The scared, misunderstood little boy had grown up to be a broken man.
With the sudden dawn of understanding, the fear inside Rebecca dissipated like morning mist in the face of the sun. In its place an overwhelming sense of compassion surged through her. What do I do now? I can’t leave him lying here defenseless.
“Father, I’m going to stay right here until you show me what I should do.”
Against all logical sense, she made her way back to Claude. With the image of the heartbroken little boy burning in her mind, she sat down close to him, and gently pulled his head onto her lap. Her body was burning up, and then suddenly freezing. Leaning back onto a rough tree trunk for support, she helplessly gave in to the tremors that shook through her frame.
__________________________________________
Tim and Jason followed the path straight up from the fire-ravaged cabin, Shane and Kenneth took the area to the right of the path. Stanton and Lisa set off to the left.
They’d begun their search in darkness, with only a few hours to go till daylight. Bone weary, Lisa tripped over a tree root and would’ve landed face-first in a cowpat but for Stanton’s quick reflexes. He grabbed her hand just in time.
Forcibly ignoring the fatigue that threatened to overcome them, they zigzagged methodically through their section of the forest, desperately hoping not to miss any signs of Rebecca and Claude’s passing.
When the sun peeped over the horizon, they were still walking hand-in-hand, consoling themselves with the fact that Claude and Rebecca couldn’t have gone too far on foot. They simply kept walking and hoping.
Stanton squeezed Lisa’s hand and their eyes met in a smile. “You doing okay?”
“You’re an amazing man, Stanton Trent. It’s your first time out since forever, under the most horrendous circumstances and you’re asking if I’m okay? How are you holding up?”
“Denial. I’m choosing not to think about it. I suppose it helps having someone else to worry about. It’s not about me anymore.” He was silent for a moment. “I couldn’t have faced all this without you. You know that, don’t you?”
Suddenly conscious of her hand in his, Lisa brushed it off lightly, “Sure you could’ve. You can do anything you set your mind to.”
“Lisa, if anything happens to her, I just don’t know—“
“Don’t go there. Let’s just keep looking.”
The trees were thinning and it seemed they were on the verge of a clearing. Peering through the leaves, Lisa gasped, “I see legs, Stanton. I’m sure it’s them!”
__________________________________________
Rebecca was fiercely thrown between spells of extreme heat, then excruciating cold. Fading in and out of consciousness, the line between reality and fretful dreams became an indistinct mush. Claude’s head was heavy in her lap. The bark from the tree dug into her back like knives and thirst pricked hot needles into her parched tongue.
At some point Claude woke and looked up at her cross-eyed, “What the hell…?”
Whether she answered him, or the thought just bounced around her brain, she wasn’t entirely sure, “Its okay. I’ll keep you safe.”
`“But you’re my prisoner.”
“No.” Every word took effort, “I chose to come back.”
Claude hung onto consciousness by a thread, brow furrowed in smoky confusion, “Okay...”
And with that they both gave in to the blackness that swept over them.
__________________________________________
Stanton broke through the trees and ran to Rebecca’s side. Placing a hand on her forehead, his heart caught at the sight of the horribly swollen, infected wound. Perspiration matted her raven hair, causing it to form damp ringlets that framed her face.
“She’s burning up. We’ve got to get her out of here. This must be Claude. Help me get her out from under him.”
Rebecca opened her eyes, bright with fever, yet surprisingly lucid, “Its okay. I’m helping him.”
Ignoring her comment, Lisa and Stanton shifted Claude to one side.
Looking at her face, Stanton was shaken to the core of his being, “Splitting image of her Mother… but with my eyes...”
Passing a shaking hand over his face, he forced himself back to the present, “Lisa, go call the boys. We need to get them both to a hospital right away.”
Lisa took off as fast as the trees would allow, bellowing as she ran.
