce. I quickly break off a branch from the bush next to me. It’s small and pathetic but I don’t want to be empty handed if it goes after me. The pissed off feline jumps, landing on Nick. “Argh!” He’s screaming as blood is spraying from his shoulder. He falls to the ground from the weight of the animal desperately trying to pry it off. I am stunned with fear. I reach down into my boot for my cell phone. No reception! I check JT’s phone. Nothing. Damn!
Somehow Nick manages to kick off the beast. The blade he had flew near a grouping of rocks. He’s covered in blood. Stumbling, his foot catches on a loose root in the ground causing him to tumble down the bluff. I cover my hands to the sounds of his screaming as he thuds down the ridge. He was barely coherent and already severely injured before he went down. His cries cease with a sickening end.
I barely have a moment to consider his condition when I turn my attention towards the snarling mass of fur. The foaming mouth frightens me. Oh god. This animal is crazed! It rushes towards me. I have nothing but the flimsy stick in my hand. I thrust at the creature just as it lands on top of me. White heat spreads through my body. The beast has my shoulder in its jaws. We managed to roll right onto sharp rocks. My lower back is ravaged but it’s my head that worries me. Blood obstructs my vision as I struggle to stay conscious. I’m going to die. Oh god, not like this. No one knows where I am.
My right hand feels sticky with blood. I must have been able to jam the stick in enough to startle the mountain lion. My other hand reaches for something. Anything. The touch of cold metal on my fingertips gives me hope. The knife! I grasp the blade thrusting the creature in the side. It’s surprised, letting go of my shoulder. Just as it’s about to leap onto me again. Five comes barreling out of the bushes. The beast turns on her, landing on her back, latching on to her neck. “No!” Her cries are gut wrenching. She’s whinnying, bucking, twisting, doing anything she can to get the beast to let go.
My vision is ceasing.
Too much blood.
Stomping and kicking, Five manages to buck off the creature. Turning, she kicks at it so hard it flies off the bluff. Yes! That’s my girl. Something’s wrong though. Five is swaying. Her knees buckle as she falls to the ground. No! Please, no!
Please, help! My voice is barely a whisper. No one can hear me.
I’m alone.
Alone.
I can’t hold on.
Everything goes dark.
Twenty Eight
“What the fuck do you mean you don’t know where she is?” I chase down a handful of ibuprofen with water. “When is the last time you saw her?” My head is pounding. What was I thinking? I woke up this morning with no memory of how I got into my truck. My shirt was unbuttoned. I swear I could faintly smell Blanche’s obnoxious perfume on me.
“Stop yelling man. It’s not her fault!” Chase is standing in front of me. When I woke up this morning I was in my truck, still parked at Jack’s. I should have told him to pick me up last night instead of just texting him.
“I’m sorry Kenny.” Fucking hang over. “Why didn’t you call me?”
“I tried calling you last night and this morning. You didn’t pick up or return my calls!” I check my pockets. Shit! I must have dropped my phone. Kenny’s eyes are red from crying. “I thought she was with you. I called her phone but she didn’t answer. Skye said she was going to go see you. Lucky Shot and Five were gone this morning when I went to feed the horses. I didn’t think anything was wrong until I saw Lucky roaming free around the paddocks. He was all saddled up but no Five. I panicked and tried to call you. When you didn’t answer I called Chase.”
Chase grunts. “Getting shit faced drunk is where he was. What the fuck man? This isn’t like you.”
“We got in a fight yeste
rday.” After we made love on the ridge. “She said she needed space. Maybe she went out for a ride?”
“Overnight? She wouldn’t do that. Besides, her saddle pack is still here, attached to her saddle which means she didn’t intend to be gone for very long.”
“Okay.” I pinch the bridge of my nose. “We need to go find her. Let’s mount up and ride her usual trails. Do you know where she might go?”
“The lake? The bluff? I don’t know. She often goes out by herself.” Chase pulls her into his arms. She sobs as he whispers in her ear. She nods. Wiping her eyes she turns to me. “Let’s go.”