Sitting next to Rebecca, Stanton shifted her weight so that she rested in his arms. His little girl! After all those years that had been stolen from them, to finally hold her felt like a dream. His heart was overwhelmed, thick with emotion.
“Who are you?” Wet with perspiration, Rebecca was peeping at him through her lashes, frowning in puzzlement.
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you. Let’s just say I’m a Good Samaritan, here to help you.”
A fuzzy smile tugged at Rebecca’s mouth and pulled at Stanton’s heartstrings.
“That’s nice… So thirsty.”
The cut on her forehead was weeping sticky yellow pus and made his heart ache. To Stanton, that cut screamed judgment at him of his inability to protect his own flesh and blood. His failure as a father.
Pushing the thought aside, he pulled his water bottle from the pouch hanging off his belt and carefully allowed a few drops to pass her cracked lips.
“Hang in there, my girl. Don’t give up. I’m going to spend the rest of my life making this mess right.”
Chapter 31 – Father’s
Waiting for the others felt like two lifetimes and the drive back to East London seemed an eternity. It was well past lunchtime by the time Rebecca and Claude had been admitted and seen to.
Lisa brought Jason a cup of coffee in his self-appointed role as sentinel outside Rebecca’s room.
“How is she?”
Jason took the coffee gratefully. “Her condition has stabilized. The doctor said she’s severely dehydrated and the infection from her cut is running rampant through her body. He’s got her on an antibiotic drip. Kenneth spent a few minutes with her earlier and Stanton is with her now.”
“Jason, I don’t know how to thank you for all that you’ve done. The difference in Stanton is unbelievable.”
“I’m the first to admit that my motives were entirely selfish. This blue eyed girl had me intrigued from day one.”
“And now that you’ve found her?”
Jason squirmed and was saved from having to answer by Stanton’s appearance.
“She’s asking for you.” He smiled at Jason before grabbing Lisa and enveloping her in a bear hug. “Let’s go get some of that coffee.”
Jason watched them wander off hand-in-hand, before heading in to see Rebecca. There was the familiar heart-stopping moment, quick rush of blood and then she was there, looking fragile.
The flood of emotion nearly had him undone. Thank You God for preserving her life, for not taking her from me!
“You need to stop running away from me, Rebecca. It’s bad for your health.”
Rewarded with a dimpled smile, he pulled up a chair and sat on it backwards, leaning on the backrest.
She reached out and patted his cheek with a cool hand. He breathed in her scent, and closed his eyes to shut out the sight of the thick shackles that still surrounded her wrists. The smell of her instantly took him back to the lingering feminine trace that had been in his bedroom.
“I’ll certainly make every effort, Jason. I’m getting a little sick of being in this hospital. Soon they will have to give me shares in the place.”
Jason laughed, “Either that, or they’ll have shares in you!”
Rebecca groaned. “I think they do already!”
“I don’t suppose there’ll ever be a good time to ask this – what happened at the cabin? How did you get out?” He studied her physical response to his question carefully, trying to gauge whether she was ready to talk about all this. There were so many questions.
“It all seems a l
ittle odd.” She squirmed. “In fact, very odd.”
A wry grin tugged at the corners of Jason’s mouth, “Odd works for me. Spill it.”
“Getting loose, for one thing. I was trussed like a chicken for roasting, there was no way I was going to get loose. None. The fire was raging toward me when suddenly a thread of flame,” eyes widened at the memory and she swallowed hard, “broke loose from the blaze. A thin snake of flame. It sped lightning-fast along the headboard – towards my hands. I was so scared. It never touched me though, just burned all along the ropes around my wrist. As the rope fell away, the flames disappeared.” She waved a hand, “It was probably all a smoke-induced dream.”
“Maybe not – you’re still alive.”
She smiled, “True.”
Jason wasn’t satisfied, “But that doesn’t explain how you got out. The doors and windows were all locked from the inside. And what about the hole in the roof?”
Shock danced across her face. “There’s a hole in the roof?”
“U-huh. A giant whopping hole, just above the bed.”
“I thought I’d dreamt that part.”
“Dreamt what? C’mon Rebecca, just tell me!”
She closed her eyes, not wanting to look at him, “A huge guy came and picked me up. He held me so tightly to his chest I nearly couldn’t breathe. Then he…” her face contorted in an effort to find the words, “…he shot straight up, his back shattered the roof. We flew out of the cabin, through the trees and then I must have passed out. But it was all a dream, I’m sure.”
“But you’re still alive. And there’s the hole…”
She peeped at him through one eye. “Am I going nuts?”
“Don’t worry, after all the strangeness I’ve seen the last few days – they’ll probably lock us up together.”
Rebecca forced a laugh, then grew quiet. “The weird thing is that God promised me that I would pass through rivers and they would not overflow me. You were there to see the end of that one.” She smiled at Jason and continued, “He also said that I would walk through the fire and not be burned. I don’t know how, but He made good on His promises.”
“Things like that happened in the Bible all the time. God seems to specialize in fire protection. I think it was with Daniel’s friends who got themselves thrown into a furnace. I don’t remember their names other than in Sunday school we learnt Shake-the-bed, Make-the-bed and Off-to-bed-you-go.” He shrugged ruefully and Rebecca looked doubtful. “Anyway, it doesn’t change the fact that you’re a walking miracle.”
Rebecca faltered. “I don’t feel like a miracle. I’m no better off than I was before. I’ve got nowhere to go. I don’t belong anywhere.” She tried to smile, but tears threatened and she failed dismally. “To be completely honest with you, I don’t want to sound ungrateful, but I don’t understand why God doesn’t just let me die and get it over with. I’ve caused nothing but trouble and heartache. What is the point?”
Jason thought of the lives that had been altered as a direct result of him finding the box and searching for her. Tina and her Mom, Maxine and Edward Rochester, not to mention the incredible change in Stanton and the spin-off effect in Lisa’s life. His own life had been irrevocably altered, in more ways than he cared to admit.
“You have no idea how much good has come out of this whole series of events.” He reached out and tenderly tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “Be gentle on yourself, you’ve been through so much. Don’t expect to feel great right now. But hear me when I say, I know of at least seven people whose lives have been changed for the better, for eternity. So don’t ever think that all this was for nothing.”
“I don’t know that I believe you, but if what you say is true, I’m glad for them.” Her lip trembled and a tear slid down her cheek. Looking completely lost, she asked in a small voice, “What about me? What now?”
Jason got up off the chair and gently lowered himself onto the bed next to her. Carefully, so as not to hurt her or interfere with the drip in her arm, he wrapped his arms around her and drew her to his chest. I’m not letting you out of my sight again, ever. If I had my way, there’d be a minister, some witnesses and a couple of gold rings right here, right now!
Shocked at his thoughts, what came out his mouth was, “Rebecca, you seriously have no idea who your father is, do you?”
She shook her head and surrendered to his comfort, burying her face deeper into his neck.
“Stanton Trent is one of the richest men in the Southern Hemisphere. He’s already got his staff getting your room ready. I’m sure you’ll have a place with him for as long as you want. The two of you have a lifetime of catching up to do.”
She pulled away so as to look him in the eye, “Wait a moment. Are you telling me that Stanton is… my father?”
“Uh-oh.” His nose wrinkled, “Didn’t he tell you?” Jason had put his foot in it royally.
Rebecca shook her head, amazement all over her face.
“Oh no. Now I’ve gone and blurted it out. Sorry. I thought he’d told you.”
“How is that possible? How did he find me? How did he find you?”
“You know what? When you’re well enough to get out of here we’ll have a big family meeting and talk about all that stuff. For now you need to rest, and so do I.”
Her face fell somewhat until she saw him pull a stretcher bed out from under her hospital contraption.
“What is that for?”