We make a plan to split up. They bring their phones even though there won’t be reception most of the time. Chase rides out to the lake and around the perimeter of the properties. Kenny takes the trail up to the bluff. I take the trail around the base of the hillside. About an hour into the ride I hear a faint cry. I stop to listen. Sure enough it’s Kenny. She must be screaming at the top of her lungs if I can hear her from here. I turn my horse and gallop towards her. On the way, I run into Chase. We follow the path until we reach the bluff. I’m panting hard, not knowing what we’re going to find.
The first thing I notice is blood on the ground. Lots of blood. I choke back a cry. Five is on the ground. Kenny looks at me. Her hand is on her mouth, nodding her head. From the wounds on her neck and torso I can guess the predator she had a run in with. We follow the blood trail. One leads over the ridge. Another leads towards some bushes behind a tree.
“No! NO!” I run towards her, skidding to my knees. I crawl over her, looking over her wounds. “Chase, call for help!”
“Shit, shit! No reception. I’ll ride back and call as soon as I get reception. I might have to lead them back here. I nod to him but keep my eyes on Lily.
“Baby, wake up!” No response. I lean down. She’s still breathing but her heartbeat is faint. Kenny hands me her discarded jacket. I tuck it under her head. There’s blood everywhere. I pull off my shirt. I don’t know which is worse. Her head? Her shoulder? I carefully reach behind her to feel for anything but I cut my hand on the rocks underneath her. “Shit. We have to move her. She’s laying on rocks. Her back has been cut.” We gently maneuver her a foot over, to smoother ground. I press my shirt to her shoulder.
There is knife in one of her hands. My phone is lying next to her. A picture of Blanche on top of me is on the broken screen. Nick must have swiped my phone and convinced Blanche to set this picture up. Son of a bitch!
There is so much blood on and around her it’s hard to tell how much is hers.
“JT?” Kenny is looking down the bluff. Her eyes are wide and puffy from crying. “I found Nick and… I think there’s a cougar down there. It’s not moving though. That must be what attacked them.”
“Nick must have lured her up here. He’s been threatening her.”
“He must not have known you two already married or maybe he didn’t care. He’s been blowing up her phone for weeks with text messages and phone calls trying to get her not to marry you.”
“What?” That bastard! I can’t even feel sorry for his demise. I’m too angry.
I turn back to Lily, kissing her forehead whispering quietly to her. “Please baby, you can’t leave me now. Wake up, Sugar.” Her skin is pallor. She’s completely unresponsive.
All we can do is sit and wait for help arrive.
Twenty Nine
The monitors beep in cadence. Or is that my heart beat? I hear voices. I can’t open my eyes. Where am I?
“She opened her eyes. It was brief but I saw it. Nurse! Sugar, I’m here. Open your eyes for me baby.” I struggle to open my eyes. They flutter open. JT’s emerald eyes are filled with tears but he has a smile on his face. I must be dreaming. JT is here with me and he’s not bad at me. Where am I? I reach up to trace the side of his face, scrapping down the stubble of dark growth. Why hasn’t he shaved? I want to ask him but there is something in my mouth. I’m too tired. My eyes close. I fall back in to the darkness.
“You bitch!” No!
Growl! Ah!
“Shh, Sugar. Just a bad dream. I’m here.” I could feel his hand in mine.
My lids felt so heavy. I just wanted to wake up.
Why can’t I wake up?
The dreams play over and over like a scratched record skipping back to the same moment in the song. Nick. Five. A cougar. Where’s JT? My face feels wet from the rain. No, my tears.
“You bitch!” No!
Growl! Ah! Get off me! Get off me!
“Wake up baby. Shh, I’m here. You’re safe. No one is going to hurt you. I’m here. I love you, sweet Lily.”
I love you too.
I can feel my body relax as JT’s hand stroke my head. He’s gripping my other hand like he’s afraid to let go.
The pain. The pain is unbearable.
“Nurse! She’s tensing up. Something’s wrong!”
“Sir, you’ll have to step out so the doctor can take a look.”
“… Shock…”
“… complication… surgery… STAT.”
I try to open my eyes. My hands fumble to my face. I want this thing out of my mouth. I’m frantic. Where’s JT. Where’s JT? Please, someone help me!