“I’m not taking any chances, so I’m going to be right here by you until you leave. I won’t be losing you again Rebecca.” He kissed her on the forehead and stretched out on the makeshift bed next to hers. Stealing her spare blanket, he winked at her and tucked himself in. “Sleep well.”
For the first time in weeks, Rebecca drifted into peaceful sleep with a smile on her face.
__________________________________________
Kenneth was dozing in a chair in the corner of a heavily sedated Claude’s private hospital room when his Dad arrived. Woken by the squeak of the handle, he jumped up in surprise.
“Dad! I didn’t think you’d come. I’m so glad you did.”
There was something different about his Father. He just couldn’t put his finger on what it was.
“Kenneth.” He reached out and shook his son’s hand. “Thank you for finding your brother. How is he?”
“His head had to be cleaned and stitched. He’s still under sedation at the moment. He’s going to be fine.” He clenched his teeth, “Though I could happily kill him myself for the stupid things he’s done.”
“Kenneth, don’t say that.”
“Dad, this fool nearly killed himself and Rebecca. After all he’s done to her, he doesn’t deserve to live.” Burying his face in his hands, he sighed. “I wish Mom was here.”
Edward Rochester gripped his son by the shoulders, “Calm down. I’ll be back in a moment.”
“What’s going on?”
“Just give me a moment, okay?” He turned and left the room.
The door had just swung shut behind him, when Claude came to.
Grimacing, he peeped at Kenneth through one eye, “Where am I? What are you doing here?”
“Welcome back.” There was no warmth in the words. Since their teenage years, Kenneth’s relationship with his brother had never been close. At best they had tolerated one another, but since the time Claude had started causing trouble with Rebecca, Kenneth’s ambivalence had turned to something stronger than mere dislike. The thought of Claude treating Rebecca so badly and nearly getting them both burned alive, was enough to make smoke come out of his ears.
“You absolute idiot! What were you thinking? If you love Rebecca so much, how could you put in such danger? What is wrong with you?”
“Kenneth, that’s enough.”
The shock of hearing his mother’s voice shot through Kenneth. He looked to the door, and there she was, her slender frame dressed in jeans and a pale turquoise polo neck.
“Mom?” His jaw worked up and
down, but no words came.
Claude sat up as pale as if he were seeing a ghost.
“I won’t have the two of you going at each other on our first day back together.” Her words were stern, but she couldn’t help smiling. The tears started as she crossed the floor. Somehow managing to hug them both at the same time, she clung to them trembling with emotion.
Kenneth was overjoyed, “Mom! Where have you been? This is unbelievable.” His jaw flapped like a fish out of water.
Claude sat silent, staring at her as if a traitor had just been uncovered in their midst. Edward pulled two chairs around Claude’s bed and motioned for Kenneth to pull up another on the other side. Once they were all seated, he met Maxine’s eyes and prompted by her nod, he spoke, “Your Mom and I have decided that there can be no more lies or half-truths. We did what we thought was right at the time, but the outcome has proved to us that we made the wrong decision.” He took Maxine’s hand in his and continued, “Your Mom is HIV positive. When we found out, in ignorance we thought it would be safer for the whole family if she moved away. She’s been living with your Aunt Sally since her diagnosis. We’ve realized now, that with a few adjustments to our lifestyle, she’s far better off at home with us. And we are far better off with her at home.” He gave her hand a squeeze, full of affection and encouragement.
Kenneth leapt out his chair and all but ran to his mom, mixed elation and distress making a mess of his face. Throwing his arms around her, he said, “Having you home is the best idea I’ve heard all year. I’m so sorry that you’re not well.”
Maxine hugged him back with all the strength in her slender arms. “Thank you, Ken.”
Claude sat staring at her with an ugly sneer on his face.
“Claude?” The inflection in her one word, held a myriad of questions.
His answer snaked ice down Kenneth’s spine. “You betrayed me.”
Shackles: The truth will set you free Page 23