“Hold her down.”
“Lily, everything will be alright. You’re going back into surgery Sugar but I’ll be right here when you wake up.” I grab his arm, pleading to him.
I feel a sharp pain in my shoulder then a prick on my arm before the darkness takes me again.
Thirty
Lily’s been in and out of consciousness after her surgery. The nightmares have been hard on her. They had taken out the tube from her mouth a few days ago. She’s heavily sedative to force her rest. She still hadn’t fully awakened. The internal bleeding, a broken collar bone from the crushing bite, broken ribs, numerous cuts. She was a mess but she hung in there. My strong, beautiful, sweet Lily. She’s a fighter. I’ve barely left her side since the accident. I just want her to wake up so I can tell her everything will be okay.
Skye came by with a bouquet of flowers. She called Grayson while we were there. I was so wrapped up in Lily I didn’t even think to call my family. Thank god for Skye. She made sure my parents were also apprised of the situation. Not too long after, they were here by my side. They brought me food, forcing me to eat while they watched. I couldn’t hold down much.
“Son, Lily needs you to keep up your strength so you can take care of her.” Mom says she left me a bag of snacks and some other stuff. I can’t remember what she said. Her voice was distant to my focus on Lily.
Chase and Kenny brought us clothes. They convinced me to take a shower. I refused but they wore me down convincing me to use the bathroom in the room Lily is staying in. I didn’t want to miss her waking up. The shower was quick, no shaving. I quickly returned to her side, taking her hand. Eventually I had to get up, stretch and talk to the doctor.
“How is she?” I question the doctor. One of a dozen times in the last few days. They must be really annoyed with my constant pestering but they’ve been nothing but patient with me. Family and friends sit in the waiting are, listening for any new information. They’ve all been here, waiting. Eating, sleeping, and watching TV. Waiting.
A nurse peeks out of Lily’s room. My heart beats a hundred miles an hour at the smile on her face. “Doctor, she’s awake.” I rush into the room, followed by the doctor. She reaches her hand out to me I grasp it gently between my hands and sit in the chair next to her bed. I kiss her hand then turn it over and kiss her wrist and hand. I almost lost the one good thing in my life. I don’t care who sees me, my tears are flowing freely.
“Thank god you’re awake.”
“Mrs. Tanner. Do you know where you are?” She furrows her brow. I hold my breath. It takes her a full minute before a huge smile graces her lips.
“No one’s called me that yet.” Her voice is hoarse. “In the hospital?”
“Yes, very good. We’re going to ask you some questions
and take vitals. The police have been waiting for to wake. They are going to want to come and ask you some questions too. She nods and looks at me. Her eyes fill with tears.
“Don’t cry. I’m okay. I’m sorry I doubted you. I love you JT.”
“I love you too, Sugar. You are everything to me. I would never hurt you the way Nick tried to portray me. I never did anything with Blanche. They set me up. Baby, you are my sunrise, my sunset, and all the seconds in between. Please, don’t ever forget that.” I lean over her and kiss her forehead.
“Never. You are my everything.”
~*~
An hour after she woke the police came. They wanted to know what she remembered. She said she got a text from me to meet her. I told them I’d lost my phone at Jack’s but found it on Lily when we found her. Turns out Nick had followed me to Jack’s. They don’t know what he planned but there was rope, duct tape, and other suspicious items in the trunk of his car. We had kept our marriage secret, solidifying my claim on the ranch. He hadn’t known that when we went after Lily. Before he could do anything to her they were interrupted by a mountain lion. We thought it might have had rabies. Fortunately, it didn’t. It was sick with who knows what. The fish and wildlife retrieved the body the same day as the accident and ran tests the next day.
Nick didn’t survive his injuries.
Lily asked about Five. I had to break the news to her. There was no easy way to tell her. She broke down in sobs. I held her, stroking her hair, kissing her head as she clung to me. She told me Five saved her that day. The weight of everything and the loss of Five was too much. Her sobs were deep. Afraid she would reinjure herself, the nurse gave her a mild sedative, calming her down so she could rest.
When she finally came to we talked about everything. She had been trying to come to me to apologize for pushing me away.